Setting Summer Screen Time Rules

Summertime and the living is easy - until it comes to keeping our kids from turning into rabid screen time zombies! It seems like the day school wraps up all our kids want to do is play on their devices or watch tv all day long. It is a constant battle to get them to stop playing Fortnite, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing. Plus, the endless streaming options make watching tv all hours of the day possible – and extremely difficult to control.

The first thing you need to know is you are absolutely not the only parent dealing with this problem. So, don’t beat yourself up! It is perfectly fine to relax your screen time rules during the summer. The goal is to set some boundaries that keep them from turning into screen time zombies.

Create a Family Media Plan

Recently, I discovered that Healthy Children from the American Academy of Pediatrics has tools that are super helpful in setting screen time boundaries. They offer a Media Time Calculator that allows you to enter the amount of time your child needs each day for different activities, such as sleeping, eating, exercising, chores, and more. As you enter in the time needed for these important activities, you see how much time is leftover for media use.

Additionally, they offer a Family Media Plan tool that allows you to create a customized media plan for your family and each child. For example, you establish which areas of the house will be screen free zones, device curfews, and recreational co-viewing/co-playing plans.

To-Dos Before Screen Time

It’s also smart to use your kids’ love for their screens to encourage them to get some stuff done. For example, have a set list of to-dos your kids have to complete before they can have any screen time. And, don’t just stick to their chores. Add in to-dos such as personal hygiene tasks, reading, exercising, and playing outside.

Another tip for parents of older kids – make them work for the Wi-Fi password. This requires you to change it each evening, but your kids know they must do everything on their list to get the new Wi-Fi password.

A Screen Time Bedtime

During summertime, bedtimes are later. Along with bedtimes, we tend to let our kids stay up later watching tv or playing videogames. Unfortunately, if we give them free rein, they will stay up all hours of the night doing these things. This is super unhealthy and the blue light from screens will make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. As a family, set a screen time bedtime. This should be a bit of time before your child’s actual bedtime.

Family Time is Screen Free

Do your best to have screen free family time. Start by making family rules, such as no screens at the dinner table. Then, sit aside time every week to spend a few hours doing things together as a family without devices, such as going on a hike, playing a board game, or telling ghost stories.

What summer screen time rules do you have for your family?

7 Ways to Keep Your House Clean with Kids Home All the Time

All moms have heard the saying, “Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.” But what are we supposed to do in 2020 when the kids are in the house all. the. time?

Within the first few weeks of the pandemic, our clean house was starting to show signs that it was lived in. In other words, it was messy.  Between virtual schooling, working at home, and the kids having nowhere to go and nothing to do except make a mess, things started to pile up. But the usual chore charts weren’t working.

Here are some of the things I am doing instead to keep the house clean with kids home all day every day.

1. Let Them See You Clean

I remember being told by a wiser, more experienced mom the importance of cleaning while the kids were awake. There are so many moms who do chores during their kids’ naptimes or after bedtime. All this does is put all the housework on you, and it keeps kids from learning how to clean a house. Instead, vacuum right under their feet, load the dishwasher while they are at the counter, and fold the laundry in front of them. Children learn by watching you.

2. Give Them Age Appropriate Chores

But don’t stop at just letting your kids see you clean – they need to clean, too! It is important to give your kid’s age-appropriate chores. And, the sooner, the better! Even toddlers can help out around the house. WebMD has a great list of age-appropriate chores for kids starting at age 2.

3. Reward Their Hard Work

And when the kids do their chores the right way, make sure you reward their hard work! This can vary from giving them praise and compliments to giving them an allowance. Consider your kid’s love language to know type of reward that will work best.

4. Offer Choices

We like having a choice, and so do our kids. Try giving them choices when it comes to chores, such as, “Will you clean the dishes or dust the living room today?” You are giving them a choice between two different chores – not giving them a choice between doing chores or doing nothing.

5. Create a Cleaning Playlist

We call cleaning a chore for a reason. It’s not exactly fun. But there are ways to make cleaning a little more enjoyable, such as creating a cleaning playlist of all the songs your kids love. Plus, you can use your cleaning playlist as a timer to get chores done. For example, tell your kids they have until the end of the playlist or a certain number of songs to get their chores done.

6. Make Them Work for What They Want

Many moms have found success by making kids work for what they want. In this scenario, you don’t let your kids do what they want until they do what you ask. For example, you withhold the Wi-Fi password or TV privileges until their chores are done.

7. Get the Whole Family in on the Cleaning Action

During the quarantine, I’ve had cleaning success by making cleaning a family affair. Every Saturday, we work together as a family to do some deep cleaning before we start to enjoy the weekend. Working together helps it get done faster. And, we are teaching our daughters that they can contribute to the family unit and help the household.

What tips do you have for keeping a house clean with kids home? Share in the comments!

6 Things Kids Need to Do Every Day During Summer

Summer’s here, which means moms are trying to figure out how they are going to keep their kids occupied without school. With some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it also means many moms can’t rely on summer camps to fill the days between now and the start of the next school year. You can find all sorts of summer schedules for kids online. Rather than give you a set schedule to follow, I thought it might work better just to give you a list of the six things kids need to do every day during summer break.

1. Use Their Brains

It’s important for kids to avoid the summer slide. The summer slide refers to the tendency for kids to lose what they have learned at school over the summer break. According to Scholastic, “A more recent study of children in 3rd to 5th grades also showed that students lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break.”

Using their brains will look different for each child – and will likely vary from one day to the next. Encourage your kids to read every day and get them to play educational apps before they play apps only designed for entertainment. You might also want to consider signing your kids up for virtual educational summer camps like iD Tech.

2. Play Outside

Playing outdoors leads to happier and healthier kids. It also forces them to turn off the TV and other electronic devices. The Child Mind Institute claims, “Most of the studies agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors.”

3. Exercise Their Bodies

Not only is exercising good for their health and bodies but exercising also helps them to sleep better at night! That should be reason enough for parents to encourage their kids to stay active during the summer. Whether it is going on a family walk or turning on the radio and encouraging a dance party, parents need to encourage their kids to get up and move.

4. Create Something

Give your kids time each day to create something. This is wide open! It may mean playing with Play-Doh, coloring, crafting, building with LEGOs, or staging their own play or puppet show. The point is to encourage creativity and imagination. Parents explains, “When kids feel good while they are creating, art helps boost self-confidence. And children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which extends well beyond the craft room.”

5. Do Some Chores

We all learn best by doing. That’s why it is so important to start insisting your kids help with chores around the house. Summer is the perfect time to encourage these behaviors because you aren’t as pressed for time. By the end of the summer, your kids will have mastered the art of unloading the dishwasher.

6. Your Attention

Last but not least, every day, your kids need your attention. I don’t mean they need your attention all day every day. Instead, moms should give each kid a few minutes of one-on-one attention. This may look like reading together before bed or simply putting your phone down for a few minutes to talk about their favorite things. A little bit of your attention every day will go a long way.

Summer Safety Tips for Kids

Even though New York families are still pushing through distance learning, Memorial Day weekend unofficially marks the start of summer. While everyone is firing up the grills and heading outdoors this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to review summer safety tips for kids.

Protect Their Skin

Did you know the sunburns your kids get when they are children can result in skin cancer later in life? It’s true. That’s why it is so important to make them put on sunscreen with SPF whenever they play outside. It is also wise to invest in some children’s clothing with UV protection. You should also try to limit their exposure to the sun’s strongest UV rays that occur during the middle of the day. Instead, aim to play outside in the morning or the early evening.

Keep Them Hydrated

Dehydration is a serious problem on hot summer days, especially for kids. That’s why it is so important to make sure they are drinking enough water. Children’s Health suggests, “The amount of water a child should drink varies by age, weight and activity level. However, a general rule is take half of your child's weight (up to 100 pounds) – and that's the number of ounces of water they should drink every day.”

Teach Them the Pool Rules

My girls love swimming and going to the pool is a regular activity for us. But, even so, I make a point to teach my daughters the pool rules and teach them to swim. During the summer, the number of pool-related injuries is alarming. For example, running around the slippery pool deck is a leading cause of emergency dental visits during the summer. And, sadly, “drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4.” Adults should always supervise kids at the pool.

Keep Them Cool

Even kids can suffer from heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion. That’s why you should never leave your kids in a parked car. Also, kids should be dressed appropriately for the summer temperatures in lightweight and loose clothing. You should also avoid being outdoors during the hottest parts of the day – the hottest part of the day is typically 3 pm.

Make Them Wear Helmets

Whenever your kids are enjoying any activities with wheels, such as riding bikes, roller skating, or skateboarding, they need to be wearing helmets. According to Children’s Health, “Apart from automobiles, bicycles are related to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product. Wearing a helmet is the first rule to preventing serious bicycle injuries in kids.”

Protect Them from Bugs

When spending time outdoors in a locale where bugs are biting, be sure to use insect repellant. Insects, like mosquitos and ticks, can bite and spread disease. Plus, bug bites are super annoying. You can also avoid getting bit by saying no to strongly scented soaps and lotions.

Summer Safety Tips During the Time of COVID

The summer of 2020 will look different than previous summers because we are still dealing with COVID-19. As a result, it means there are some additional summer safety measures parents will need to consider. For example, kids (and parents) are still encouraged to practice social distancing. Plus, as pools and other kid-friendly spaces open back up, parents should remind kids not to share anything – especially things like swim goggles or nose clips.

The Free Gift All Moms Want This Mother’s Day

The coronavirus quarantine has made shopping for Mother’s Day a little more difficult this year. Yes, we are all about shopping online and gift cards. But, given our current circumstances of working from home and helping our kids with distance learning at the same time, there is one thing all moms want for Mother’s Day – alone time. We are with our children 24/7 during this pandemic. Whereas we have always enjoyed some alone time, now we NEED it.

So, dads and kids, you can make Mother’s Day extra special this year without spending a penny. How? Give her the beautiful gift of alone time.

Time to Herself

When is the last time mom got time to herself? Something as small as taking the kids outside and giving her the house to herself for a few hours is a gift she will love. Or, sending her to her bedroom and not allowing the kids to enter will grant her much needed time to herself. And, for goodness sake, let her go to the bathroom alone!

Time with the TV

If your house is like mine, the kids are getting way more screen time than usual. But this also means my TV time has cut way back. Treat mom to a day where she is in complete control of the remote. Let her binge-watch shows like Real Housewives or Outlander. No kid shows allowed! If this just doesn’t seem possible, revert to the suggestion above (time to herself) by sending her to a room with her mobile device and earbuds.

Time Without Noise

Another thing that has been challenging during the quarantine? Our houses are NEVER quiet during the day. There is always noise. At some points, there is noise from separate devices for online learning, plus work from home Zoom conference calls. And, moms need silence every now and then. Mother’s Day is the perfect time to give Mom the gift of silence. Send her outside and away from the noise. Better yet, give her noise-canceling headphones and tell her to wear them all day on Mother’s Day.

Time Without Being in Charge

I know there are tons of dads doing their part to help during this strange time, but there is tons of evidence that the quarantine is reinforcing traditional gender roles with moms doing the bulk of “parenting and schooling” while also trying to work from home. This means Mom has a whole lot on her plate and is making decisions all day long. And, making all the decisions for a household is exhausting. On Mother’s Day, give her the gift of not having to be in charge. For example - Dads, you decide what to eat for lunch and when.

And a Simple “Thank You”

Last but not least, have your kids say thank you and tell mom how much they love her. We are tired and are doing our best during a trying time, so a little appreciation would be appreciated. Let us know you see how hard we are working. It means more to us than you know.

10 Teacher Appreciation Gifts During Quarantine

If you think suddenly substitute teaching your kids at home is hard, imagine how hard it has been on their teachers! Many teachers are not only having to continue creating lesson plans and providing learning resources, but they also have to teach parents how to follow the curriculum and use technology. Plus, many teachers also have to be their own kid’s substitute teacher at home!

Even though teachers are not in the classroom with your kids are teaching like they wish they were, let’s not forget to celebrate them during Teacher Appreciation Week. Hint – Teacher Appreciation Week is THIS week. With the COVID-19 quarantine orders, it makes purchasing teacher gifts a little different. To help you find a way to show your gratitude, here are ten teacher appreciation gifts you can still give during the quarantine.

1. A Homemade Card

Nothing beats a homemade card. Bonus – If you make your kids make the card, this will take up some of those extra hours you have during the day. Just be sure the card shows your child’s teacher how much he/she is appreciated and missed. If you don’t have the teacher’s home address, you can send the card to the school and address it to the teacher. Along those same lines, a simple email “thank you” from you will be appreciated, especially during such a crazy school year.

2. Gift Cards

You know what teachers really want? Gift cards. No more personalized apples. Think about it - If they got an apple or teacher mug from every child, they would have hundreds upon hundreds. Instead, get them gift cards to use at stores they love. Bonus – Choose gift cards that allow them to shop online since going to stores isn’t easy right now.

3. Restaurant Delivery

Treat your child’s teacher to lunch or dinner by having a meal delivered via Uber Eats or GrubHub. Or, give your child’s teacher a gift card to use at their favorite local restaurant.

4. Donate to Their Classrooms

Make their day by donating to their classroom. Many teachers keep ongoing Amazon Wish Lists for their classrooms or share project needs on DonorsChoose.

5. Flowers

A lovely way to show appreciation is with a bouquet of flowers. If florists are opened where you live and floral delivery is available, this is a great choice.

6. Donuts on the Doorstep

If you know their address, show your appreciation by leaving them some donuts on the doorstep. This is a sweet way to say thank you and practice social distancing.

7. A Video Message

If you don’t know by now, teachers love your kids. They miss seeing them and are heartbroken they don’t get to instruct them face to face. So, the next best thing is “seeing” them online. Have your child record a video message telling them how much they appreciate them and email the video to your child’s teacher.

8. Say It in Chalk

Bust out the sidewalk chalk and tell the world how much you love your child’s teacher. You can do this on your own driveway, your child’s driveway, or even the sidewalk in front of the school.

9. Give Them a Parade

If you can coordinate with other class parents, plan a surprise teacher appreciation parade. In separate vehicles, ride past the teacher’s house in decorated cars with kids waving and yelling, “thank you” from the windows.

10. Quarantine-Themed Gifts

And, last but not least, consider a quarantine-themed teacher gift from an Etsy seller.

What Will the Kids Remember About the Coronavirus Quarantine?

When the stay at home orders came and schools closed, parents went into overdrive. We suddenly had a lot more on our plates. We started working from home, as well as being our kid’s substitute teacher and virtual assistant. But, on top of it all, the thing that has kept parents up at night is wondering about their kid’s overall wellbeing.

As adults, we never experienced something like the COVID-19 pandemic. Our school years were never suddenly interrupted. We didn’t spend all day every day at home with just our families for well over a month. So, for adults, we understand how bizarre this all is. But do our kids?

The answer is yes. Even the youngest kids do know “something is up.” Kids can feel their parent’s stress, and they are fully aware that their routine is different. But that doesn’t mean they are doomed. This generation of kids may even be better for having lived through this experience.

Childhood Amnesia

Let’s start at the beginning. How far back can you remember? The truth is most of us don’t have many childhood memories from when we were younger than 7. Even then, our memories are a scattered collection of highs and lows. In other words, kids under 7 will likely have few, if any, memories of this quarantine experience. This is so prevalent that it has a scientific term – childhood amnesia.

According to Popular Science, “Kids can remember events before the age of 3 when they're small, but by the time they're a bit older, those early autobiographical memories are lost. New research has put the starting point for amnesia at age 7.” The older kids become, the fewer memories they have from their younger years.

However, it is still important to recognize that this pandemic will have an effect on kids in the near future, even if their memories become fewer as they grow older.

Kids are Living History

This is one of the few times when we are aware that we are living through history. So, we should take advantage of it! Talk to your kids about why this is an important part of their lives and their history. Spend time with your family creating a COVID-19 time capsule that highlights the things your family did during this time. Years into the future, this time capsule will be something your family treasures.

Check-in with Your Kids

While we don’t know exactly what our young kids will remember about the coronavirus quarantine, we do know they are already being affected by it. For example, did your kid suddenly start putting up a fight to go to bed? You’re not alone. So many kids started having bedtime issues that the New York Times even wrote Bedtime Was Hard Enough. Then Came Quarantine.

Therefore, it is important to continue to check in with your kids. Even preschoolers know things are different. Regression is to be expected. Ask your kids how they are feeling. Ask them what they are afraid of and what they miss. You may be surprised at just how aware your kids are about what has and has not changed. Most importantly, reassure them that even though things have changed, your love for them never will.

Who knows? Your kids may look back on this experience will fond memories. You have a rare opportunity to spend unlimited time together as a family, so try to make the most of it. When your kids are out of the house and raising kids of their own (can you even imagine?!?), some of your best family stories may be about this quarantine season.

You Need to Buy Blue Light Glasses for Your Kids

If your home is anything like mine, your usual screen time limits went right out the window when schools shut down. Our kids were suddenly thrust into the world of online learning and started spending significantly more time staring at the screen for longer periods. And, then they started complaining that their eyes hurt.

Blue light refers to the light that technology and devices give off, and too much blue light exposure is probably causing your kid to feel and act differently. Studies suggest, “Blue light emanating from the screens of video games, smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions can affect kids’ vision and their overall health. Growing evidence and research show that, at the least, overexposure to blue light due to screen media consumption can produce digital eye strain, headaches, and a lack of deep sleep in children.”

Blue Light Causes Eye Fatigue

If your child has been complaining that his or her eyes hurt and they have been spending more time than usual staring at screens, it is likely due to blue light exposure. Prolonged exposure to blue light can cause dry eyes and blurred vision.

Blue Light Causes Headaches

Has your child had more headaches since online schooling started? Blue light may also be the cause because eye strain can also lead to headaches.

Blue Light Hinders Sleep

I know everyone’s routines are out of whack, but you can still recognize when your child isn’t sleeping well. Kids need sleep, or else they show out. Unfortunately, decreased sleep quality is one of the main effects of blue light. Blue light is a stimulant and typically works to help our body recognize when to wake up. Therefore, if you are exposing yourself to blue light close to bedtime, you throw off your sleep rhythm. That’s why doctors advise turning the tv off a while before bedtime.

According to the American Optometric Association and Optometry Cares, “ Limitation of personal electronic device use before bedtime is recommended to be the most effective method for reducing light-induced sleep disruption in children. The use of amber-tinted spectacle lenses during the use of electronic devices immediately before bedtime has shown promise as a strategy to reduce their altering effects […]”

Blue Light Decreases Your Attention Span

Plus, too much exposure to blue light will decrease your attention span. If your eyes feel strained or tired, you won’t be able to read screens or pay attention as well. With everything going on, it is hard enough or our kids to focus, so we don’t want too much blue light exposure to hinder them more.

How Blue Light Glasses Help

Most adults in office environments are already knowledgeable when it comes to blue light glasses. You can search Amazon and find tons of fashionable options. But you may not have realized that they also make blue light glasses for kids. And given our current circumstances, your kid likely needs a pair. Doctors recommend blue light filtering glasses to anyone who works with electronics – and now that includes our kids. These glasses are designed to block or limit blue light that is emitted from electronic devices, such as computers and tablets.

Here’s Your Discount Code for the Best Remote Instruction for School Closures

When I heard schools in New York were closing due to COVID-19, I knew it was only a matter of time before my girls grew bored. But then I remembered the great success my girls had with iD Tech camp last summer and was curious to see what they were offering during this unusual time of school closures. I am happy to tell parents everywhere iD Tech is offering their high-quality remote instruction in the form of virtual tech camps and online private instruction now!

Let me tell you – you and your kids are going to absolutely love iD Tech! It will make you feel much more confident about your children’s education during this time (or during traditional spring breaks or summer breaks). With iD Tech, the learning doesn’t have to stop just because the schools’ doors are closed.

What I Love About iD Tech

At this point, you have likely been bombarded with all sorts of virtual learning opportunities. These are wonderful – especially for a time on unexpected school closure. However, iD Tech has been in the business of providing the highest quality remote instruction and tech instruction for 20 years. With elite staff recruited from companies such as Google, EA, Tesla, and Disney, I know my girls are receiving a top-notch education.

But what really makes iD Tech stand out from the rest is that they have mastered how to combine STEM education with fun learning activities for kids. Their courses appeal to a child’s love of apps and video games with courses that encourage kids to learn using things like Minecraft and Fortnite.

The #1 STEM Summer Program Has Camps and Online Private Lessons Available NOW

We tend to think of camp as being summer camp or special spring break camps, but given this unusual time of school closures across the US, iD Tech is offering their exceptional virtual tech camps weekly now until the end of the school year! The camps are weekly sessions with 2 hours of live instruction and 2 hours of self-paced project learning with an elite instructor and a team of 4 other students. Plus, iD Tech is offering one-on-one private online lessons for students ages 7-19 during this same time period. Students can take a fun project-based course and receive personalized instruction.

Provides Much-Needed Structure

One of the reasons I am all about iD Tech at this current moment is because it provides my kids much-needed structure. Since they are out of school and after-school activities, their routines have disappeared. And my girls (like most kids) strive with structure. iD Tech’s courses are totally structured, giving kids a clear idea of what is expected.

Teaches New Skills

Schools across the country are handling the closures differently, but one thing is the same, we don’t want our kids to stop learning. With virtual tech camps and online private lessons, iD Tech makes it easy for kids to keep learning. Even better, their programs teach kids new skills that are some of the most desired skills in the workforce. You can make this time off count by enrolling your child in an iD Tech program aimed at future success.

Allows for Social Interaction

With school and activities out, my girls are craving some social interaction. While they can’t see their classmates, they can enjoy social interaction virtually with iD Tech. They’ll get to bond with their teammates as they learn and work on fun projects via technology.

Plus, It Provides Parents a Much-Needed Break!

And, let’s be honest, when schools are closed, it is just as hard on the parents. When the kids are home, it makes it harder to work and get things done. But, when they are enrolled in an iD Tech virtual tech camp or taking online lessons, parents get a much-needed break to catch up on the things they have neglected (or simply time to rest).

iD Tech is Offering Their Programs at a Discount During This Challenging Time

As iD Tech says, “When times are tough, we band together.” That’s why they are offering amazing discounts on their virtual tech camps. With school closures and big discounts, there is no better time to sign up. Be sure to use my link http://bit.ly/2IZ3Juw and my discount code CHOY125 just for my followers!

How to Spend a Quarantine Easter Break at Home

2020’s Easter Spring Break is bound to be one remember for the rest of our lives. Not because we go on some amazing family vacation but because we do just the opposite. While we are staying home to save lives, it means spring break is canceled. Or does it? I believe there are some ways we can still have fun and make spring break memorable.

Celebrate the Holiday

Easter is going to feel different this year with egg hunts and Easter Bunny photos canceled. But you should still find ways to celebrate the holiday with your kids. For example, have an indoor Easter egg hunt and get creative with what the Easter Bunny puts in their baskets (such as gift certificates to be redeemed at their favorite places when the world reopens).

Take a Trip Online

If you had a trip planned that was canceled, then see if you can take a virtual trip to experience it from home. For example, theme parks like Carowinds have added virtual roller coaster rides to their YouTube Channel. You can also find virtual Disney Park rides. Other creative people have recreated Disney Park rides at home!

Enjoy a Vacation Themed Day

Or if you had to cancel your tropical beach vacation, then do your best to recreate it at home with a vacation-themed day. For example, have a Hawaiian themed day where you have a luau and eat a Hawaiian meal and watch a movie or show based in Hawaii (such as Lilo and Stitch). Or, just have a day where you dress up in your vacation attire and pretend you are there.

Visit a Virtual Zoo

There are several zoos across the US that are hosting virtual visits where online viewers can see their favorite animals up close and personal. It is another great way to “leave your home” and escape from the monotony. One of our favorites is the San Diego Zoo because it features ten live-web cams and a kid-friendly website.

Have a Movie Marathon

This is a perfect time to have a good old-fashioned movie marathon. Watch your way through the Harry Potter franchise or the Toy Story films. This is also a good time to introduce your kids to some of the movies you loved growing up since so many streaming services are offering deep discounts for families during this time. Plus, with movie theaters closed, families have the opportunity to see brand-new movies, like Onward and Trolls World Tour, over spring break through streaming services.

Do Absolutely Nothing

If you have spent the last few weeks working from home AND trying to homeschool your children like me, then what you may need this spring break is REST. And tons of it. Maybe what you need to do this week is absolutely nothing. If you have been working and teaching and trying to stay calm, you are tired and need a break. Be lazy. Spend time cuddling and relaxing and don’t feel bad about it.