i love my family but...
Don’t let the smiling faces fool you… we’re all sick of each other’s ish
These past 4 months have been a complete whirlwind with COVID, racial injustice and murder, lockdowns, missing loved ones, working from home, social distancing, remote learning…. and the list can go and on. For a lot of us, this time social distancing has kept us stuck in the house with our families… every single day… 24/7.
I’m sure that there are people out there that are enjoying this time with their families, to reconnect and to lean on each other for support. I’m also sure that there are a lot of us that have fully laid out escape plans and are just waiting for the green light. I’m somewhere in the middle.
I absolutely love my family, but I’ll need about a week away from them when the world opens back up. Domestic life + work life + entrepreneurial life is cool with separation, but juggling all three together isn’t working out for me. And while I’m so grateful to be able to work from home and to have my health, I still struggle with how strange this new normal is right now. It feels like I’m two toddler tantrums away from a complete mommy meltdown, and I’m just figuring out how to cope. I have no long-term solutions, but these tips have definitely diverted my escape plans:
take care of your mental health first.
If you haven’t noticed already, I’m a huge advocate for therapy. And while it’s typically the last thing people think about, for me, it’s the easiest way to get me centered and fully present. And if you’re hesitant about leaving your home, virtual therapy sessions are a thing! Your mental health provider may already have this option available. There are also options like Talkspace and BetterHelp for those without health insurance, and to be honest, they’re a lot cheaper than some in-person sessions.
If therapy isn’t the right move for you, meditation, mindfulness, and prayer can also help. Take the time to figure out the best way you can find peace, and allocate the time to do it.
incorporate family-wide quiet time for at least an hour every day.
We’ve only been doing this for a few weeks, and it actually happened by accident. Emery was on TEN one day after her nap, so we told her to watch her iPad and to take some time in her room. About 30 mins later, she asked if she can have more “quiet time.” I gladly obliged.
The next day, after her nap, she asked for “quiet time” as if this was part of our routine, and I immediately knew that this was gold! So that’s what we do now, every day before dinner. Kier is usually in the basement, and I get a chance to sit, catch up with friends, or enjoy a glass a wine while pretending that the house is empty.
schedule a fun family activity/project once a week.
There are tons of socially distant activities offered now that the world has had a chance to adjust to this new normal. For example, Roers Zoofari in Vienna, VA has a self-drive safari! This way you can introduce your kids to different animals without ever leaving your car. If you’re not in the DC/MD/VA area, find your local museums and zoos and look into the socially distant options that they have!
If you’re not a fan of leaving the house, consider an activity box subscription like the Because of Them We Can Box, which mails you a curated package of products and tools that highlight Black History every month.
What has or hasn’t been working for you guys? Let me know in the comments if you have any additional ideas or suggestions!
For the entire month of July, I’ll be posting a blog post every Monday through Friday as part of Mattie James’ consistency challenge. I’ll be covering everything from love and relationships to motherhood, cooking, and home decor. #mjconsistencychallenge #mjconsistencypays
Thanks in advance for taking this journey with me and let’s connect soon! <3.
XO
