There’s no way we could have seen this coming and no way we could have truly prepared for this new reality. We are in unchartered territory and are going through a rollercoaster of emotions. At least I know that’s true for my friends, family and me. We are beginning to get over our initial shock, still fluctuating between overwhelming amounts of anxiety and worry with bouts of hope, and mourning the life we used to have and took for granted. There have been such enormous changes in such a small amount of time, and it has left our heads spinning. The isolation this situation brings is also difficult for us social creatures, and we are all grieving for those who have fallen victim to this horrific virus, whether we know them directly or not.
You may be working from home or lost your job, and simultaneously trying to be a super-parent and your kid’s new teacher all at the same time. That’s an overwhelming amount of extra pressure. Sure, there may be some things you can do to help the situation go a little smoother, which I wrote about in an article posted on my website, 12 Tips to Help Kids Deal With the Coronavirus. (link below) But today, I’m going to share some advice a mentor of mine gave me when I embarked on my journey as an author and was clueless about the entire publishing process. He said, “You just have to stumble forward.” We may feel overwhelmed trying to figure out this new life and our new roles. Sometimes we’ll fail miserably, and other times we’ll do really well. We just can’t berate ourselves or feel guilty when things don’t go the way we expect or want them to. It’s okay if you’re struggling sometimes or facing fear or doubt, just as long as you keep going. We’re all stumbling forward now, adults and children. Maybe in time we will get a little better at this, and hopefully our lives will return to some semblance of normal again; but until they do, don’t be too hard on yourself or the kids. We’re all facing a big learning curve.
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