… or anyone who helped with virtual learning this year.

The ending of the school year, and the "opening of California" yesterday has given me a moment of pause and deep reflection over how much we've gone through, and especially how much our children have endured.

My kids like many spent the entire year doing school via Zoom at home. Our dining rooms and bedrooms had to change into school rooms. Homework took on a whole new meaning, it was no longer an "after school obligation" - it was an all day, complicated, sometimes torturous event. There were tears and there were laughs, there was learning academics, but more so, there was learning patience, and deciding what really mattered.

For my family, I chose to focus on peace and mental health. We missed some assignments, sometimes we logged off of class a few minutes early, because a crying, overwhelmed child needed to be hugged. Our family came together, day after day -- ALL day, every day....and I am going to miss that.

As I write this my kids are at a Surf Camp, and I miss them. The house is quiet, and I realize that this year has given me that perspective to truly cherish their time at home.

Happy Summer to you all,

Kat Corbett
Youth Director

This article appeared in the Wave on June 15, 2021