WTMT

So much in our lives have changed over the past few weeks, including the twin and opposing challenges faced by our loved ones dealing with social isolation or too much family time.

With regards to isolation of our senior loved ones, we need to do as much as possible to keep them involved, from Face-timing with the grand-kids to MyHelloline. Remind your senior loved ones that the scammers are out in force now and their bank or insurance company would never ask them for their personal identifiable information like birthday or social security number or address.  They already have it.  Tell them to let you know if they are receiving any such calls and generally let any call from an unknown number go to the answering machine. Remember to pay attention to their health and the health of their beloved pets. Reminisce with them. Remind them how much they are loved.    

On the flipside, there is also WTMT (Way Too Much Togetherness), as we are sheltering in place with loved ones for who knows how long. This may be the perfect time to take some of those long boiling cups of emotional resentments off the high heat and bring them down to simmer (or at least low heat).

Negotiation, mediation, resolution, love and even counting to ten before speaking, will go a long way to peaceful coexistence, as we are spending WTMT with those that we love.

I’m certainly not naive enough to suggest that we all just forgive and forget old wounds which may surface during these stressful times. Things of this nature are usually a whole lot more complicated than that. We all need to put off that which is not important, such as who said what to whom at the company holiday party. A general rule of thumb should be to avoid those things that are not important to deal with right now including anything not having to do with surviving past this pandemic.   

Yet, I contend that, for some people this may be a very good time to calmly, mindfully, honestly and fearlessly discuss some of these long-forgotten wounds to hopefully help them heal, once and for all.   

Please remember that your little pitchers not only have big ears, but they also have big eyes.  You have the ability to ensure that this time in their lives is filled with either positive or painful memories. So, look over your shoulder and think before you speak. Also, no stress should ever be enough to lead anyone to lay a hand on another in anger.  

One suggestion to reduce stress in these extraordinary times is to limit the amount of time you watch politicians and pundits on television to the bare minimum.  Change the channel, open a book, find a happy song and dance with your loved ones. Take appropriately socially distanced walks.  Exercise at least once a day. Make sure to all laugh together at least once a day. And care for one another.  

This year, we are indeed all Fearless Caregivers.

We want to hear from you. Share your suggestions, comments, thoughts and concerns.