Local therapist gives advice for parents during virtual school year

Local therapist gives advice for parents during virtual school year

There's been a lot of talk surrounding students as the new school year begins from home, but it's important for parents to take care of themselves too.

A local therapist offers advice for guiding children through virtual learning while taking care of your own mental health.

SURROUNDING STUDENTS AS THEYBEGIN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR DURINGTHE COVID-19PANDEMIC BUT WE CAN'T FORGETABOUT THE PARENTS.23ABC'S KALLYN HOBMANN SPOKEWITH A LOCAL THERAPIST ABOUTSOME WAYS PARENTS CAN TAKE CAREOF THEIR OWNMENTAL HEALTH WHILE GUIDINGTHEIR CHILDREN THROUGH VIRTUALLEARNING.BEGINNING THE SCHOOL YEAR FROMHOME ISN'T EASY FOR STUDENTS.

ORTHEIR PARENTS."WHEN WE HAVE THIS CHANGE OFROUTINE,THERE'S JUST HEIGHTENEDEMOTIONS."ASSOCIATE THERAPIST TAYLORHEAVEYSAYS CREATING A SEPARATE SPACEAT HOME FOR WORK CAN GIVEPARENTS A SENSE OF NORMALCY."IT'S ALL GETTING BLENDEDTOGETHER.WORK AND HOME AND KIDS AND THENRELAXATION AND ALL OF A SUDDENWE'RE SUPPOSED TO JUST TURN THATOFF AT THEEND OF THE DAY.

I THINK IT'SHELPFUL IF THOSE SPACES ARE ALITTLE BIT SEPARATE."HEAVEY RECOMMENDS CHECKING IN ONYOURSELF EACH DAY.

ANDACKNOWLEDGING YOUR EMOTIONS.

"WHETHER YOU JUST DO SOME DEEPBREATHING, SOME MEDITATION, SOMEFAMILY YOGA.

IF WE HAVE TO BRINGTHE KIDS INTO IT, THAT'S FINE.LET'S ALL DO ITTOGETHER.

BUT, YEAH, JUSTSOMETHING, SOMETHING EACH DAY TOJUST LETYOURSELF BE AWARE OF HOW YOU'REFEELING."AND HEAVEY SAYS DON'T HIDE HOWYOU'RE FEELING FROM YOURCHILDREN.IT CAN ACTUALLY TEACH THEM AGOOD LESSON."IF A KID DOES CALL YOU OUT ANDTHEY'RE LIKE MOM, YOU LOOKSTRESSEDOR LIKE MOM, WHAT'S GOING ONJUST BE LIKE YEAH, I AM.

I AM.AND I'M TRYING.

I'MTRYING TO WORK THROUGH IT.

ANDIT'S NOT EASY FOR ME BUT, YOUKNOW, I'MDOING THE BEST THAT I CAN.

ALLTHAT A KID IS GOING TO LEARNFROM THATIS, OKAY, YOU CAN BE HONESTABOUT YOUREMOTIONS AND YOU CAN WORKTHROUGH THEM."FOR COUPLES STRUGGLING TO GETSOMEALONE TIME.

HEAVEY SAYS YOUCAN TELL THE KIDS YOU'REGOING TO DO YOUR OWN THING FORA MOMENT.

"EVEN IF IT MEANSSAYING, HEY KIDS,WE'RE GOING TO PUT A MOVIE ONAND YOU'REGOING TO STAY HERE AND WE'REGOING TO GO INTO THE BACKYARDAND DOOUR OWN PICNIC FOR A DATE NIGHT.THE KIDS CAN HANDLE THAT AND SEETHATTHEIR PARENTS ARE MAKING TIMEFOR THEMSELVES." THIS WAYPARENTS CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLEWHILE GIVINGTHEMSELVES SOME WELL- DESERVEDSELF-CARE.KALLYN HOBMANN...23ABC...CONNECTING YOU.AND STARTING TODAY -