First, I would like to ask a favor: BREATHE!! Stop everything and take a deep breath because we are going through turbulence with no end in sight. If predictability and routine bring stability and security, we need to find ways to stay sane without either. Whether we like it or not, parents are the household's barometer, and one of their main roles is to filter the harshness of the external world, allowing children to feel strong enough to face the challenges. Many adults are already in a panic, feeling powerless in the face of everything that is happening, so let's think of ways to alleviate the situation, shall we??
Let's start with information overload. Being constantly tuned in to everything being said will make you sicker than Covid-19 itself because the immune system is directly linked to emotional health. Stay updated to know what measures to take, but listening to 20 audio messages of medical recommendations won't make you better prepared and will only generate more anxiety.
In times of crisis, we live one day at a time. Focus on daily achievements, which can range from organizing a closet to having a conversation with your children. Everyone knows how frustrating it can be to try to do something with young children demanding attention! Try to stop and give them the attention they're asking for, even if it's just for 10 minutes. But you really have to engage in the play with them! Completing your task afterward will probably be easier (until you're asked to stop again, of course).
With teenagers, the challenge is convincing them that they are not invincible! They often believe that nothing can harm them and put themselves at risk. To make things more complicated, they are among the least directly affected. They need someone to show them the global situation and force them to step out of their personal bubble.
Interpersonal exchanges are not being cut off but modified. Technology allows us to stay connected with those far away when used correctly. It's not just work meetings that can happen online; even board games exist in digital form. Moreover, we will have the opportunity to interact with those around us, something that the daily rush has made difficult.
However, the most daunting contact of all is with oneself. We are so accustomed to distracting ourselves from thinking and feeling that we have forgotten how to connect with and confront our fears. This escape is not only being restricted but exacerbated by the uncertainty about the future. I repeat: BREATHE! Extend your hand to that scared inner child, and we will get through this together.