- April 2, 2020
- Posted by: San Pedro
- Category: Blog En
We teach our students that five elements are essential to live in harmony: self-esteem, respect, empathy, reaching agreements and assertiveness.
In quarantine, is it possible to live harmoniously?
These five elements are valid in any circumstance, including quarantine.
1. Self-steem
The human being is the most valuable creation of God, that is why life is above all and defends itself in any circumstance.
Our children must understand that these extreme measures are taken to care for our lives and the lives of others.
Despite making our best effort at this time, it is natural to feel that frustration and impatience from time to time. Let’s validate our emotions, let’s talk about them. Let’s ask our children what they think, what they feel.
We can certainly feel sad, overwhelmed, anxious and down, but the daily challenge will be to discover ways to feel better. Read, dance, cook, paint, listen to music, order, breathing exercises, puzles and what makes you feel better.
It is proven that exercising helps us keep our body and mind in shape. Let’s exercise, we all need to move, but specially our children need it.
2. Respect
Each family member experiences the quarantine process in a particular way. It is necessary to respect differences.
Let us respect our children, they are also processing all this in their own way. Our children need to be told the truth, but please do not expose them to over-reporting of negative news. Remember that children speak through their behavior. It is time to observe them a lot and enjoy their wonderful spontaneity and joy. Let the kids take out those toys they haven’t seen for a long time, look at photos from when they were younger, use the dining room table to play ping pong. It is important that they perceive that it is a different routine and their parents know how to adapt to different things as well.
3.Agreements
I recommend you talk with your family and reach a few agreements, but only the essential agreements that can help you work as a team. Involve children in daily tasks: setting the table, tidying up the room, agreeing shifts for the use of computers…
4.Empathy
Our children are lucky, they have a family, a home, food. They must know that their reality is not the only one. That there are people who currently have it much more difficult. Let’s take advantage of this time to talk with the family about all the people who cannot stay at home and take care of us. Let us pray for the deceased and their families. Let us show our children the delicacy and restlessness of thinking about our neighbor, let’s teach them to be grateful. Gratitude always accompanies the happiest people.
5.Assertiveness
It is time to think before speaking and acting. Let’s not argue for what is not worth it. Choose your battles well. I usually motivate parents to have a structured routine at home because that provides security and confidence, but at this times we must make our days a little more flexible. Since not being able to leave is a rigid structure that we are living day by day, I think that inside our homes we could have more flexible and playful structures to achieve our goals.
If the boys’ tasks stress us out or we don’t know how to guide them, let’s lean on the teachers to explain our situation to them, they will understand. It is a good time to develop bonding between teachers and parents based on trust and empathy.
Let’s not be scared of the “dead” times. It is proven that these times are good allies to awaken creativity and teach us to pay attation to what we don’t usually see.
It is not a good time to demand or criticize. So many days together makes us more irritable and sensitive; on the contrary it is a good time to congratulate and support us.
I have read many articles on how to make this quarantine more bearable. I consider that each family is a unique world, each one has a different history, style, needs. I am sure that you as parents will know how to recognize the resources of each of your children and yours as well. You will know what is best for your families. Trust in your parenting role, as guides and loving companions of your children and remember that in difficult times God is with us in a special way.
May this forced pause bring us new lessons to learn, make our families stronger and be an opportunity to grow as a community.
Esther Medina Teacher and Family Therapist
San Pedro School