I did this crazy six-people-to-three-functioning-devices scramble in the spring. I thought we were finally heading back to normal

At 10:00 a.m. train A left the station. An hour later, train B left the same station on a parallel track. If train A traveled at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour and train B at 80 miles per hour, at what time did train B pass train A?”

Whenever I encounter a math problem involving two trains traveling at particular mph, I freeze. My heart starts to constrict and my mind turns numb.

Don’t even go there, my brain whispers. Luckily, I’m a history teacher, and the closest I ever come to mathematical equations is mentioning the famous theories of Newton and Einstein.

Recently, though, my life seems to have become one major algebra equation.

Monday, October 5th

“Gov. Cuomo orders NYC schools in COVID hot spots to close.”

Tuesday, October 6th, 2020, 10:49 a.m.

Ping.

Hi. This is Susan, your son’s occupational therapist. I’d like to schedule his teletherapy sessions on Monday and Tuesday at 12:39. Please let me know if you are available. Thank you and have a good day.

Me: Hi! He has class with his teacher on Zoom at 1 — will he be done by then?

Ping.

Olivia Speech Therapist: Now that we have to go all remote, can your son attend according to the following schedule:

Mondays 12:00

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30

We can begin today if you are available, please let me know as soon as possible. Thank you!