As parents, what we do matters. Especially when children and adults alike are facing out of the ordinary situations.
When the media and the politicians seem to be intent on arguing more than reporting and discussing, it is even more important that our reactions do not fan the flame? For instance, is there not a nice way to say that you understand that a comment may not have been intended to sound insensitive, but it just kind of bothered you? It is easy to understand people being upset by online comments, but it is important to stop for a moment and say what you mean with a little gentleness. As parents, it is important to believe she didn’t mean to upset anyone so, at the end of the day, isn’t that really what search for the good intentions and not always be so negative with our reactions.
You do not have to say that everyone else’s behavior and comments are okay, but it is important to not demonstrate that you are constantly annoyed by other people’s opinions.
With so much stress going on: shootings, hatred, coronavirus quarantines, being kept from your loved one’s, businesses being forced to close, shortages of things you want or need, maybe it is time to just take a moment to breathe? Is not this a time when we should try to believe that most people are good? Should we not be a little slower to react?
Parents Take on the Roles of Teachers During This Pandemic
Finding a way to make things normal at home during the latest events will not always be easy, but it is important for parents to remember that sometimes routine tasks can help children acclimate to even the most challenging of times. Dig through the bedrooms shelves, under the beds, and in the basement and locate all of those books that you have in your house. With that colored spine tape or other kinds of colored tape that you bought years ago but never used, set your children to the task of organizing their favorite, sometimes forgotten, titles. Use this as a time to not only read the favorite books again, but also spend some quality family time getting your house in order. All of those tasks that you never slow down for in the summer, can now get your attention. Whether it is an old roll of medical labels or tape from the first aid cabinet or something you recently bought for a spring project, now is the time to make sure that you are engaging your children in more than just screen time and worrying.
Just as retired nurses and doctors may be looking back through the medical labels on their old textbooks and notes, so, too, can parents spend time making sure that they are assessing everything in their home. This pandemic is going to last longer than most of us care to admit, but there are ways that we can keep busy and productive. Finding a way to engage our children while they are at home is going to be important, especially for those parents who are also having to work from home now. With medical labels intended for other purposes or other kinds of specialty labels, parents can create a school like setting for their children, while at the same time getting some organizational work accomplished.
If you have a house that is unorganized, then you will not be surprised to know that an average of four weeks is lost each year waiting on misfiled, mislabeled, or untracked documents. And while school time at home should not be an excuse to force children to clean their closets, many families realize by taking a little bit of time to prepare a learning space, the study time will be more effective. from medical labels to freshly organized filing cabinets and book shelves, this can be a time when you make the most of the days when you are stuck at home. The more than 119,000 libraries in the U.S. are closed for now, so getting your own books in order will help you create a new normal for your family. The new school day is here.
