When I was a child growing up on Cape Cod, August was the best month. The temperatures were the warmest of the year, but not so hot that you had to stay inside to protect yourself from the heat and humidity (thank God, since we didn’t have central air back then!). August meant summer was in full swing and all the kids in my neighborhood, Merrywood, were golden brown and running barefoot from yard to yard. Since August was the height of the summer season, my dad, who was in the hotel business, was rarely home. When he did get a day off, we loaded the car for a day at the beach. And I mean a day! I’m not sure how much of this I actually remember or if it’s a collection of snippets from family photo albums and 8mm home movies. Either way, the memories that float around in my mind are divine. August was a happy time.
Jumping ahead to my teens, which were spent in Naples Florida, suddenly August became another experience. First, August in South Florida is hot. So hot! My family usually took the first two weeks for vacation and got the hell out of the state. The second thing that began to chip away at my fondness for August was the fact that in Florida school started the third week of the month. Maybe it was the fourth week, I don’t know, but for a girl from the Northeast, who never went to school before Labor Day, it was tough. This back-to-school-in-August nuisance followed me until college and I begrudgingly got used to it – until it got obscene (more below).
So, last night we got the news that our local school district is planning to re-open fully with social distance practices in place on September 1st. Not sure how I feel and honestly was hopeful for some more remote learning options. The only saving grace right now is that our governor gets the final say and has to sign off on these plans as they were sent to him for his approval. I am in NY and Governor Cuomo has said that he won’t use our kids as guinea pigs. So, I now am in further limbo to hear how he will respond to these plans and what is plan of action is overall for our state. Take about a fun way to begin the month of August. But I am going to try my best to stay calm until hear more from the governor. But was so happy to see you back here on your blog and have missed reading your updates here. Hugs and hoping August won’t be nearly as bad as we are imagining it to be. <3
Janine! I’m so happy to hear from you! Thank you for your sweet works. Can I just say, I love your govenor. Love him. I truly believe he will do the right thing for you. But, the limbo sucks, especally with you being back at work. I’m sorry!
Allie, I love my governor, too. He is honestly just awesome and glad it isn’t just me who thinks so 🙂 And I agree I have faith in him. So, I am trying my best to keep all in perspective as much as I can’t help but worry about what is to still to come. But again just happy to chat a bit with you here <3
It is unusually hard to be positive this August. Does that about 14 years of back to school mean you have a fourteen-year-old? Because if so, I am with you there too. I was actually relieved Maryland declared the first semester is virtual school, even though I hated virtual school, just so I didn’t have to make a decision.
I have 2 nineteen-year-olds (one special needs and still in the school system), a 15 year-olds and 13. Where in Maryland? We lived in Howard County for a few years.
Oh you have four teenagers. I have 4 kids, but only two are teens. We are up in the northeast area of Maryland, northeast of Baltimore in a small city.
It’s been FOUR YEARS since you did FTSF??? Woah. That’s hard to believe, but also not, as the time has flown in a way that blows my mind. Also, starting school in August is so wrong, I agree. In Virginia, we started after Labor Day (as it should be, as far as I’m concerned). Here, Tucker’s going to middle school (in sixth grade – also wrong as far as my opinion goes as it should be 7th). He was supposed to start Aug 17. They’ve moved it back a week to Aug 24 but omg. The number of cases are more now than when they closed schools. How are we supposed to do this, anyway!!????
The “whose going to blink first” thing is something I deeply feel. I’m not sure how much Colorado’s gov listens to CDC vs. the idiots. Gah. Not an easy time for any of us (except the stupid – they like to be stupid and loud about it).
OH OH OH I LOVE that you linked up and let’s chat on the phone soon please? It’s time to catch up!!! xoxoxo
The middle school segregation seems to depend on the region. Here and in Florida, middle school was 6-8th, but on Cape Cod it was 4th & 5th – and then 7-9 was junior high.
A chat would be awesome! Are you working at home? I’m in the office 45-50 hours a week, ugh! so we may have to do a weekend call.
In NJ, school ALWAYS started before Labor Day. Oddly, I’m even more north now and we start August 30th or so. Nonsense!
Still no word about how it will look here. Not sure I want to send the kids back at all, to be honest. Lots of risk and fear. We’ll see.
You poor thing – you’ll have newborn to boot!
Well, 1st of all, August 1st? That is, in an of itself, criminal, so big hugs to you and your family for bearing up under the crime against humanity and school children.
And, 2nd – “pandemic fatigue.” What a perfect description. I’m keeping that one in my “often used” vocabulary pool.
All the best, Allie. Take good care…xoxox
Thanks Nancy!