When I was little, the big kids ruled the block. Babysitting. Paper routes. Girl Guide cookies.
Photo by Jody Carr
Please let me begin by saying: I am in full support of the current ‘stay home’ and ‘physical distancing’ guidelines. I understand the science involved, and I am complying 100 per cent. At the same time, I have to admit, I’m struggling with the emotional side of it.
Yesterday, when my 10-year old discovered the ironing board behind some clothes in my closet and asked ‘what’s this?’, I was: a) super proud to be doing parenting right and b) catapulted back to Grade 7 when learning how to cook, sew and iron were actual academic endeavours.
When the then-emerging threat of COVID-19 resulted in schools being closed for an additional “two weeks” after March Break, I remember wondering how I was going to balance full-time motherhood with my full-time job during the unexpected shutdown. Three weeks without school, I marveled. How are we going to keep the kids busy at home for three entire weeks?
If you’re like me and you’re stuck at home with small children, getting exercise into your schedule can be quite a challenge. I’m not going to be one of those hardcore trainer-types that tell you to get up at 5am to get a work-out in, because let’s be honest, no one wants to do that. Instead, I’ll show you a workout that will include your kids!
One positive thing about our current situation: it’s a great time to teach kids about gratitude, and brainstorm creative ways to say thank you.
These times have been tricky for parents, but also a crazy time for businesses as well. I know many of our Mabel customers are also business owners, entrepreneurs or just about to venture into the “side hustle.” We keep hearing the word “pivot” and how it relates to businesses surviving during this time.
Remember when our daily mom-tasks were fairly straightforward? We packed lunches, folded laundry and tried to keep the house generally tidy. These days, with everyone at home, our job has taken on a few unexpected roles, such as: