Coronavirus has us all on a major lockdown! What are you doing to stay sane in these times of isolation? We’ve stocked up with lots of food and supplies. Over the weekend, we woke up to our son proudly saying he’d eaten seven bowls of cereal. Luckily, I know he never pours a full bowl – but still. So, yeah, we had a talk about food consumption.
For all of us, this is something we’ve never experienced. I feel like this is a real life Bird Box situation. You know the Netflix movie with Sandra Bullock where people were on lock down and were trying to survive this mysterious thing that was taking people out. I almost wish I hadn’t watched that movie now. Coronavirus is feeling way too close to something out of a movie.
I was talking to my husband the other night and I told him that along with the coronavirus, the things that’s making this worse it that we have a huge lack of leadership. There’s no one in charge that reassuring or even delivering consistent facts. That makes it hard to be calm. That creates situations like panic shopping. I mean, what ARE people doing with all the toilet paper?
Coping in the coronavirus madness
In any event, I’m feeling my way around and trying to cope in this madness. One thing about being a mom, I know I have to be a touchstone of peace for my kids. If I’m freaking out, they would certainly lose it too. They already have enough to wrap their minds around. They had their last day of school on Friday. Some of the kids didn’t know until they were dismissed and other students or parents told them. They were blindsided in a way. I say in a way because I had told my son that I thought this might be coming and that I’d be homeschooling him.
My kids are missing their friends and the normal routine of school. I’m trying to maintain a structure here that supports what they are used to but the friend thing – I can’t help with that. To make matters worse, when they ask how long it will be this way, there’s no concrete answer to give them. So, what’s a mom to do?
Be honest – I tell them what I know based on what they ask. I don’t give them the entire situation because it is so much to handle.
Focus on the good – We’re planning a few virtual playdates for them with local friends as well as some that are out of state.
Find something that excites them – I found this site where kids can write and publish their own book. They have been working on books for a while but we hadn’t published them. We’ve got time now. They also took an art class with Mo Willems and a dance class with Debbie Allen for PE via Instagram live.
How are you helping your kids deal with the massive changes?
