I think we have a lot to worry about just being
parents, but situations like the ones happening in today's world can really drive us into overload. The worry
is non-stop, the questions keep coming and then there’s the anger that these are things we even need to worry about.
I try to keep the news and media
coverage away from my kids so they don’t worry. I know they are practicing being safe at school. I want it to stay like that for as long as
possible. They don’t need to live in a bubble, but they aren’t old enough to
process all of the world’s chaos yet. As of right now I’m the one carrying that
stress for them. And that’s OK.
For me, art has always been a
tool to manage my stress. Getting lost inside a project helps me disconnect
from my worries for a bit and I can engage my energies in something more fruitful. So, this
week I changed up our evening routine. The last activity of the night is grabbing our coloring books and crawling into my big bed for a coloring
session. We fluff up the pillows, we curl up with a blanket
and we color with our pencils. This has been a relaxing and warm way for us to
connect and spend time together. It feels like pushing a literal pause button
on the chaos of life.
I get to hear all about my children's day, their thoughts and feelings on life. It is really amazing how less muddled
I feel when I take the time to de-stress. I’m sure it feels the same for my
kids. I especially love that it keeps me off of social media filling my brain
with too many details than I can process. I still worry, and I still lie awake
at night seeking answers to too many questions. But I look forward to those 30-40 minutes each
night to connect with my kids. And it
gives me hope.
How do you help your kids connect to their calm?
The Whatever Mom is a full-time wife and twin mama living on coffee and wine. She enjoys the pure rush of cleaning the BIG potty between loads of laundry. It is her dream that moms everywhere accept and embrace the Whatever Mom philosophy which can be found here. You can also find her musings and popular shares on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up to date with her creative ideas and outings on Pinterest.
Other articles by The Whatever Mom