Let's face it, we're living in a weird time that we don't exactly have the right label for. We're not really getting back to normal. But we are emerging from quarantine and the heavy pandemic lock downs, but we still aren't back to normal.
Our family has had kids with different school schedules and some have done really well and some have really missed the socialization of school and regular activities.
In fact, we had 2 graduations with our kids and instead of being a weepy mess, I found myself just marching through it all like a robot. So there's a lot of feelings that haven't been processed yet, for both me and my kids.
Show Highlights:
- The compressed timeline of trying to fit everything we missed for a year in just a few weeks has been surreal.
- It's been jarring to return to a normal hectic schedule.
- If we stop to feel, we can easily get overwhelmed.
- We're heading into summer with frantic energy to do something.
- Do we really want to go back to crazy hectic schedules with something scheduled every night?
- What you allow back into your life will require deep reflection.
- When you ask your kids what they want to do, normally they choose at least one less activity.
- Include your children in the family discussions and talk about how everyone is feeling.
- If you are fighting your kids about a certain activity, have a conversation with your kids about it. Drop it if they don't want to do it.
- Explore alternatives - a different time, a different teacher/coach, a different program, etc.
- If you have small children, keep checking in with them.
- Be aware of the fact that this can be jarring for little ones. They went through multiple life stages during a global pandemic.
- You don't have to have all the answers. Get input and make the best decisions you can.
Steps to a Sane Transition:
- Tune into your own self - what do you want to hang onto and what needs to change?
- Bring your kids into it.
- Be explicit about what has gone on for the last 18 months.
- Bring little children in just to get a pulse on their feelings.
- Check in with each other often.
Resources:
Mindful Parenting Courses
critzking@wonderincwellness.com
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