SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- It has been roughly 11 months since kids were taken out of the classroom and thrust into distance learning.
ABC 10News has been following several local families throughout this school year.
“We’ve been doing our best to stay positive,” said Patrick Batten, a father to four children.
Batten has three children in the Poway Unified School District and one daughter at San Diego State University. His son, Patrick, recently went back to in-person learning for a few hours a day at his elementary school.
“We really appreciate our son’s teacher… she’s been incredible. And the teachers that have been out there working and willing to help the students have been wonderful,” Batten said.
Even though the last several months have been tough, his eldest daughter still made the Dean’s List at San Diego State University. His other daughter—a high school senior—also has her pick of colleges to attend in the fall.
For Tancy Campbell’s two kids in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, distance learning has been tougher on her son with special needs. He is on an IEP, individualized education plan, which encouraged him to be more social. “I just think he’s so used to doing everything from home that he doesn’t want to go out. That’s kind of crippled him in that area,” Campbell said.
Campbell is still cherishing the extra time they have together and looking ahead to better days. “I do want to be hopeful and try to plan a summer trip and get the kids involved with the planning. It will be something that they can look forward to,” she said.
Gina Chavez said it’s the small things she tries to hold onto. “We try to get out at least a couple times a week… heading to the park, taking the dogs for a walk.”
Chavez said she believes her family has gotten closer because of the current circumstances. “It’s brought us closer because it’s a shared experience… I think we all deserve a gold medal for the resilience in dealing with this.”
Batten said he has seen improved relationships in his household over the past several months.
“We have seen our younger daughter and son…become a lot closer because they're the only people that they have,” Batten said. “I see a little bit more patience returning than what we had in the first three to four months.”
Campbell said all parents need to give themselves a little leeway because everyone is doing the best they can. “So many people are struggling, so I just kind of remind myself of that,” she said. “You don't have to do everything perfectly.”
