Let's Figure This Out 2.0
How was your week?
{Make sure you scroll down to check out the three things you don't want to miss this week}
Last week I posed these questions to myself about getting through this time, which is now feeling more like a marathon than a sprint. We had a family Zoom call last night, and everyone agreed they had hit a wall and needed to regroup to keep going. Here in IL, they have extended the stay a home order through the end of May, with some minor changes. As the weather gets more beautiful, the itch to get out and see people intensifies.
After writing down those questions last week, these emerged as themes for me:
This time requires an intense amount of self-compassion. More than we’ve probably ever allowed ourselves. Perhaps this is one of the gifts. We’ll learn to be kinder to ourselves. We cannot get through life running at a speed of Mach 10 right now, and the slow down reveals so much. This will look different depending on our situations at home, but think about how you can be kinder to yourself, even at the expense of productivity (whatever that looks like for you). Self-kindness allows us to pass on that kindness to the people around us, which, let’s be honest, has moments of challenge right now.
It’s more apparent than ever we need people! I saw my neighbors while Erik and I were on a walk the other night, and I wanted to run up, grab a glass of wine and sit on their couch, and chat with them. Making a more significant investment in the people we love, and not just in our work or the tasks in front of us is an opportunity for us all. Equally, helping our kids to connect and reconnect with their people when it’s safe to do so.
Mental health matters. As time goes by, I worry about our collective mental health. From the news cycle to our decision to not allow us to be with our loved ones when they are critically sick, to the toll of lost jobs and financial ruin. The mental health clean up from all of this is and will be significant. Acknowledging it and trying to take small steps in our days to care for our minds and spirits is critical.
Crafting life on our terms that works well for our family is important. This past week I sent an email to a teacher/administrator sharing some struggles one of my kids is having. I proposed that we do work a bit differently for him, which will help us all handle remote learning better. I think it’s 100% okay for you to push back on teachers about the work your kids are doing at home. Teachers and schools are working hard to be value-added, and they are also learning as they go. I had a great experience giving feedback and asking for help. Don’t be afraid to try it too!
Three things you want to check out this week:
My insanely talented friends, Zach and Lexi started a new podcast called Proximity. I had the chance to be one of their first guests. We talked about my story, grief, identity, and how we might view this time right now. You can listen there.
I love Big Life Journal. It's a great resource for kids and has a bunch of free downloads, a podcast for kids, and a journal that both my boys have. If you are looking for a tool to help with mindset and to create opportunities for important conversations with your kids, check them out here.
I've been following this woman as she waits for her husband to recover from COVID-19. Their story, while tragic, is full of amazing energy and community. If you want to see what joy and heartache look like together, here it is. Sometimes we just have to dance!
