With Mother’s Day approaching on May 9 (you’re welcome for the reminder!), we wanted to start the celebration early by acknowledging the incredible test of inner strength moms around the world went through since Mother’s Day 2020. From becoming virtual learning coordinators to having to juggle work calls around being the Chief Entertainment Officer for cooped-up children, pandemic parenting has put moms through their paces. But was it all bad? We asked three moms within the 4word community to share the highs and lows of the past year and identify one way the pandemic has changed their parenting for the better.

Don’t have time to read this blog? Listen to it below!

Emma Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer at Valiant Integrated Services – mother of two living outside of Washington, DC

What has been the hardest part of pandemic parenting for you?

Virtual schooling has been a huge challenge. For my husband and I, the logistics of overseeing our kids learning virtually were quickly sorted; we formed a ‘pod’ in the first week and hired a friend to supervise eight kids. However, our kids felt sad to lose all the social aspects of school: seeing their school friends, playing at recess, after school activities, birthday parties and sports clubs. It wasn’t easy to find the right balance between acknowledging and allowing our children to express their feelings while helping them also understand how many miracles and blessings we have experienced throughout this time.

What has been the biggest (and maybe unexpected?) blessing of pandemic parenting for you?

Undoubtedly, spending so much more quality time with our family, due to reduced business travel and more frequently working from home, has been amazing. Almost all of the activities we used to enjoy at weekends became impossible during the year, and we became very creative in finding ways to entertain ourselves at home and had a great deal of fun together.

What is one thing the pandemic has changed about your parenting for the better?

We focus even more on what we are grateful for and what we can celebrate together. We’ve also become really intentional in acknowledging and discussing emotions as a family, which is something neither my husband nor I experienced as children.

Lisa Adams, certified coach – mother of two teenage sons from Saratoga Springs, NY

What has been the hardest part of pandemic parenting for you?

For us, the hardest part has been seeing my teenagers struggle and to lose a whole year of their high school career.   My oldest is a senior and will graduate in June.  He has had to grieve the loss of a social life, college visits, and some great classes he was looking forward to but had to either be cancelled or lost their impact via virtual.  My heart has been broken by this.  However, I know the Lord is building up their character and their resiliency.

What has been the biggest (and maybe unexpected?) blessing of pandemic parenting for you?

Having my sons come to me for advice or to just sit in my office to talk in the middle of the day has been a wonderful blessing. I cherish the 1-on-1 time I have with each of my sons. Through this time, we have been able to process the past fifteen months together: the good, the bad, and the super ugly. Many times, I was reminded to just listen to them. Just like the adults, the kids need to verbally process all that has taken place. Through it all, I try to point them to what God is/was doing in the midst of the craziness.

What is one thing the pandemic has changed about your parenting for the better?

I have learned to not take myself or my parenting so seriously. I remind myself regularly to adjust based on what I can control, can influence, or not control at all, and we speak openly about all three as a family. We as a family have learned to not take the world so seriously and laugh often with each other. Jesus is still on His throne!

Crystal Shin, Director at EisnerAmper – mother of two from Texas

What has been the hardest part of pandemic parenting for you?

The hardest part for me was being present for my children. Due to the pandemic, I was forced to be around them more physically, but it was hard to be fully present when juggling the work-from-home with virtual learning and everything else. I had to be more intentional to be there for them.

What has been the biggest (and maybe unexpected?) blessing of pandemic parenting for you?

My biggest blessing stemmed from the small things, such as having lunch dates with my children, giving kisses throughout the day, taking a family walk, being more engaged with the school curriculum, etc.

What is one thing the pandemic has changed about your parenting for the better?

I will definitely do more (lunch) dates with my children even after the pandemic! I enjoyed spending quality time with each child which made us closer and stickier. Also, by doing so, I’ve learned how to be more intentional with my time and energy. Killing two birds with one stone!