| When the pandemic started and it became clear that our kids (and we) would be home for a while, and that all the busy-ness of our lives was going to disappear, I had visions. We'd structure the day into chunks of reading time, game time, screen time. We'd stick to bedtimes and wake-up times. You know what happened? Not that. We learned as we went, and we let go of a lot of our old rules and ways of living. Hair grew long. I didn't care that they wore two different socks. Or no socks. They met friends at the field and came home sweaty and dirty, just in time for dinner. Video games happened at odd times, depending on when friends were playing. We stayed up past bedtimes to watch Ted Lasso, or read well into the night. Looking back, I can see that our boys became (in many ways, but certainly not all) more independent, more themselves. It was the same for many of the parents in this piece today. I don't think that would have happened without the pandemic. We learned that our parenting could be a little fuzzy around the edges and that if we let up, the kids would fill that space with who they really are. That doesn't mean there weren't struggles or rules or restarts. But I learned to let go a little, and it worked. Imagine that. I may have mentioned on Twitter that it looks like parents far and wide have just had it. I was surrounded by tired, annoyed parents at the neighborhood pool recently. "You'd better behave today, because trust me: I'd be happy to be home right now. I have a lot I could be doing," one said. I looked at my kids and shrugged, laughed and said "Same." Oh, we're just done, aren't we? Well, bring that and any other comments/questions to Meghan Leahy's parenting chat next Wednesday. You can ask questions now. It'll be a raucous time. | A D.C. law calls for day-care workers to be paid like elementary school teachers, but it hasn't happened yet. By Julie Zauzmer ● Read more » | | | |
Parenting in a Pandemic These are challenging times for any parent to navigate. Let On Parenting help. Below you'll find a selection of expert advice and personal stories for all types of parents. To keep up with The Post's best advice for living through a lockdown, including recipes to make, shows to watch, the best socializing apps, resources for parents, guidance for managing anxiety and tips for canceled trips, bookmark Your Life at Home. And the latest on school reopenings can be found on The Post's Education page. For vaccinated parents with unvaccinated kids | Vaccinated adults may have more freedom. But for kids, 'the rules haven't changed.' For parents dealing with virtual school | Strategies to improve distance learning | Tips for creating a good learning environment at home | How parents can avoid anxiety around distance learning For parents dealing with in-person school | How to help children adjust to masks, according to experts and parents | As kids move from quarantine to school, separation anxiety may follow. Here's how to help. For parents working from home | 6 strategies for parents struggling with work-from-home interruptions For parents looking ahead to post-pandemic life | The pandemic changed everything about family
life. These are the parts parents want to keep. |
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