Category: motivation

Categories
motivation Parenting Cartoons

Parental Love in a Pandemic

Cartoon of a dad reading a bedtime story to his son. The son says, "Read me the one about the dad who loved his son no matter what!"

Last night, my wife and I pondered how we would have handled this lock-down ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago. We were discussing this because of a news segment about the challenges of parenting when the entire family is quarantined. It can be very frustrating to love on your kids when they are underfoot all day, you are making sure they are doing their school work and you have your own work to do. It is overwhelming.

There will be times when you will be frustrated and you will feel like you are in the middle of a parental fail. It can be even more frustrating when the former coping mechanisms you had involved getting out of the house and doing something in a social setting. Today’s challenges require some new coping strategies. Some ways to cope include:

  • Be sure to set consistent bedtimes with your kids
    • Sure, this can be very difficult for teens. They need some autonomy, while you both need a break from each other. Find some ways to give both of you some space in the evenings.
    • Set aside time before or after the kids’ bedtimes to have time for yourself and for your spouse.
    • Make bedtime a part of your routine so there is some normalcy and control in this chaotic time.
  • Be realistic about what is possible to do during this time
    • Nobody can be a super-parent for long. Give yourself grace.
    • Work is simply different when it’s done remotely. Realize productivity is going to be different.
    • Your relationship with your children is more important than getting everything done on a task list.
  • Take some time to play with your kids
    • It will benefit parent and child
    • It will relieve some stress
    • This will be the memory makers that will outlive this pandemic
  • Call or connect with a friend who has kids your age. It will help you remember you are not alone in this.

You can make it through this, parents. It takes patience some humility and a willingness to learn and be flexible. I am rooting for you.

Cartoon of a dad reading a bedtime story to his son. The son says, "Read me the one about the dad who loved his son no matter what!"
Categories
baby children cartoons motivation

How Fast Are You Going?

Cartoon of a baby in a walker and a police officer

Because I work for an essential business, I continue to drive to work. One of the things I’ve noticed on my short commute to work is that the speeders have much more leeway as they careen about trucks and cars on the freeway. The traffic is somewhat lighter and those who love to speed have taken advantage of it.

It can’t be because they are late for an appointment. It probably isn’t because they were previously stuck in a traffic jam. It is a habit and they aren’t likely to change it unless the Highway Patrol pulls them over. It feels very strange to witness this when much of the world has been slowing down for the last month. Some people are just addicted to life in the fast lane.

How is your speed these days?

  • Do you feel like the world has slowed down for you?
  • Do you feel anxious because you relied on an adrenaline rush and this is a time of waiting?
  • Are you chomping at the bit and ready to get back to life in the fast lane?

If so, consider that this is a good time for preparation. This may be a good time for deep work, for goal setting or to learn a new skill. Things will get back to the fast lane. What does this slower, waiting pace enable you today?

Cartoon of a baby in a walker and a police officer
Categories
motivation

True Friends During Social Distancing

Cartoon of two girls. One says, "Only a true friends would let you know you have a duck on your head."

One benefit of this time of quarantine and social distancing is that it is just as easy to keep in touch with friends in other parts of the world as it is the ones that live close by. I have learned to use Skype and Zoom for personal conversations as well as for business. It’s given me a new sense of what technology can do to bring us all closer together.

True friends are not just the ones in our own backyard, though it is good to check in with the neighbors. True friends will have your back while they whisper to you that your shirt needs tucked in back there! They are the ones who will have the courage to tell you that you’re wrong but do it in a kind, respectful way.

We need our true friends more than ever during a crisis. It’s been good for me to reach out to them through texting, calling, and seeing their activity on social media. Yes, there have been some positives through this crisis. Let’s keep in touch with our friends and let them know when they are experiencing such faux pas as wearing a duck during the Zoom call.

Cartoon of two girls. One says, "Only a true friends would let you know you have a duck on your head."

Categories
motivation

Insurance and Assurances

Cartoon of a boy in bed. He says to his mom, "But if we have health insurance, why didn't it keep me from getting sick?"

It’s been a difficult week for the United States and the world. Some have insurance. Few have assurances when people will get to go out again and mingle. It is a tough time for parents who have to juggle the normal challenges of raising a family with a pandemic and a little cabin fever thrown in for good measure.

This morning, I hear birds singing outside my window. They don’t have a clue all the stress humans are experiencing right now. They are carrying on with their spring rituals. They are finding food and building nests in anticipation of the little ones.

There have never been full assurances that life would be the same as it ever was. Things have changed this year, and there will be more changes. But life will go on. There will still be joyous times even in the midst of the challenges. There will be choirs singing, kids playing sports and joyful reunions someday soon. Just hang on today while we negotiate social distancing and how our health insurance plans actually work. We can do this together!

Cartoon of a boy in bed. He says to his mom, "But if we have health insurance, why didn't it keep me from getting sick?"
Categories
motivation

Worry, the Joy Robber

There is certainly no shortage of things to worry about today. Security of any kind feels like it’s in short supply. What seemed like a sure thing at the beginning of 2020 is a distant memory four months later.

Many of us have time on our hands, thanks to no commuting, travel or group activities. This week would have been busy for my wife and me because, well, it’s the week before Easter. But now, we have plenty of time wondering what we would have been doing if things were out and about.

Worry is counter-productive. It not only robs us of joy, but also creativity, hope, productivity, and well-being. It takes responsibility to improve things out of our hands and puts it in the hands of governments and institutions that are frankly struggling too.

If you find yourself worrying today, turn off the news, start finding some things to be grateful for, and ask what this makes possible. Start envisioning a future where you are on the other side of this crisis and are better for it. We will learn from this season. And remember, it’s only a season. Things will change. They will one day change for the better.

Quote: "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." Leo Buscaglia
www.brainyquote.com/s/a_1a827