Dear Milne Grove Students.
This summer I will miss you. I will miss your laughter, your smiles, your ideas, and your personalities! You are simply amazing! Enjoy all of the little things this summer. The sound of the birds singing, the sunshine, flowers, how cozy and soft your blanket is..... anything that makes you smile, take the time to enjoy it! I miss you and I look forward to seeing you at Milne Grove! ~Mrs. Reynolds
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Newsletter from growingchild.com Before we go any further, let's agree that you love your spouse and kids, that they are the most important things in your life, and that sometimes recently you wished they were living farther away, say on Mars or Pluto. Whoever said that they wished they didn't have to go to work so they could spend more time at home with their kids - clearly that was in pre-Corona days. Now you are not only home with those same kids 24/7, but you are also working - a lot. Your own job is suddenly more difficult, without an IT guy to solve problems instantly. Simultaneously you are trying to create meals out of the remnants left in the fridge and pantry to avoid going to the grocery store for as long as possible AND trying to interpret the instructions for the second grader's math assignment, the kindergartner's need for a science experiment, while keeping the two-year-old from melting down yet again over the restrictions imposed by three days of rain. And when you finally lose it over some small thing and the kids stare at you as if you have suddenly sprouted another head and your husband has an urgent job in the garage, you feel awful. Compounding it all is the brilliant video a friend just sent that shows a beaming mom, dad, and four kids, singing a brilliant Corona-word version of a Broadway hit. And you think, I must be the worst parent alive. Let me first assure you that you are currently living and parenting under the most unique set of circumstances. Most families are experiencing enormous strains at this time, exacerbated by the underlying concerns about the disease and the economic implications for everyone. Let me offer several thoughts for your reflection. Mistakes happen. First and foremost, apologize for losing it. That's the most important thing that can come from this, that everyone learns a bit more about how to be an imperfect human being. Don't be so hard on yourself. These are unprecedented times. Getting through this relatively intact is the goal, so do what you have to do to simplify life. Postpone a difficult lesson, have simple meals, or even put out foods from which family members can graze, using all the food groups so that no one develops scurvy. Enlist help and create guidelines for living at family meetings. Make sure everyone has some time and space to be alone every day. It's all very well to have time for family games and activities, but alone time is vital here. Work with your spouse, relative or close friend to have times when you are personally free of responsibilities for helping or supervising kids. That's why there are people available to help you. This free time will reduce family friction too. Get some exercise every day, and try for a good night's sleep. Live one day at a time. If you screwed up today, make amends and don't let it color the next day. Every day gives you all a fresh start. Bruno Bettelheim, a child development expert, wrote a book titled A Good Enough Parent. Not a bad motto for these challenging times. |
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