On the Whole

 As wildfires chase us out of every corner of the state, diseases (or fear of diseases) threaten us, laws and mandates confine many to their homes and riots and lawlessness abound, how is this influencing our children? What happens to their educational and emotional states? How can it NOT all trickle down or WASH OVER them, too?

We are holistic beings. There is no part of us, physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, that functions separately from the other parts. The overlap is inestimable. So what happens when we are in crisis? What happens to our ability to prioritize, think, reason? Trauma responses include fight, flight, and freeze. I can't help but think that many of us (and our children) are trying to function in one of those stages; trying to login to websites, even find internet somehow, complete assignments, respond to tasks, pack bags, return calls, hold online meetings, evaluate progress, do laundry, make meals, do dishes, clean rooms, change diapers, figure out math problems, budgets and bills- all while trying to not inhale too much smoke and ash while stifling in 115 degree temps in our mandated masks. Can you say 'sensory and mental overload'???

There is a LOT going on right now. Between grappling with how to best keep one's family, keep a job, keep ahead of schoolwork, keep away from viruses and violence, keep a roof over one's head... Give yourselves grace. Breathe. Pray. Read. Turn off the media noise. Take time out. Exercise. And, for the love, please don't expect your kids to know which way is up. Please don't expect them to grind out 6-7 hours of school work perfectly every day. Teachers are worn. Families are taxed. 

Let GRACE wash over us all like a mighty river. Let us all have a much deeper understanding of what truly matters. Keep it simple. Be aware of all that is going on at the same time but also all that we DO NOT understand about others' journeys. Extend your reach when you have a chance and the capacity, check up on the isolated. Offer a call, a coffee, a park playtime, some babysitting, some tutoring, a temporary refuge or place to stay. Hold safe space for others to be themselves, to process all of this. But let's process. 

We are holistic beings. We are complicated beings. We are doing the best we all can. Breathe deeply. Much love to everyone in the current struggle. You do not have to do all of this perfectly. Neither do your children (and ..they won't).

Romans 8:28