pandemic Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Why I am Celebrating Finishing the Pandemic School Year

Paula — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 19:15:45 +0000

Kudos to all the university, college and high school kids who finished this challenging pandemic school year. Here’s why I am celebrating that achievement. Pandemic learning was a huge challenge this year as was school in general. Socially, I feel like we haven’t given our kids enough credit for getting through the volatile and discombobulating pandemic school year they just had. Imagine being a teen or even an elementary child adapting to all of the stress and change that’s been thrown at them this year. If anything, I am surprised so many kept going to the very end of June. What I am Celebrating Last month, my oldest daughter finished her first year of university done during a pandemic and my youngest finished grade eleven. I know many of you parents know what I mean when I say well that was a year like no other. This past school year was chaos to say the least. Many high school students went back and forth all year. Two to three months in class and then boom back to at home remote learning through no fault of their own. Then when Covid-19 numbers dipped again some slid right back into the classrooms where smaller numbers of kids had been in cohorts. Finally, back to school and whoops suddenly Wave 3 of the pandemic hit in Ontario. The Only Constant Was Disruption The pandemic school year was nothing if not disruptive. At times, we nearly gave up here on high school because the pandemic school year was more than uphill especially since all supports vanished and suddenly I was basically doing the IEP here while juggling a full time job too. Ontario students of all ages had a year like no other. Parents did too. I know how hard that was and think it’s worth noting. Parents and students made the greatest sacrifices this academic year. But it’s over. Now let’s stay safe this summer, wear masks and get your second vaccines so school can return to some version of normal in September. We all owe that to kids and families in Ontario. For my University Student What a first year it was! She was literally on campus three times, two of those times were in the fall of 2020 for a social distancing paint night with masks on, to pick up something from the campus bookstore and join a study session. She hasn’t physically been on campus at all in 2021. Learning from home started as a huge adjustment and it was lonely at first but over time and by second semester it was clear she found a rhythm. Our University Year While people often took jabs at college and university students for spreading the virus, and there were numerous outbreaks in residences at Western University, this was not our experience. I don’t think a lot of students actually fell into the partying irresponsible group. The actual lived experience of many university and college students was pretty hobbit like and anxiety provoking. A lot, like Payton, were home learning all of their subjects from a corner of their bedrooms all year. Some students made it physically on campus two to three times to buy books or get their student activity card printed. Anxious Moments Anxiety impacted sleeping. My oldest worried often. So working on school all day in her bedroom was not conducive to restful sleep at night. And Yet They Adapted While it took several months for Payton to find her footing, she eventually did. Pandemic learning was less than ideal, but still she did it. By semester two I noticed a change mentally. She was reluctant and a bit depressed in September. As in, this is not what I signed up for but by January she was in the groove. Honestly, I was proud that she was making the best of it. Meanwhile in High School Here in our school district and province they segmented students into cohorts for consistency and size of classes. My youngest went to school some weeks for a whole two days, four hours each day. Ridiculous. For the rest of the week, classes occurred on Microsoft Teams or via Zoom style remote learning. By the end of the year they had given up. So, I decided we could drop the last course entirely. For a kid who loves sports, conducting all the sports at home online was a huge hurdle. It just wasn’t going to end well. My kiddo with FASD is a black and white thinker, and that’s part of the disability. So, doing sports without the team portion of it in person was a non starter. But We Did It So ultimately while both experiences were very different, we did it. We made it through the school year. Some of us emerged a little stronger and wiser and maybe more resilient. Some parents lost jobs as a result of the need to teach. Believe me, this is nothing I would wish on any parent or student. But here’s to making it through! ONWARDS to the Fall I am hopeful September is an entirely different and consistent school experience. Our kids deserve it and need it. Frankly, we do too.

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My Oxygen Mask and Life During a Pandemic

Paula — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 14:20:00 +0000

Huddle up real close. I have something to say regarding life this past year. But wait just a moment, my oxygen mask is askew. Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First You know on airplanes before takeoff when the flight attendants give you that safety demonstration? Oh, I know you are supposed to be listening, but honestly a lot of us have zero interest in the safety demo when we just want to get to where we are going. Right? Lately, I have been reflecting on that simple statement – please put your own oxygen mask on before securing others. Hunting for My Oxygen Mask Ever since the second lockdown I feel like my oxygen mask is slightly askew….or maybe out of reach. No wait, check that, it has gone missing entirely. Like nowhere to be found. That might be okay any other year and any other time. But parenting during the pandemic and living through the pandemic seems a bit like free fall. In January of 2020 we were all sort of inside a plane coasting, and then in March we were trying to stay in the air while it started to plummet. First we were shocked and then we started flapping our arms as if we could keep ourselves afloat. Let’s Face it Times are Turbulent Do not get me wrong. I’d rather be alive and well during a pandemic than sick with Covid-19. But this is also not a thing that I ever thought I would say, or see or live through. Pandemic or no, the commitments and demands in my home are substantial. In fact, they have escalated as they have for many of us. I know pandemic anxiety and mental health have taken a huge hit globally. We also have caregiver burnout here though and it has taken a massive toll this year. Mental Health Triage Parenting teens with mental illness and disability on board is a full time job on top of all the other time commitments we have every day. It is mental health triage at the best of times…..and these are not the best of times. Some days, it feels like there’s a dramatic drop in cabin pressure inside the plane and we are stretching for the nearest oxygen mask. We made it through the first lockdown and while it was brutal, it is done. There were numerous times when I wondered if either or both of the kids were depressed. So, we sought out virtual therapists and I pushed them out the door walking with me, drinking water and eating well. Second Lock Down We made it through to the summer when restrictions loosened up and they went back to their activities with face masks on and small numbers and social distancing and then that second lockdown hit. Wheels Fell off the Cart I feel like it was then that the wheels started to come off of the cart here at home. At least one of the kids here has regressed and grown more obviously anxious than ever before. That anxiety needs to be managed and treated and we are working on that. But, not fast enough. Currently, we are skating as fast as we can and yet, all the bumps and cracks in the ice mean it is anything but smooth. And, there have been other moments where I questioned what the hell is going on and where to find support. Bottom line is that when I can’t motivate myself, or focus or move forward and I am struggling then I can’t help them. If I don’t have my oxygen mask on then I can’t help you or my kids, friends or anyone else for that matter. Caregiver Burnout Meets Pandemic Burnout These days, Covid is taking a toll on all of us. Of course, I am tired, worn out. My husband is worn out and so is my oldest daughter. My youngest teen with FASD is yet again going through something else that’s new and I can’t get my oxygen mask on fast enough to help anyone right now. This past weekend I have been reading about self care a bit again. I’m squeezing that in between URGENT appointments to see a doctor in person so that I can clearly advise them we NEED a referral to someone to follow up both kids. A specialist retired in December and kind of left us high and dry. And a therapist is wrapping up with my youngest just as she is pretty much careening into a full blown mental health crisis again. (Such are the limitations of OHIP and public health care in Ontario.) Here’s What That Looks Like Cut to one teenager screaming on the weekend – “A friend of mine has had a consistent therapist for over two years!! WHY does everyone quit or retire or leave?” Small Signs of Spring on the Horizon Second lockdown is starting to ease up and some small signs of positive outcomes are peeking through. Phase two of the vaccination program in Ontario should start soon and that’s a welcome announcement. However, as health officials continue to state – it is important that we don’t move forward too fast. I’d settle for moving confidently forward even in small steps. Mostly I’d be happy right now if I could get a specialist plugged in for my kids. Self Care A professional I know once called out self care and what that looks like. Kale and tea and walking won’t cure burnout, she said. I liked that so much that I vowed to hand stitch it one a pillow. You know what helps burnout? Support and proper care for mental health and physical health. It’s so much more than kale and tea. No, Self Care is Not Selfish.. but it is first to go. Harvard Health Blog says self compassion is crucial to self care. Other notable parts in the recipe are – movement, good nutrition, breath awareness, mind body practice such as yoga (which I am maintaining) and staying connected. It’s that staying connected part that I need to work on again soon, just as soon as I can find my oxygen mask and get my footing again. In fact, self care is not selfish, but it is not even a thought on the horizon when you are gasping for air. So, how are you doing?

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Twenty-one Things I Am Proud of in 2020

Paula — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:39:40 +0000

So what are you proud of in 2020? What was your greatest accomplishment? What are you proud of in 2020? People keep asking this question. Part of me wants to be a total smart ass when I read the question – I mean 2020 accomplishments at the end of the year were dramatically different than our expectations at the start. Let’s be clear. I got up, got out of bed and kept going in a year full of anxiety and stress. That was enough many days. My 2020 Moments Instead of making it a negative or griping or dismissing the entire year, I keep saying the same thing, which leads me to the number one thing I am proud of in 2020, the past year. I Kept My Teenagers and My Family Alive You know that thing that people do when their kids are infants….how you tiptoed into their rooms at night and peered out over the room in the dark and you held your breath waiting to hear their breath. Were they breathing? There were many variations of this in the past year only they all looked like me checking in to be sure they were in fact still okay. Getting Out of Bed Oh boy there were a lot of days I could have just stayed in bed. There were many days in the first few months especially when I was legitimately concerned about my family and being able to pay the mortgage. But more than that, we headed into the pandemic with a daughter who was in crisis in terms of her mental health. Pandemic plus mental health crisis was a pretty scary place to be. Many weeks I thought I might have also been depressed from the strain and anxiety of the situation. Sustainability Not being able to go places, being home more often meant that we also made more sustainable choices often. Fewer trips to stores meant saving gas and that’s better for the environment. Using up what we had instead of going nuts consuming, was a journey we mostly embraced. I am proud of that. Steps This year, while gyms were closed I walked in my neighbourhood and many days I got my kids out walking with me. When we couldn’t workout we could walk and sometimes workout in the basement too. It’s what worked this year for us. In fact, I wrote a post about celebrating the art of walking. TikTok I started TikTok and it is is pure fun. Check me out over there @inkscrblr. It’s a brand new deal and a choice and I am having fun with it so go visit. It’s a few seconds of time and I am enjoying the video and video editing portion of the channel. Pure and simple. Enduring Remote Learning Oh, make no mistake this was a hot mess. But, we endured it and my oldest adjusted and my youngest passed all of her courses so far. It is not ideal and this entire year continues to shift and change so much I may just dub it there shapeshifter year. But we endured. Tent Camping We bought a tent and we learned how to pitch it and we went camping when it was safe to do so in the summer. And we discovered that we enjoy it, almost more than anything actually. It was our favourite and only travel experience this year. The Writing In 2020, I continued my quest to diversify and published all sorts of parenting during a pandemic content. Several of those pieces appeared on CBC Parents. I’m thrilled to keep that part of my work going. Connecting Connecting with others who have kids with special needs has been crucial this year. In fact, this year, that’s been more important than ever, because we cannot get together in person and we need more support. Learning to Make Bread in a Bread Machine We received a bread maker in early 2020. That was brilliant because we used it weekly for the first five months and then every couple of weeks afterwards. We have made some scrumptious dinners with it and we have also made jam. That’s right the breadmaker makes jam! Not Letting Hate Win Divisive politics in the USA and even here at home in Ontario have made it extremely hard some days to not drown in anger and negativity. Hate is not a thing I hold onto, because it drains you of energy and light. There are days when it feels overwhelming but I am releasing it, right now and I hope that this continues to be the emotion that I feel occasionally and then decide to let go daily. Gave My Site a Facelift It had been years since I switched the look of my site and frankly, I am not sure why I waited so long. The new look works and I like it a lot. Does it still need a few tweaks? Sure, but this is a vast improvement and a new skill that I have mastered…changing themes in WordPress. Increased Traffic and Pageviews While it was a weird year at a lot of points, it was also a period in which people were looking online for a lot of things and reading more. So, happily, traffic grew. Also, I like to think my investment in SEO and content has been paying off. Photography and Editing At the start of the pandemic I wasn’t motivated by much. When I travel I take photos, but there was no travel so why bother? Well, I ended up getting a new phone and I feel like that gave me a better outlook on improving my photography. Pretty sure it shows on Instagram and here, at least a bit. Reading During the pandemic I have had more time to read and a few of the books I have picked up have been powerful and memorable. Two of the best ones I read this year were The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Kiterunner by Khaled Hussaini. Regretfully, I didn’t really tally the number of books that I read in 2020, but I gained a lot from the words and the style of every book. Adjusting to Virtual Workouts Not my favourite way to work out by a stretch, but I am again doing a wider range of workouts and that’s fine. There’s merit in changing it up once every so often. Boot camp to yoga and even dance fit style. It’s all good. Found a Few New Trails We explored a bit more of our city this year and there was a lot to enjoy about that. Finding some new trails, choosing to finally explore Sifton Bog instead of driving by it (a thing we have done for the last five years!) Kept Paying the Mortgage OH BOY. This is not intended as a slight in any way to anyone who stopped paying the mortgage. Please understand that at the start of the first lockdown we were genuinely worried about being able to pay the mortgage. In fact, we had no clue if Jim would be able to continue his job, if it was essential or not. In the early days before CERB was even mentioned, we were worried. I made the inquiries at the bank and called our financial planner and thankfully we were able to keep paying the mortgage. I’m grateful for that. Baking My daughter has done some incredible baking this past year and I am grateful for her scrumptious experiments. She nailed making an apple pie with lattice and her glazed apple bread was fantastic. But her homemade pizzas are my favourite. One of the things I am pretty proud of in 2020 is her kitchen skills. The Meals It’s been many years since we have eaten this varied a diet actually. Having to plan ahead has helped us to determine what we are making ahead of time and frankly also we have enjoyed using Hello Fresh a bit. It pushed us out of our comfort zone. Standing UP Wait, what do I mean by that? Well, after all that this year has thrown at us I am still standing up. We all are. If you are too then give yourself a big hug, kudos, mad props. We made it and that speaks to our resilience. Growth Happened Anyways While the year behind us was full of worry and so much chaos at times, it also had a lot of lessons and moments of beauty too. Growth happened despite the pandemic and maybe at times because of the pandemic. And we kept going. That’s what I am most proud of in 2020.

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The Simple Art of Walking

Paula — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:17:00 +0000

Or How I Don’t Want Your Pity Walk Became Let Me Get a Sweater and My Shoes) With gyms closed for much of the past year, I have discovered the value of the simple art of walking. We walk in all the weather, sometimes alone but often together. That’s been a highlight of this year actually. Walking. Discovering the art of walking has been an unexpected positive in a year too full of negatives. The Art of Walking It started as a way to get the kids moving and a means for me to get my steps in for the day. Way back in March, when the pandemic was new and kids were still adjusting, my youngest was reluctant to do anything. She was (as is often her default state) pissed off at the world. I Don’t Want Your Pity Walk Her anger got the best of her that day. We can all still recall the day I drove both of my daughters to Fanshawe Conservation Area, and she refused to leave the van yelling: “I don’t want your pity walk.” And she didn’t join us to walk that day. But Payton and I continued. WE walked and let her sit inside the van to calm down. Sometimes everyone needs a little space. Disappointment Takes Time It was the week that we learned the border was closed and our annual Vermont ski trip, was postponed until December (well here we are in December and yet the world is not yet safe for travel, but that’s another story.) And we were all upset and disappointed and a bit angry, but trying not to show it. And Eventually She Joined Us Too We continued several times a week. Some days, that was us joking and laughing as we walk. Occasionally it was, or is someone griping and complaining all the way about how cold it is, but still we go frequently together. And Yet… In a span of a few months angry, disappointed and reluctant finally became let me grab my sweater or my coat, or to be honest occasionally, let me throw on some pants. LOL. How We Went From NO WAY to Wait for Me Last week, my younger girl, the prickly I don’t want your pity walk teen, couldn’t wait to get going after dinner, every single night. There are a few good things about 2020 for my family. Learning the art of walking has been one of my favourite parts of this questionable year. One is that I continue to get more steps in than I did the year before. The outdoors is my gym now and it has been for months. That’s not a bad thing. I have genuinely enjoyed finding all of the trails and paths in my neighbourhood and at times I have also done my best to vary up the routine, adding jogging, running or just exploring to my walk. More often than not, my kids come with me for our walks. Some days they bicker endlessly as siblings often do, and other days they have me doubled over laughing so hard at the absurd jokes and silly things they do. As many of you know my kids have some mental health issues and anxiety is high on that list. The pandemic made that worse a lot of days. Our Mental Health Routine Our routine for supporting mental health has always been modelling that exercise, food, water and sleep are not negotiable. It pays off, and as hard as it is to get your winter coat, boots, scarf and mittens out some days, it is also important to do so. Every single time we walk we end up feeling better when we come back to our home, where school and work are currently. Our Serotonin Fix My oldest girl calls it her serotonin fix for the day, mostly because we usually see either a small child out walking or trying to figure out a bicycle, or we see neighbourhood dogs that we end up petting. There’s a tiny miniature Morkie we adore and have come to know and a sweet little toddler who once ran right into our garage as we were leaving for our walk. There’s so much value in celebrating the small stuff and of course there’s merit in moving. Laughter and Love Reflecting on 2020, and what has gotten us through the year, I can’t help but think of these nightly walks as a highlight. We talk to more neighbours; we know the names of most of the dogs in our neighbourhood and sometimes we laugh until our sides hurt. I’d Rather Be Here While we would absolutely still rather be skiing in the mountains in Vermont right now, we at least have our walks and mastering the art of walking has been a highlight of this challenging year. Disappointment and Moving On We’ve all dealt with a lot of disappointment this year, and I am certainly not minimizing that in any way. We dealt with a lot of anger and stress at the beginning of the pandemic when I scrambled to plug in supports for my younger daughter, who seemed depressed. And my older girl recently was also struggling. We’ve since found a virtual therapist for her too. Magic in the Moments At Hand Even more reason to keep moving. The art of walking means that sometimes you also find joy where you didn’t expect to. If we hadn’t timed it precisely right one night we would never have seen the beaver working away underneath the bridge we were standing on and if we hadn’t stopped to watch him, then we wouldn’t have seen the two deer bolt out of the bushes. Magic. Other nights we have seen numerous storks, herons and so many fireflies. Morning or Night WE walk in the mornings and sometimes at night. And we walk through snow, rain and heat. Often, we chase the constellations staring at the sky and naming them with an app in our hands to help. It Might Not Be… It might not be Vermont, Quebec, Ireland, Gulf Shores or even Ottawa but it could be one day. Right now, the art of walking is keeping us all sane, sometimes connected, and even mentally fit. A Different Path There’s also a point I am making every day by walking. It clears my head and gets my body started and also it’s a little bit about finding resilience and showing my kids you take the punches and keep on rolling. Life isn’t always going to roll out the red carpet at your feet. Sometimes you have to grab your boots, your coat, create a different pathway and just get walking.

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What It’s Really Like Getting a Coronavirus Test

Paula — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 06:04:00 +0000

This is our story of what it feels like getting a Coronavirus test. Here’s my disclaimer. We live in London, Ontario and we went for Covid tests the week before Labour Day when one of us showed 1-2 symptoms. Waits for testing and actual local case numbers were low then. Now, they have changed. This was our experience getting a Coronavirus test. Why Were We Getting A Coronavirus Test? Three weeks ago, my older daughter, who was just about to start university went to sleep with extreme stomach upset. After a night spent running to the bathroom, we were a little concerned. Sure, it could have been nerves at starting a big life transition. But, with Coronavirus around, you worry. Could it be something more? When She Asked to Get Tested In the morning, right before she was scheduled to work at a local day camp, she told me she still felt awful and wanted to go get tested. So, I checked with a few friends on Facebook to find out what their experience was getting a Coronavirus test and we got ready to go. Why We Went My older daughter worked with children all summer long at a day camp. While they had many safety protocols in place that were clearly working (no outbreaks at any of the local London city day camps. Kudos to the counsellors and supervisors for making that a safe place all summer.) But Still…. But, still, the possibility of her catching something from them was higher than if she’s been sitting at home all summer. For up to date news and statistics on Covid-19 cases and outbreaks look to reliable sources like: Johns Hopkins. I also recommend CBC Canadian news. Monitoring for Fever She took her temperature a few times that first night and in the morning. All normal in that regard and she had no other symptoms. But, still she wanted to go get tested to be sure. This is the daughter that struggles most with anxiety disorder, so, it was likely to be a worry for her until she got tested. experience. So, we googled what time does the Coronavirus testing centre in London open and we got dressed and ready to go. Take Supplies for the Wait I grabbed refillable water bottles for all of us. My two teen daughters and I jumped into the van making sure to also pack health cards and be prepared to wait. My Kobo was in my purse and my younger girl brought her Kindle, while Payton grabbed a book to read. (At that point I was unsure whether Ainsley would also want to get tested to be safe, or not, so we all went together.) Get There Early We arrived just after opening time around 11:15. The Coronavirus testing centre at Carling Heights opens at 11 am. It was the last week of summer vacation and people were starting to return from cottages or camping while students were trickling back to the city settling into residence. There were maybe 11 cars in front of us already. So, not bad at all. It Looked Like a Drive Through, But That’s Just the Start The instructions were clear and the filtering system of driving through a line with your vehicle stating your symptom and showing your health card served to kind of triage people and instruct them on next steps. After easily half an hour in that line we pulled over to the side of the parking lot and awaited a text from the nurses inside. A Text Tells You It’s Time to Enter the Building Maybe 15 minutes passed at the most and the text came saying bring your health card and walk through the front doors of Carling Heights. We were met by another nurse checking to see if we had masks on and spritzing us with hand sanitizer. One more line to meet up with the two nurses screening us before the automatic doors into the arena and we were through. I always worry that because Payton and I both have the same initials that if we go in together our results will get confused. But everything was driven by health card numbers, so there was no need to worry. Social Distancing Once we were inside we waited on chairs set easily six feet apart from anyone else and then another nurse spoke with both of us confirming whether we’d had contact with someone who had Coronavirus and what our symptoms were. I had no symptoms, but on that day I decided to get tested with my daughter in order to be safe and to show her it was not a big deal. Now, the protocols have changed recently, so please pay close attention to those before you go. No need to be tested, unless you fit one of the criteria outlined by public health. Recently, huge lineups in London, Ottawa and Toronto cities have led to long waits and local health units are all providing close guidelines for when you need to be tested. Watch the Crowd Anyways, after that nurse kindly screened us, she deemed Payton a higher priority as I was asymptomatic. Then, we moved to another seating area for about 10-15 minutes. We paid close attention to the other local people waiting for Coronavirus testing only because I was watching to see how long it was taking and whether people were coming out crying or totally fine. Skip the Rumours Rumours are everywhere about what the test itself feels like and my teens had both watched numerous videos of soldiers cringing at how much it hurt and suggestions that someone jammed a Q-tip into your brain when you were getting a Coronavirus test. (I am here to say it is NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL. Keep reading.) One of Us Isolates Until Tests Come Back The nurse told us that because Payton had one or two of the symptoms that she needed to isolate in our home until the Coronavirus test results came back. If You are Asymptomatic In fact, I was okay to go about my daily activities they said because I was asymptomatic. My Crohn’s Disease can make me more vulnerable than the average person my age, but I was feeling fine. Finally, we waited together one more time and then we were called in individually to the exam/ testing room. Kudos to all of the community centres that have managed to become makeshift screening centres. My daughter went in by herself, but then a super sweet nurse came out to get me. She quietly told me she felt like my daughter was anxious since her voice got very quiet as she answered questions. So, I asked where to stand and held her hand as they did her test first. She cringed a bit and her eyes watered and then it was over. My Turn Next, came my turn. I have one needle phobic daughter, so I always try to make sure I am super calm around medical personnel. The swab went up my nose super gently and not nearly as far as people suggested. You count to five and it’s done. My nose felt ticklish afterwards, like I needed to sneeze. That was it. We sanitized our hands one more time and threw the disposable masks in the garbage and walked to our van. Waiting for Results Payton spent the day in her room, not a hardship for a teenager at all. I walked around sanitizing everything in the house and then I checked our results online before bed that night. They were not there yet, but I knew 12 hours would be pushing it. The next morning Payton called in sick again and I hit the computer to check the web site for the results. Negative for both of us and it took less than 24 hours for results. Our Testing Experience Was Speedy Thankfully, the Coronavirus testing experience was speedy, efficient and the nurses were super kind. So, don’t be afraid to get tested if you need to. If your kids have symptoms, then get there early in the day and take the test. Good luck! Stay safe and well.

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Parenting Through the Pandemic – Life Kicks it Up a Notch

Paula — Sun, 24 May 2020 16:37:00 +0000

Isn’t it crazy how life sometimes kicks it up a notch out of nowhere? Parenting through the pandemic has definitely been like that here. Week Nine went like this… Two weeks ago we were coasting along doing Tickety Boo, a phrase I once found charming and a favourite of my now deceased mother-in-law. But cute phrases aside, I was all set to write the WE ARE ROCKING Pandemic Life post. I was even contemplating having the T-Shirts custom made (not really), when out of the blue everyone broke. That’s right. Everyone broke. Everything. Week Nine of Pandemic Parenting It’s like: Oh Hey Paula, you thought you were doing great? PSYCH. Then along comes life to give you a little smack down for getting cocky. Oh, sure you find your footing and everyone is doing their online schooling and engaging, sharing their concerns and emotions, doing their walks or taking a swim and doing free yoga on Youtube to stay on top of physical health and then BLAM. I have been reading and writing and sharing many posts here about parenting through the pandemic. In fact, I have written a bunch of content about the topic for CBC Parenting as well. Making the most of it. Verbally high fiving myself, but also let’s be honest I know bloody well that there’s no secret sauce to this chaotic unwelcome territory. Coasting Along Tickety Boo Anyways, we were all doing well, hitting the groove. One child still sets her alarm every morning for 8 am, just so that she can maintain some semblance of normalcy and routine. That is extremely important to her because she is 18 and she has anxiety disorder. Having no schedule and no routine is worse for her than waking early. So, she was doing okay with respect to maintaining her schedule. My youngest was also coping with all the loss, the switch to online school, virtual therapy, and mask wearing and managing to stay socially distant. I had literally praised them both one night to say – I appreciate how you guys are both trying to follow the guidelines for social distancing. Then, of course, they both had mental health meltdowns. Oh, they didn’t break the rules. PSYCH It’s hard not to get sucked into that vortex of sadness, depression and anxiety. Teen angst is bad enough during the usual high school years. But now toss in a pandemic and anxiety about making money, or whether parents will be able to keep their jobs, or when you will ever be able to attend school, stay healthy, etc. All of that is too much weighing down teenage shoulders. There have been many moments during the pandemic when I have looked up from my screen (on days when I am motivated to be able to actually write, or pitch, or share content) and been dead drained and overwhelmed and so sad that I have hidden in the bathroom to cry. I get it. It’s overwhelming right now. It is flat out depressing. Emotions are bigger and sad and we are raw. Kids with mental health issues are already struggling. I have in fact written previously about my youngest and her struggles with explosive behaviour and FASD, impulse control and mood regulation as well as emotions. She has typically viewed almost everything as anger and that spews out in volcanic eruptions. My oldest daughter starts university in September, but I know she clearly is concerned about what that looks like and even whether it actually proceeds. It will, and she will attend. We have accepted entrance to a university here in our city. But, sometimes no amount of assurances from Mom or Dad are enough to tip the anxiety scales towards balanced. Anxiety is in fact the rule for many households right now. Teens are constantly on their phones and doom scrolling is a thing they do, just as adults do lately. Even as I remind them to step away from the news feeds that declare more and more deaths and lockdowns and worry over a second wave, it often goes in one ear and out the other. Of course, in addition to all of that there was the online school piece. This was the week – week nine – when the school started to question the amount of time the kids were NOT spending online. Assignments were missed largely because one of my kids was acting as if she was completely depressed by life, period. So, no school was being done and her science course was in jeopardy. My other girl was completely anxious, so we were just trying to keep sane. Academic stuff is never as important as mental health. My main priority, of course, was not online school. So, when the doctors and therapists called I voiced my concerns and asked them to help. So How am I Proceeding? First and foremost, I communicated this to the school. I called the school and advised them that it would be helpful if the teachers could do individual check ins with my youngest daughter to help motivate her. Yes, I know this is high school, but she was acting depressed and I needed her to keep going. So I started circling the wagons and getting them involved. Two or three of her daily course teachers did a great job checking in by phone once a week. The final teacher was a complete dud, however. Thankfully, we will probably not ever have her again. Frankly, I am grateful that the administration and support staff as well as social workers at the school, will give support and listen to parents when they voice concerns. Happily, they reacted quickly. Was it perfect? No, but it was enough on some days to keep her from completely disengaging. Creativity Well, if you know me at all, then you are fully aware that writing is my therapy. I share content here and on CBC Parents when the going gets tough and that’s often, actually. Hunt Down More Mental Health Supports Speaking of therapy, I tried many times over to access a free provincial mental health resource for myself and that was a fail. I’ll try to access something else. The app in question was not working for me no matter how many times I changed the password etc. It kept prompting me for money, which is not forthcoming during a pandemic. Also, I have asked that both of my teens locate or source something virtually that works for them. One has used Kids Help Phone and I am fine with that. The other has weekly calls with a therapist in town. Finding Hope Right now, while parenting through the pandemic I am still trying to find those tiny little beacons of hope to offer them up like so many balloons to my children. Even though they are teens, they are not able to find optimism on their own many days. So, keeping us afloat is very much a day at a time and even occasionally hour by hour. That is just how it is right now. My Support Systems I am of course reaching out to my circle of friends, many of whom have kids with special needs and can relate to some of what I am feeling. Occasionally, I see examples of hope on the horizon. Covid-19 cases starting to decline in Ontario. A few countries like Italy and China flattening the curve. For now, that tiny glimmer has got to be enough. How Are You Doing? Occasionally I think holy smokes if this continues in the fall with NO in person classes, we are screwed. But again, one day at a time right now. I’m genuinely hopeful that we make true progress by then, mentally, physically and scientifically. So, how are you coping this week?

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Best Zoo Webcams to Watch Right Now

Paula — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:15:21 +0000

Clearly, we can’t get to the zoo right now, during the pandemic. But what if you could bring the zoo to you? These Zoo Webcams do just that! Do the kids want to watch and learn about their favourite animals and species right now anyways? Are they concerned about their favourite zoos or the animals there? Well, let them watch some of these Zoo Webcams and they will be entertained for hours over the next few weeks. Oh I know there are so many potential puns and jokes to be had regarding zoos and kids and families. Bringing the literal zoo into your zoo at home! LOL. Or maybe this one: bringing animals to your little animals? Meh, we are all just trying to do our best right now and these are some excellent resources that can help all of you. Some of the Best Zoo WebCams Around the World I can honestly say I saw pandas this morning and they were up and walking around thriving. SO great. What a way to start the day! Listen, this is a no pressure thing right now entirely. For me, at my house, it’s about maintaining sanity and positivity and staying busy. I enjoy seeing the pandas and other wildlife on the webcams – it makes me happy and is a perfect way to launch a potentially challenging day. Super Grateful for These Right Now My gratitude exercise right now, is actually thank goodness for webcams and technology. I can be in San Diego at the zoo or in Atlanta or Kansas City. That is exceptional. The Smithsonian! Canadian Zoo Webcams/ Recording and Youtube This list is smaller than I had hoped and not for lack of trying. Let’s just say, I am kind of surprised that more Canadian zoos don’t have webcams up and running. Maybe, something they need to look at for future. Toronto Zoo has Youtube resources, so that’s certainly something. Love that zoo, so if I am wrong and you know they have live zoo webcams, please drop me a line or a comment. Thanks! Hit subscribe so you don’t miss any of the updates. Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo PandaCam. WOW the Calgary Zoo has an impressive leg up on conservation efforts now leaning hard into a global mission that is admirable. Greater Vancouver Zoo – Youtube. Not Exactly Zoo WebCams, But Still AWESOME Nature in Its Glory Not a ZOO BUT even more Wildlife in their habitat. This is my new favourite actually. Relaxing and Educational These Zoo Webcams can be relaxing, or educational right now. While I started watching these during the peak pandemic years, I have updated them for 2026 and still enjoy popping in from time to time to see what’s changed. Enjoy these when you are hunting for something to keep kids occupied. My new favourite is the polar bears on Explore.org above.

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