Alyssa Butterwick & COVID-19

​Suddenly faced with online teaching while simultaneously schooling her young children at home, Alyssa Butterwick showed grace and resilience. To make it all work, this Ascension Church parishioner leaned into a slower pace of life, let go of expectations and remained grateful for her daily blessings. 

​What challenges have you faced during Covid-19?

During Covid-19 our family has struggled like many other young families to navigate our new routine. My husband and I continue to adapt to working remotely from home while balancing homeschooling and childcare for our children ages 2, 5 and 9. As an elementary school teacher of Grade 2 and 3 students, the transition to an online learning environment has been difficult at times.

Fulfilling my teaching obligations, juggling conference calls, team meetings, answering emails and phone calls all while parenting three young children at home has been a challenge. There have been many days where chips were acceptable for breakfast and staying in our pyjamas all day has become a regular occurrence!

Prior to the pandemic, my children were involved in many extracurricular activities. Adjusting to social distancing rules, taking a break from organized sports, and missing their friends has occasionally made for a difficult transition. Creating a new routine and finding a sense of normalcy took time for us, but our children have handled this change better than I would have expected. 

What blessings have you received during Covid-19? 

The gift of time has been our greatest blessing. I’ve realized how daily life is truly a blessing. We have been reminded that the gift of our families, friends, and our health matters most. As a busy family, the time to pause, reflect and embrace a more simplistic way of life has been a blessing.

As an ‘on the go family’ used to being pulled in many directions, we have been enjoying a slower pace and more quality time together. Being able to say ‘yes’ more to our children when it comes to family bike rides, building forts, family baseball games, building Lego, cooking together or simply just being together. Watching our children grow closer and seeing them appreciate the gift of their friendship as siblings has been a blessing. And having more time to connect with family and friends, enjoying online game nights, a simple phone call and being in nature has been a blessing.  
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This time has given us the opportunity to focus on gratitude and the positive aspects of having more time together. Our children have become more aware and appreciative of life’s blessings. 

My son had his 9th birthday and we could not celebrate as we normally would. Throughout the day he had numerous family members and friends visit from the driveway or drop of cards and gifts. He could not believe how our community and family came together to make him feel so loved. He said it was one of his best birthdays. 
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This has also been a time to pray for our community, our friends, our family, and our world.

Photo courtesy of Alyssa Butterwick

Alyssa Butterwick is an elementary teacher at Blessed Marie-Rose School in Calgary. She is a wife and a mother of three. Their family are parishioners of Ascension Catholic Parish in Calgary.