‘To the Mama writing a school intent letter for her children, you don’t need to justify your decision to anyone.’: Mom reminds us ‘there is no right answer’ for back-to-school concerns

“To the Mama writing the school intent letter for her children:

I know you feel like there is no real right answer.

I know you fear whatever you choose to do may not be best for your child.

I know the what-ifs seem paralyzing and all-consuming right now.

What if my child isn’t socialized enough if we homeschool?

What if I’m not equipped to properly teach my child?

What if we send our child to school, and they contract something or bring home COVID?

What if my child’s mental health suffers at home?

What if I’m exposing my child to disease?

Sister, hear me when I say these profound and life-changing words:

This. Sucks.

There is just no way around it.

None of us knows what is the best/right/safest/smartest decision for our kids right now because there just isn’t enough research showing long-term effects or mutations or other science-y things that are causing me so much anxiety about possibly teaching my kid science in the first place!

We are trying to consider health, safety, masks, anxiety, sensory needs, academic tracks, disease spread rates, long-term effects, online school, childcare, work hours, and the impending gray cloud that we may be stuck in our houses forever and ever, amen.

Mama, make the choice you feel is best for your child and your family.

The end.

You don’t need to justify your decision to anyone. They don’t pay your bills, sister!

You need to talk it out, make a list of pros and cons, hash things out over a box of wine… whatever your process is… and decide.

That’s it.

Children are brilliantly resilient, but what they need now is us — the honest but protective versions of ourselves who encourage our kids, answer their questions, and help to relieve their anxieties.

Some of us don’t have a ‘choice’ about what to do because we have to work or we are educators ourselves or our district is remaining closed and educating online.

Friend, this is allllll wonky. No one has the answers —

Not politicians. Not world leaders. Not pediatricians. Not school administrators. And not mamas.

And that’s okay.

All we can do is our best. We can refuse to pass judgments on other mamas, and we can acknowledge we are all out here just doing the best we can to do the next right thing.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Brynn of  The Mama On The Rocks.  Follow her on Instagram here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Brynn here: 

‘Please, sit with us. Text us. Stop by and insist on taking our kids for the day because I promise we won’t ask for help. But mama, we need it.’: Mom says all a special needs parent needs is for you to ‘show up’

‘Eh, it’s been rough, honestly.’ Our struggles are different. And we will likely never ask for help.’: Mom of special needs child explains what her ‘hard week’ looks like

‘Well, he LOOKS normal.’ By lunchtime our kiddo has scratched, punched doors, hurt his sibling, thrown toys and spit on us.’ Mom explains tiring struggle raising her ‘extreme child’

Do you know someone who could benefit from this story? SHARE this story on Facebook with your friends and family.