When we were first asked to stay home due to a global pandemic, I wondered what I should send you. What do you need?

Except I quickly realized that you and I were being inundated with way too much. I literally shut down. It was the perfect excuse for an introvert to hunker down and enjoy the slowness of it all. 

My son came home, and my husband started working from home. I have to admit we were extremely fortunate that our kitchen remodel, which had been dragging on since the beginning of the year, was finalized (well, almost; there are a few little details that can wait), with all the appliances hooked up just in time. I’d been cooking on a camping stove in the garage for the past two months, so I’m extremely thankful that it worked out. 

‘This too shall pass’ was my new motto, never realizing that eight weeks later, we would still be asked to restrain physical contact. We’ve missed travel plans, birthdays, graduations, and yearly family gatherings, and now Mother’s Day 2020 will be another day spent away from our loved ones in the quiet of our homes. 

Mothers, yes, you, mama, are essential workers of this pandemic. I commend you for your resilience, courage, and strength to keep it all together (or at least try) during a time no one has ever experienced. You’ve been asked to take on even more on top of everything you already do. I see you, and I commend you. You’re amazing. Please remember that, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, especially you. 

As I write this I also know that not everyone can take this situation in stride, there is immense suffering, pain, and grief that so many are experiencing, my heart aches. 

Marie Forleo, a woman I’ve admired for many years, showed the way right from the start by reminding us, “In times of crisis, the antidote to hopelessness is often helpfulness.” 

That is why I wanted to send you this care package. It’s a mixture of things I offer or that I’ve found to be helpful, inspiring, and uplifting. I’ll be updating often. Let me know if you’ve got something I should add to it.

I’ve opened up my calendar for you…

I want to support you in your parenting, especially today when our parenting is being tested. Book either my one-on-one mentoring session or a personalized home audit at a reduced rate. Click the link below to book your discovery call and learn how I can best support you and your family.

MY ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING SESSION—Whether you’re expecting or in the trenches with little ones (0 to 6), I’ll guide you to a calmer and more practical approach to any parenting challenge. I’ve been mentoring parents worldwide this past decade and want to be there for you, too. Let me know how I can support you. Click the link below to book a call with me.

MY PERSONALIZED HOME AUDIT—If you feel overwhelmed by the chaos of living with children, let me guide you and show you how simple changes to your home, routine, and language can have a massive impact on your child’s behavior and ability to focus. I blend mindfulness, minimalism, and Montessori with positive discipline to help you quickly regain a calm and peaceful home. You owe it to yourself.

The Art of Parenting podcast

I’ve been keeping up with my weekly podcast for you and selected a few helpful ones. Check them out below, and subscribe to your favorite podcast platform. The podcast is now available on iTunes, Spotify, and AmazonMusic.

• 35: Learning at Home. With Julie Bogart
• 3: Follow your child, not the curriculum. With Pilar Bewley
• 12: Tantrums are precious opportunities. With Karen Young
• 11: Setting Limits and Building Cooperation. With Patty Wipfler
• 8: World peace begins at home. With Lorena Seidel

Simple activities your child can do at home.

Choose from over 60 short videos filmed from your child’s vantage point, giving you a sense of how to introduce new activities and nurture your child’s curiosity quickly. The links below are to the individual blog posts to learn more about each presentation, or you can check out my playlist here.

• Grab that Garlic and Peel Away!
• Choosing Kitchen Utensils for Children
• Using a Lock and Key as an Educational Toy
• Spreading Cream Cheese: If you only do one Montessori activity at home, do this one.
• Help Your Child Refine Language and Sounds

What I’ve found helpful, plus tools I’ve used in the past.

• Yoga with Adrienne is an excellent way to experience yoga in the comfort of your home; many options exist.
• Self-hypnosis is an app I use. It can be very powerful when used simultaneously every day for at least a week. Try it; you will be surprised. 
• Peaceful Beach Trip is another free self-hypnosis and a lovely way to escape. It will help you find inner peace and patience, allowing you to return with positivity and power.

Let me know what has been helping you stay healthy: body, mind, and spirit.

• OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
• Parenting resources from Zero to three.
• Keeping a healthy relationship with your partner during our stay-at-home orders.
• Pregnancy and postpartum support during a global pandemic.

Opportunities for collaboration and learning at home…

• Language cards from AMI and how to use them.
• For older children, Earth School.
• Storytime with Rachel Cargle on Instagram is a lovely way to pause in the day. Check them out on her IGTV.

Remember, there are a lot of opportunities to learn new skills around the house each day. I invite you to focus not only on the academic side of things but also on the practical aspects. For example:

• Laundry can be as simple as helping put things in the washer and dryer to being in charge of folding, ironing, and distributing everyone’s belongings. Start small and build on new skills.
• Cooking: I’ve shared a few ideas in the videos above. Start by letting them help you, and then be in charge of planning and cooking entire meals. Here’s a recent interview I did with Katie Kimball from Kids Cook Real Food.
• Car maintenance can be as easy as explaining the different parts using language or actually showing an older child how to change a tire or check if the car needs oil.
• Gardening: Start small by learning about seeds, then plant and maintain a full garden or take care of the plants around the house.

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I hope these resources are helpful. Let me know which ones you use and what else you want me to add.

I believe you, myself, our children, and our global community will be changed forever, and I also know that this is an essential moment when we get to create and choose the next chapter. There’s no going back. IMHO.

For me, staying healthy in body, mind, and spirit has been about walking or running in the neighborhood at least three times a week and sleeping a lot more (I haven’t set my alarm for the past eight weeks). The one thing I’ve been relishing is the new Sunday tradition of “Zooming” with my family: my father, stepmother, and all five siblings with their respective families in France, Ireland, and both US coasts. It’s been my anchor.

I’ve also been ‘distancing myself’ from my phone. It’s been kept in our new charging drawer in the kitchen. This one has been a game-changer in helping me limit the amount of anxiety-producing information and combat being easily distracted (so my apologies if I don’t pick up right away).

I’ve also been enjoying cooking with my son. Not going shopping so often has us planning and being creative with what is left in the pantry. I have so many new habits I hope to keep for as long as I can.

Tell me, how have you been managing these days? And how can I support you? Remember, I’m here for you, and you can always book a discovery call if you need more support.

With loving kindness,
Jeanne-Marie