No Such Thing as a Typical Online Education Family
Most of us parents are now getting used to our back to school routines– and our kids -- well, I am sure some of them are following the routine better than others! At my house, it splits down the middle – one loves being back in school and one – still fighting it tooth and nail. And am I getting used to the new routine, you ask? There are still not enough hours in the day to get it all done. I know I am not the only who has a pit in their stomach that can only be caused by the “how are we going to get this all done” feeling because I have come across a few parenting blogs talking about ways to handle it all, and of course I am seeing lots of questions and comments about it from other parents in the Parents’ Lounge. And even though it’s not the best feeling and don’t get mad at me when I say this -- knowing that there are other parents out there feeling this same way actually makes me feel a little bit better. It tells me that I am a normal. Although if you ask my family, normal is not the word they would use– but let’s not dwell on that.
I know I keep mentioning my position here at K12, but as the online community manager, I get to be a part of the most amazing community of teachers, school administrators, and Families. And because I have 2 school-aged kids myself, the parents I get to meet have helped me learn the ins and outs of schooling my own kids – whether they attend online school or not.
My friend, Lori Beverage,said something recently during a conversation we were having about parenting and the reasons families choose online education - “Parents who choose online education want the exact same thing that any parent wants- the best education for their kids - they just choose a different way to get it”. And that is the truth! I have met families from all walks of life, from around the world, and the reasons they choose online education are as varied as you could imagine. And most importantly, I have learned that there is no such thing as a typical online education family.
When I come across inspiring stories about amazing people – It always reminds of some of the equally amazing families we have in the K12 community, so when I read about Esther Vergeer, an incredible athlete, who at age 8 became paralyzed. At age 12, she was introduced to wheelchair tennis and has dominated the sport, winning every singles match she's played since 2003 - nearly 400 in a row. Incredible, right!? She is a perfect example of someone who doesn't let anything hold her back from achieving big things!
And while I don't think Esther attended any of our schools, you can meet so many K12 families just like her - living with disabilities or other challenges, attending online school, and achieving their own big things!