Not All is Lost
The trauma of the pandemic on both children and adults it real. No one is immune, I speak for working mothers. We are all going through a very emotional and stressful time. Here is an informative video on How our brains are processing the pandemic. It is no secret that every household has been gripped by moments of anxiety as I describe below. However, humans are resilient. There will always be happy moments.
Get to know yourself
Also get to know your child
Listen to what makes them tick
We are lucky it is Spring time and there are new flowers and buds coming out everyday.
Together observe the small things that surround you for example: pebbles and tiny flowers, the fuzzy caterpillar… as you take the same walk around the block for the 10th time this week…
May
Started our walk with both kids refusing to walk in the same direction
It was a Screaming Meltdown
A lady who passed us at a safe 2m distance smiled and whispered “Bonne chance!“
My head was pounding and my mind reeling after an intense staff meeting online regarding the upcoming opening of schools.
But I trudged on
Promised chocolate milk and chewy bars if they took 10 steps together without ripping each other to pieces
Trudged up the hill with a 5 year old strapped to my back the outgrown and ripped Tula baby carrier
Why am I doing this?
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Listen to the birds
Focus on taking one step at a time. Observe the trees and the clouds.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Regain control over my anxiety
Push on
Clear my head
Let’s sing a song (anything to stop the hamster in my head)
We settled on “10 green bottles”
Will this song ever end? (I ask myself 2 minutes later)
Find a spot beside the path with a few pointy rocks to sit down on.
It’s basically a ditch but the kids seem happy to explore.
Eat some sugary snacks we had brought along. Drink water.
Resist checking my FB messages (self-control… for all of 3 minutes)
Read my messages and the anxiety returns
Put away the phone and three adults in uniform walk past
What are you doing here?
Turns out they are forest firefighters checking up on a possible fire nearby
Decide to turn this into a teachable moment (we have not interacted with other adults in days)
T makes the connection with a friend from Honduras: “We could send them to Ryan to help put out the big fires in Tegucigalpa.”
Proud mama right there!
The mood switches
Let’s play “red light, green light” like last time!
We decide to take a detour to the stream
(It’s basically a ditch but the kids don’t know the difference)
Start throwing huge rocks into the water
Watch them splash
Observe a mom and children, on the opposite bank, doing the same
Resist checking my phone
Look at phone
Resist phone
Put it away.
Listen to the water running.
My heartbeat slows
The hamsters goes to sleep
My legs begin to spasm, then it subsides
Had not noticed, till then, that my whole body was tensed
Release
Everything is lovely
The clouds, the water, the trees
Let happiness back in
Walk home for lunch
Conclusion
Nature calmed me down. Being in the moment with the kids calmed me down. Precious moments like these helped me get through. When we sat by a stream and the rushing water calmed my heartbeat. Or when I overheard B talking English with her toys. When we watched a movie on the projector and camped in our backyard. As I struggle to complete all my work from home during the 90 minute nap window, I observe that my children are learning to be more independent. This new sense of autonomy which stemmed from initially being bored, leads to new ideas and creativity. Take care of yourself. Take care of your mental health.
We’ve got this.
#Ca va bien aller!
Amy, I can so relate as you know from our conversations! You’ve described it so well. It’s exactly that. Take care. 💜