We Are All In This Together

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

Uncertainty: What will school look like tomorrow? For kids who are going to school in person, tomorrow is uncertain. How can families plan, not knowing from one day to the next what school will look like. What about remote learning? There are a number of families who have talked to me in despair, saying that remote learning isn’t working for the students in their lives. In these COVID days, anxiety is running high for kids and adults. How can we get off of this unpredictable roller coaster ride?

WHAT I AM HEARING

Schools: It happened just the other day. Another school has been told they need to shift from in-person to hybrid. The teachers are anxious, and rightly so. Keeping students motivated and engaged while they are in the classroom, but competing against siblings, pets, YouTube, video games and other distractions in the home is another thing entirely. Lesson planning for both online and in-person instruction takes creativity, patience, and skill.

Families: I have talked with several families who aren’t quite sure how to balance work, remote education, and parenting. I know parents who work outside of their home worried about how they will keep their sons and daughters engaged in school, without being at home with them. Parents are afraid their children are falling behind, and they are anxious about what the future holds.

Teens: Many teens are feeling anxious. Some are expressing this as anger and blaming the schools for remote and hybrid instruction. Others are withdrawing, thinking that nothing they can do will change the pandemic, life is very uncertain, so why bother (with school, chores, family activities). Still, others are trying to control anything and everything in their lives because things seem so out of control.

Everyone: This is a stressful and uncertain time for everyone.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Recognize the heightened levels of stress. Acknowledge that this is a stressful time and that most people are experiencing anxiety and expressing anxiety in some form or another. Feeling anxious is okay.

• Battle the stress. Self-care is a great stress buster! Model self-care. Discuss self-care. Collaborate in self-care. SCHEDULE self-care.

SELF-CARE BRAINSTORM (These are all stress reduction strategies.)

• Enough Sleep

• Exercise

• Eating Healthy Foods

• Practice Mindfulness Daily

• Time with Family/Friends

• Time Outdoors

• Activities that you enjoy

Remember that we are all in this together. If you are looking for more information or ideas, please contact me.