Pandemic parenting lessons
Living and parenting through a pandemic has been challenging — to say the least — but it hasn’t been all bad.
Difficult experiences teach valuable lessons and many parents have learned a lot about what they really need, what they have always taken for granted, and what they truly value. Here are some of the parenting lessons I have learned during this unprecedented time.
FOOD INSECURITY IS SCARY
I never really gave much thought to where food comes from or my ability to access what I need for my family. That was until many grocery store shelves were bare and some items were hard to find. As a result, I have a renewed interest in teaching my children about gardening, buying local, meal planning, cooking, and baking from scratch.
KIDS ARE RESILIENT
Although this pandemic has been difficult for children, they are finding ways to adapt. They are adjusting to the need to wear masks and use hand sanitizer. They are also finding new ways to learn and they are learning to socialize in a safe way.
DOWNTIME IS IMPORTANT
We live in a society that values organized sports and activities for our youth, but children need downtime, too. The pandemic was a good reminder that letting our kids experience boredom and allowing them to plan their own activities are worthwhile exercises.
FAMILY TIME IS VALUABLE
Too often, my family is busy and running in opposite directions. The pandemic slowdown allowed many families, including mine, to spend more time together, getting outside, eating meals, playing, and watching movies. As things ramp up again, I am trying to remember how important it is to prioritize family time.
GETTING OUTDOORS IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH
With less places to go, getting outdoors became more important than ever. Exploring the outdoors as a family is something I will continue to prioritize long after the pandemic has passed.
HUMAN CONNECTION TAKES MANY FORMS
Gathering limits and social distancing have made traditional means of connecting difficult, but COVID-19 has taught us that human connections take many forms. Before the pandemic, I was wary of my children spending too much time using technology, but I have learned it isn’t all bad and it’s how their generation connects with their peers. My focus has shifted from merely putting limits on technology to teaching my children how to use it responsibly.
NOT ALL DAYS ARE GOOD
If the pandemic has taught me one thing, it’s that not all days are good and that’s OK. No day — and no parent — is perfect. We are all doing our best. The sun will set on a bad day and we’ll have an opportunity to do better when the sun comes up the next morning.
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
The pandemic has caused many economic and social hardships. Many parts of our lives have become unpredictable and out of our control, but we still have the opportunity to control how we respond to difficulties. In challenging times, we have the responsibility to set an example for our children by finding positives in negative situations and facing challenges with a good attitude.
Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come from surprising places. I know we are all hoping for an end to this difficult time soon, but I’m grateful for the lessons this pandemic has taught me and I hope I remember them for many years to come.