Moms of Tweens and Teens

  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Workshops
    • Member Login
  • Podcast
  • Store
    • Store
    • Gift Guides
  • Contact
    • Contact Me For Coaching
    • Speaking
    • Contact Me
    • Write For Moms of Tweens and Teens
  • About
    • My Story
    • You’re Not Crazy, You’re Not a Bad Parent, and No Your Teen Really Doesn’t Hate You
    • Resources
      • Support
      • Parenting Resources
      • Help for Troubled Teens
      • Substance Abuse and Addiction
      • Mental Health (Depression / Suicide)
      • Learning Challenges ADHD, Autism
  • Blog

Do These 5 Things to Help Yourself and Your Kids With the Anxiety of The Covid-19 Crisis

March 16, 2020 By Sheryl Gould

16 Mar
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Reddit
152 Shares

Anxiety teenagers Covid-19 coronavirus

It’s official. Schools are closing all over the country.

Everyone is scrambling to find their footing.

Moms are feeling overwhelmed and anxious trying to adapt to having their kids home all day and how they’re going to make adjustments and manage school at home.

Teachers are rushing to learn new systems for online virtual classrooms and getting the curriculum together. Kids are feeling scared about what this all means for their after school activities, sports, graduations and getting together with friends. 

It’s hard to keep up with the constant flood of emails from school with the latest updates and policies. All you have to do is turn on the news and the media is announcing hourly how many cases of Coronavirus we have.

This can all produce tons of anxiety and frustration for everyone.

So what do we do?

Click Here

to find out how to put an end to arguing with your teen or tween!!

It’s important to be proactive versus reactive.

 

There are 4 things that you can do that can help your kids and family:

#1 You Need to Create Structure.

School creates a ton of structure for our kids. 

In our home, we need to give them a schedule in place and, create a space to “do school.”

Here are some ideas:

Clean off the dining room table. 

Get a tray or a box to put all of their supplies in for easy access that you can take it on and off the table. 

Treat the day as if it’s a school day.

Get up, shower, get dressed (don’t stay in pj’s),  and eat breakfast.

Morning is schoolwork (see our schedule here).

Take a lunch break and a recess break. Get them outside – depending on where you live, you might allow them to ride their bike around the block, go for a walk or read a book outside for 20 minutes.

It’s important to make a decision about how much recreational screen time you will allow. You can make exceptions and be flexible, however, with the kids home all day, complaining that their bored –  having the discussion and getting clear on the amount of time they spend will help everyone. (Download our survival guide here for tips on screentime.)

#2 Be present and stay in the moment.

With so much uncertainty right now, it’s natural that we would have some anxiety about the future. However, if we’re worried about the future, our anxiety can distract us from being present in the moment and can actually feed our own kids’ anxiety. 

Minimize anxiety by: 

Limiting the amount of news you’re watching Be careful what you’re saying in front of your kids.

Kids are feeling isolated.  Find ways to connect your kids with their friends – whether it be Facetime or multi-player video games. Put down the phones, especially during mealtime.

 

#3 Be patient with your kids.

This is a huge transition for everyone – our kids, teachers and us. We need to give ourselves some grace as we muddle through and figure this all out. 

Your kids are feeling isolated.  

Find ways to connect your kids with their friends – whether it be Facetime or multi-player video games.

Rather than focusing on the frustration and inconveniences, focus on the positive and remember this is a learning process. 

Messes can be a real source of frustration so talk about how you can all help and work as a team.

Have a family meeting and brainstorm ways that you can all work together as a team. 

#4 Use this as an opportunity for connection.

This is an incredible time of opportunity because we’re usually so busy running from activity to activity.

If there is a blessing in all of this, it is that it forces us to slow down and BE with each other. 

Make this time you spend with your kid’s count. Eventually, things will return back to normal.

 

Ask yourself the question, “When I look back in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, what will really matter? Do we want to remember the nagging about the work getting done, the irritation of the messes around the house, the worrying about catching the COVID19?” Or, do we want to remember the sweetness of the time we spend together?

Let’s use this time to build a stronger relationship with our kids. Let’s have fun. Put music on, play games, watch movies, cook something together, take a walk, and laugh. 

Focus on the positive and what your kids are doing. Not what they’re not doing or what they doing that bugs you.

 

#5 If you need to (and you will need to), take a break.

Self-care is especially important during this time.

Avoid the temptation that we can all have to micromanage everything or to feel the need to entertain our kids.

Connect with other moms through text or phone calls.

Take a nap, read a book and do the things that bring you joy. 

 

Click here to get our “Stuck at Home Survival Kit” it has fun lists of TV Shows and Movies to binge-watch, Screen-Time guidelines, affirmations, a great “home school” schedule and more!

 

Related

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Reddit
152 Shares

Filed Under: Blog, Printables, Quarantine

About Sheryl Gould

Hi! I'm Sheryl and I'm so glad you're here!

Are you tired of having the same arguments with your adolescent son or daughter? Scared that you’re failing as a mom? At your wit’s end and not sure what to do?

I can help. I’ve coached moms for over 12 years to become conscious, calmer and more connected parents. And I know the difference it makes when you get support and learn new ways of relating. It changes everything!

teen tween boundaries masterclass

Hi! I'm Sheryl and I'm so glad you're here!

Are you tired of having the same arguments with your adolescent son or daughter? Scared that you’re failing as a mom? At your wit’s end and not sure what to do?

I can help. I’ve coached moms for over 12 years to become conscious, calmer and more connected parents. And I know the difference it makes when you get support and learn new ways of relating. It changes everything!
Contact me I'd love to hear from you!
Email Me

A Weekly Dose of Inspiration

Straight to Your Inbox

« School Schedule To Help Create Structure Now That The Kids Are Home
How To Talk To Your Teens About COVID-19 »

Hi! I'm Sheryl and I'm so glad you're here!

Are you tired of having the same arguments with your adolescent son or daughter? Scared that you’re failing as a mom? At your wit’s end and not sure what to do?

I can help. I’ve coached moms for over 12 years to become conscious, calmer and more connected parents. And I know the difference it makes when you get support and learn new ways of relating. It changes everything! Read More…

Available on Amazon

Follow Me!

Follow Me!

Follow Along

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Top Posts & Pages

  • Dos And Don'ts When Talking To Your Teen
    Dos And Don'ts When Talking To Your Teen
  • My Son Is Pulling Away and It's Breaking My Heart
    My Son Is Pulling Away and It's Breaking My Heart
  • Stop Saying These 10 Things to Your Teenagers
    Stop Saying These 10 Things to Your Teenagers
  • 8 Ways to Connect With Your Teen Son When He Won't Talk to You
    8 Ways to Connect With Your Teen Son When He Won't Talk to You
  • I Failed My Son, But I Learned to Become a Better Mom Because of It
    I Failed My Son, But I Learned to Become a Better Mom Because of It
  • The Very Long Day My Daughter Got Her First Period
    The Very Long Day My Daughter Got Her First Period
My Tweets
  • Home
  • Workshops
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Contact
  • About
  • Blog

momsoftweensandteens

If you’re a mom of a boy - you are well aware th If you’re a mom of a boy - you are well aware that there is no manual that can possibly prepare you for the unique joys and challenges of raising a son.⠀
⠀
In this podcast episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Kara Lewis, the founder of The Joys Of Boys - we discuss the joys and challenges, how every boy is different, tapping into what they really need and finding new ways to connect with them. ⠀
⠀
If you're finding it difficult to know how to connect with your son and support him when he's struggling give this interview a listen! Link is in the bio.
Right?! 😂 🤣 I'm so excited for the new year Right?! 😂 🤣  I'm so excited for the new year!!!
Totally feeling this way today! How about you?❤️ ❤️ ❤️
All behavior is purposeful, meaning there is a rea All behavior is purposeful, meaning there is a reason when our kids lash out and are hurtful.⠀
Anger oftentimes a secondary emotion. Hurt can often be lurking underneath the surface. ⠀
Next time your tween or teen is hurtful, be curious about what might be going on underneath the surface versus just reacting back. ⠀
When our kids are upset we can shift that interaction by being a parent who tunes in and cares. ⠀
We can say things like, "Wow. That hurt. I see you're upset. What's going on?"
Hey Mamas - ⠀ I'm so excited to share The Moms o Hey Mamas - ⠀
I'm so excited to share The Moms of Tweens and Teens Podcast with you - ALL things raising tweens and teens in one place! (link in bio)⠀
In just 3 weeks we are almost at 1000 downloads! Woohoo!⠀
I'm so grateful for all the amazing experts and authors that I have had the privilege to interview thus far and for more awesomeness to come and share with you!
Episode #4 of Moms of Tweens and Teens podcast is Episode #4 of Moms of Tweens and Teens podcast is here!⠀
Link in the bio!⠀
If you're worried about the day your tween or teen leaves the nest. ⠀
Or ⠀
You have a child that is unmotivated, and you worry about their future, ⠀
Or⠀
You want to learn what you can do to prepare them for adulthood and help them to thrive, you will want to listen to this episode where I interview Dennis Trittin and Arlyn Lawrence! Let's jump in!
Seriously! Seriously!
Hey Mamas,⠀ Gosh, these things are so important Hey Mamas,⠀
Gosh, these things are so important to instill in our sons, and yet I know how it can be hard at this age to get them to talk or want to hang out with you. And I just want you to know as a mom whose son is older now, how normal that is. Here's a word of wisdom from my experience - don't let your son pulling away or not talking to you get in the way of you leaning in and carving out intentional time with him - go for a drive, take a trip to Starbucks, volunteer together, nag less, listen way way way more, and connect around what interests him. Find whatever works because believe me, deep down he wants you to. XOXO
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Moms of Tweens and Teens · Designed by Beyond Blog Design· Built on Genesis Framework · Privacy · Membership Terms