Editor’s note: Karen Harris Tully is a writer who lives in Raymond and has agreed to keep a journal to share with Daily World readers during the odd and uncertain time we’re all navigating.

Dear Journal:

So, here we are, the governor and superintendent of schools cancelled school for the rest of the year. What am I supposed to say about this? I don’t know, except we’re going to make it work.

All of this is a big change, for parents and kids. We’re asking for a lot of flexibility from our kids since their school routines have been completely turned upside down, and they’re missing their friends too. Sometimes mine go with the flow, happily cooperating. But honestly, sometimes there’s a lot of resistance.

I’m grateful my husband is a teacher and working from home, and that we both have the flexibility to homeschool. A lot of my friends and people I know are working full time in essential services, or trying to run small businesses in a completely new way, and they’re homeschooling, too. I don’t know how they’re doing it. It probably looks nothing like traditional school, and that’s okay. Homeschool isn’t supposed to be like traditional school.

I am grateful for the materials my kids’ teachers are putting together and providing for us. Every day, my son’s 1st grade teacher posts videos with their morning welcome routine, assignments, and readings. We get paper packets for literacy and math, and for my daughter’s preschool, too. I don’t know what I would do without these materials. I guess we would figure something out, but instead, we have a plan and lessons, and a way to turn in assignments online. So, thank you, teachers.

Both of my kids are learning to write. For an author like me, it’s an exciting time! My youngest likes “typing” on mom’s computer. For preschool, it’s crafts, scissors and glue, writing her name, knowing and writing her numbers and letters, and lots of playing. They both like stories and learning games online, but they have to share, and there have to be limits. They would be on screens all day if we let them, but I think the real world is better. Having a lesson planned is great, but sometimes flexibility and new ideas win the day.

We’re still figuring all of this out. Everyone is having to revamp their plans and do things a new way. What works for one family won’t work for another, but the important thing is that each in our own way, we are making this work.

Karen Harris Tully is a novelist living in Raymond with her husband and two small children. She writes sci-fi/fantasy for teens and adults and can be found at www.karenharristully.com.