Feeling isolated, scared, overwhelmed, frustrated, or just ready to go insane? The term social distancing has abruptly blown into our lives and it is not unusual that we are having trouble weathering its storm. While everyone has felt like they are at the end of their rope before, these are unprecedented times. Our family is no different, but we have found some useful tips to help adjust to these crazy days. Below is a list of ways to deal with the COVID-19 Lock-down.
We are by no means experts in mental health but we have 5 kids, work full-time jobs, run a small farm, and have many other side projects. So we have a decent amount of experience in time-management and keeping kids entertained. We wanted to share with you a list of things we do to manage our current situation with the pandemic. Even though most of these are common sense, we hope they will help you out. So with no further ado, here is our list at keeping sane:
Virtual School
- Designate the On-call Parent – Schedule in advance who will be “on-call” for that day. Since both of us work, we alternate days of who will play the role of the virtual teacher, troubleshooter of computer issues, and assisting the really little ones with school work. This allows one parent to be fully committed to their “real job” on their virtual day off. It also prevents the stress and frustration of switching between your work and your kid’s. By keeping to the schedule, it allows you to plan/attend meetings without the kids storming in complaining that the math homework is ridiculously long or that the history assignment will never help them achieve their life-long dream as a professional you-tuber.
- Establish a routine – We start in the morning after breakfast. This way the kids are fresh and ready to go. If you wait until later in the day, you may have issues with them losing interest because they are tired. Get the kids into a routine and stick to it. It helps for several reasons
- – Sync your working time with the kids as much as possible, then even the “on-call” parent can get a significant amount their real work done.
- – Stick to their school time routines every weekday so it’s ingrained and leads to less fighting/hassle for you to get them to work.
- – Kids take responsibility to ensure work is turned in on time each day. You should not have to babysit the older ones through each assignment. All you should need to do it help resolve areas of confusion and spot check that all work is done at the end of day.
- Separate kid’s work areas – Have the kids in different work areas so they are less prone to distract each other or you. Note: For really young kids, we set them up a work station in the room we are working. They tend to require more assistance and this alleviates you from walking back and forth a hundred times.
- Eat lunch together– Share a family meal to be with each other. It breaks up the work day nicely and gives all parties some social time. In addition, it avoids multiple interruptions as kids eat at different times and need help with stove or are looking for things in fridge.
- Kids take turns making lunches for the family -Most kids enjoy getting a little more responsibility as long as it is not overwhelming. Whomever makes the makes the meal gets to select what the lunch course will be. Anyone not happy can make their own. This teaches them to be more self-reliant and takes some of the load off the parent. Be sure to praise them and make a big deal out of it, they will love it!
Keep Kids Engaged
As time goes on, your kids (and you) may start to get bored with the same old activities in the same old house. So try to do something new every few days.
You can start projects they can do alone or ones where they work side by side with you. Better yet is if it involves physical activity. We made a simple rope swing from a tree in the back yard. We let them enjoy it and play on it like crazy. When their interest waned, then we started on a new project. If they can help, often it makes them more invested and as a result take care of it.
Other projects you can do: build a simple tether ball setup, start a simple garden/raised beds, build a fort, install a slack line, or clean the garage/attic/basement. Try to think of things you wanted to do in the past, but did not have time. A lot of items can be ordered online or delivered to your home so you do not have to go out and risk exposure to the virus.
Exercise for Everyone
We try to make sure EVERYONE is taking time outside for exercise DAILY. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!!! Get out with the family or by yourself for some quiet time. But by getting the kids moving, their excess energy is kept in check. This leads to less fights, yelling, and generally a happier existence for kids and parents. We are blessed to have some land for them to run around on. But even if you are in an apartment you can go on walking paths, parks, and green-ways. Of course, just remember to limit your contact with other people.
Often times it does not take a lot of effort on your part to come up with ideas that will interest them…. Walk the dog as a family, explore a new trail, have a picnic. Another example: If you have a trampoline, just add 2 or 3 beach balls. Now your kids can pelt each other while playing trampoline dodge ball. They get energy out (and some stress) and have a ton of fun.
**Useful tip: If one of kids is acting up, have them do push-ups, sit-ups, or run laps. This essentially punishes them, gets them exercising, and tires them out all at the same time. They will curb their behavior or burn off the excess energy and relax.
It is important that parents take time out to get some workouts in too. This may require more creativity than usual since most gyms are closed. You could do manual labor (clearing trees, digging a garden, or build something). There is always cycling, running, or those exercise tapes you tucked away long ago. This exercise time is important because it can help you burn off a lot of your accumulated pandemic stress….while get some time by yourself. Again use the “on-call” parent to watch the kids while you go for a run.
Focus on The Good, Limit the Bad
We try to read the local news only once or twice a day for updates. But avoid much more than that. We find that watching it too much is going to drive up your stress levels, make you depressed, and give you the general feeling the world is plummeting into the toilet. And this applies to negative social media too….Try to focus on positive areas in your life and working on helping in areas you really have the ability to change.
Instead focus on things positive things like:
- Helping your neighbors with supplies, food, or other items. Doing good, makes you feel good.
- Do projects around the house that you never had time for: Planting flowers/garden, reading new books, cleaning out the shed, cooking, or taking an online course. By achieving goals like these, you will start to feel like you are working to improve you situation.
- Take time to laugh -Find some reliable sources of humor. We try to visit them at least once a day for a laugh. We enjoy watching:The Holderness Family – they have funny videos all the time…especially now with the stay at home videos.
- The onion website– funny news
- The good news network – news outlet that focuses on good news only.
- Youtube comedian skits
- Family Movie Night – a couple times a week we all curl up in our bed and watch a good family movie. Some of the kids absolutely love this. With Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and all the other streaming services there is no need to leave the house to find great entertainment.
- Spend time with pets – They bring out the best in us and often time make us laugh. Throw a ball, take a walk, or just spend some time loving your creatures.
Limit the Sweets
While the sugary snacks taste so delicious, they will most likely supercharge your already energized kids. Especially now that they may be cut-off from playing with friends outside, their normal physical activity levels may have dropped. So we tend to keep the sweet snacks to minimum. This keeps us sane and also the kids from bouncing off the walls.
The one caveat is we use sweet snacks as rewards for helping us out. Examples: Kids were clearing brush and trees, stacking wood, shoveling topsoil, and planting the garden (not all at once…we aren’t monsters!). So they have earned a ton of sweets, but this is balanced out by the physical activity they have done at each activity.
Cook Homemade Meals
I am not sure why, but for some reason cooking food for the family makes me really, really happy. I am not sure if that is normal. But since the lock-down started, I have made bread, white chocolate baguettes, honey glazed chicken wings, homemade chicken soup, pork chops with a mustard sauce…. you get the picture. Crack open a cookbook or find online recipes to add a little spice to your life (see what I did there?).
We have been eating pretty healthy and enjoying it too. You can use this opportunity to try new recipes, feed the family, and pass on the knowledge. By including the kids in the process, it keeps them out from in front of the TV and learn a valuable skill for life. In fact, tonight we are going to have a meal cooked by the older two girls. They are super excited about it and it give Liz and I a nice night off.
Keep it clean!
<photo deleted due to threat by wife>
OK, this is not my strong-suit during our Corona-vacation. I have been guilty of piling clothes, dirty dishes, and even hay in places they should not be….much to the chagrin of my wife.
Just like school, setup routines in the house to ensure things stay relatively tidy. Load/unload the dishwasher, put dirty dishes away after each meal, empty the sink, toys cleaned up each day, etc… This prevents having to deal with a giant, overwhelming mess. Not to mention fights breaking out over the “pig sty” the house has become.
Stay in touch with others
If you are introvert, enjoy this time and rejoice in the awesomeness of this seclusion. On the other hand, if you are an extrovert, reach out to people via phone, texting, or using newer technologies like ZOOM! Using Zoom you can video chat with a large group of people for 40 mins before being cut off. Catching up using the free license of zoom is pretty easy. They have apps for mobile phones and computers too. It has really been great for our family.
Parents
- – Take time away from kids and your spouse to talk with your friends or work buddies.
- – Take time out with you and your spouse to communicate with each other without the kids around. This give you time to talk without interruption and about more serious items that may not be appropriate for the little ones.
Family
As a family reach out to other family members and talk to them. Whether your older relatives or your younger ones….It will make you feel more connected. The other night we were on zoom with at least 20 other relatives from around the country.
Kids
- – Let them zoom with their school friends to reconnect. Allow them time to talk with each other about what they have been doing, tell some silly jokes, or just goof off.
- – Kids- Loosen the reins a bit.. We allow them to play online video games during the week from time to time. Many of the games have online chat sessions so they can talk to their friends as they play the game. This way they stay connected.
Finally, thank you for reading our little article. I hope you picked up some useful tips. Please click below to join our newsletter if you have not. We talk about many different things (not just soap and natural skin care). If you join, you will get a 20% off coupon to stock up on Fiddle Tree Farm all natural soaps and lotions to help keep yourself happy and healthy!
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