I’ve seen several news headlines stating that child abuse cases have increased since COVID-19. We all know- kids are home, parents have turned into teachers overnight, and we are stressed. Don’t let these tough times get the best of you.
The next few days, weeks, hell, maybe even months will definitely be challenging. It’s new for everyone. But I am urging you to not lose your marbles, Mama (and Daddy.) We will get through this.
Life frequently throws us situations. This is one of those times. During this time, don’t overwork yourself trying to do it all. You are allowed to do what you need to do to just get by. Times right now are hard enough as it is. Don’t allow anyone on social media to dictate what you should be doing. Some parents are going overboard with crafty Pinterest activities, state of the art Science experiments and to-die-for DIY projects. If you’re too tired to do that, just hug your child. Watch a movie. Play a family board game. #dasit
Maybe during this time you’re stressed about having to teach your child through the 5,000 resources the teacher has provided. It’s too many directions, too many websites, too many activities, etc. I say to you, just breathe. Take it a day at a time. Hell, my son didn’t start on his online assignments until a few days after he was supposed to. That is how I stay sane. I refuse to overwork myself and get frustrated.
I know you want to do your best. But right now, your best is exhausting- so much has been added to your plate. How about just do what you can- go to sleep, wake up tomorrow and do it again. At this point, it’s all about staying afloat. You shouldn’t be trying to win an award for “Parent of the Year.” As you know, I am an educator. This “online learning” has been the hardest thing for me. And if I’m feeling this way, I can only imagine how parents are feeling who don’t have an education background! Let me pause and take this moment to thank all of the professional homeschool parents for giving amazing tips and tricks on how we fake homeschool parents can cope during this time. Y’all are the real MVPs.
I want to put some things into perspective. When a professional baseball player steps up to the bat, he sometimes swings and misses. That’s how life is right now. Your swings may be off, causing you to miss. However, the most important thing is that you don’t stop swinging. We (adults) will remember what a terrible time this has been. But think about what our kids will remember- spending more time together as a family, sleeping in, delicious home-cooked meals, game nights, being in their pajamas all day, binge-watching Frozen II, etc. Let’s make the best of these times.
Your reaction to what’s going on in the world outside of your home will make the biggest impact on your family. Don’t be anxious, don’t fear, don’t panic. Instead- love more, hug more, read your Bible more, teach more life lessons, etc. It’s not our golden hour; let’s agree to be okay with that.