Overwhelmed Moms and COVID-19: Three Tips

Are you a mom struggling with what to do with your kids now that they are at home with you?  Do you feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of all that is going on, in addition to worrying about what your daily life will look like with everyone at home.  I have found myself at this place within the last few days as the Coronavirus takes over, disrupts, and puts everyday life on pause.  It’s amazing but not out of the ordinary that your life can be changed in an instant.  It happens all the time but this is on a much larger scale and impacts every area of our lives.

However, we can not allow ourselves to get so overwhelmed and out of sorts that we lose our minds. We can work to bring some normalcy and calm to our everyday life with structure.  Kids love routine and structure as much as or more than adults.  Here are three things you can do to decrease overwhelm, prevent boredom in your kids, and keep your sanity during this chaotic time.

1.        Follow a routine.  Kids are used to getting up and ready for school on a daily basis.  Keep that going.  Have your child wake up, brush their teeth, get dressed, and eat breakfast.  You might even give them a few minutes to play outside.

2.       Create a schedule.  You may not be into teaching your kids academically but you can teach them life lessons.  Decide on how much of the day will be spent learning and divide that time up during the day.  Inject recess and quiet time into the day so that everyone can get a re-charge.

3.       Find some you time.  As moms we often place ourselves last on the list for self-care but your role is critical.  We know that much of what occurs centers around your ability to multi-task; however, at times like this, it is necessary to take time for you.  You may not have a lot of time and it may mean getting up 30 minutes to an hour earlier or staying up 30 minutes to an hour later but it’s crucial.  In your you time, read a book, call a friend, color, watch a show—anything that will refuel and re-energize you.

Moms your sanity and well-being is needed now more than ever!  Structure is key!