One Day at a Time
Helping Your Kids Face Their Uncertainty
Daily insights on life in the face of uncertainty, by psychiatrist and habit change specialist Dr. Jud Brewer
Stress, anxiety, and other emotions are running high for many of us right now. But if you’re a parent with kids at home trying to juggle work, homeschooling, and overall uncertainty, your house may feel like an emotional minefield. Your kids are also trying to make sense of everything, and may not be reacting to life in “normal” ways. And even if you don’t have kids at home, your inner child probably isn’t feeling very safe or secure right now. In one way or another, we’re all on the verge of melting down.
Let me tell you about my good friend Josh, his wife Julie, and their 12-year-old son, Ben. When Ben first found out that his school was closed, he was excited. It felt like vacation. But pretty quickly, Josh and Julie noticed Ben getting angry and starting to withdraw.
Like a lot of uncertain and stressed parents, Josh and Julie first responded to Josh with a typical parenting approach: consequences. After some time passed and the parents reflected a bit more, it became apparent that Ben was just as worried and anxious as his parents.
Children don’t always…
