Emotionally Processing COVID-19

This is such a strange time for all of us, right? The changes we’ve seen with COVID-19 were so unexpected and unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.

We’re in the midst of a stay-home order in our state. We’re coming up on week 6 of our kids being home from school and in our case, my husband home from work.

Each week, we’re reevaluating and adjusting for the upcoming week’s schedule. We want our kids to stay tuned-in to their schoolwork and also make wonderful memories during this unique experience.

I have been so appreciative of the community we get to be a part of through this.

I’ve felt connected to neighbors and friends through texts, phone calls, video calls, conversations across the street, from car windows, and so on. I’ve been able to talk about what I’m feeling out loud and through written words. I’ve sulked with friends while we prepared to tell our kids they won’t be able to see their classmates again this school year. My husband and I have been able to voice concerns and bounce ideas and questions off of each other. I’ve joked about too little flour or hand sanitizer or toilet paper. I’ve laughed with neighbors about who’s showered the least or how few times we’ve brushed our hair.

These interactions have been so key for me to process what is going on.

I continue to use tools that have been so helpful to my overall health—prayer, exercise, eating nutritious foods, meditation, laughing, and spending time with my husband.

Even though we don’t know what the next few weeks will look like or if our regular schedules will swing back in the coming months, I know that talking and processing what’s going on is instrumental to my mental health and keeping my fears and concerns in balance.

I also realize that I’m not the only one in this house going through this experience.

I have 4 little ones who are experiencing something that will be in history books (or virtual history catalogs…however they do school in the future). My grade-school kids especially have had a complete change of schedule. They suddenly heard words like “quarantine,” “social distancing,” “contagious,” and “pandemic,” and they were told they had to stay home because of germs. My toddler is told he can’t hug his Nana or play with his friends.

We understand and support social distancing, but it’s still hard.

With our limited knowledge, we did our best to describe to our kids what was going on and to answer all the questions they had. We also continue to check in with them and have an open discussion about updates in the world.

In wondering how I can help my kids and the kids in our neighborhood and church to 1.) process their current situation and also 2.) journal this unique time for the future, I created a simple, one-page document for parents to print out for their kiddos.

Parents can feel free to fill one out as well, but the idea is to have your kiddos fill out the questions about their day-to-day life right now. The printout helps them to highlight some highs and some lows and to connect with their present experience.

Feel free to share this with friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors. There’s no email or info necessary to download, with the hope that we can reach as many kids and families as possible.

I encourage you all to use strategies like meditation, prayer, journaling, and talking to those around you often to help unite us during this time.

Sending hope and health to all of you,

Whitney

<<<Download Printable Here