If your household is anything like mine right now, you might be seeing SOS distress signals. Or your house might be resembling the scene of the swirling tornado in the magical forest in Frozen 2. If you don’t understand that reference, then everything that follows may read equally nonsensical. But if you DO, then you’ve guessed that I have a one-year-old and a five-year-old and I’m frankly puzzled why neither understands that QBRs are due next week and what a QBR is. As for their current state of mind, I swear my children are plotting to run away and I may have caught my five-year-old packing her bags on the sly. My one year old sits hunkered down by our front door saying “out-tide” a lot more than he used to. And they are smart enough to catch on that what I’ve termed as “extended family time” is essentially “no-choice-play-together-and-like-it” time so my five-year-old has built a fortress in our living room where she retreats when she needs alone time and she makes sure we all know she is “not to be interrupted”. Yes, ma’am.

One of the biggest challenges I’m contending with is prioritizing communications. I’m sure your inbox looks like mine. COVID-19 updates from every company you ever provided your email address to. Your work-related emails (the urgent and non-urgent). The meeting requests (no doubt you are managing your child’s social calendar via zoom meetings now, as well). The social “how are you holding up” emails from friends and family (high on my list). Updates from your child’s school including lesson plans. And yes, that email from American Tire that your car’s tire pressure is low and it’s time to come in for a tire check (low on my list). How have I coped? I have proactively sent notes to my team on the hours that I will be available to speak, and that has helped. Most of these hours are weeknight and weekend hours because that’s all I can manage with two little ones and solo parenting while my husband is contending with a punishing patient load and the ever-changing hospital landscape. I have let go of non-essential communications and made it known that I have the same expectation of others (no rush to respond). We are not superhuman and understanding that this is a marathon, is the best gift we can give ourselves and others right now. Pace yourself.

Raising young kids in this new normal requires stamina. They deserve attention, a sense of security and let’s not forget that little ones cherish routine. Establishing routine for others as you figure out your own is manageable but tough. Many of us are aware of how to use Slack/Zoom/Google Calendars as great collaboration and scheduling tools to help us establish that routine. But let’s also put some credence behind the philosophy of “let kids be” that honestly, many of us South Asians grew up with ourselves. One South Asian girlfriend reminded me that kids do need the opportunity to be bored. Being bored unleashes the creative genius in children and teaches them independence and self-direction. During those other times when letting your kid run naked through the house unfettered while you are chatting with your boss may seem “uncomfortable”, I have relied on these (free) resources, which I’ve listed below, to keep us all buoyant.

1. So excited that Mira, Royal Detective was finally released this week on Disney Junior. An Indian girl who solves mysteries in an Indian-inspired magical land called Jalpur and embarks on great adventures. This is HUGE for everyone who cares about diversity and inclusion in media for children.

2. Www.nasa.gov/stem-at-home-for-students-k-4.html

3. A list of children’s authors doing online read alouds and activities

4. An additional list #operationstorytime of children’s authors reading online

5. Virtual Field Trips

6. Day-by-Day projects by Scholastic Learn At Home

7. Khan Academy special at-home schedule and classes

8. Bookcreator.com

9. California Academy of Science

10. Daily Lunch Doodle Sessions with Mo Willems Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence

    
    

We, at Neythri, want to be of service to our community of amazing professional women. If you find this list at all helpful, please share it with other parents of little ones and add to it. Add to the comments section as well. I would love to hear what other parents of young ones are relying on to get through this new normal because as you already know, we’re in this together.