Moms are really struggling right now. They are trying to deal with a global pandemic, work from home, combat loneliness and help their child navigate virtual learning. COVID-19 has forced everyone to change how they live their lives. It has forced everyone to wear a mask when they are out in public, and they have had to distance themselves from their friends and family. It has also forced schools to go virtually to try and prevent children from catching the virus. While some schools are open for in-person learning, a lot of them stayed virtual and some parents made the choice to stay virtual to protect their children.
However, this has come with a lot of sacrifice and stress, and a lot of it has fallen on mom. Moms who are trying to work from home, take care of younger children who are home from daycare, and make sure that their home is clean and safe.
“I Am So Stressed”
Teachers and educators have tried to make this transition as easy as possible on students and parents, but it has not been perfect. According to Global News, moms are really feeling the pressure and it is causing a lot of stress. Nikki Gorzo is a mom who said that her home has been turned upside down. She has been temporarily laid off from her job, and now helps her 8-year-old daughter with virtual schooling while making sure her 2-year-old son is safe and entertained.
Nikki states that this has been very stressful on her, as her daughter has special needs and while she tries to help her daughter with her school, she realizes that she is not a teacher, and she has a hard time knowing what her daughter needs.
Nikki’s story is only one of many that can be heard across the world. Moms who find themselves juggling a lot of tasks and are wondering how they are supposed to navigate through all of this and come out (largely) unscathed when it is all over.
Realistic Expectation
While a lot of focus has been on the wellbeing of a child’s mental health, mom needs to make sure she is taking care of her own. According to The American Institute of Stress, Dr. Annette Nunez is a psychotherapist who had some words of advice for moms out there. She stated that moms really needed to work on their mental health and managing their stress, and the best way to do that is to have realistic expectations when it comes to virtual learning.
Dr. Annette said that it is clear that moms are juggling a lot right now, and they need to adapt a more 'go with the flow' attitude toward virtual schooling. She said the attention should not fully be on making sure children are getting the academic skills like they would be if they were in a classroom. She said this is the time to teach children how to work independently and have a more laid-back attitude. This is the perfect time to teach children how to be flexible when life goes a little off track.
Take A Break
Teachers have been making sure that students take breaks throughout the day, to give them a bit of a breather from looking at a screen. Mom needs to remember to take some breaks for herself throughout the day, according to VeryWell Family. This is part of the new go-with-the-flow attitude. If you need to take your child with you and go for a walk for 15 minutes during school, then that is what you need to do. Mom needs to step away every not and then to collect her thoughts and recharge.
If a break can not happen during the school day, make sure you set some time after school for some time for yourself. Communicate with your partner or support system about what you need. Even if that is just 15 minutes to go in a quiet room and sit by yourself.
Ask For Help
It is hard for a mom to ask for help, she may not want to feel like she can not handle it all. It may seem easy to just grit our teeth and get through it, but all that is going to do is get us to burnt-out city a lot faster. When you feel like things are getting to overwhelming, reach out and ask for help. Even if that help is just a listening ear. Call on your partner, family, and friends to provide you with some support.
It is also wise to reach out to your child’s teacher should you need any assistance. Ask for some help in how to help your child grow and learn. Most teachers would not have a problem with providing a quick, 15-minute phone call with a parent if it means helping a family succeed. Even a quick e-mail can sometimes be all the communication you need to get through the next day. When every single person involved acts as a team, it is going to make the load a lot easier to carry.
Sources: Very Well Family, Global News, The American Institute of Stress