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An assuredly major mark in future world history, this Covid-19 Pandemic is life-altering and habit-changing. Who knew that in the matter of a month’s time, we could go from our “normal” lives of working, going to school, eating out at restaurants, shopping in stores at leisure, playing sports, rushing around…to staying home, completing schoolwork, work, shopping, all online. Parenting during Covid-19 is not for the faint of heart, and we are all just doing our best. We all have different situations: some have “essential” jobs and others may be filing for unemployment. Some have young kids who can be exhausting to keep busy, and others have teenagers who wish for peace. We all know of someone who is sick, and we do our best to stay healthy ourselves. As we all parent through this time, we have to be patient and forgiving with ourselves.
Changing Habits
My daughter and I have started walking 3 miles a day with our dogs. We still get up at a reasonable hour because I believe we need to be on somewhat of a schedule for our health and for school and online work, but we do not set alarms. We watch TV together and play games. As a family, we work around our (new-to-us-that-needs work) property.
During this time, my husband and I have decided to let the kids watch more TV, play more video games, and facetime and talk on the phone and text more often, because that IS their social time with their friends right now, and we believe they need that.
This whole quarantine thing is getting old, even for this introvert, but we want to be a part of the solution for our community and country. As we pray for those who are sick, or on the front lines, we also pray we do not get sick.
Healthier Eating Habits
During this crazy time, it’s not unusual to eat 3 real, homecooked meals a day around the table as a family. We are eating healthier these days. I make sure we get our fruits and vegetables and real food, not as much processed. Simple meals we like, made with real ingredients. I can’t say we are losing weight, though, because we are home and eating ALL THE TIME! Our animals wonder what is up because their humans are always here!! This whole quarantine thing is very strange. Every morning we wake up and think it’s a dream, but quickly realize the reality we are in.
Parenting During Covid-19
It all sounds strange, but there is so much good to this situation too. While being at home together all the time brings its own set of stressors, and we are fortunate to have a large property and house (fixer upper, but still, we can all retreat to our own corners!), I have found that this time is forcing us to deal with some parenting issues that in our busyness, get relegated to the back burners.
For too long, we have gone from commitment to commitment, with little time to slow down. Our kids are in school with their teachers and then at their after school activities, and we are parenting in the margins. And we are all generally exhausted at best then! But now, we get the opportunity to love each other family member through this situation, and slow down, appreciate each other, and work through the issues as they come up!
This is important to me, and I am thankful for this time to slow down. I don’t want to get to the finish line, and I’m not sure where that even is, maybe when they go off to college or maybe it’s way beyond that, and realize that we didn’t do the work that mattered. Proverbs 31- even though I fail often, this is my ideal. I want to make sure we parented where it mattered. That our kids knew that we were in their corners and that we expected growing character and integrity among them. More than anything, I want them to know that their worth is in God’s high view and calling of them, and everybody else’s falls less than that.
Parenting Books
I occasionally read new parenting books, and I’ve ordered a few new ones to start soon. We want to be faithful to the calling of being parents. I would love to hear what parenting books have shaped your role as parents. Some that I have read through in the past are below. I believe it’s so important to pray for our children continually and teach them, as it says in Deuteronomy 6:5-9. These books have been insightful to us through this parenting journey.
Devotionals for Kids
What insightful books have you read that you recommend? You can comment below or email us at [email protected]. This Covid-19 came out of nowhere to us, but God is not surprised. We can use this time to glorify Him by enjoying the people he has given us in our families and working to love them better. Praying for all of you readers to have peace, sanity, wisdom, love, and good health in this time!
