Well at the time of this writing, so many of us have been thrown into an almost unimaginable reality as we try to flatten the curve of COVID 19 in the United States. There is mass hysteria and drama everywhere. Cities are shutting down. Grocery stores have bare shelves. No one knows what the hell is going on. It feels like a crazy sci-fi, zombie apocalypse movie. School closures have made huge adjustments in our daily lives. We are now attempting to work from home and school our children with little guidance. It’s a lesson in living in the flow because no one has any idea what we are doing and we are just making it up as we go. I know my house certainly looks like a zombie army has busted through the doors. Half-built forts are everywhere. The kitchen is covered in science experiments gone wrong. Not to mention how loud it constantly is. Good news is I can use Bailey’s as a coffee creamer now. 😉 It’s a crazy time in our world that will without a doubt change our future.
However, being the ever optimist, I think this is a time where we can really evaluate the needs of our family and what is working for us all. Once we get through the shock of this being thrown in our laps unexpectedly, we will settle into a routine. It’ll be a routine that is individualized for each family. No two families’ schedules will be exactly the same because the dynamics between everyone will be different. It may not feel like it at first but we are being given so many options to explore what we really desire, what we really want out of life, and how we want to live our lives. What an amazing opportunity to spend time consciously creating the best life for you. It’s our time to dream of what it will be like on the other side of this pandemic.
I mean otherwise, our option is to sit around and complain in front of our kids what an inconvenience it is to have them around. How by them not being in school our homes are trashed (🙋♀️), we can’t get any work done (🙋♀️), and they are annoying us (also🙋♀️). We can create a war zone in our homes where everyone is on edge. Clearly, the message we want to send to our children during this massively stressful time, is that we are going to get through this together and they are loved. Probably not the vibe they are getting if we are constantly complaining about what their presence at home during the day is doing to our schedule. And don’t get me wrong, I have asked them to find something to do (get your iPad out) when I’m busy. It’s not that you have to turn into June Cleaver during this situation, but it could be a great time to reconnect and reimagine.
For those of us who’s children have specific learning disabilities and/or other disabilities, it’s terrifying to think about how our children will continue to reach educational standards without their services being carried out. I know many of us are nervous and confused about how to best serve our children without school therapies. Try to imagine this as an opportunity to give them the 1:1 time you’ve been hoping for them to thrive. With the slower pace of life and not having anywhere to go, we can finally work on those techniques we’ve been reading about but not had time for. We can sit with them and really begin to understand where their individual struggles are. What are the specific sounds they mix up/don’t hear accurately? How many steps can they remember before they lose track? How long can they keep their focus? What’s the right amount of text on a page for them to feel confident in attempting to read it? What is the level that they just shut off because it’s too hard? This is critical information you could share with their future teachers.
If you are reading this blog, I’m sure you are aware that the emotional toll of dyslexia can be far worse than the academic challenges. This is your chance to build their confidence and shower them with love and affection. You can acknowledge their struggles and have real conversations on what it is like for them. How would they feel best supported? What do they think they need the most help with? What is going well for them at school? What isn’t working? What makes them feel good about themselves? (PS: If you need a guide on starting this conversation, I created this exercise to help you and your child work out what their “superpower” is. Download it here.)
After the fear and confusion subside about this new reality, I hope we can use this as an opportunity to imagine the life we desire, uplift our children, and strive towards a life we won’t regret. There is a lot of change and transition happening because of the shutdowns COVID 19 is causing. We can use this time to slow down, connect with our families, and appreciate the simple things. I’m not trying to make light of this situation, it is going to have huge ramifications for our economy and the livelihoods of many. It’s a major transition. In times of uncertainty, remember the things you can control: your actions, your response, and your attitude. Find the good and do the next right thing for everyone. Remember, we are mothers; we can do anything. Especially if it’s in the greater good for our children.
