If you had of told me that 2020 would be the year that we were all forced to stay home, that jobs and finances would be questioned and that kids would be out of school, I would have thought you were out of your mind.
But, alas, here we are. In the midst of a global pandemic. Eight weeks in to staying at home - homeschooling our children while trying to maintain our jobs, our finances AND, to top it all off, not being able to spend time with loved ones.
While the past eight weeks have come with many challenges, they have taught us important lessons. Lessons that once this global pandemic is all said and done, we will hopefully carry forward with us.
Important Lessons I’ve Learned While Staying Home
Slow Down
I’ve always felt that in order to feel accomplished, I must be productive. Heading into this pandemic, we were in the midst of updating our old home. With the girls at daycare, I would spend my time off painting, making the house our own. Once schools closed and the girls were forced to stay home, this mindset of mine continued. BUT the productivity did not. I found I was getting mad at myself for not doing everything, despite having a 4-year-old and 1.5-year-old constantly at my side. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve had to learn to shift my mindset, to learn that it is ok if I don’t check x, y and z off my to-do list that day. I’ve had to learn to slllooowww down. We have nowhere to go, nowhere to be but home with our families. So why don’t we just slow down and enjoy it.
The Need for Self Care is REAL
I am extremely grateful for being healthy and for having a healthy family. But staying healthy these days doesn’t just mean avoiding the virus, it’s also about mental health. Staying home with two littles ones, attempting to work a full-time job, while your husband does the same, has not been an easy feat. Add night training our preschooler and a teething toddler in the middle of an eight-week long sleep regression to the mix, and I’ve never been more mentally AND physically tired.
I’ve learned that it’s ok to hand over the reins to your partner and take a few minutes to yourself every day. It’s ok to escape to the bathroom, sit on the toilet and mindlessly scroll Instagram or TikTok. It’s ok to take an extra-long hot shower. Everyone deserves a little me time, and if it helps you get through the day, it’s ok. (Now if only I could take advantage of the “nap when they nap” advice.)
Use the Time for Family
Sure, we may eat too many snacks. And sure, we may watch too much TV. But you know what those two things have taught me? That my four-year-old is eager to learn how to cook AND that she wants to be a vet when she grows up (thank you, reality TV). If not for the amount of time together, I don’t think that I would have necessarily learned that about her.
We’ve also taken this time to consider the girls’ future, especially with the thought of potentially putting a future vet through school. It all starts with investing in an RESP - a Registered Education Savings Plan.
Do you have an RESP for your children? Despite the strict social distancing measures in place and not being able to go into a traditional bank, there are virtual options available for you to open an RESP for your child.
Thanks to CST Spark (the newest member of the CST family), your RESP can be opened online, from the comfort of your own home. CST’s new digital offering is geared to the large and growing segment of young millennial parents and their families and is targeted to those who prefer to transact online (or are forced to in the age of social distancing). Pandemic or no pandemic, raising little ones can be chaotic, so CST Spark has made saving for their future education accessible and simple.
Be sure to check out more information about CST Bright Plan™, as well as their Learning Centre which contains helpful videos and more information to help make an informed decision for yourself when it comes to investing in your children’s future.
While this period of self-isolation has been extremely important for flattening the curve, it has been equally important for our personal and family well-being. We’ve all learned a lot - about ourselves and each other. And as much as I would like the world to go back to life as we once knew it, I am extremely grateful to have this time with my little family.
Stay safe, stay happy and keep your distance, my friends. Together, we will get through this.
What has this global pandemic taught you? About yourself? About your family? I’d love to hear.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by CST Spark, however, all opinions are 100% that of To & Fro. Please note, I am not a financial advisor, so please consult a professional for advice.
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