For the past few weeks, Niko has been doing a couple of online zoom classes. He shoos me away when I get his laptop; which is my old Acer Chromebook, to log in. He tells me he can do it and you know what, he is probably right. I just like to make sure we have no issues, but once the class starts, I stay out of the way. I do make faces at him, though!
We would’ve had him in public school starting this past August as a Kindergartner, but that didn’t happen due to the pandemic. To be honest, when it first started last March, I didn’t think it was going to be this bad. I thought it would be a few weeks and then be over, not 2 years. I do like working from home and have only been onsite at the physical office a few times since last April. I am going in for the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas, then after that, I don’t know.
Yesterday, Niko and I went to an upscale outdoor shopping mall as I had to get him out of the house. I didn’t want to waste a perfect weather day inside our house. Even though we had masks, many of the other people didn’t.
When it was time for us to eat lunch, we went inside a restaurant and I made sure we were not near anybody, but he wasn’t comfortable so we left. I don’t blame him. I mean, we have been wearing masks for a long time and he knows how dangerous this sickness is. I did tell him that very soon, we will be getting him vaccinated and that will bring us one step closer to getting back to normal.
We then tried another restaurant, but this one I asked for an outside table away from other diners. That worked and we had a great time sharing a pizza. We people watched, talked, and laughed. He behaved so well that I didn’t have to immediately take away glass dishes, knives, sweet and low packets, or anything else that he can find to get hurt or make a huge mess. He even drank a strawberry lemonade out of a glass dish without me holding it for him. Man, he is growing up fast! I can’t even remember the last time we went to a restaurant and dined in. And, on the way home, we drove thru Dairy Queen for shakes. Yeah, I am a cool dad!
One of the zoom classes is a weekly lego class where they build with legos and share there creations with the class. Niko sits on the floor with his three boxes of legos and builds away. When he gets stuck or needs help, the teacher offers suggestions.
The other one meets daily and they do a lot of stuff he would be learning in Kindergarten. He has his supplies and any necessary printed materials ready for whatever the teacher has in store for the class. They even do a show and tell on Friday’s, but it has to begin with whatever letter they are working on that week. Niko does such a great job following instructions, answering questions, and is very communicative throughout the class. (he raises his hand when he wants to talk as well).
I know Niko enjoys them as it’s something different and it doesn’t involve Nina or I. Plus, the classes are only 30 minutes long and they always seem to fly by.
