Navigating Virtual School

00:45 - We’re back! We all made it through another day of virtual learning at home in this crazy pandemic. And that’s what this episode is about - how we’re making it through distance learning, what we’re learning while our kids are in school at home, and what our escapes are looking like now. Who else has personal time in the car or at the Target drive-thru?   04:56 - So, what have been the biggest challenges of school-at-home so far? For Meka, she’s in the first week of kindergarten and it is a struggle to get Jagger out of bed and motivated to do schoolwork. But, the ladies applaud that the kids are able to function and even try going to school right now - it’s a lot of work and they’re struggling too!    08:55 - Speaking of challenges, virtual school also means that our schedules, routines, and structures have changed. Workouts can’t happen whenever we want, the living space has changed to accommodate school, and we are literally living in the living room. We’ve all just become more adaptable and adjusted our spaces so we can live, work, play, and chill.    12:02 - Monique talks about the challenges of living downtown and navigating the city when they get the kids outside for “recess” - avoiding fast cars and narrow sidewalks, but this also creates the opportunity to have new outdoor adventures.   12:40 - However, there are some highlights! Meek loves not having the daily early rising and long commute to get to school. Nique includes an imaginary “commute” to school every day, so the kids can feel set up and ready for school. We’ve all got some more time in our mornings to get creative (or sleep more)!   14:33 - Speaking of time, it’s tea time. Meka is sipping on The Meka, her peach, mint, and ginger classic. Maybe she’ll find a mango tea next time. Nique has got a citrus green tea, a good mid-morning tea to keep you going!   15:37 - The ladies talk about how lunchtime has changed for the better. With all the extra time we have with the kids now, Meek and Nique are feeding them hot, nutritious lunches and trying new things (air fryer fish sticks, anyone?). Making new menus and giving lunch fun, fancy names is definitely another highlight of virtual school right now.    19:27 - Meek and Nique talk about the processes of learning schoolwork, submitting assignments, and teaching the kids technical skills they need to participate wholly in virtual school so they can continue to learn and grow. But, it can be hard to keep up with everyone’s different schedules and calendar reminders - remember to give yourself some grace, teach self-sufficiency to your kids, and allow your kids to also figure out how to navigate their day.   24:33 - Meka talks about how virtual school has also given her perspective of what she has, and what she’s able to give her kids. Two of Jagger’s classmates have to do school from a daycare center instead of from home because parents still have to work, juggle life, and figure out how to give their kids a safe place to learn. We all have to do whatever we can to make it work for our families during this time.    29:50 - In all this, though, we all still struggle, including the kids. They’re missing their friends, missing their routines, and the extracurriculars that got them out of the house. Meek and Nique discuss how their kids all cope differently and how they channel their frustrating moments into creative outlets and socially distant activities.   38:08 - Of course we have to wrap up with our Drive Tracks (for those pretend commutes right now). Meka is listening to Lucky Me by Vic Shawn, which is grounded in his personal experience with a medical scare that turned out to be nothing. Nique has been feeling nostalgic, listening to Lauryn Hill’s Nothing Even Matters, and the whole Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album.  Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma. Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!