Coral Edwards

👏 Yassss, I love the delineation between “non-negotitables” and the space (to be scheduled) in between. That’s a fantastic point, and it allows you to start the day w/ (at least some!) semblance of control. Thank you for sharing! ❤️

Feel this!! IMH-Mom-O, I find the lack of (sense of) control to be the worst. When I don’t have a plan, when things go array, when a kid is home sick or school is closed to a holiday, or a 2-hour snow delay — those are the toughest times for me to manage.

In order to avoid being stuck w/out a plan, I try to create “if this then that” plans. For example, “if there is a school closure, I will plan to a morning outing (e.g. playspace, kidszone at the YMCA, zoo trip, etc.), have a nap time (where I, myself, also rest!), and then plan an afternoon activity (e.g. a walk outside, going to the pet store (to see animals), or taking my kiddos out to dinner.

I use this template to help me map out all of my plans: https://www.coraledwards.com/templates/if-this-then-that

The plans I’ve made thus far have been for:
* Expected school closures (where I am solo-parenting)
* Unexpected school closures (e.g. snow day)
* 2-hour school delays (this includes moving work meetings)
* Weekends when I’m solo-parenting
* If a kid has to leave school early because they’re sick
* If a kid is home sick
* If childcare provider calls out sick
* If someone in the family gets COVID
* If school is closed due to COVID
* If a childcare provider gets COVID

ooof, there is SO much to plan for. Hang in there and take good care! <3

I needed to hear that everything I was navigating – the hormonal fluctuations, the shock, the love, the hatred, the dismay, the fleeting suicidal thoughts, the fatigue, the wondering if I was good enough – all of it – was normal. And that it was ok to say those things, it was ok to feel that way, and it was ok to talk to someone – lots of people! – about it. It’s hard AF. And that’s ok.