Connecting with Family:
Missing out on time with loved ones has been tough for the kids, with cancelled vacations, a missed long-awaited visit from their grandparents, and more. My kids (unfortunately) really don’t like to talk on the phone or video-chat. To stay connected, instead of bugging them to call and say, "Hi" to relatives, we “let them” call their grandparents most days for story time. Their grandparents have been great sports and seem to enjoy reading or telling them a story, and it’s an easier way for the kids to connect with them, as well as get a little quiet down-time that doesn’t involve the dreaded word NAP.
Outside time:
We prioritize getting outside and doing something active every day. Its been a challenge to get motivated with this cold, wet weather, but once we get past the complaining and make it outside, we never regret it. Some of the best days have been our rain-walks (or mud-walks, as it turns out). We discovered that we all enjoy hiking, so we’ve been having fun exploring some nearby trails and state parks. Some of our favorites are the Northwest Branch trail (enter by Trader Joe’s on Colesville), Sligo Creek trail (enter on Sligo Creek Parkway just south of Colesville Rd), and a beautiful walk around the lake at Seneca Creek State Park. All have been uncrowded on weekday mornings.
They also enjoy any type of practical-life inspired activity that involves water (even when it seems too cold to me) so I’ve stopped objecting. This has included washing the car, the patio table, various rocks (big and small), and most recently, the stone wall. Rock washing was such a hit that my next-door neighbor’s kids came out with their own rocks and toothbrushes, and joined in from an acceptable 6’ away!
Look for the Helpers:
I love that quote from Fred Rodgers that reminds children (and adults) that in any scary situation, if you look, you will find people out there trying to help. In our house, when we get overwhelmed, we try to do small things to help in our own way. One week we made cookies and thank you notes for our garbage and recycling guys. Another week we tasked my daughter with earning her own money by doing some extra reading (our own little “read-a-thon”). When she had earned a few dollars, we let her choose what to spend it on. She agonized over the decision, but ultimately chose to use some to tip the grocery delivery people, milkman, and help buy a present to her Grandma for her birthday. We talk a lot about the fact that while we can’t solve the whole problem ourselves, we can all do small things to help, and that lots of small things can add up to big impact.
Great discoveries:
For the days when we can’t get motivated or excited to do school work, Webex meetings, or other planned activities, we have tried out a few new games, toys and shows. A few of our favorites have included:
Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore (raise your own butterflies at home) – which got them excited about making close observations every day and documenting them
“No-stress Chess” is a cool board game, appropriate for 4 and up, that teaches kids chess basics.
Puzzles of various maps (we did South and Central America, and now are doing USA)
Cooking projects: we watch Top Chef Jr. and Great British Baking Show together when we need a break, and then dream up our own projects. We did fruit tarts, sour-dough bread, various fancy cookies. Then we drive around and leave them on friends’ doorsteps. Their favorite part is when I ring the doorbell and then run back to the car, and they get to watch friends looking around with confusion to see where the mystery treat came from.
TV shows: we are definitely watching more screen time than I would normally approve of, but that’s ok! Recent discoveries that the kids enjoy and I feel good about include Story Bots and Magic School Bus. In several cases the topics overlap, so they are hearing the same information a couple different ways and it has prompted some good questions and discussions about how things work. Recent favorites included the water cycle, and how things decompose.
Gratitude:
These are unprecedented times, and we all have unique challenges that our families are facing. On the days I’m feeling most overwhelmed, it is helpful to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for. I am tremendously grateful that we are home, safe, and healthy, and for all the support we have (including from our wonderful PMBS teachers and staff, who we miss loads!). I am finally getting the “more time with my kids” that I frequently wished for pre-pandemic, and although its not exactly what I was envisioning, and it doesn’t go perfectly every day, we are trying to make the most of it.
By T.
