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The past year has been relentless for parents. Next year, it's time to put ourselves first.
Like so many of our fellow parents, my husband and I have gotten almost eerily adept at raising kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Things that once seemed utterly inconceivable — like the fact that millions of American kids have not stepped foot in a classroom for 10 months — now feel routine. My husband and I know how to get through simultaneous Zoom meetings while watching over a kindergarten class and taming a wild toddler. (Camera off.)
And we’re fortunate. None of us have had COVID-19, and my husband and I are still employed. But ugh, I’m burnt out — and I’m not alone. Seventy percent of American parents report that their family responsibilities are a significant source of daily stress, while 60% say they are extremely stressed out by the economy, according to the American Psychological Association. Parents aren’t complaining. We are exhausted. We were prepared to take care of our kids, and we love to do it — but we weren’t prepared to take care of our kids while working full time and overseeing six hours of remote school a day with little to no outside support