From the storm to the summer; how the pandemic ignites the ultimate imagination
I remembered leaving the dentist on Wednesday at 3:00 pm with a strange feeling that a new world will begin after the government announced that tomorrow is off due to a huge storm that will hit the country. “I need to pack some stuff for the kids to eat and enjoy on the long weekend”, “I am glad that I am getting the internet provider to fix the internet at home”, “Why are you pressurizing yourself although your tooth is aching?”. All these conversation where banging on my head on my small journey home from the dentist. Then on Saturday the President announced the closure of the schools for two weeks to be renewed on anticipation of COVID 19 outbreak in the country. In a week’s time, I picked the kids’ books from school and my laptop from the office and got ready with Zoom, Skype, Microsoft teams, adobe connect programs for school and working from home.
I am not going to tell the rest of the story because I believe that every house in the world have a similar version of it. I will jump to the learnt lessons; lessons I learnt from my kids, lessons I learnt from the school and lessons I learnt from patience.
1. Be open and ready for change: Now it is the time to host the school in your house and get on control of your kids leaning; as you always wished; teachers I can see your face . I attended lessons with them and I have learnt lots of strategies, techniques and a whole bank of interactive activities.
2. Be tolerant; it is a whole new world. Everybody is experimenting. Kids are now allowed to hold their mobiles which they were not allowed to take to school a week ago. Teachers are trying to maintain eye contact that they learnt in their professional development sessions through a screen and you, moms, are trying to get some quiet time to focus on your work. It is a new battle for everyone so be nice.
3. Acknowledge your children feeling and worries; it is a pandemic that you have not witnessed in your 40 years old life and you are stressed and worried of catching a virus that has no cure. How are 9 and 6 years old kids feeling?
4. Organize your day; a nice diary for every child and one for yourself to keep track of the daily schedule of kids classes; zoom IDs and passwords, task to be completed with deadlines and of course your meetings and errands. I have actually used nice affordable copybooks. It does not only help organize your time and mind but it also save you of the panic attacks of trying to find an ID for a meeting, the format for the project your child need to submit and your office budget report that is due soon.
5. Oraganize your budget: now there are no training fees, no eating out but you may want to invest in technology. You can start writing your needs and prioritize them. Still you may want to book a virtual trainer for you and your kids fitness.
6. Communicate: with the school, with the teachers, with the parents but first think. All the mothers has endless groups of What’sapp groups; school, sports club, clothes, kitchen wear, ….etc. They are overwhelming; I admit. Keep your what’sapp silent and make a time on daily basis to check each category. Your work in the morning and probably the school official group if the zoom is not letting your kid in. After lunch for the mummies group to check the homework and what you or your child have missed during the day. One bonus; you can spot the mother who is vigilant and resort to her in need.
7. Keep the technology at your fingertips: make sure to set a station for every child and yourself. Use items at home effectively; a small locker can act as a good desk for year 1 child. You can use the abacus as a holder for the mobile. Avoid hazards; use double face tapes to make sure that cables and wires are hanged away from the walkway. Make sure to charge all needed item through the night. Don’t forget to write the date you need to renew the internet package. You can invest in a good home internet plan. Also check the available mobile data offers. It saves lives when the router is not working.
8. Simple Trick: If you need to check anything ask Google. Not only Google will find answers for you; Facbook, Instgram and all the free apps that you have will display all the possible adds. One advantage of losing our privacy to our Google Account.
9. Life skills; it is your time to teach your kids essential life skills that we do not usually have time for like cooking, tidying, laundry sorting, etc. Encourage them to check recipes and make them together, learn something new like sewing or even Spanish. This will also teach your children that everything is possible and “Yes, we can do it”.
10. Ask family and friends for help; We are all overwhelmed with the octopus hands we have now; working mom, school teacher, canteen supervisior, cook, cleaner, entertainer, sleeping soother, and the list goes one. Identify who can help and be courageous to ask for help. The good thing is that everything is now online even a psychiatric can give you an advice over zoom.
11. Self-reward and self-time; don’t expect your husband or your family to clap for you night and day. We are all in the battle field. So always give a badge and good treat for yourself and always remember you are the happiness provider for yourself and your kids.