PARENTS: you can do hard things!

Most of us have started home learning this week.

We have never had to do "this" before.

"This" could be...

-being a single parent who is working full time with one or more school-aged kids (and/or younger) and trying to manage home learning

-being at home with multiple school-aged children with a partner/husband/wife/whomever where both are working full-time because you are essential workers (maybe even working more than full-time) and trying to get a handle on at home learning

-losing your job and wondering how this all happened, where your next grocery money will come from to feed your kids (who never really stop eating, let's be honest), and being expected by societal pressures to do home learning with your kids

-managing severe anxiety or other mental health issues while being at home with your kid(s), being expected to work, be super mom or dad, and being burnt out...and then being asked to do home learning

-getting used to home learning via electronic use... calling sites "the weebly" or "the teams" when you used to laugh at people who called Facebook "the Facebook"...

The "this" list could go on. Thankfully though, you are not alone. We have not done "this" before, whatever "this" is. Society is putting pressure on us to be perfect parents or perfect people during this unprecedented time when it is not possible nor will it ever be. There are posts of parents nailing home learning, doing cool art activities or science activities, looking happy as can be with a clean house, happy wife/husband/partner, well behaved kids, kids who are willing to do home learning.

Please, if you see these posts on the Facebook, remember that the internet is not the real world and that you actually don't know what is going on behind the scenes, behind that photo. They are probably struggling as much as you are. #fakenews

If you make through the day, pour yourself a glass of wine or water or whatever your vice is.

Lean on your friends, your support system, even if this is uncomfortable for you.

Talk about your feelings--okay, cliche...a counsellor is telling you this, but actually do this.

VENT.

Take care of yourself.

You are not alone.

Take care,

Counsellor Kait