Surrendering Expectations

I am not a baker.

But, occasionally, I’ll attempt something simple like brownies.

And my kids will ask: “Are these brownies good?” before grabbing one.

And I’ll answer honestly: “They’re good if you pretend you’ve never had brownies.”

I have learned, over the past week, that this truth is also applicable to my newly established homeschool.

It is going spectacularly well if you pretend that you’ve never heard of school.

We’ve danced to the Bee Gees.

We’ve enacted the Passover story with stuffed penguins.

We’ve attempted a discussion of home economics, as they pertain to chores in the home that we’re all spending more time in.

And when sharing a homeschool with Dan’s headquarters for our (now) virtual congregation began to feel crowded, I packed our kids in the car and drove to the beach — the sunroof down and 2Pac’s California Love blasting.

I don’t need to consult a pedagogy to know that this was the right decision.

I know it in my bones, and on the expressions of joy and calm on my kids faces — the wind whipping all of our curls back.

We’re experiencing something unprecedented, and I think, if we want to maintain our sanity, we’re going to have to look at things with new eyes right now, and surrender expectations.

I’m sure there will be more directives to follow as time passes.

For now, I’m accepting that I can’t provide a replica - or maybe even a semblance - of a traditional third-grade or pre-k curriculum in my living room.

To the best of my capabilities, I’m offering something new — and worthy — but different than what’s come before now.

And that’s today’s consolation: when you pretend you’ve never had a brownie, the thing that I’ve baked is actually pretty tasty.

Love and strength to all.