Posted on 01/04/2021
Covid has hit each of us in different ways, some more significantly than others. None of us would have chosen this. But, like all kinds of difficult seasons, it has been thrust upon us. I'm not sure if anyone has asked you this, but I will: how are you coping? Chances are, the way you're responding to the upheavals, the losses, the uncertainties of the year behind us will shape the way you cope with future difficulties - as well as how your children learn to cope. Whether or not we intend to teach our kids, we are teaching them every day by our examples. Ouch. But if you realize that you've fallen a bit short of providing a great example of how to cope, your story is not over, and you can improve! And guess what: it's probably even better for your children to see you struggle and grow, than to see these kinds of things come easily to you.
Build Healthy Habits
In all the hubbub about CDC guidelines that are specific to the virus, some of us have let go of healthy habits. Did you know that each time you respond to a stressor in a certain way, you're reinforcing that habit as your go-to coping mechanism? While that general concept helps explain part of the way that various addictive behaviors often take root, it can also be leveraged for our good. What if every time you heard a negative piece of news, you reached for your water bottle, or did a 5-minute exercise regimen? What if you took a walk outside or had a tickle war? What if you wrote down 3 things for which you're thankful or reached out to encourage someone else? Those practices could quickly become habits - and life-enriching ones at that!
Use Uplifting Stories
Sometimes when we're entrenched in a difficult chapter of our own story, it's difficult to have hope and stay the course. Through fictional characters, we can become encouraged to pursue heroic qualities as well as see how there is often light at the end of the tunnel, light we can't see in the middle of it. Classic series such as "The Lord of the Rings" and "Chronicles of Narnia" are favorites, and modern series in the tradition of those, such as "The Wingfeather Saga" and the "Green Ember" series are heartening tales for the elementary and middle school ages - and middle-aged parents, too!
Ask for Help
If you feel stuck and hopeless and aren't sure how to cope, it's okay to reach out to ask for help. Teachers, friends, therapists, clergy, family members, medical professionals - all these people are in your life for a reason. Sometimes simply voicing your fears and frustrations can help. Maybe now isn't the time, but you can also be a good example to your children by letting them know that sometimes you need to ask for help, too.
The Bedroom Source
Located near the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, The Bedroom Source is your source for the best collection of children's and teen bedroom furniture. From flexibly configurable Maxtrix furniture to fashionable American-made collections, The Bedroom Source offers high end furniture and professional design assistance to create the bedroom of your child's dreams.
Contact the friendly staff at The Bedroom Source by calling (516) 248-0600 or by submitting our online contact form. We're a local family owned mom & pop store. When you shop with us, you're dealing directly with the owners. We professionally assemble everything we sell. We deliver to Nassau, Suffolk, the 5 Boroughs, Southern Westchester, Southwestern Connecticut & Northern New Jersey.