«Dear teachers, lower your expectations!»

Dear teachers, let's all try to shift down a gear and take a deep breath. Trying to do everything right is going in the wrong direction. It is now the fourth week of the coronavirus, in which we are all challenged, in which we are all pushed to our limits, in which we try to do our best every day, in which we go full throttle to do justice to everyone ... ... and above all, in which we are confronted with our fears and doubts.

My daughters miss everyday school life, their colleagues, the classroom. I miss my quiet moments of retreat. After all, we mums usually don't just have one child, but two or more, and we still have to manage the household and the job. That makes us even more tired and even more annoyed in this situation. My husband and I miss our loved ones, who we are no longer allowed to visit, let alone hug or kiss.

Please be less strict, less of a «teacher» during this time - and above all be accommodating.

It's a new situation. For everyone. For you too, dear teachers. You too have family and friends and countless tasks and duties that need to be completed at the same time. So you can imagine what we parents are experiencing right now.

So I have a request for you: put all the school material and everything that goes with it to one side for a moment and step out of the performance spiral. Put yourself in my shoes and those of my family. Please be less strict, less of a «teacher» and above all accommodating during this time. Take your tests, which are necessary once we have got through everything well. Now is not the time to want to turn homeschooling or digital schooling into «normality». It is impossible. This is not meant as a criticism, we all know that you are under pressure too and want to do your best.

I know of schoolchildren who can hardly sleep because they are so worried about themselves, their grandparents, friends, siblings and parents. My children are stressed because they feel they can't do everything. They miss out on breaks or breakfast to cope with it all. And yes, it makes me sad that they have even more pressure than in their normal school day. Of course, children have to learn to deal with frustration and pressure and also to endure difficult phases. But please: not now.

After numerous conversations with many other children and teachers, I have come to the conclusion that everyone basically feels the same way. This is therefore an opportunity to focus on the essentials. And that means taking the pressure off! Let's make the most of the opportunity that this crisis offers us. Thank you! Stay healthy and all the best.

Sincerely, Monica B.