Tough Times

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We understand this is a difficult time. This isn't something we expected, planned for, or even wished. I would just like to remind you that if you need to take a break from the computer and spend time with your kids, do it. If you have to work throughout the day and do school work with the kids at the end of the day, do it. If you and/or your child(ren) are mentally and psychologically struggling and can't possibly do what is asked by teachers and just spend the day outside, doing art, playing music, or even lounging around, do it. If you made the new (100th) schedule of routines and it failed and you need to cry, do it. In fact, be vulnerable and if you need to ask for help, do that too. 

We are all in this together to support one another. Comparison is the thief of joy. You do not know what another person's window of tolerance is nor what is going on in their personal lives with family, kids, loved ones, etc. Be kind to yourself and others:) Use the strategies on my site and other coping skills that work for you.

The brain cannot do any sort of academics when there are feelings of anxiety, stress, or other intense emotions. If we are not in the "green zone" and taking care of ourselves (both children and adults), we will over-react, perform non-efficiently, and not be ourselves in general (there are many evidence-based peer-reviewed articles on this, as well as a simple explanation of "Dan Siegal's The hand-brain model" on youtube).

Please email me (kaitlyn.munn@nbed.nb.ca) if you have any issues, need to vent, need coping skill lists, an explanation of the Zones of Regulation, please do not hesitate to ask me! We are here for each other, Kaitlyn Munn School Counsellor