On April 1, El Paso County Colorado School District 49 announced all district schools would begin an electronic learning schedule through April 30 because of the coronavirus pandemic. After having their kids home for a two-week spring break and suspension of all school programs and activities, the districtís decision presented a new challenge for parents who already work from home and are now tasked with helping their kids through the new e-learning process.Anastasia Garcia, a mother of five with three kids enrolled in D 49 schools, said she had to adapt quickly to help her boys in 10th, fifth and third grades. Along with being a licensed real estate agent with Equity Colorado Real Estate since December 2017 and keeping an almost 2-year-old daughter busy, Garcia said the hardest part has been providing the attention her kids need with their schoolwork.ìIt has been hard because they need a lot of my attention,î she said. ìI cannot just send them to their rooms to get their work done. I have to sit with them the whole day.îGarcia said the e-learning situation has made her realize that her kids need more attention than they were getting both at school and at home. Additionally, she has had to relearn many things to be able to help them with their work, she said.With the restrictions placed on the real estate industry, Garcia said, ìI am building relationships with my clients, keeping them aware of what is going on and how things are going,î she said. ìI am trying to keep them comfortable knowing this will all be over soon.îKeeping the kids on a schedule similar to a regular school day has also helped make her new home and work life mesh better, she said. Overall, all her kids have adjusted well, she said.ìI think that we are learning new things about each other because with work life, you get so busy,î Garcia said. ìYou forget that you have seven different personalities under one roof when you just see each other in passing. We are all staying healthy and taking this time to slow down and enjoy each other.îChelsea Teran, a mother with two of her three children enrolled in D 49 schools, said her work life hasnít been affected that much because she works on weekends. She said it can be exhausting and difficult to make sure her kids are staying busy throughout the day.ìSurprisingly, my oldest ñ- my 10-year-old ñ- is very self-sufficient so I set him up and just check in on him,î Teran said. ìHis teacher sends a weekly task, which outlines what they are going to accomplish during the week. He is really taking it and running with it.îTo fill the time with her two other children, ages 5 and 2, Teran said she, too, plans the day according to the schoolís schedule. Morning is for learning time, noon is for quiet time and afternoon is for art or other fun activities, she said.ìI always make it a point to get them outside,î Teran said. ìThey can jump on the trampoline or go on nature walks. We were doing that stuff before but mostly on weekends so we are doing it more often now.îThe additional time spent together has sparked creativity, especially on her part, she said. Planning different activities and keeping everyone busy has been a challenge[; she said she has no time for herself.ìThat has been kind of a bummer because I have a lot more on my plate,î she said. ìI have a lot more guilt. I have not picked up a new skill. I have not learned anything new. I have just been focusing on staying sane because if I am depressed, I am no good for my kids.îRegular walks outside on nice sunny days and making sure to take a shower each day just to feel normal have helped keep the depression at bay, she said. Additionally, Teran said she is becoming more confident in her ability to help her kids learn new things.The lack of social interaction with friends has been difficult for the whole family, something that Shera Aziz, a mother with three of her four children enrolled in D 49 schools, knows all too well.Aziz said her oldest is a freshman in college in Gunnison, and is struggling with not being able to go back to school this year.ìShe came home on March 23, right after their spring break,î she said. ìOn April 7, we had to drive down to Gunnison to get all her things because they kicked everyone out of the dorms. She is devastated because she left where she was living, her friends, sports, everything.îThe challenge of helping her college-aged child adjust to online courses while helping her three other kids with their e-learning curriculum is compounded by the fact that state restrictions banned her from working as a hairstylist for most of the shutdown, Aziz said.ìI was working March 16, and we got the order to stop working that night,î she said. ìWe heard we could not work until April 30 and it was very abrupt. Hairstylists have usually been somewhat of an untouchable industry because people always want to get their hair done. We have never been put out of work like this.îAziz said she had to turn down people who offered to stay outside on the lawn for a haircut or pay triple her normal cost for services. Agreeing to do so could have resulted in the loss of her cosmetology license, she said.The ban on hairstylist services was lifted May 1. Earlier on April 16, the governor extended e-learning for the remainder of the school year. Aziz said she is concerned about trying to balance work and all four kids at home.She will resume her career as a stylist, with a plan. ìMy plan is to follow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment guidelines, the Department of Regulatory Agencies guidelines, which are a huge inconvenience because they limit our clientele and add really strict guidelines on cleaning and sanitation,î she said.All three moms said the extra time together as a family has been beneficial, and they are grateful to have husbands who continue to work and financially support their families. They all said other families arenít as lucky.
