The global pandemic calls for the cooperation of the whole family. Every member must work hand in hand to rise above the current situation. But while everyone plays a crucial part, no doubt it is the mothers who bear the brunt of the sudden shift in lifestyles.
The COVID pandemic can particularly be challenging to young mothers who are just beginning to raise young children. As a parent, you want to take good care of your children and protect them at all times. You and your partner must be on the same page on this journey.
So as a young mom, how do you manage your household during this pandemic? Fret not, as we’ve rounded up some practical household management tips for you!
1. Physical Health
The pandemic has forced every family to stay in the comfort of their homes. Home isolation and restricted movements can affect the family’s physical health. As they get stuck at home, they are most likely hooked on their mobile phones and the internet. This means less physical activities which can lead to compromised immune systems.
As a young mother, it’s best to work with your spouse to regulate phone time and give way to some physical activities indoors. These activities can be as simple as having regular exercises early in the morning and playtime with your kids late in the afternoon. You can also delegate some household chores to your children and ask for their help for a home improvement project.
2. Mental Health
Not only does the pandemic affect physical health, but it can also take a toll on the family’s mental health. Young children can be particularly vulnerable to this global crisis. It’s good that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide young mothers with some mental health tips for their children.
First, it’s important to start healthy habits at home. These include setting regular meals on time, ensuring that you get enough sleep, encouraging physical activities, and scheduling learning activities. Also, make sure to have family bonding activities, allow for social interactions, and limit your kid’s digital consumption. Ultimately, discuss to your children the impact of the COVID-19 crisis so they understand the situation better.
3. Family Relationships
The pandemic has significantly reshaped our personal relationships in many ways. While it has set us apart from our friends, classmates, and colleagues, it has drawn us closer to our families. As such, now is the best time to work on family bonds.
Unfortunately, many families have found themselves having to deal with new problems due to the pandemic. For instance, issues on domestic violence and divorce cases have significantly increase. To prevent these, you must stay on top of your relationships as a young mother. The key here is to have open lines of communication during this difficult time.
4. Work-Life Balance
Another problem seen during the pandemic is drawing the line between personal and professional life. Many businesses worldwide have adopted the work-from-home (WFH) policy. It’s good if you’ve managed to keep your job, you might be facing the situation of having to adapt to this new work setup. That said, time management is the key. It’s best to separate your personal and professional time. Allot certain hours for WFH and certain hours for family bonding and self-care. Be sure to have a workstation at home conducive to working.
5. Children’s Education
The global pandemic has led to the shutdown of schools worldwide and left about 1.2 billion children being out of the classrooms. Students have to heavily rely on online learning and other forms of learning such as the use of modules.
However, the pandemic calls for a strong collaboration between teachers and parents. As a young mother, you must do what it takes to assist your children. Be sure to invest in online resources for your children. Ultimately, be there to facilitate actual learning and help them with their homework and projects.
6. Household Finances
The financial aspect can be the most difficult to handle during this pandemic. This can all be more problematic if you are one of those who were asked to resign or whose business had to shut down for good.
However, that there are ways to get by financially. You may want to venture into business. In fact, new business applications have spiked since the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, consider having a side hustle via digital platforms. You can work as a freelancer for digital marketing, social media management, content creation, video editing, and web development.
If you’re struggling financially, know that lenders provide temporary relief such as payment deferral for mortgages, rental payments, and personal loans. Other lending entities offer forgiveness for loans such as students loans. But if you’ve long been delinquent on most of your payments even before the pandemic, consider getting a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer to file for bankruptcy.
Household management amid a pandemic is never easy. However, this can be performed successfully with the proper mindset, hard work, and genuine care. As young mothers stay on top of everything, be sure to consider your physical health, mental health, and family relationships, too!
