My husband and I were talking last night about our quarantine thoughts and I realized I haven’t shared a My Kid Just Said entry for four years. Yes, folks. The last time I shared wisdom from our minis was way back in 2016. I kind of hate myself for not recording all those moments of wisdom because there were really so many as they were growing up.
But anyway. That’s that. I’ll try to catch up by sharing some things our kids made us think about since the community quarantine began.
KELLY (crying): Why is everyone so angry?! Didn’t you all ask for this?
This happened after everyone in the house lost their cool on her and her brother. I asked her why she was crying and that was what she said.
It’s true. In the months leading up to the community quarantine, weren’t we all hoping to have more time to relax? Didn’t we ask for less traffic? Didn’t you wish, even for a tiny bit, that you can work from home?
And then life went on a full stop.
Suddenly, everything we asked for was given to us. More down time. Less traffic. A chance to work from home.
Yet, we’re all so angry.
We’re angry because we want to clean up the house, but the kids are in the way. Didn’t you want to relax? So relax.
We’re angry because the kids are being too noisy while we work from home. Didn’t you want to work from home? Deal with what comes with it.
We’re angry because we can’t leave the house. Didn’t you want less traffic? Ayan, zero traffic!
We asked for this. Why don’t we take this opportunity to do everything we asked for? Let’s relax. Let’s be grateful to be (still) working. Enjoy the car-less streets and the better air quality that came with it.
When you’re about to blow up, ask yourself if it’s worth shouting at your kids or arguing with your neighbor.
And instead of being so angry, be grateful, be patient, be kind.
How are you doing? Now is the perfect time to teach our kids mindfulness, by example.
I think everyone get anxious and irritable easily nowadays. Why? Kasi yung NORMAL na ginagawa natin came into a halt very suddenly and unexpectedly. Yep, this is what most of us asked for. Yung more time for the family, less traffic, etc. Pero syempre may kapalit yun. No matter how chaotic our everyday lives are, pag biglang nagbago ang routine, you get anxious talaga. Like us, nandito kami sa Laguna ng son ko. My husbands works in Ortigas and how I wish he’s with us every single day. Nung nag-ECQ, nagkatotoo yung wish ko. Work-from-home ang setup nila. Sanay sya na palaging may ginagawa. So pag tapos na yung gawain nya sa computer for the day, hahanap sya ng gagawin. Minsan pati mga gawain ko pinapakealaman nya like yung paghuhugas ko ng pinggan. Ayaw daw nya ng may nakatambak sa lababo. I will do it naman after about 15 minutes, pahinga muna pagkatapos kumain. Ayaw nya ng ganun. Syempre nung wala sya dito, walang nakekealam. I can do things at my own pace and time. Minsan napipikon na ako. Yung son ko naman, gusto ko rin sya makasama. Pero ang kapalit noon ay walang patid na kalat at pagtatanong ng mga bagay na hindi ko maintindihan (tungkol sa online games ). So I think, pag-aralan na lang natin magpahaba ng pisi. Sana ay matapos na ang pandemic na ito at ng bumalik na ang mga normal na buhay natin.
Hi Marinela! I understand that the situation is very, very, very difficult. So yes, we just need to be more patient. And we also need to be mindful and grateful.
My kids taught me to be:
Mindful about how we respond to our triggers. Bakit nga ba napapasigaw? Kailangan bang sumigaw? Bakit nga ba napipikon? May unresolved issue ba ako that I’m acting out?
Mindful about how we act around our kids – even during the most trying moments – because they are watching us.
And the situation we are now taught me to be:
Grateful kasi we are home, we are safe, we are well-provided. I get anxious kasi frontliner ang husband ko. But when I come from a place of gratitude, there’s less fear and more hope.
I hope you guys are okay! Take care and take it easy <3