The past 10 weeks have been — aside from the earliest days of my children’s lives — the most harrowing of my life. Like you, I’m sure, I’ve had days where I don’t want to get out of bed. I’ve had moments where a fit of laughter at an episode of “New Girl” turns into a fit of uncontrollable and inexplicable sobs.
Similarly, my kids have regressed in interesting ways. My 7 year old developed a very real fear of going outside, which has only in the past few days started subsiding (getting him to wear a mask has been a breeze, at least). My 4 year old is constantly in my arms and has had numerous accidents of late. Suffice it to say, it’s a challenging time for everyone, and no one, it seems, is excused from having big feelings at this moment. And that’s OK! Feeling the feelings, and being comfortable expressing your worries and doubts is healthy. Indeed, in the case of our kids, learning to be resilient is something they can carry with them after this is over, which is why I love this piece about how to help develop that muscle in our kids right now.
As Neha Navsaria, a psychiatry professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a consultant at the parenting skills site Parent Lab, told reporter Caroline Bologna: “While we certainly don’t want our children to experience a pandemic crisis, it is important to view this time as an opportunity for growth. This is the strange but positive side to adapting to the current times. Sitting with uncertainty is one of the most difficult tasks for any human being to do. Learning how to manage it is one of the best skills one can develop to contribute to mental wellness.”
So I’m hoping to take this time, especially this summer at Camp Mommy & Daddy & Screens, to help my children understand, process and grow to be resilient and learn the power and control that can come with it.
Be well, everyone, and as always, if you have thoughts or questions feel free to email me at [email protected].
FYI, you won’t see me in your inbox next week because of Memorial Day, but I’ll see you back here when it’s “officially” summer.
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