Let’s face it: the coming days, weeks, or even months likely won’t showcase our most stellar parenting. And you know what? That’s completely fine. In fact, I expect that from myself, and I hope my family does too.
Honestly, some days I struggle to give it my all. And by “some days,” I mean every single day. I’m feeling overwhelmed. Aren’t you? Every time I turn on the news or scroll through social media, it’s the same thing—COVID-19 everywhere.
So here’s the deal: whatever challenges you’ve faced recently, let’s take a step back. Or maybe even seven steps back.
If you’ve suddenly become a stay-at-home parent now doubling as a homeschool teacher, it’s okay to just get through the day. We all have the right to skip the Pinterest-perfect crafts and elaborate science projects. This is tough enough without letting social media dictate our parenting standards. Seriously, am I going to exhaust all my patience on puppet shows, tea parties, and baking cookies? Absolutely not.
Perhaps your office has shut down, and now you’re juggling work-from-home responsibilities while trying to homeschool. You might not even have a proper workspace since it was too complicated to fit your office desk in your car. I see you there, balancing your laptop on the kitchen counter, managing dinner prep while on a conference call, or sitting on the bedroom floor surrounded by toys and snacks. Or maybe you’re just taking a moment to cry in the shower—your first shower in three days. It’s perfectly okay if your child is spending too much time on the iPad right now, and it’s even fine if they aren’t engaged in educational activities.
Life has thrown us all unprecedented challenges, and we will inevitably miss some of them. Honestly, I’ve missed almost all of them this past week. The key is to keep trying.
Do your best today—or maybe just do what you can. Then, wake up tomorrow and do it all over again.
Can we also agree to lower our expectations for our kids during this time? Most of us simply cannot keep up with activity schedules. It’s perfectly fine if they get bored; we don’t have to fill every moment with structured activities. We aren’t running a theme park here. Just yesterday, my two youngest were staring at each other, utterly bored (and this was only day two of our new reality!). Then, I heard them exclaim, “Let’s go downstairs and growl at each other!” and off they went.
Let’s give ourselves permission to slow down. They’ll find something to entertain themselves, even if it’s odd or messy.
Every day, we’re just trying to manage. Honestly, I’m not aiming for any parenting awards these days. Despite my background as a teacher and a stay-at-home mom to four daughters, ages four to seventeen, I find this transition incredibly challenging. I don’t even want to label myself as a homeschooling parent because I feel so far from having it all figured out.
Interestingly, I haven’t seen any posts from seasoned homeschoolers saying, “I told you so.” Instead, they’re reaching out to help new parents navigate this transition. Thank you for your support, but I might just need you to come over and hold my hand through this.
Finally, let’s remember that our children are observing us. How we handle this global crisis will leave a lasting impression on them. Every single person has been affected by this fast-moving, frightening situation, but your response at home will have the most significant impact. Will they see fear or anxiety? Or can we demonstrate resilience and positivity? Let’s show them that it’s okay not to have everything under control right now, that we’re all just doing our best—whatever that may look like.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a long-time homeschooling mom, a dad working at the kitchen counter, or someone suddenly out of work, it’s perfectly acceptable to just get by at this moment.
This is NOT our finest hour. And remember: it’s okay if your child spends too much time on the iPad. Just avoid giving them access to Pinterest—they might create unnecessary chaos in your life.
For more insights, check out this other blog post about parenting during these challenging times. Also, if you’re looking for reliable information on home insemination, Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kit is a great resource, as well as this comprehensive guide on IUI.
Summary
Parenting during uncertain times can be overwhelming, and it’s essential to acknowledge that we’re not at our best right now. Lowering our expectations, allowing kids to experience boredom, and showing them that it’s okay not to have everything figured out are crucial during this period.
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