On wellness & other stuff

On wellness & other stuff
Thoughts on how to live healthy, happy and at peace with yourself.

Spirit musings

Spirit musings
Connect with your inner guidance, Highest Self, and the Source so you can live true to your soul.

Pros and Cons of Online K12 School: Our Experience

Monday, May 26, 2025

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So I recently switched Marcus to an online school. I have been homeschooling him for a few months now, and I realize it is a lot of work. Especially in our family situation, I recently gave birth, and we have  4 other kids in the house. It's hard to find the time to teach him. I was barely making it when I had my baby. It was worse when I went back to work. I had to rely on tutors, and they are not cheap. Even if you get a good per-hour rate tutor online (and I use Outschool for that), it does pile up. I just started feeling incompetent and incapable. And with my stress level, being on edge all the time, I realize I am not in a good position to teach my son. Middle school math is not easy to prepare, at least for me. Although it wasn't much of a struggle for me to learn when I was his age, teaching Algebra to someone while trying to refresh my memory is no simple feat.. I needed more support from a credentialed teacher, especially when it comes to grading and feedback. But going back to brick-and-mortar school is not an option right now. He can see it too, and he said he liked not waking up early at the very least. So I decided what's best for him. Deep inside, I did not want to fail even if I felt like a failure by not completing a semester homeschooling him. He deserves more support than I can, and I saw that he responds better with a different teacher. I should just go be a mom and step back. 

With that, I transitioned from a homeschool teacher to a learning coach...and never looked back. I remember him doing online school with CAVA when he was in first grade, when I had to take him out of school, which eventually worked in his favor, as Covid happened right after. I was not as involved then, but I'm grateful his daycare provider became his learning coach.. This time, I get to be his learning coach.

Later in another post, I will share what made me decide to homeschool him in December last year. So far, I am loving the support I get from his school.

These are my thoughts on online schooling and a brief review of his current school, Compass Charter School. I'm considering doing a deeper dive review of Compass in another post, maybe at the end of the school year, to give it more time and insight. For now, here are the pros and cons of online school in my experience.

PROS:


1. Flexibility. 


If you are even mildly thinking about enrolling your child in an online school, chances are you are looking for that flexibility. Doctor's appointment?  That's ok, you don't have to take him out of school for the day. Does your child learn better in the afternoon? Not a problem. The independent study allows him to access his curriculum 24/7. This works best because I learned during the short time I homeschooled him that he focuses around noon to about 4 or 5 PM. No wonder he hates getting up in the morning. 

2. Support. 


Marcus was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. He has a hard time focusing and gets distracted easily. He also often daydreams. If you have a child with ADD/ADHD, then you know the struggle that comes with it. With his IEP, he gets pulled out of his class for small group classes 90 minutes a week. He also has accommodations like being seated near the teacher, maybe simplified assignments with extended time to finish, and a wiggle chair. However, I'm unsure how much of that is being followed. After a few years, I realized he is not getting the support he needed from a traditional school setting, despite the IEP he has in place. They only have so many resources and teachers. When I transferred him to online school, he received more support in 2 months than he ever had in several years, from IEP sessions to group tutoring, office hours, Q&A, and even 1:1 sessions. I genuinely believe he's finally getting the help he needed, with less distraction and more focus.

3. Communication/Parent Involvement. 


When it comes to online learning, it definitely is a team effort. You are no longer estranged and often wonder about what your child is learning, your son has support, and there's always a clear line of communication between you as a parent and the teachers. In my experience, having my son in regular brick and mortar school, it used to take a couple of days to a week to hear back from my child's teacher when I had concerns, depending on the teacher. Once, I emailed my son's teacher about a bullying incident that happened in his classroom, and, according to my son, the same teacher was there and did nothing. It took him a week to respond with a sentence or two...Like I was bothering him or owed him the little 30-second response.  If you're lucky, he's had teachers who respond to your messages/questions within 24 hours. Since my son is in an online school, communication is improving.  When I email a teacher with a question, I almost always receive a response the same day, within an hour or two. Now I understand they are busy, and I always reasonably wait 24-48 hours for a response, but that never happens because I hear from them within hours, if not minutes. 

4. Safety

Perceived physical threats are minimized in an online school because, yes,  they are at home. But my main concern is the bullying and peer pressure that seemed to be overlooked in most traditional schools/ I've seen it firsthand, when my son was "pressured" to do something that eventually got him in trouble, and school staff had to talk to me.

My son has a good heart and just wants to feel accepted. However, I had to explain to him that a real friend will not make you do things in the guise of a friendship to get him in trouble, and that same group of people is nowhere to be found when it comes to bullying. I also know that some schools will minimize bullying. I have reported bullying several times in my son's previous school, and I barely get a response 2-3 days later. It is frustrating.

This comes down to the importance of finding a few people with whom your child will form meaningful, long-lasting friendships.

5. Advocacy 


Online learning is mostly independent learning with live classes. With some encouragement, my son is slowly but surely learning to advocate for himself. Of course, I have to coach him through it most of the time, but he's getting there.


CONS


1. Limited Social Interaction

Most online schools offer online clubs and virtual meetups, and they absolutely do their best to fill this gap. For some people, though, these don’t entirely replace the organic, in-person friendships and life lessons that happen in traditional schools. I think this is the primary concern for most parents, as I see this question get asked a lot in some of the virtual info sessions I have attended. 

I put socialization under con because I notice a lot of parent have their own hang-ups around it. Honestly, socialization depends on how you view it or where it stands in your priority list when choosing a school. Socialization can be a pro and a con, depending on how you see it. Being in a brick-and-mortar school setting is not the only way kids can socialize, learn, or hone their socialization skills. It's more of a forced association rather than natural socialization. Your schoolmates don't need to be your friends, just like your coworkers don't automatically become your friends outside of work. Learning in a classroom environment is not for everybody, just like online school isn't for everyone. Doing school online is better to help with your child's focus as long as his study area is set up conducive for learning. Being in an online school encourages you to be more mindful of the kids hanging out with your kids. Less is more, and I prefer that he form a more meaningful friendship with a few people who share the same passion as him, rather than feel alone in a group of 25 kids in the classroom where he barely talks to anyone. I've seen and observed him a few times, whether in an after-school program or as a chaperone on his field trip. It breaks my heart, but sometimes he's got to find his own way, while I help create the environment that will allow him to thrive and support his endeavors.

2. Technology


I'm not bad at tech. In fact, I'm tech-savvy. But in the beginning, there is a learning curve as you navigate through an online learning portal. It can be overwhelming to learn the ins and outs of the portal while also becoming a learning coach. What helped us most was the go-to guide my son's school provided when he first started. Everything we needed to know was there: calendars, links, classrooms, how-to, contacts, everything. That was a lifesaver. 


Being in an online school is not for everybody. Finding out where your kiddo thrives and how he learns best is essential. My daughter is in a brick-and-mortar public school and is doing well. So we did not need to modify her schooling. Choose what works best for your family and fits your lifestyle. The good thing is that when it comes to educating your kids, there are options as long as you are open to them. If you’re not worried about them missing most of the in-person interaction in a brick-and-mortar school, I’d say give it a chance. 

3. Increased Screen Time


Spending hours in front of a screen daily can impact sleep, posture, eye health, and physical activity, especially for younger kids. The key is to vary it up. A daily schedule always works for my son, with plenty of breaks in between, when he needs it. He is best focused from mid-morning to early afternoon. His P.E. is scheduled at 8:30 AM, so he gets to run around, exercise, and get his energy out before he starts sitting in live classes. That is the beauty of being in an online school.

4. Self-Motivation is a Must


Online learning requires discipline and focus. Without structure or close supervision, students may struggle to stay on track.  This is when we, as parents, come in as their learning coach to ensure they receive support for their school work and motivate them. From TK to about middle school, the learning coach must be more present. As the child gets older and becomes more responsible, you, as the learning coach, get to step back while ensuring accountability. It does require a certain level of discipline and motivation to go to online school because of its self-paced nature. There will still be online distractions, so the student needs to be proactive in managing their time and staying focused. 

The beauty of online school is its structure and flexibility through the scheduled live classes and independent work. Another plus is that as a learning coach, I don't have to do the teaching, grading, and feedback, which is everything. I don't have to do the heavy lifting regarding teaching. 

5.  Limited Access to Hands-on Learning


Subjects like science labs, art, or P.E. lose their hands-on magic online. While some programs try to bridge the gap, it's not always the same experience.

Take advantage of online schooling's flexibility to give your child real-world experience. With online learning, your child is no longer confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom, which is probably a better option than hands-on learning in school in some cases. I love that in online school, I get to observe my son's daily lessons, so I can align his experience with his "classroom" experience.  

Also, online schools offer meet-ups and field trips that are either free or low-cost. If there's one in your area, I encourage you and your child to go. 


Final Thoughts


Every family is different—and that’s the beauty of having options. Online school can be a blessing for some and a challenge for others. To be in an online school, you don't necessarily have to have a reason except that you are interested in trying an alternative option for your child, as the traditional brick-and-mortar way of doing education is not a fit for them. The key is to stay in tune with your child’s needs, your family’s lifestyle, and what feels most supportive for everyone’s wellness.


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This 2023...Focus on What Brings Joy to Your Soul

Sunday, January 29, 2023

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2022 was an eventful year for me. From having a baby to my struggles as a full-time working mom- both at work, my business, and my personal life- there are many realizations along the way. But when it comes down to it, I realize that there's only one overarching lesson that persists through it all and that in whatever situation I'm in, every decision I come across, I make sure that I'm choosing to do things that bring joy to my soul.


You see, life is too short to make decisions that may serve everybody around you but to the expense of your already full plate and draining mental health. This is not to be selfish; I am saying so that you can always live a life that is true to yourself, which is what matters most at the end of the day and your life.


Before the end of the year, I found out that I got selected for a new position closer to where I live. And while I resisted for a long time to make changes in my work life, mainly because I like where I work and my kids(and I) are happy in their school and daycare despite the long, grueling 6-hour daily drives, I couldn't help but tell myself there must be something better than this lifestyle we've been on for years. But I was scared to make the change because it might make things too uncomfortable for my kids, and I was worried. 

But then I also knew deep inside that kids are resilient and that a change of school and daycare may devastate them initially, but they only have new experiences and friends to look forward to after all's been said and done. And they still get to keep their old friends, thanks to the beautiful world of technology. 

And why am I willing to change? I realized that while things are comfortable, deep inside, I'm hanging on to dear life to keep my sanity and health intact. I was tired. Exhausted. My mood is a rollercoaster. And I'm effing tired of trying to catch up and survive. Because of the drive, I don't have time (sometimes even to shower) to do it all over again. And for what? A micro-manager who knows nothing of your job and yet chooses to be involved in every tiny specific detail that has nothing to do with his management.

So, there's my first rant for this year.

And this year, I decided to focus on things that bring me joy...writing, spending time with family, sleeping, unapologetically getting massages, and flushing toxic people out of my life. I also just started the NP program, so I will be busy. 

A lot of changes in my blog/biz/coaching life. I'm taking a break from coaching for now as it takes so much energy.  As a mental health nurse, I feel emotionally, physically, and mentally drained from helping clients. While I feel good seeing their transformation as they process their trauma, coaching does entail you bring your whole self to the table, and it wouldn't be fair if I'm only half-ass coaching them. 

This year, I will focus on what nourishes my exhausted soul the most: bringing my creativity through writing, journaling, and journal-making. In fact, I already have one journal published in Amazon and many more to come. You can check it out here.

Ok, that's all for now.


XOXO, 


Wella




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This is why #momlife is worth it

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

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 I often talked about my son’s struggles during his first few years in school. His teacher/principal/school psychologist/other staff all didn’t wanna deal with him and won’t have him get tested despite all their complaints.


Of course they have to blame it on our lifestyle and long drive home.


E.g. he has boundaries issue/he always gets up in the middle of the class/he is often restless/does not listen.


Instead of offering help or whatever they can do about it, they instead asked me: “if you want him tested and come out with mental health issues, do you really want that stigma for your son?”


Needless to say, I had to homeschool him and move him to another school. A school that took the time to work with him and evaluate him. Thanks to the caring staff. And his pediatrician who confirmed what we thought he already had (ADHD) and immediately placed him in an IEP program.


And after a couple years of IEP coupled with CBT and yes meds, he’s finally coping well and doing well. 


Anyways, a couple months ago he started reading for 30 minutes on his own everyday when we get home at 8 PM. He said his teacher told him to read for 30 minutes a day and so he did.


And I’m surprised to get this in my inbox. So yes I’m proud of him, and he’ll prolly get a $20 Roblox gift card. And anyone is welcome to donate to his Roblox funds lol


To all mommas out there, you are your child’s biggest advocate. Always.


Also, shout out Mira Palsario thanks for the awesome tutoring which has helped Marcus a lot. Will be connecting again with you soon since I got more kids ❤️☺️🎉🎊

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Want to become part of a thriving wellness tribe?

Thursday, August 4, 2022

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Hi awesome reader!


 I hope you’re doing well. As for me, I’m currently recovering from Covid, and it is a pain.


Although I can say that most of my symptoms have subsided (headache, chills, fatigue, muscle and body ache, still have a nasty cough with phlegm plus diarrhea), id says the virus still took a toll on me I’m still feeling tired.


On a lighter note, having Covid kinda pushed me to really slow things down a little and just breathe (literally). Yes, I would still get irritated because our neglected home looked like a pig pen. And sometimes, I feel I am only half rested because we have five kids isolating with us (two are newborns).


But at the end of the day, I’m happy to not be at work at the moment while recovering and watching all the Netflix series I can (hello, true crime documentaries!) and binge-watch my guilty-pleasure-don’t judge-me-reality show: Cheaters lol.


Ok, so now I’m just blabbing, lol.


An Invitation for You:


Every two weeks (starting Sunday, Aug 14th @ 6 PM PST), I lead a wellness lounge/meeting for women looking to become a healthier and more balanced version of themselves.


From Chaos to Connected Tribe: Your Wellness Journey is about finding the right balance between work and play, diet and exercise, self-care and self-improvement, fitness and flexibility.


In this tribe, we are dedicated to improving your life and helping each other do the same. It’s a safe place where you can talk about your struggles and receive advice from people who want to see you succeed.





The group is about finding your true self, expressing it, and helping others do the same.


Are you ready to join? For only $1, you get to trial different tribes like Spiritual Development Essentials, Align by Design (which teaches human design), Restore Your Inner Money Guru (one of my faves, I’m an active member), and many other tribes of special interest.


Check out From Chaos to Connected Tribe here, and let me know...will I see you on August 14th @ 6 PM PST?


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You won't believe what I did

Friday, May 13, 2022

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I did something extreme just very recently. Actually, I had this epiphany that finally came to terms with me when I finally let go and shared this with the Universe and my excellent mentor and biz coach last week. 



Side note: The coach I hired works with women transitioning their idea into a business, and I love how she specializes in helping you overcome fear. IMO fear seems too basic, yet everyone gets set back by fear and anxiety at some point. And sometimes, it’s easier to tell yourself to just get over this fear rather than actually getting over it.



Let me share a quick background: For the past few years, I’ve transitioned from becoming a health/life coach to a blogger, then back to coaching then blogging again without having much clarity on who I am helping, what I’m helping, that person with and why help her to begin with.




But then this idea in my head keeps getting louder and louder. I have been working on a group coaching program for the past 3-4 months, and I’ve put a lot of effort into it. As much as I feel aligned with the program itself because it is “me,” I still feel something is missing.


Anyways, this may shock you, so prepare yourself.


Whenever something big happens in my life or business, I HAVE to tell my readers.


This epiphany is something that really matters to me… so here I am, sharing this with you!


… Are you ready for it?


I’m taking a break from coaching.


There. I said it.



Before you start unsubscribing or throwing eggs at me, let me explain myself! I have a perfect reason behind why I decided to take a break from it.


It may go against my purpose, but here’s why I did it:


I know and absolutely believe that my passion and purpose lie in creating meaningful connections with women, especially moms like me but I feel like I’m on the wrong platform and somehow doing it the “misaligned” way.



So instead of coaching them, I want to celebrate them.




With this decision, I want to provide a platform for you, strong mom, to share your own unique story, dreams, visions, etc. w judgment or worry over wine, coffee, tea, or even freshly infused alkaline water! 



Note: I’ve always believed there’s truth in wine, and there’s something about it that allows you to relax and overcome your inhibitions. Eventually, the truth comes out when you finally feel that nothing is holding you back in your body.


Here's the thing.



I have listened to countless podcasts celebrating 6-figure-earner go-getter moms, whether they are staying at home raising kids or building their career and side hustle at the same time. I get it. They work their ass. They have connections. And that is good. Make money. Hell yes.



But I have never heard the story of the mom who is struggling to achieve what little or huge dream she has. Is this you? If so, I want to know about you, regardless of how much money you have in your bank account, whether you’re hustling or not. Whether you are starting your business, in the middle of it, or don’t’ care much for the entrepreneur life. If you have a hobby you are super passionate about, please share so.



I want to know how you’re changing diapers while setting your alarm clock @ 1:45 PM so you can take a quick 20-minute nap before you pick up your first grader with your 6-month baby in tow, all the while spending the last $20 of your budget on a Canva template tutorial so you can sell some digital products in Etsy without your so-called well-meaning family members or friends ever realizing it for fear of judgment.



I want to know how you’re waking up at 4:30 am to prep your kid’s snack, get them ready for daycare while you make time for your morning coffee, shit, and shower routine, and be out the door to beat the traffic at 5:45 am, bracing yourself for the 1.5-hour drive ahead.



I want to know how you made plans on Friday night to wake up @ 5 am on a Saturday to do some much needed Saturday morning self-care routine as it’s plastered all over your IG feed, telling you how you need that time because it is good for you (and I agree)…only to be woken up by a ready to go toddler asking you to go to the beach @ 4:59 AM.



I want to provide a sacred space for you to be vulnerable and casually ask yourself: “Will I ever get there?” There- which mean different things to different people. “There” can be a restful, uninterrupted sleep. “There" can be a business breakthrough or a profit goal you have yet to achieve. “There” can be your first sale in your business. There can simply be nailing your morning routine so your first grader can finally show up on time to school.



Because it’s ok to doubt yourself sometimes.


I doubt myself too.


I doubt myself while writing this. Is this something that the world needs? Another place to vent?


Maybe by expressing yourself (or venting, as you may call it), you are actually helping another soul, say, on the other side of the world or street?


Maybe by sharing your truth and becoming as authentic as you are in a casual convo over wine or tea or whatever, you are inspiring the next person to accept the frustrations of her life so she may learn to thrive in them instead of resisting them?


After all, this is simply an idea. But if you like it, and if you have a story you wanna share (every story I believe is worth sharing no matter how uneventful you think it is), will you let me know?


Hit reply/comment and share your brief story so you can be the first (or one of the first) in my list of amazing moms ready to share their truth.



Can’t wait!


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