For almost one year, parents all over the world have been given the gift of extra quality time with their children. Pre-pandemic, there were many things which one would miss out on without even knowing they happened. While homeschooling or aiding with online learning, during the lockdowns parents were given the opportunity to finally appreciate everything that school teachers do. Seeing the ways in which their children have learned and grown over the past 12 months will be something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, but I think most of them are probably ready for a break. Here are 40 pictures that will not only show how happy some of these parents are but also some of the reasons why they just could not wait to get their kids back to anywhere-but homeschooling.
1. 'Just Pick One Already!'
Deciding what to eat for dinner or which tv show to binge next can sometimes be quite trying. The parents who have been homeschooling their children this year were forced to make one of the more difficult decisions they have had to make.
Deciding which curriculum one will be educating their children with, is a very important task. Pick the right curriculum and they are onto a brighter future while picking the wrong one could lead them down the wrong path. The stress has begun before the school year has.
2. 'It's Only Been A Week?'
One of the more joyous things about having one's kids go off to school each day is the time that one has to themselves. It allows for much-needed relaxation and quality, 'Me-time'.
Having the kids around ALL the time effectively eliminated any chance of having even 5 minutes to one's self. Parenting, teaching, and working all at the same time would be enough to make anyone look like Iggy.
3. 'Just Give Them What They Want'
Parents began to realize the true value of teachers, only after they had been removed from the equation. It takes a special type of person to wrangle 25-30 students a day and continue doing so for 30 years.
Children ask countless questions while exerting an endless amount of energy. Anyone who can appropriately answer all of those questions while keeping up with a classroom full of different personalities deserves a raise. It does not matter how much they are earning now, just pay them more.
4. 'Another Drink, Ma'am?'
Parenting, if done properly, is a full-time job on its own. When also teaching a different curriculum to each child it's enough to make anyone want to retire early.
This mum looks as though she has been in dire need of some rest and relaxation for quite some time. She has been adding up her vacation days since March of 2020, and it's time to cash them in.
5. 'Marching To Their Own Tune'
It should be a proud moment in every parent's life when their child gains a spot in the school's marching band, but the endless racket can be enough to drive anyone insane.
Sending the only member of the homeschool marching band outside to practice the formations with the 'car-horn section' is enough to make any parent want to see their kid back in school with the full arrangement and will most certainly bring tears to one's eyes. Tears of laughter.
6. 'Had Enough Yet?'
Many parents believe that their children could do no wrong. No matter how many times a teacher would call home, there are certainly those who are quick to defer blame than accept the truth.
Some children changed their parents' minds sooner than others did. For these children, there was no turning back the clock and no guise left of which to hide behind, after revealing that they were in fact the class clown or trouble maker of whom their previous teacher spoke.
7. 'Not His First Choice'
Some parents really took to teaching. They may have had different plans in mind for the past year, but when given no choice in the matter, it is better to make the best of the situation.
It is not until the time would come to read over the previous day's homework, that most parents found out that they were not quite as popular of a teacher as they had first thought.
8. 'Class Stud'
Children can be quite a handful sometimes. Soon after the first lockdown began a few parents had already begun preparing themselves for the moment when they could send their spawn back out into the world.
Once the second lockdown got underway, it did not take long for parents everywhere to start taking back-to-school photos with their household's teacher's pet.
9. 'I'm Not Even Here'
Kids most certainly do the darndest things sometimes. Thanks to the MCU, superheroes have become a worldwide phenomenon over the last few decades. As such, it should not come as a surprise when a little vigilante would be seen in the background of a large number of Zoom meetings.
Moving silently around the house in costume, it is not until the moment that a child would appear in the corner of a meeting, that their presence would become known. This mother must be more than ready for her kid to get back to school as she became aware that he was in the room when she was startled by him asking, "Can you hear me breathe?".
10. 'Everyone Graduates, Just Don't Come Back Next Year'
It has become somewhat of a tradition for parents to celebrate the first day of classes with the annual tradition of taking a picture of their child holding a homemade sign which displays the grade which the child is about to commence.
This year things are a little different. Following a long and strenuous year, parents are more excited than ever for the last day of school, homeschool that is.
11. "I'm Free!"
This mum perfectly sums up how most parents probably felt when their kids were given the go-ahead to return to in-school classes.
The main difference is that most parents would have waited for their kids to leave for school. Upon seeing how emotional their mother had become with the thought of the 5 of them not being around all day, not one of these kids could manage to hold themselves together.
12. 'It's Happening!'
Bars still closed? Restaurants only allowing take-away and delivery services? It's probably been a while since there has been a quiet moment to have a drink with one's spouse.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter if it is 8:00 am on a Tuesday. At that moment, when the kids step on the bus and the doors close behind them, for the first time in months, it is time to celebrate.
13. 'Is It Walk-Time Yet?'
There were some parents who just could not handle the stresses of day-in-day-out teaching, so they outsourced the work and went upstairs for an early and prolonged staycation.
Occasionally there are those whose need for a break is evident by their choice of a substitute teacher. The elder statesman of this household comes across as a rather captivating instructor.
14. 'No Grape Juice With Lunch'
One of the more entertaining things about kids is their need to always be wearing some crazy costume and very rarely does it match. It's time for the kids to go back to school when we start doing the same thing. Because, why not?
Just a few weeks into being at home with her children, this woman was asked by one of the little ones if she would wear her wedding dress to lunch. I think she realized that it was time for the kids to go back to school when it actually seemed like a good idea.
15. 'Just Get In There'
Having the little versions of themselves around all the time can prove to be rather difficult for some parents.
The day that they go back to school is a day that has been counted down to. It's time for sleeping all day, playing video games, and eating cookies for lunch. In other words, it's time to act like a kid now that the kids are gone.
16. 'Blink Once For Yes'
Sometimes the only way to send an S.O.S is by making the kids think that we're just doing driveway art with them and hoping someone sees it.
Neighbors need to look out for each other, especially during the long periods of the year when the kids are at home.
17. 'Note To Self: Grease The Handle Next Year'
With the knowledge that school was going to be starting up again soon, parents everywhere began to prepare themselves for the upcoming tug-of-war matches that were awaiting them.
This kid either really liked being at home, or this father is ready for a break. Probably the latter.
18. 'Do Not Go In There'
Kids can be very creative creatures sometimes. If they are at home for a long enough period of time, this becomes very evident to their parents. They also don't know how to convey their messages very well yet, which also becomes evident rather quickly.
Just two weeks into the first lockdown, a four-year-old ran into their parent's room yelling that the toilet was smoking. When they got to the washroom, this is what they saw. Needless to say, those parents went on a roller coaster of emotions over those few minutes. Some things are better left for teachers to have to worry about.
19. 'This Is Mum's Third Break This Morning'
Parents, while homeschooling their kids, often need short breaks in order to collect their thoughts. Up until a certain age, children believe that their parents know everything. Once that age is reached, children find it necessary to point out and question each little flaw.
Ben, is nothing if not honest. The next thing Ben's mum tries to figure out might just be transferring him to his grandparent's place for boarding school. At least he's writing full sentences now.
20. 'It's Only My Second Mimosa With Breakfast'
It is probably in the best interest of this family if the kids go back to school pronto.
These parents are hoping that their kids go back, and stay back in school. At this point, If they can get both lines to level out around 3, I think they could consider it a win.
21. 'Honey, Who Are You Talking To?'
Any quiet time, which a parent has been able to find over the past year, has been cherished when found. When it is too quiet, however, it may be time to start worrying.
It's time for the kindergartens to start up again when someone walks in on their child standing in the middle of a Pentagram with their stuffed ladybug while repeating something in jibberish. Or maybe it's time to call the local exorcist.
22. 'I Think This Went Over Here'
When these two highschool students told their parents that they were going into the other room in order to work on their science project, I'm not sure this is quite what their mum and dad had in mind.
If it seems too quiet, it always is. Parents of students who are part of the online education system should inevitably assume that if the kids are out of sight, they are probably doing something which they should not be. Maybe once these kids go back to school, their parents will be able to use the phone again.
23. 'Sure Hope It's Not Lead Based'
Young children are incredibly adventurous. They are constantly getting themselves into situations that are horrifying at the moment yet hilarious after the fact. Every now and again, they do something which reminds us why daycare workers deserve every dollar they choose to charge.
This little one took body painting to the next level. The moment daycares opened up again, this kid was probably first on the admissions list.
24. 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things'
Kids have been spending a lot more time at home recently, and more time at home equates to more opportunities to break the things which their parents cherish.
It would take a lot of chores and allowances in order to pay off the damages done to this TV.
25. 'Large, Extra Irish Coffee, Please'
This first day of school brings with it two rather contrasting stories which occur simultaneously.
The mother who has been waiting a few years for this day, and the child who would give anything in order for this day not to occur.
26. 'I Brought Doughnuts'
A problem that many parents are running into while attempting to get some work done at home, is the amount of constant attention that their children crave. It would be absolutely exhausting to constantly be inventing new games in order to tire the kids out.
It looks like these parents decide to play a good game of 'Dexter' with their kids...One way or another, when schools open up again, these kids are not going to be causing any more problems at home.
27. 'Structurally Sound'
While mum and dad are in their home offices trying to get some work done, the kids are usually off somewhere getting themselves into some kind of a mess.
After a long day of work, one of the things that a parent does not want to have to deal with is cleaning up after their kid who has aspirations of being an architect. The sooner they go back to school, the sooner the living room will be back to normal.
28. 'Find Anything Interesting?'
If given the opportunity, a large percentage of younger children would probably spend all day practically glued to one of their parents.
It seems as though this kid was thoroughly enjoying pretending to be a monkey, but this father's neck and back were probably quite grateful when this tyke went back off to pre-school.
29. 'Game-On'
Due to stay-at-home orders and online education during the Covid-19 pandemic, children were forced to get creative with such things as recess.
The day that these three girls turned the den into a roller derby, was probably the same day that their parents begun counting down the days until school opened their doors again.
30. 'Soak It All In'
During the Spring of 2020, we all saw how important toilet paper is to the world when it was sold out in stores all over the world. It, along with facemasks and hand sanitizer became the hottest commodities around.
The 18 rolls of toilet paper which this child brought with them into their bath could probably have sold for 5 bucks a roll on the black market last April.
31. 'How Do They Always Find Me?'
At first, their voices can be heard faintly. Then they get closer, and the voices get a little louder. Their feet could be heard with each creaking step they take down the stairs. The voices get louder, they could be heard coming down the hall. They could be heard breathing right outside the door.
Kids have a way of always knowing where their parents are, and this is not a good thing for any parent who has needed to get any work accomplished while at home. If the alternative is living the zombie apocalypse every day, nine out of ten people would probably pick sending the kids back to school.
32. 'Playing Dirty'
Having the kids home all the time meant that some parents needed to figure out ways in order to deter their children from coming into the rooms in which they are trying to work.
The only thing that worked for this father, was putting a pair of his underwear on the door handle. That is definitely a good way to keep the kids away, but I'm sure he would much prefer to have them back at school, and his boxers back in the hamper.
33. 'Stop Trampling My Flowers'
In some cases, it is not the kids' parents themselves who are most excited about children going back to school. Sometimes, it is the neighbors who have had to endure some of the toughest times because of the troublesome children next door.
This lady looks like she has just won the lottery after seeing her neighbor's children getting ready for their first day of school.
34. 'All Aboard The Hogwarts Express'
The first day back at school should be the most exciting time of the year for any returning Hogwarts student. For the first year's however, it could be a little bit frightening.
This magical mum is proving that she surely is no Muggle, as she has momentarily lost control of her magical powers due to the excitement of taking her kids over to King's Cross Station.
35. 'Goosfraba'
After the first few months of lockdowns and homeschooling, some parents just gave up on cleaning the messes altogether. After all, why clean up if the mess will be back in 5 minutes?
They've almost made it! These parents can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Daycares are opening up soon and mum and dad have not ever been more prepared for a quiet moment without the kids around.
36. 'Like Sand Through An Hourglass'
There have been many different ways in which families have celebrated the end of homeschooling. This family found a loophole in the stay-at-home mandate take and took an impromptu trip to the beach...
When these kids had told their parents that they had found an alternative to the public beach, what their parents did not realize, was that the kids had brought the sand from the playground inside, and created their own private beach at home.
37. 'Finally!'
Time spent with one's children is meant to be a magical time. Parents all over the world have had the honor of spending quality time with their children over the past year.
Quality time can sometimes feel like an eternity. That is why it is sometimes best to keep track of how many days are left. This mother could not have been happier when the 'quality-time clock' finally ticked all the way down to zero.
38. 'It's Time To Bounce'
In order to celebrate the final day of homeschooling, these parents decided to show their appreciation by throwing an 'end of term' party for their kids.
The children probably had an amazing time bouncing around in this castle as their parents were inside planning the next few months of 'child-free' daytime activities.
Day 1: Sleep until summer
Summer: Cry until September.
Day 1: Sleep until summer
Summer: Cry until September.
39. 'Spread Your Wings'
This mum has clearly had more practice in getting her kid to school than the father who was higher up on the list (with his kid hanging onto the door to the house).
When planning the quick drop off at school on the first day this mother did not account for the growth spurt which her child had over the past few months. This kid has the wingspan of an eagle.
40. 'A Bottle Of Wine And A Month Of Sleep, Please'
Parents all across America, and the rest of the world, have had a much tougher year than they had initially expected to have had.
Let's finish off our list with a big congratulations to all parents who had the joys of either homeschooling or aiding their children with their online classes. Raise a glass to each and every parent out there who has had the pleasure of spending most of the last 12 months being, not only a great mother or father but the best substitute teacher their kids will (hopefully) never have again. L'Chaim!