Tag: parenting

Parental Love in a Pandemic

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date April 15, 2020

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.

Tags Coronavirus, pandemic, parenting, Parenting Cartoons, unconditional love

motivation Parenting Cartoons teaching

A Salute to the Sudden Homeschooling Parent

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date April 6, 2020

I know it must be rough. If you weren’t already a homeschooling parent, it had to be quite challenging to become one without much notice or preparation. I’ve heard more than one parent express admiration for their child’s school teacher. It has changed your relationship with your kids. You may be doing it while you are juggling your job duties. It is probably complicated by a tinge of cabin fever as we await stay-at-home orders to be lifted.

I give a salute to you! It can’t be an easy task. You can take some solace in knowing that you were your child’s first teacher. They have already learned much from you. They also notice how you are juggling so much during this crisis. They admire you much more than they will let on.

Go on and fill your kids with knowledge. Let them know you are with them, are for them, and as a family, you will get through this. When this is a memory one day, your kids will have fond memories of a time that today you are finding quite stressful.

Tags Coronavirus, education, Homeschooling, parenting, perseverance, strength, stress, teaching

motivation

Children and Investing for the Long Haul

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date January 20, 2020

This may be a little sappy this morning. After a fantastic weekend with my kids, they leave to go back to their homes on the other side of the country today. My wife and I will shed a few tears. We’ll laugh at a few memories and awkward moments we had this weekend. We’ll cherish the remaining time and long for when we will be together again this summer.

It is good to be at this side of parenting and to see two children grow up to be vibrant, pleasant, fun adults. It makes those sleepless nights, diaper changes, endless questions, messy living rooms and the pain of enduring adolescent angst worth it.

My prayer for myself today is that I continue to remember what it was like to be a child and remember what it was like to parent young kids. There are invaluable lessons for all phases of life.

My prayer for you today is if you are going through a difficult time in your marriage, parenting or business, I encourage you to stick it out.

The grass is rarely greener on the other side of the fence.
What seems like a permanent problem will be here and gone in an instant.
Don’t confuse a problem with a person.
We all change. If we’re intentional and persevere, we’ll change for the better.
In business and in families, the long-term approach gives a much better return-on-investment than the short-term perspective.
Don’t let the urgent trample the important.
If you have to choose between business and family, choose family. They will be there to the end.

Keeping a long-term perspective promotes health and growth. It makes marriage and family totally worth it in the long haul.

Tags children, investment, marriage, parenting, perseverance

motivation

Of Clowns and Parents

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date January 6, 2020

My kids probably thought I was a clown at times. I’ve spent the better part of thirty years coming up with cartoon gags, being silly in front of a large group of elementary kids and firing off one-liners at occasionally inappropriate times.

I have taken pride in getting someone to laugh, especially when they were feeling down. I take less pride in the times I was more immature than funny. It has happened much more than I would like to admit.

I have learned over the years that attacking immaturity with an immature attitude never works. If a child has an anger issue, striking back with an angrier, overpowering tone may appear to work. But in the long term, it only makes parents and children angrier.

Do as I say, not as I do may sound catchy, but we all know the hypocrisy of such a saying. I have been there, parents. When your kids are acting up, keep your cool. Stay mature and save the clowning for intentionally fun times. You can do it! I tip my polka dot hat with the squirting daisy to you!