It’s that time of year again – back to school, and a return to in-person learning for many students and their families after more than 18 months at home. Last year back-to-school for our family meant learning how to adapt to virtual learning and all that came with it. This year my family will be adapting to the changes that come with shuffling three kids to and from two schools, packing lunches again and praying that they don’t get exposed or sick. So it’s still not exactly “back-to-school” as in pre-COVID times.

With the Delta variant of COVID-19 on the rise, this is sending panic for many families and educators across the nation. (For others, not so much.) However at the same time, families have to do what’s best for their family set up, whether that’s keeping kids at home or sending them back with precautions.

For people like me, I’ll be working from home and occasionally going to my office in downtown Detroit while also managing the household on my days off. During the pandemic my work situation went from unemployed and freelancing to working part time from home while monitoring virtual learning. As much as possible I scheduled meetings and interviews before or after classes or during breaks. It was very hard, as it was for many working parents across the country.

So what am I most looking forward to when my kids go back to school?

Not having to multitask so much between work and parenting. I will be able to get more work done while my kids are at school and will occasionally be able to take a break. I hope I can be more available for my kids when they get home from school.

I asked moms who are opting for their students to be back in school in person what they were looking forward to. (Regaining one’s sanity comes to mind, but we moms are more sophisticated than that! Or are we?) From more time to get things done to worrying about what that will entail, here were some of their responses:

Janan Sarwar, is a Medical Resource Manager at Knowfully Learning Group and the Chief Content Officer at Happy PharmD, based in Louisville, KY. Janan is looking forward to creating better routines and getting things done while the kids are in school.

“Alhamdulillah, I am blessed to have positions where I can WFA (work from anywhere); however, when my older children go to school, I aspire to focus on tasks and projects that require concentration and deep work. For example, I have a creative writing project– a children's picture book inspired by my own children– [that] I plan to revise when Leena, age six and Nadeen, age four, go to school. I also hope to establish better routines and habits related to household responsibilities. Thus, when my kids get home from school, I hope to be more present and able to spend quality time until bedtime Insha’Allah.”

Hiba of Hiba Heavenly Homes, who’s part of the Facebook group “Muslim Mamas of Michigan,” says, “I’m not looking forward to kids being back in school. That means more work for me [with packing lunches and driving the kids back-and-forth].”

Sadya Chowdhury of @Zafreens_Kitchen_ says, “Definitely going back to work, Insha’Allah, or going to start college.” Her son is almost four, and she is planning to put him in preschool. Sadya is a home-based caterer who began her business at home due to pandemic closures where she worked. She cooks traditional and popular Bangladeshi dishes. Since the pandemic she has been at home with her son while working from home.

“I’m excited and a little nervous too and more than I am, my son is more excited lol,” she says.

Shamole Ahmed @shamolea asks, “When will that day come, lol?!” Her son is 20 months old. She says although her son is not old enough to go to school yet, she worries about what the future of “back to school” and learning will entail. “I definitely do worry when that time comes. Will kids still have to wear masks? Will it be safe for them? Will remote learning still be a thing?”

She’s also concerned about managing school with two full-time working parents. She says during the pandemic, working from home helped her care for her son, but she isn’t sure of what the workplace expectations will be in the near future and how that will affect childcare.

“It’s much more difficult with two full-time working parents because you have to really plan childcare/drop offs/picks up really in advance. Even sending him to preschool is something we’re starting to think about but are scared of what will happen once the time comes. Our jobs also rely on what’s happening; for me right now because of COVID I’m able to work from home. But eventually I will need to go back, most likely full time. Which will make it much more difficult to take care of him while not being in the house.”

Shamole says that besides worrying about scheduling, she’s also raising a child who has minimal interaction with kids due to COVID.

“There’s also the aspect of wanting to send him to school, because when kids are around other kids they learn much more and really thrive. It’s going to be so difficult when that day comes because with COVID existing much of his life, he hasn’t been around other people as much as is so much more attached to my husband and I and his grandparents. It’ll be a huge adjustment to send him to school in general for him too, plus COVID restrictions that may be in place like masks, social distancing etc.”

Whether you’re sending your kids back to school or going about the virtual school route again, best of luck with either one and do what’s best for your family. But don’t forget to celebrate the little wins you have each day, and find something to look forward to.