"Be gentle with the young."
By Peggy Gomula,
PCI-Certified Parent Coach
“Be gentle with the young.”
- Juvenal, Roman poet & satirist (55 AD - 127 AD)
Whether or not we admit it, we are all feeling stressed. We are living in a place that we have never lived in before; a place where our children no longer leave to go to school and we are expected to be instant home-school experts; a place where we must now work from home; a place where, in public, we must stay six feet apart and wear a mask.
In the midst of all of these unknowns, it is easy to become preoccupied with all of the “things” that must get done – work, school, meals, laundry, gardening, and so on. Unintentionally, we may be putting our children on “hold” while we attend to the myriad of details that need to get completed. We are home with them all day, and yet, we may be spending less quality time with them. Add into the mix that we are also tired and stressed, and our patience level is now at an all-time low. Needless to say, it is not a very happy place to be.
Today’s quote is a reminder: “Be gentle with the young.” This is a confusing and perhaps scary time for our children. Understand that when you are stressed, they are too. Their schedules are also different; they are not going to school, and they cannot see their friends. People all around them are wearing masks, and they see that their mom and dad are very, very busy. This can translate to a lot more chaos in the house. It may feel as if no one really seems to be paying attention to them except to tell them to do their schoolwork or find something to do.
I am not suggesting that you drop everything to play with your children because I truly believe letting your children be bored is a huge gift you can give them. I am suggesting, however, that when their behavior is not up to par, you are extra gentle with them. This is a tough time for our children. A few hugs and a soft voice from an empathetic parent will go a long way to help them feel less scared, less stressed and very, very loved.