Parenting in the time of COVID-19 – Shuffling between home, health, work and kids

It is a universal truth – parenting is one of the toughest jobs you will ever love. And parenting in the times of COVID19 is a life-changing event. This blog is for working-parents who are exhausted at the end of the day. Reading through this will bring you all the optimism you need to navigate through tasks at home while maintaining your sanity and stress levels. 

Do whatever you can, however you can, whenever you can

The first very important thing to do is to understand that this is a global pandemic affecting the world at large. Millions of people are turned into remote workers as companies seek to continue operations. You need to come to terms with the fact that you will not be able to achieve everything at the same pace as before. A lot of you will have to be satisfied with the end results even if it does not meet your expectations. Hence the mantra, Do whatever you can, however you can, whenever you can.

Do not compare yourselves to other parents

Remember the mantra ‘Good for you, not for me’.  It is okay to look at other parents and feel they are able to set a more systematic approach to their day, but always remember no two set of parents will have the same experience. Once you have set your mind to achieving whatever you can, you should be happy with the results you put up on the board. 

Refrain from letting the #Parentguilt get to you

Every day is about survival. This means some of the things can fall to the wayside. It is okay if your kids are not limited to screen time or not getting a balanced diet most days in the week. However temporary, don’t let it get to you. Refrain from getting intimated by perfect pictures of parents on social media painting a perfect picture of how #workfromHome looks. Little do we know whether they were having a full-blown tantrum with their kids just seconds before or after that shot.

Keep aside some ‘Me-Time’

You need this now, more than ever. Maintain your sanity by allocating some time in the day to do things that you love. May be read a book, put on your dancing shoes or watch some fitness videos online. Change is hard for anyone and as parents you need should try to be flexible and understanding without losing the sense of discipline and obedience. Do what you please for 15-20 minutes of the day while the kids are at play.

Do not shy away from asking for help 

Fear right now is just rampant because of the unknown. And the combination of stress, fear and other strong emotions, and the demands of home and work life can take their toll on mental health. UAE offers mental health support amid Covid-19 impact. A series of programmes have been launched to help residents overcome mental challenges. 

We are a brain training clinic specialising in stress management in Dubai. You can rely on our experts to help you increase your focus, productivity, efficiency and even emotional wellness with the aid of neurofeedback sessions, a non-invasive brain therapy. We work with both adults and children to deal with a host of issues ranging from memory loss, to reducing stress and anxiety. We are a complete wellness package. Contact us at +971 4 589 6983 for bookings and more details. 

Dr. Upasana Gala is the founder and CEO of Evolve Brain Training, a Neurofeedback-centered institute that focuses on using non-invasive brain training techniques to maximize the brain's true potential.