COLUMBUS, Ohio — Becoming a child's full-time teacher at home during this COVID-19 quarantine has turned out to be a frustrating and scary thing all at the same time. Yet, many parents are making the best of it, as they juggle a school schedule and their work schedule.

  • Parents say it's been tough
  • Some have had to separate their kids to make sure they get work done
  • Some had to readjust their work schedules

Shortly after watching the morning announcements at St. Mary's School in Columbus, Chelsea Hill and her three girls gathered around the table to get the school day started.

Hill was juggling multiple jobs and running her own business before COVID-19 shut down schools. With two of those coming to a standstill, she's now picked up the job of teacher. 

"My big plan right away was that I would work while the kids are doing schoolwork and I had a schedule for myself and that just went out the window right away. We realized that is not going to work cause they do need help," Hill said. 

A little frustrated, Hill adjusted her work hours to make the school day a little smoother.

"I know that I prepare lunch maybe the night before to have leftovers. Then they can feed themselves and be quiet for a little while and then I can get some work done. And that's been a really big help as far as that goes and just having work that understands my flexibility," she said. 

Separating her oldest girls at times with a cardboard box to make sure they're getting work done and not goofing off, Hill said it's not been easy, but the scheduling adjustments have been worth it.

"I think the schedule has been the saving grace out of everything," said Hill. 

As they work together, learn together and create together, Hill is grateful for the time with her family as they make new memories that she hopes her kids will remember as some of their favorite times in years to come.