While we can take all the mitigation strategies that are offered, it seems as if Omicron is undiscerning to those it reaches. While this article doesn’t help with ideas on prevention, it’s main aim is to help guide our families mentally, when it does it hit – because for so many families, it will.

• As parents, it’s important that we stay calm. Children often look to us for social referencing and if we’re not calm, nobody’s calm. If you, as a parent, need a moment, go a take that moment. Deep breaths. Reach out to a friend. Try not to express all your fears onto our children. This may seem obvious, but they are listening and can sense tension in the home.
• Maintain a happy medium between a protective stance and an authentic response. As parents, we are constantly discerning how much is too much to tell our children, within every developmental stage. This is no different – so tailor your responses to their questions based on how you think they would be able to handle with the response. Sometimes, a simple, “Wearing masks and washing our hands keeps us safe.” Other times, we may need to go into more detail. But try to sum it all up in a glimpse of hopefulness that we are doing the best job we can to keep ourselves safe.
• Often times putting a time limit on the discussion regarding COVID-19 can be helpful, so that worries and fear don’t spiral out of control.
• Limit media exposure to this topic, no matter your political leanings.
• As we begin to hear of others who become sick, keep the focus on helping them, rather than worrying about them. Bring chicken bone broth or flowers or manuka honey drops. Keep the focus on what we can do limits our feelings of uncontrol.
• Facetime or use some other way to keep in communication with your sick, loved ones. Isolation is such a hard part of this illness – now that quarantine is required. Many are suffering from loneliness and depression. Teaching our children how to brighten someone’s day by a simple phone call can help us bridge the generational gaps and be a wonderful way to teach empathy as a heart skill.
• Writing letters are also a beautiful, although antiquated way, to keep in touch with those we can’t see face to face.
• Make it fun, when in quarantine, give each other “air hugs” and “air kisses” and “air high fives.” Be creative in ways to keep that attachment bond, which is sometimes the hardest part of the quarantine. Children crave to be close to their parents.
• Be mindful of other families’ comfort levels when it comes to get-togethers, parties, and play dates. Everyone is different, some are immunocompromised and some are simply more anxious. Be respectful of where each person is at and try not to judge each family’s decisions.
• Lastly, emphasize that while this seems to have been lasting a long time, there will come a time when we will look back on this, like every other major pandemic, and be grateful that we made it through with each other’s help and care.