Parenting During Coronavirus: You Are Enough

See the original article here: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/parenting-during-coronavirus-you-are-enough

When I called a friend to tell her how I was failing at enrichment activities for the kids recently — there’s been lots of screen time and maybe some stress eating — she interrupted me and said: You are enough.

I’m grateful for all the guidance on daily learning schedules, at-home science experiments, parent-led learning activities and online tours of the world’s museums. I love all those resources, really. But if I’m honest, they are also seriously stressing me out.

The expectations for being “perfect” during quarantine can add up. The best thing we can do right now is give ourselves what our friends offer us so willingly — the reminder that we are enough. That means you’re allowed to go a full day without a STEM experiment. You get to skip sentences while reading (super long) children’s books. You can hide the finger paint or tell your child that it dried up.

Young Children at Home during the COVID-19 Outbreak: The…

Self-care is not selfish or indulgent—it’s how we keep ourselves well to ensure we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for our young children.

Parenting a young child is already stressful at times. That’s why it’s important to remember to take care of yourself, too. When you feel calmer, it’s easier to be there for your children and meet their needs.

The Case for Self-Care During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Most everyone has heard the flight attendant tell them to put their own oxygen mask on before helping others. The same goes for parenting—your health and well-being is important so that you can nurture your child. Self-care is not selfish or indulgent—it’s how we keep ourselves well to ensure we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for our young children.

The realities of COVID-19 make self-care even more important. The unknowns of what’s coming next can worry even the calmest of parents. If faced with long periods of uncertainty, other stressors may emerge—concern for family members, worries about lost income, keeping the fridge full of groceries, balancing job roles with child care, and more. But young children need their parents to offer a calm, stable, and predictable “home base” for them. It’s a challenge, but as a parent, the best way to help your child be at their best is to take care of yourself.

Pay Attention to How You Are Feeling

Anxiety, worry, and grief are normal responses during and after an event like coronavirus. You may feel overwhelmed by ordinary tasks or annoyed in situations when you’d usually be patient.

• Take time to notice your feelings and pause and reflect before responding to your child or co-parent. When you need to get calmer, try taking a few deep breaths to clear your head. Or you might try a mindfulness activity to restore your sense of calm.
• Consider limiting your exposure to the news. You might choose to watch a daily update from a trusted public health official or check in online at predetermined times when your child is not in the room.
• Think about reaching out to a healthcare professional for help with physical or mental health concerns. Many healthcare providers have moved to telemedicine during the pandemic—offering appointments online or by phone.

Read more tips in the full article here: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3262-young-children-at-home-during-the-covid-19-outbreak-the-importance-of-self-care

How Soap KILLS the Coronavirus

This article is so awesome. Here’s a quick excerpt, but be sure to check out the full info by clicking here.

“…when you wash your hands with soap and water, you’re not just wiping viruses off your hands and sending them down the drain. You’re actually annihilating the viruses, rendering them harmless. Soap “is almost like a demolition team breaking down a building and taking all the bricks away,” says Palli Thordarson, a chemistry professor at the University of New South Wales, who posted a viral Twitter thread on the wonders of soap.

In a recent phone call, he explained why soap is such an effective Covid-19 killer and why it’s so important to soap your hands for at least 20 seconds.

The soap takes care of the virus much like it takes care of the oil in the water. “It’s almost like a crowbar; it starts to pull all the things apart,” Thordarson says.

One side of the soap molecule (the one that’s attracted to fat and repelled by water) buries its way into the virus’s fat and protein shell. Fortunately, the chemical bonds holding the virus together aren’t very strong, so this intrusion is enough to break the virus’s coat. “You pull the virus apart, you make it soluble in water, and it disintegrates,” he says.

Then the harmless shards of virus get flushed down the drain. And even if it the soap doesn’t destroy every virus, you’ll still rid them from your hands with soap and water, as well as any grease or dirt they may be clinging to. Soap will also wash away bacteria and other viruses that may be a bit tougher than coronavirus, and harder to disintegrate.

The trick is this all takes a little time to happen, and that’s why you need to take at least 20 seconds to wash your hands.”

(Read on)

Ways To Support Yourself During Social Distancing, Quarantine, and…

Helpful info from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
View the full resource here.

Understand the Risk

Consider the real risk of harm to yourself and others around you. The public perception of risk during a situation such as an infectious disease outbreak is often inaccurate. Media coverage may create the impression that people are in immediate danger when really the risk for infection may be very low. Take steps to get the facts:

• Stay up to date on what is happening, while limiting your media exposure. Avoid watching or listening to news reports 24/7 since this tends to increase anxiety and worry. Remember that children are especially affected by what they hear and see on television.
• Look to credible sources for information on the infectious disease outbreak (see page 3 for sources of reliable outbreak-related information).

Be Your Own Advocate

Speaking out about your needs is particularly important if you are in quarantine, since you may not be in a hospital or other facility where your basic needs are met. Ensure you have what you need to feel safe, secure, and comfortable.

• Work with local, state, or national health officials to find out how you can arrange for groceries and toiletries to be delivered to your home as needed.
• Inform health care providers or health authorities of any needed medications and work with them to ensure that you continue to receive those medications.

Educate Yourself

Health care providers and health authorities should provide information on the disease, its diagnosis, and treatment.

• Do not be afraid to ask questions—clear communication with a health care provider may help reduce any distress associated with social distancing, quarantine, or isolation.
• Ask for written information when available.
• Ask a family member or friend to obtain information in the event that you are unable to secure this information on your own.

Work with Your Employer to Reduce Financial Stress

If you’re unable to work during this time, you may experience stress related to your job status or financial situation.

• Provide your employer with a clear explanation of why you are away from work.
• Contact the U.S. Department of Labor toll-free at 1-866-487-2365 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows U.S. employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious medical conditions, or to care for a family member with a serious medical condition.
• Contact your utility providers, cable and Internet provider, and other companies from whom you get monthly bills to explain your situation and request alternative bill payment arrangements as needed.

Connect with Others

Reaching out to people you trust is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom during social distancing, quarantine, and isolation. You can:

• Use the telephone, email, text messaging, and social media to connect with friends, family, and others.
• Talk “face to face” with friends and loved ones using Skype or FaceTime.
• If approved by health authorities and your health care providers, arrange for your friends and loved ones to bring you newspapers, movies, and books.
• Sign up for emergency alerts via text or email to ensure you get updates as soon as they are available.
• Call SAMHSA’s free 24-hour Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, if you feel lonely or need support.
• Use the Internet, radio, and television to keep up with local, national, and world events.
• If you need to connect with someone because of an ongoing alcohol or drug problem, consider calling your local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous offices.

Talk to your Doctor

If you are in a medical facility, you may have access to health care providers who can answer your questions. However, if you are quarantined
at home, and you’re worried about physical symptoms you or your loved ones may be experiencing, call your doctor or other health care provider:

• Ask your provider whether it would be possible to schedule remote appointments via Skype or FaceTime for mental health, substance use, or physical health needs.
• In the event that your doctor is unavailable and you are feeling stressed or are in crisis, call the hotline numbers listed at the end of this tip sheet for support.

Use Practical Ways to Cope and Relax

• Relax your body often by doing things that work for you-take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray, or engage in activities you enjoy.
• Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do something fun after a hard task.
• Talk about your experiences and feelings to loved ones and friends, if you find it helpful.
• Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking; consider keeping a journal where you write down things you are grateful for or that are going well.