How to Survive a Pandemic with Kids

Surviving a pandemic is a big feat so pat yourself on the back for coming this far. But navigating through this new normal with kids is an even bigger feat and that deserves a pat and a deep-tissue massage for your back.

‘Kids’ is a very broad term as you could have babies who are only a few weeks old to teenagers who are on the brink of getting their driver’s license. If they live under your roof, most of the following apply. Remember mamas (and papas), you got this!

MH101 (Mental Health 101)

The Malay Mail reported that more than half of Malaysians experienced mental health issues when the pandemic first hit our shores and muddy confluence last year. In fact, mental health became the second most serious health issue next to heart diseases with three out of 10 Malaysian adults suffering from mental issues. Serious issues as such should be brought to light and not stigmatised. It’s okay to admit you are mentally exhausted in some way. Let’s smash that stigma and accept that it’s okay to seek help. Malaysia has several free or affordable resources to get support during these challenging times.

• Malaysian Mental Health Association provides free emotional support sessions via phone Monday - Friday between 10 am - 5 pm. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

• HumanKind provides affordable mental health services for the community. Though they do not charge for counselling services, there are costs involved for use of their space, utilities and overall administration to run their services.

For a more thorough Mental Health services guide, check out what the people at People.my have compiled here.

As parents, we’re programmed to be selfless towards our children. There comes a point where we need to stop giving our kids a timeout to give ourselves one instead. If possible, get your partner to watch your kids and find a hiding place to practice some breathing exercises, listen to soothing music or just scream into a pillow.

Remember those aeroplane safety videos we used to watch when we were free to fly leisurely? There’s a reason why they tell you to put your mask on before helping others like your children - it’s because if you were to run out of oxygen, you can’t help them with their oxygen mask. The same analogy goes towards your mental health - for your kids to be happy, you need to be happy yourself!

Now that you know the importance of mental wellness, here are some other survival tips to get you and your children through these challenge times of COVID-19.

1. Keep active - It's no secret that regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress and boost endorphins - otherwise known as the ‘happy hormone’. With 91% of Malaysians having access to the Internet, there is no excuse not to get/keep fit with a plethora of fitness resources online. For example, my daughter and I like Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube because it incorporates stories with Yoga.

2. Drink lots of water - I may not follow the typical Asian parenting style but if there’s something my mum taught me is: water is the solution to a lot of things. For both my daughter and I, water helps to keep us regulated (a constipated child is no fun!) and I’ve noticed how it significantly helps with our energy levels. It can be a daunting task to make sure we have enough so we like to have “tea parties” using water and hold drinking competitions to see who can drink the fastest.

3. Journaling - There will be times where you want to tell the world how frustrated you are but instead of airing your dirty laundry on social media, writing in a journal works even better. Not only is there no digital proof of something that could potentially get you in trouble, but it relieves stress, allows yourself to self-reflect and in general is a non-judgemental outlet to keep you sane. Bonus - your little one could even use your journal as a creative outlet for their artwork!

4. Sleep - This is a no-brainer. There are so many benefits to sleeping like reducing stress, improving your mood, thinking more clearly etc… And if your kids are at that age where they still nap during the day, NAP WITH THEM. I can’t tell you how amazing it is when you wake up after a 45 min nap feeling as though you had 8 hours of sleep.

How do I handle E-learning and Work From Home?

This may be an unpopular opinion but e-learning isn’t the be-all and end-all. We’re trying to survive a pandemic so if your kids aren’t adjusting to the new normal of e-learning - it’s okay! A big part of education is not what you learn, but the experience of learning. We didn’t ask for this pandemic, and as such, teachers didn’t ask to teach through a digital medium. Most felt they had to and as such, their hearts were not in it.

"Boring e-learning fails to engage the learner’s mind, and without that basic motivation and action, nothing can happen even when the learner goes through all the required motions."

-Ethan Edwards, Chief Instructional Strategist, Allen Interactions

As for your Work From Home woes with children in tow, not going to lie but it’s tricky - especially the younger and more dependent they are on you. I’m a stay-at-home mum so working from home is my default; lots of mothers I know have faced this dilemma - myself included when a freelance gig comes along. So with that, here are a few things that have been a saving grace.

1. Prepare meals ahead - or order food which you can refrigerate/freeze. Here are some easy and tasty meal prep ideas you can do for the whole family.

2. Set boundaries at home - find a dedicated workspace and let it be known to your kids that this is your “work zone” and should not be disturbed.

3. Get into a routine - like how you would on a regular workday, get a routine going so both you and your kids know when something happens (i.e. shower, lunch, tea break etc…)

4. Ask for help - back to MH101 - don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you have family that live near and are available to watch your kids - ask them! #kitajagakita

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Seriously, we’re in a pandemic. We would have never predicted this pandemic. It isn’t worth getting upset or stressed over minor issues.

Do note the opinions expressed in this post are mine. For context, I’m a first-time mother and what I learned when I transitioned from full time corporate to a stay-at-home mum was recognising my limits and to just roll with the punches. I survived 20+ years of my career staying true to this creed that it has helped shaped who I am today as a self-professed “cool mom”. My daughter is 3-years-old now. Though she’s had a rough beginning being born a few months early from her expected due date, she is now a happy, funny and all-around exceptional child that is testament to how it is possible to live a normal life and childhood despite the current circumstance.