I studied pandemics in school but never could I have imagined what it’s like to live through one. The worry of the unknown, the stress of trying to keep your family safe and healthy, the exhaustion of looking at how to balance home-schooling with working remotely. Realizing how much I take advantage of the luxuries I have in my life.
I consider myself a mama bear, I try to keep pain and worry out of my children’s lives but with a pandemic I can’t shelter them from the truth of what is happening and there has been something wonderful about sheltering them indoors while having honest and open conversations.
It’s important that children can express their emotions, talk about their fears and worries. Denying those feelings will only result in more worry and fear. What I keep talking to my children about is what we take away from this experience in our lives. Traumas are going to happen, sometimes we will be faced with a lot of uncertainties in our life, but what we take away from them, what we learn from them is how we effectively cope with them.
Kids need to stay healthy physically and mentally during this time. I can’t believe how many free resources are out there to keep kids engaged physically and mentally. My son Gabe and I today just made a volcano after stumbling onto Science Buddies. There are online family yogas sessions. I made my oldest do a backpack HIIT workout with me (stuff her backpack with books). Our dining room table has been taken over by a giant puzzle that we as a family contribute to as we walk by. I’ve made hikes into scavenger hunts in attempts to avoid whining. Light sabers on hikes work great too!
Have the kids pick out a recipe and let them cook for everyone.
For the sanity of everyone, chunk out the day into activities that are educational, physical, fun, and down time. I’m trying to stick with my 9 year old 25 min bursts.
Most importantly take time for yourself. So many places are doing free online classes, I’ve tried out so many classes that I have never got to do before since I am a groupex junky at the MAC. MAC instructors and trainers are starting to post workouts online and I just think how awesome it is that people are coming together remotely and in solidarity. I well up with tears of joy seeing neighborhoods doing zumba classes or bingo from their decks.
I try and believe that in every curse there may just be a blessing in disguise. I am consciously making an effort every hour of the day to be thankful to have my family healthy and that I get this extra time with them guilt free; because soon the pandemic will be over, I’ll have to go back to work, they’ll go back to their phones or ipads and friends but I do believe this will all make our community and our families stronger. No one will ever forget the pandemic they lived through, so how do you want yourself and your children to remember it?
I am still seeing patients remotely via telemedicine. If you are interested please reach me directly via my email drlsnelson@gmail.com.