Notes curated by the Education Team
Saudia Arabia/Bali: Parents of a 12 Year Old Girl
Virtual school – 1 year later
We can’t believe that it has been one year and two months since we started the online school. It has been a complex rollercoaster of emotions. There have been many tears and frustrations and, worse, the feeling of isolation that comes with it. There have been laughter and joy for a high mark achieved after working hard together to help them with difficult projects. Or the feeling of relief when I decided to drop everything and watch funny movies with them when school became too much to handle.
On the positive side, we have become closer as a family unit, as we are going through this together. And when the borders were open for us expats, the online school gave us the opportunity to have a long holiday spent in my home country, surrounded by our extended family, without missing a day of school. We still very strongly believe that kids have to go back to regular school sooner rather than later. Their mental health depends on it. They need to see people other than just their parents. They need to hone their social skills. I truly hope that we are near the end of this virtual school.
And our decision to make our daughter sit in her room studying alone instead of sitting close by us was a good one. She is now able to work 100% independently. All she needs me for these days is to be the canteen lady!
Photo Credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash
