I found myself in tears at the mall as I was finishing up my Christmas shopping. I would like to say they were tears of joy that I was finally finished but they were tears of exhaustion and overwhelm.
The holidays are such a special time of year but as parents they can also be full of additional pressure. With kids home all the time on school break, it can sometimes feel like a lot.
I love having my kids home. I am so aware of how the days are long but the years are short so I try to relish all the moments. But yet while I try to be present and grateful there are still times of overwhelm and frustration.
As I have worked to be more present and show up more as the mom I know my kids deserve, there are some ways I have found helpful in reducing my own big feelings. These are things that have helped my kids continue to build their own skills while helping me manage the feelings that come when trying to do everything and more with less.
Establishing a school break routine/schedule is vey helpful for everyone. Here are some guidelines that I have found invaluable
* Set screen limits – Letting kids know what they can expect as far a screen time ensures there is less conflict and more ability to manage expectation.
* Outline a daily reading and/or math requirement. Even when kids are on break encouraging them to continue to strengthen and enhance their skills is important.
* Block out time to teach them a new skill – using this time to help them build skills learning how to properly load and unload the dishwasher or how to properly use the washing machine and dryer. For helpful ways to help kids learn new skills using scaffolding download this freebie freebie.mirsadahoffmann.com/scaffoldingstrategies
* Have a list of activities they can choose from when they are “bored”, best not to overwhelm them and only suggest limited options at a time.
* Post a schedule – visuals can be very helpful for kids and it can reduce the amount of time you have to repeat yourself.
Thank you for being a part of this community of proactive, committed parents and putting your trust in me. I wish you a very happy holiday season full of joy and moments of seeing the small miracles.
With respect and gratitude,
Mirsada
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