Sure you love them, but let’s face it—they require a lot from you. 

The kicker is that all your normal stress outlets are gone. Maybe it was getting in a long grocery shop in the evenings, taking a fitness class--or having the occasional night out with friends. But with all the social distancing, none of that is happening. There’s a part of you that’s feeling overworked and underpaid. 

So now the stress levels are higher and the coping mechanisms are lower.. 

How do you adjust when there are so many unknowns? How can you maintain some sense of balance when everything around you feels chaotic? When there’s no end date in sight? 

1) Just… Take a breath. A big breath.. Sigh it out. Do that a few more times. Simple relaxation exercises can help you become aware of how your body is responding to stress. It can give you a healthy outlet to release some of that tension. Ask your kids to join you—they need it too.

2) You’re not alone in the struggle. I know it feels like you’re fighting most of the battles on your own, but somewhere out there another momma is feeling you. In fact, a whole lotta mommas all over the world are feeling you. 

3) One thing at a time. It’s hard not to think long-term about when things will return to normal. But focus on the present: what do I need right now, what do my kids need? How can we build good habits and good interactions into our current routine? 

4) You’re stronger than you think. It’s not easy, but you can do this. Think of times in your life that were difficult and what it took to push through. What did you do then? How are you using those same skills now? Talk about this with your kids—how are they coping with the changes to their routine? What will it take for them to feel strong, happy and balanced right now? 

5) Hold onto hope. When things around are scary and stressful, trust and hope that things will work out the way they are supposed to. Maybe it’s time to tap into that faith system and connect with a bigger sense of meaning. This can give you strength to endure the hard days. 

Nobody said this was an ideal scenario. There are a lot of things we can’t control and can’t change right now. We wish we could. But in those crazy moments with the kids, I hope we can take a breath, focus on getting through that moment, and tap into that deeper strength. 

You can do this!