The new normal of 'Back to school' 2021!

SuperMom
Sep 13, 2021
2 min read

Back to School this year is a whole lot of mixed emotions. On one side is the excitement about our kids getting to meet their teachers and friends who they only connected with on gadgets, and on the other side, we are still paranoid for their safety as we hear about new variants every fortnight.

The change - From "Have a super day!" to "Remember to wash hands"

For this year’s preparation for school, in addition to ensuring that the school bag, stationary, books, and uniform are in order, my 8 year old had to be explained not to hug her friends out of excitement; still not to share her lunch; still make sure the mask is up; and still sanitize!

Even though we have accepted this to be the new norm, it's rather frustrating.

It’s sad what our constant reminders to our kids have become now. It’s no more "Have a super day" or "Enjoy your tiffin"...these have changed to "Wash your hands" and "Pack your sanitizers".

Appreciation for school’s physical spaces, beyond the gadget

Having said that, my 8-year-old is not just super excited to get back to school, she is also well aware of all the social distancing that still needs to be followed. She is really looking forward to spending time with her friends, and continuing the activities that could not be possible on gadgets. The one she missed the most is her morning sports practice where she’s learning to play tennis. There are children who had been waiting for restarting the swimming sessions, frequenting the school library, and the many other activities which only a physical space and an immersive learning environment can provide.

In my opinion, it’s the kids who have suffered the most during this pandemic. The connection with humans their age, the special bonds with friends at school, the conversations with friends in the bus... getting back to all of that is not just exciting but also overwhelming.

But when we go deeper, we realize there is so much to be grateful for. Grateful to be in this part of the world where we follow the new norms strictly. Grateful for kids to be able to go Back to School. Grateful for life!

- By SuperMom Heer Lalwani