Thought for the day…we cannot be all things. The Corona Virus has placed many parents into the position of needing to teach. Some of us find this fun, it might just be a strength that make us really good at it. Perhaps home schooling is actually something you always wanted to try…perhaps not! We are all so very different. There is a reason why I did not go into teaching. Could I? Yes. Did I want to? At one time I did. Am I glad I didn’t? Oh YES! Turns out I prefer training adults to teaching children. My strengths and weaknesses do not make the best teacher for children. I am very good at attaching and at filling the emotional needs of children, but that also means that I can be a little too close in order to teach them. For me, I am great at attachment but terrible at sharing maths! This is ok, we cannot all be great at everything.
It appears that during this time of the virus that many parents are being placed in a position where they are either not able or just not comfortable. They are the parent and not the teacher. My guess is that most are able to show love, keep their children protected and fill their children’s needs regarding most matters. My guess is that they all want to be able to also fill the void of not being at school, but some feel as if they are failing. It is just too much, too stressful and it isn’t working.
I promise you that there are many out there that are finding this difficult. There are many parents that are great at being a parent. Great at bedtime, snuggles and playing games. They are amazing at attachment, boundaries and helping their child feel safe, but they are rubbish at Maths or spelling. Please know that this is ok. We can only do our best and we aren’t all meant to be teachers. It is ok to just do what you can. It’s ok to have more play, more cooking and or an extra video on that day. It’s ok if the Maths didn’t get finished. It’s ok if you chose peace and the joy of your child over struggle and tears because it just became too much.
We cannot all be everything. Please, forgive yourself for being human and unable to do everything. Be good enough. That’s all. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be you and that is good enough. Value your strengths and be ok where you are not so strong. Say “no” I can’t do that. Ask for help and or delegate if you can. Are you a parent alone trying to do it all??? Stop. No person was ever expected to do this all on their own (this is why we have partners, friends and family). This virus took our support networks away…temporarily…made them not as accessible. It is ok to say that you have done enough. Please remember and be ok with the fact that none of us can be everything to every child. None of us. There might be someone that looks like they are doing great, but I promise that if you looked hard enough you would see them struggle with something you are amazing at. We just can’t do it all…we were never meant to. Please remember this week that we cannot be all things and that is ok, and that is good enough.