ALMetro360

• Maintain a typical routine as much as possible. Try having your kids do schoolwork at home at the times they would at school. Do the same if you are working from home. • Take a media/social media break. Depending on what you read or watch, COVID-19 is either the world’s biggest hoax or the end of the world. Neither is true. Seek accurate information and take a break from all the chatter. • Social distance does not mean social isolation. We may not be able to go out, have play dates or travel, but we can maintain contact with family and friends via Facetime and other platforms. This is especially critical for our most vulnerable family and friends, those that must be on isolation because of health con- cerns such as the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. • Consider volunteering in some way. The simple act of giving has been shown to reduce distress in the giver. It is gratifying to see people organizing food drives and other activities to support their communities. • Find ways to maintain your spirits. A good sense of humor goes a long way. Our Italian brothers and sisters are singing from their balconies in defiance of their isolation. People are amazing. Find your path. • Be a role model. Our children are watching how we react to this crisis. What do you want them to see? Children and teens rely on the adults in their lives to model and teach behavior. A child’s coping often relies on how adults cope. Now is the time to teach resilience, compassion, self-sacrifice and healthy coping. These are lessons children will remember for the rest of their lives. We adults should manage our emotions and fears, and be the leaders our children need us to be. • Support our children. Our children are responding to this crisis as well and need support during this time. How children cope and what they need varies by their age and level of development. For example, small children respond to the distress around them and need comforting and security. School aged children, tweens and teens need information that is tailored to their age (Younger 36 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com L OTS OF PRAYER IS ON THE TOP OF R ON AND A NNA B ISHOP ’ S LIST FOR WAYS TO STAY MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY HAPPY ! R ON AND A NNA BOTH WORK IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND KNOWING THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS EVERYDAY IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO THEM . I T ALSO HELPS TO GET PLENTY OF FRESH AIR BY SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS AND MUCH OF THEIR EXERCISE COMES IN THE FORM OF CHASING A FOURTEEN MONTH OLD ! A DDITIONALLY , A NNA IS ABLE TO TAKE A MENTAL BREAK WHILE RIDING HER HORSES AND R ON DOES THE SAME FISHING . P HOTO BY D I A NNA P AULK