Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash
EMBRACING FAMILY
The world seems increasingly uncertain! Every morning, we don’t know what will be happening at school or at work. When will school start? Will it be in person? Online? Hybrid? Will the children need to wear masks? What will happen if a child at the school is infected? How will we balance work and our children’s school schedules?
So much is up in the air. What are we supposed to do to find sanity?
When we worry, our children notice. We need to know that we will pull through this because God is on our side!
Here are some ideas to help.
Create your own routine:
Get up at the same time, say a prayer, get dressed and ready for the day, and set up a clean work and study space whether or not you’re going somewhere.
Be aware that we are the ones who control how we will react to whatever comes our way, and we need to know that no matter what, it will be OK.
Have your kids create their own routines.
Let them control what they can, so they can be proud of their accomplishments and learn from “opportunities.” During the week, regardless of whether they are attending school in person or online, they should have a morning routine.
- Wake up at the same time and say a morning prayer or offering.
- Get dressed and get ready for the day.
- Help with family contributions (chores).
- Teach them to be adaptable. This is an incredible learning experience for them and us!
Do something fun at least once a week with our children. Be involved and interact directly with them without devices!
- Go to the park, play ball/ catch with them. Just play!
- Go to the beach, build a sandcastle, teach them to surf, swim or SUP (stand up paddleboard).
- Go on a hike.
- Bake together.
- Draw or paint something together. (The worse we are, the more fun this can be!)
- Go on a scavenger hunt!
- Talk about the challenges we are facing, but let your family know it will be OK.
One day they will have a career and will face their own challenges, but it will be also OK.
It is OK to make mistakes, but we need to learn from them!
We have opportunities for growth because things did not go as planned, and we are still OK.
We have friends. Some stay through the tough times, and some don’t. It’s OK.
We have God in our hearts. We see God in our children’s eyes. We know things will be OK.
While things may not turn out as we expect, they will be OK.
God is in our hearts and He never gives us more than we can handle! Smile and don’t let all the uncertainties drive a wedge between us and those we love. In times of uncertainty, we need to realize that above all, our God is God, and we can, as the Bible says, do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
Allow our faith, our strength, and our love to keep us focused on what is most important. Even when the world around us is dark, the light of faith shines through, piercing the sky with its radiance and promise: to every night comes the morning dawn.
(Now, go and have some fun with our children!)
We’d love to hear from you, Hawaii Catholic Herald readers: how is your family finding sanity in these ever-changing times? If you have questions you would like addressed in “Embracing Family,” please email them to Sarah and David at Success@EmbraceFamilyLearning.com and we would be honored to lift you up in prayer and respond, as well! If desired, you may remain anonymous.
