An Open Letter to America from a Mom Who Can’t Handle This Again in the Fall

Dear America,

I’ve been up since dawn wrestling with yet another educational app—this one boasting a 37-page lesson plan for my kids. So let’s cut to the chase: please, go home. I’m pleading on behalf of every parent trying to navigate homeschooling during this chaotic time. We cannot repeat this madness come fall.

I understand your eagerness to reopen the country, Linda. Believe me, I’m feeling it too! I’ve been cooped up for weeks, engaging in deep conversations with my houseplants and escaping to the bathroom just to let out a frustrated scream. We’re all over it. But you know what I dread even more, Linda? Still being stuck at home, teaching my kids in October.

Let’s be real—I’m not a teacher. I just had to Google how to do long division! Honestly, I’m relieved if both my kids can still read by the end of this. Parents everywhere are struggling, and the only way to ensure schools can safely open in the fall is if we all stay home right now.

Oh, and Frank, I hear you about wanting to return to work. Trust me, I get it! Today, I managed a conference call from my closet, discussing contracts while my son shouted from the bathroom about his peculiar poop. And guess what? My kid’s second-grade teacher also longs to return to her classroom, but she’s currently juggling lesson plans for 22 students while managing her own children. None of this was in her job description, and certainly not risking her life for our kids’ education.

Janet, I know you think this is an overreaction and that everything is blown out of proportion. But honestly, I don’t care about conspiracies or the perceived attacks on our rights to visit salons. The virus is real, it’s dangerous, and it’s keeping me trapped at home with kids who want to listen to the same soundtrack for hours on end. I cannot endure this for another six months.

Now let’s consider the alternative. If we rush to reopen everything—restaurants, shops, beaches—it may seem great for a week. But then, one person gets sick, and we’re all back in lockdown. And guess what that means for me? Months of homeschooling again while trying to maintain a semblance of my sanity.

I have to sign off now; my son has a Zoom meeting with his kindergarten class in five minutes and he’s probably hiding somewhere, like the cabinet under the sink.

I realize this might not sit well with many of you, and you might want to throw insults my way. But if it helps, my kids have come up with way worse names in the past weeks. So take a moment to breathe. And if that doesn’t work, try hiding in the bathroom to scream into a towel—it really does help. We all want the same outcome: open beaches, lively restaurants, and crowded schools where our kids can spend their days while we regain some peace. Let’s work towards that by staying home.

Thank you.

For more insights on navigating this challenging time, check out:

this article
this fantastic resource for information on pregnancy and home insemination.
If you’re considering options for family planning, this site is an authority on the subject.

Summary:

This letter emphasizes the struggles of parents during homeschooling amid the pandemic and urges everyone to stay home for the safety of children and teachers. By doing so, it highlights the necessity of ensuring that schools can reopen safely in the fall.