Homeschooling Through Fear: A Repat Tale

We had a big outing to the Central Florida Zoo yesterday, our first since repatriating from China back to the US in July.

More importantly, it was the first indoor classroom activity the kids did in a group. Since we returned, we’ve kept all our social time limited to three families and always outdoors. But I felt fairly comfortable trying the zoo’s homeschool class because they outlined their COVID-19 protocols front and center on the registration page:

<div class="
      image-block-outer-wrapper
      layout-caption-below
      design-layout-inline
      combination-animation-none
      individual-animation-none
      individual-text-animation-none
    ">

  

  
    <figure class="
          sqs-block-image-figure
          intrinsic
        " style="max-width:1630px">
      
    
    

    
      
        
      <div class="image-block-wrapper">
        <div class="sqs-image-shape-container-element
          
      
    
          has-aspect-ratio
        " style="position: relative;padding-bottom:20.858896255493164%;overflow: hidden">
            
              <img src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/08641-zoocovidprotocols.jpg" alt="From their Zooventures page"><img class="thumb-image" src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/08641-zoocovidprotocols-1.jpg" alt="From their Zooventures page">
            
        </div>
      </div>
    
      
    

    
      
      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class>From their <a href="https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/education/children-adult-programs/homeschool/homeschool-zooventure/" target="_blank">Zooventures page</a></p></div>
      </figcaption>
    
  
    </figure>
  

</div>

So off we went. Registration for the class includes admission to the zoo that day, so we left a little early and went for a visit.

As we got dressed and packed to go, I reminded them that when they are indoors, they will need to keep their masks on. They’re good about it, but we haven’t really taken them indoors anywhere where it was necessary lately. The kiddos have been pretty isolated that way. The closer we got to the zoo, Pirate Dude (7 years old) tried to negotiate but I made it clear that masks are not optional, and their teachers will say the same. I hoped.

First, we just had a lovely time at the zoo. We were in the minority of people who masked up in general but outdoors isn’t really a problem. I did make sure we kept our distance from everyone inside the reptile room and other places like that, whether they masked or not. As we walked towards the classroom, Pirate Dude again tried to negotiate the mask-wearing, I think because he would be in a group of kids he didn’t know, but he understood it is for his safety.  He’s masked up faithfully for a year and a half now.

While we checked in to the class, I reminded myself that we could leave at any time if I wasn’t comfortable. But the zoo’s education staff had everything neatly waiting for the parents, and everyone but one mother and her younger child was masked inside, mostly keeping our distance from one another when possible. So we checked them in, tightened their mask, filled up their water, and into the classroom they went!

I returned to the lunch place for a beer and some work. I was glad that I didn’t feel tense about it, but I wasn’t relaxed either.

This is and isn’t how I pictured homeschooling my kids.

Dan and I always considered the idea of homeschooling, but pre-COVID we imagined it as half field trips, half travel, half social clubs with friends — yes, three halves. Two months into it, one month in earnest, I pay Outschool for my kids’ social clubs and we schedule weekly time with our pod around their school schedule because otherwise, I’d just hide in place like this porcupine.

<div class="
      image-block-outer-wrapper
      layout-caption-below
      design-layout-inline
      combination-animation-none
      individual-animation-none
      individual-text-animation-none
    ">

  

  
    <figure class="
          sqs-block-image-figure
          intrinsic
        " style="max-width:4032px">
      
    
    

    
      
        
      <div class="image-block-wrapper">
        <div class="sqs-image-shape-container-element
          
      
    
          has-aspect-ratio
        " style="position: relative;padding-bottom:75%;overflow: hidden">
            
              <img src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/d0e3d-zooporcupines.jpg" alt="I mean, they look comfy."><img class="thumb-image" src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/d0e3d-zooporcupines-1.jpg" alt="I mean, they look comfy.">
            
        </div>
      </div>
    
      
    

    
      
      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class>I mean, they look comfy.</p></div>
      </figcaption>
    
  
    </figure>
  

</div>

I’m very grateful to the places like the Central Florida Zoo who follow safety protocols, and I hope they continue. Both my kids reported that people only took off their masks to drink water.  Fewer adults had their masks on at pick up, but I just have to trust that they’re vaccinated while staying distanced.

I never thought I’d homeschool in fear. But here we are.

<div class="
      image-block-outer-wrapper
      layout-caption-below
      design-layout-inline
      combination-animation-none
      individual-animation-none
      individual-text-animation-none
    ">

  

  
    <figure class="
          sqs-block-image-figure
          intrinsic
        " style="max-width:4032px">
      
    
    

    
      
        
      <div class="image-block-wrapper">
        <div class="sqs-image-shape-container-element
          
      
    
          has-aspect-ratio
        " style="position: relative;padding-bottom:75%;overflow: hidden">
            
              <img src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/dfa60-zoograsshopper.jpg" alt="Say hello to Mr Grasshopper."><img class="thumb-image" src="https://cindy-overthinks-media.ghost.io/content/images/2025/10/dfa60-zoograsshopper-1.jpg" alt="Say hello to Mr Grasshopper.">
            
        </div>
      </div>
    
      
    

    
      
      <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper">
        <div class="image-caption"><p class>Say hello to Mr Grasshopper. </p></div>
      </figcaption>
    
  
    </figure>
  

</div>