After taking some time to get back into mostly working in person, I am back with another blog post! Thanks for hanging in there with me.
We all have to admit that whether your children are back to school in person, hybrid, or 100% virtual, this year does not look like what we were all hoping it would.
I have chosen to send my children back to their early childhood education program in person because they are young and low risk. They have a small program and their school was able to implement great social distancing, masking, and infection control guidelines that made me feel safe for my family and those around us. I watched my oldest daughter, now 4 years old, suffer greatly after she stopped going to school and hanging out with other kids and feared that my son, who was born preemie, would fall behind if he didn’t start school soon. After only a few days in person, I am already seeing a big difference!
This post is to help parents start the school year with a positive mindset and some resources, not to debate which option is best. With all the uncertainty and anxiety going around, I think it is very important to support each other, regardless of which school version your child is attending.
Below are some tips and links to rock this back to school business!
- Focus on what you can control. This idea comes up over and over again, no matter what the topic is. This is because trying to change things beyond our control is impossible and will only lead to further anxiety and stress. Many of us are upset about the options that are available but fixating on these will not make things better for anybody.
- Don’t judge other families for their choices. You never know what situation everyone has at home or what they are going through in their life right now. Being supportive of our community and those are around us will get us through all the craziness.
- Create a routine! I can’t emphasize that enough. Most people already started school this week or in the last few weeks. Make sure you and your children have a set schedule, whether everyone is home, outside the home, or any combination of locations. See links at the end of article on how to set up a space for your kids. If you haven’t already, set up a space for yourself.
- Get back to the basics. In Neurology, we call these Healthy Habits and use it to help our patients with migraines and frequent headaches. Drink lots of water, get good sleep, don’t skip meals, eat a healthy, well balanced diet, exercise frequently, and acknowledge any stress or mood issues (depression, anxiety). I know I definitely let my children’s diet and screen time get out of control since I felt both guilty and overwhelmed by everyone being home all the time. Time to get back on track!
- Make time for yourself. It sounds crazy to even say it, right? My first thought when anyone says that is “yeah, right”… between working at home and the hospital, the infinite number of Zoom meetings, emails at all hours of the day, kids, husband, house, you get it. But it truly makes a difference in how much we can “pour” in our daily lives. I have found that exercising daily or as close to daily as possible and meditation help me release negativity and feel more relaxed. Journaling before bed is also a great tool to quiet the mind before sleep.
- Address concerns for mood disorders or other mental health issues. There are some mental health providers that are now offering free, discounted, and/or virtual options at normal rates( particularly for frontline providers). If you work for a hospital, there may be free or discounted options built in. I am not sure if this is true for other large corporations, but it may be worth checking it out. The pandemic has worsened the condition of those with already existing depression, anxiety, and substance abuse to mention a few disorders, and it has also negatively affected the mental health of many adults and children throughout the world. Please talk to your pediatrician if you are worried about your child’s mental health.
- Get involved in your community and schools. Join re-opening committees, parent committees, or participate in any local meetings going on. One of the good things about virtual meetings is that it makes them more accessible to everyone (also one of the worst things!). This may not be for everyone but it can be one way to get your voice heard.
- Vote! Ok, this one has nothing to do with going back to school but please vote 🙂
- Be kind. Things are hard for everyone right now. I feel silly writing this but a ten minute scroll through many Facebook groups really reminds you that being kind is a choice.
Resources
- Check out Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab https://policylab.chop.edu/ for back to school blog posts, school re-opening guidelines, and many other resources.
- Helpful article on New York Times on how to set up a remote learning space. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/remote-learning-space-set-up/.
- Lucie’s List was a lifesaver when I first became a parent. Their website now has tons of articles on back to school resources, from PPE, to back to school gear, to setting up a remote space, and more. https://www.lucieslist.com/.
Getting good back to school pictures is still an issue in our household…