Parents around the world are still reeling in the continued mayhem of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you feel like your parenting rhythms have fallen out the window, and your children are different people than you remember them being pre-COVID, you’re not the only one.

As we move slowly past restrictive stages and towards a bit more everyday normalcy, every person on the planet is navigating the aftermath of significant psychological trauma and stress and, in many cases, changes. Your kids are no different. Let’s explore some of the forces that COVID-19 has imposed and what we can do about it.

The Widespread Realities of the COVID-19 Pandemic

As a result of the pandemic starting in 2020, a few large-scale trends heavily affected most people’s realities and, for many of those people, became prolonged states that may continue even now.

First, technology use skyrocketed. Zoom meetings and video calls became the norm (and, for some, the only accessible channel for connection) nearly overnight for not only social conversations but work meetings and school days.

For the vast majority of people around the world, the average daily time spent in front of a digital screen increased significantly.

For many parents and children, this was exacerbated in a couple of ways. Parents were now forced to navigate their workday while being stay-at-home caretakers and educators. Helping children engage with schooling via screens and digital learning was no picnic.

This meant more time in front of that screen trying to figure it out. And during the hours, children weren’t engaging with screens for school.

More screen time in the forms of movies or other digital entertainment was one of the only ways to keep them occupied during work hours when other options like social and extracurricular activities or daycare weren’t available.

Second, lockdowns and restrictions limited or completely truncated opportunities for extracurricular activities and socialization.

Gone were the days of baseball practice and ballet class. Life changed from happening in a wide variety of spaces (ranging from the school and playground to the gym and park and community center) to happening entirely within the four walls of your home or apartment.

Third, COVID-19 fostered prolonged periods of heightened anxiety, emotional turbulence, and fear. From the international level to the personal level, upheaval existed everywhere. The news broadcasted doomsday forecasts.

The school board fought with the media. The workplace became more stressful as it pivoted, changed, and weathered massive shifts that affected nearly every industry.

And the home environment felt not only the residue of all of that turbulence but reverberated with arguments over vaccine decisions, best practices, safety, differing beliefs and opinions, and conflicting approaches to navigating it all.

Needless to say, there was a lot going on. And those types of happenings (especially in sustained amounts like we’ve experienced over the past 2+ years) have psychological and physiological effects that can impact behavior. Here’s how.

Effects of Technology On Our Psyche and Behavior

The use and availability of technology have benefited us in significant ways, especially during the COVID pandemic. For instance, the ubiquity of internet connection and access to devices made it possible for much of the world to remain connected and productive even when things were so restricted.

However, technology use has a dark side. Smartphones and screen time can be as addicting as gambling or cocaine. And this phenomenon not only has an effect on how someone might lose increasing amounts of time to direct technology use but also on how they act and behave when they’re not engaging with screens.

Effects of technology overuse or addiction can include irritability, behavioral issues, depression and anxiety, and sleep pattern interruptions. Sound familiar? Technology overuse can fundamentally affect children’s behavior. Unfortunately, as a parent during the pandemic, you didn’t have much choice. And neither did millions of parents face similar situations.

The Harmful Effects of Social Isolation

Technology wasn’t the only force causing a behavioral change in your child(ren). Social isolation can have potent and detrimental effects on anyone who experiences it.

Social isolation refers to the isolation that is forced by external circumstances beyond your control. COVID-19 exerted unwanted social isolation on countless millions of people – arguably the majority of the world’s population – for sometimes extended periods of time.

Being separated from others – one’s normal communities, peers, friends, and activities – can create a number of adverse effects that can be especially detrimental for children.

The socializing “work” that children engage in when spending time interacting with others normally provides an integral and vital part of their development into adults.

Without access to this process, it is difficult or impossible for children to learn skills and patterns that will serve them in the future, like taking turns, regulating emotions, negotiating, winning and losing, working through frustration, and compromising.

The Good News

Though the picture seems bleak, there is hope. As restrictions lift and life reaches a hesitant level of normalcy which should continue to strengthen with time, being able to replace an existence of tech-heavy social isolation with more regular interactions with others and more time engaging in face-to-face, interpersonal settings will help your children regulate and should begin to reverse some of the behavioral effects caused by a long, hard pandemic season.

You can help this process by encouraging your children back into social settings and activities that don’t involve tech and making it possible for them to engage in these types of activities.

You don’t want to think about your child becoming the target of a cyberbully. However, research suggests that over a third of young people will experience online harassment at least once. Often, it becomes an ongoing pattern of toxic behavior that can take a severe toll on your teen’s health.

Dealing with this abuse can leave you feeling helpless. However, there’s quite a bit that you can do to help as a parent. Here’s what you need to know if your child is being cyberbullied.

1. Discovering the Nature of the Bullying

Electronic communication is everywhere these days, with even low-key video games like Words With Friends containing chat functions. How can you tell that your child is being cyberbullied? Pay attention to the following signs:

• Unusual nervousness or fear: Does your child seem more nervous than usual about going to school? Are they complaining of more frequent illnesses that you suspect are false to get out of attending?
• Jumpiness, anger or frustration when using social media or after gaming: Your child may try to hide their online activity from you or become hostile after seeing negative messages.
• Changes in eating, grooming or sleeping patterns: It’s sometimes difficult to differentiate normal adolescent changes from bullying, but pay attention if they start sleeping too much or not at all, neglecting their appearance or gaining or losing excess weight.
• Loss of interest in other activities: Your former star athlete may start skipping soccer practice and withdraw from social clubs.
• Suicidal talk or ideation: Please take all threats seriously. Likewise, pay attention if your child makes statements like, “It won’t matter after I’m gone,” or begins giving away favorite things.

Online harassment takes several forms. Cyberbullies may send threatening messages to your child or posting personal information or photos online without permission. Sexting is a particularly notorious activity. Many rejected suitors have posted nude photographs publicly, causing their victims to lose school, scholarship and employment opportunities.

Keep in mind that you will need evidence to pursue legal action if you choose. Either way, you should keep screenshots of all messages or pictures posted without permission, as authorities can use these records to establish a pattern of behavior.

2. Validating and Empathizing With Your Child’s Experience

Please don’t feel inadequate if you discovered your child was being cyberbullied before they came to you with the problem. Many children feel embarrassed by such behavior and might have internalized the message that they have to “deal with things like this” by themselves. Shaming them for not coming forward will only make them more reticent to trust you in the future, so thank them for any openness or disclosure without punishing them for silence.

You should help your child restore a sense of safety by blocking the bully and reporting ongoing harassment to the appropriate social media outlets, if possible. Walk your child through the process of deactivating their accounts and taking a break.

Then, make a plan together for how to proceed. Please avoid the urge to “fix the problem” for your child by demanding that you talk to the bully’s parents or get the police involved. In some cases, these measures could do more harm than good and taking the reins deprives your child of a valuable problem-solving opportunity about how to manage conflict with your guidance.

In some cases, deactivating old accounts, starting new, safer ones consisting only of approved contacts and keeping your child’s phone number blocked may do the trick. In others, you may need to involve parents, school or local authorities — the critical aspect is to involve your child in the decision-making process.

3. Determining Your Legal Rights

You and your child aren’t alone in your fight against cyberbullying. Both federal and state laws cover this behavior, taking some teens and tweens by surprise when they discover they could go to jail for their online actions.

Some types of cyberbullying that trigger criminal liability include the following:

• Death threats or threats of violence
• Sexting
• Taking photographs where privacy is expected
• Child pornography
• Harassing phone calls and threats
• Hate crimes
• Extortion and “sex”tortion

The more evidence you amass, the stronger your case will be. Take screenshots of all contact with the cyberbully to establish a pattern. Master how to do this on a gaming console, as some criminals use these chat channels to perpetuate their abuse.

4. Taking Action

Your final step is to take action. If you and your child decide to proceed with legal action, contact the local authorities together for guidance on what steps to take next. If you determine that a meeting with parents or school officials might help, iron out the details before making your approach.

Your ultimate responsibility is to your child’s mental health. Please consider booking them a few appointments with a licensed therapist so that they can process the emotions related to this trauma. Your child likely qualifies for insurance coverage even if you don’t — you can apply for CHIP on the Healthcare.gov website. Other clinics offer assistance on sliding scales for parents who don’t qualify.

You can also find online and in-person support groups for victims of cyberbullying. There are also groups for parents where they can get advice from others who have been there.

What to Know If Your Child Is Being Cyberbullied

You want to think of childhood as a happy, innocent time. However, cyberbullying continues, affecting millions of teens and tweens every year.

Understand the steps to take if your child is being cyberbullied. Ultimately, you are your child’s best defense against those that would steal their shine.

Countless American families chase the dream of starting afresh in another part of the world. Europe makes an excellent immigration option because it offers a refreshing change with its rich culture and unique lifestyle. When it comes to choosing a perfect destination in this part of the world, Italy emerges as a popular choice for young professionals, families, and retirees alike. Italian dual citizenship unlocks immense benefits for immigrants, and it is specifically valuable for families. The process is easier than you imagine, and you can check Bersani Law Firm website to understand how it works. Let us explain why you must try your luck with Italian dual citizenship.

Multiple Citizenship Routes

The best thing about Italian dual citizenship is that you can explore multiple routes to reach the goal. Family immigration is often complex, and it is hard to fulfill the eligibility norms. But things are different in Italy as you have more than one way to qualify. Here are the alternatives to consider-

• Citizenship by descent
• Citizenship by marriage
• Citizenship by naturalization
  

Great Culture and Lifestyle

Families love Italy as an immigration destination because it has a great culture and lifestyle. The language is easy to learn so your loved ones can blend in easily. Almost everyone loves Italian food, and the people here are warm and friendly. You will love the European way of life as it is different from the fast-paced American lifestyle. Your loved ones will surely enjoy the experience!

Excellent Education and Healthcare

Italy offers quality education on a budget, and your kids can get an extra advantage with dual citizenship status. Fees at public universities are far lesser than the UK universities and others in the EU. Likewise, you get access to public healthcare. It means that both young and old members of your family have a chance to avail of the best by living in Italy as citizens of the country.

Extensive Travel Benefits

Another good reason to pursue Italian dual citizenship is the extensive travel benefits it offers. Italy has one of the most powerful passports that let you travel visa-free across the EU and hundreds of other countries. Moreover, the strategic location of the country makes travel a breeze as you can fly across the EU and see the rest of the world. Traveling to the US is also easy.

Availability of Citizenship Assistance

When applying for Italian dual citizenship, you can easily get assistance from experts. Whichever route you choose, you will have to follow some eligibility guidelines, provide paperwork, and complete a set of steps to close the process. Any errors or omissions can lead to delays or even rejection. But you have the option to collaborate with an expert and complete the process seamlessly.

If you have family immigration goals, Italy makes an ideal dual citizenship destination. Getting in is easy as you can explore multiple options while availing of endless benefits as an Italian citizen. Your rights pass on to the next generations, and you can create a legacy for your loved ones.

Author Bio: Arthur Jones has four years of content writing experience and specializes in Legal writing. He works with OutreachMonks as the Content Manager. Arthur chose legal writing as his forte because he understood that legal terminology is beyond a layman’s comprehension. Hence, he uses his specialization to present laws and legal information to people in easy language.

Caring for your elderly parents can be challenging, and it often means you are wearing many hats. From helping with medications to providing transportation to doctor visits, you may hire a driver for the elderly so that your day fills up quickly.

And extra responsibility might mean additional costs. You may be covering some of these expenses from your own funds, especially if you have had to cut back on hours at work to make time to care for your parents. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a plan in place ahead of time.

Assessing Needs

The first step is to assess your parents’ needs. Think about both physical and mental needs to think about the care you might need to be providing. Depending on their current state of health, you may need to combine your own assistance with a healthcare professional. Of course, your assessment needs to take their wishes into account.

Depending on their needs, part of the assistance you may need to offer is financial help. Depending on the situation, legally, you could be financially responsible for offering financial support. Filial responsibility means you might need to take a look at your own finances to ensure you can offer support for long-term care. Consider educating yourself by looking over a guide about states with filial responsibility laws that you can utilize.

Speaking with Your Parents

It’s important to have open conversations with your parents about their future. You should have this conversation before something happens while they are still healthy enough to care for themselves. Still, it’s not uncommon for these talks to happen once there is a more urgent need. If there are other family members, such as siblings, they may need to be part of these conversations as well.

It’s a good idea to bring your focus toward arranging care and avoid discussing money initially. It’s important to ensure you come across as caring and rational. Don’t let your emotions rule your reactions. Instead, try to focus on the challenges facing your loved one and think about the kind of care they will most likely need. They should understand you are trying to help and that their care is your top priority.

Consider Getting the Help of a Professional

There are different types of professional care, and don’t feel that they need to enlist a professional is a failing on your part to help your parents. When you are taking care of elderly parents, making things a collaborative effort is often in everyone’s best interest. A home health aide can help them remain in their dwellings as long as possible since they can help check vitals, give medication, and change bandages.

On the other hand, traveling or visiting nurses can aid those at home, offering nursing services such as medication. If you feel that your parents are unable to live by themselves, you could look into assisted living homes. They are ideal for those who don’t require medical services that nursing homes offer but still need everyday help, such as meals and dressing. While residents live in their own spaces, staff members help them out.

One of the biggest joys of being a parent is watching your child grow up and experience life. When your child is an infant, these milestones can be as simple as a first smile. As kids age and eventually grow into adulthood, these milestones will become much larger. Things like their high school graduation, first career job, wedding, their own babies, etc. It can be a delicate balance trying to figure out how to support your child during major life moments in a way that serves you both. Here are a few examples of significant milestones for your kid and how you can navigate them together.

When They Get Their Driver’s License

When a child gets their driver’s license, this is probably their first true sense of freedom. This is also a great time to put your trust in your kid on full display. It can feel uneasy as a parent to just hand over the car keys and let their child hit the road on a whim however, try not to let your feelings cloud this moment in time.

If you feel especially nervous but still want your child to experience this happily, perhaps consider additional education and practice beyond traditional drivers training courses. Encouraging your child to take a defensive driving course can give you both a little more security. These programs show new drivers, as well as experienced ones, how to handle events on the road that require a little more tactile thinking than simply cruising to the mall. This might give you the peace of mind your need to support them without hovering too closely.

When They Start to Think About College

As your teen moves through high school, the subject of college is bound to come up, and honestly, the earlier, the better. If this is something they want for their future, the best thing to do is normalize the conversation and speak openly as a family about how that will look. Do they know what career path they want to venture down? Are they considering moving away for school or staying local? How will tuition and other various costs be paid for?

Money is no longer the taboo subject that it once was and as a parent, doing everything you can to increase your child’s financial literacy is ideal. Before you get into who is paying for what, educate your kid on the option of scholarships. With platforms like Going Merry college scholarships you create a profile that will then match you with appropriate scholarship opportunities. The number of scholarships you can apply for is limitless, so there is a huge opportunity to acquire some free money to use towards college. Teaching your child about this as a first resort, then deciding how the financial gaps will be filled in is a great way to collectively tackle this phase of life.

When They Get Married

Of course, not everyone gets married; however, if your child does decide to, you should be prepared as to how your input will be managed. The most important thing to remember is your child’s happiness and also that they have chosen a partner who they now will consider in all their major decisions. Some parents struggle to find their place in the shuffle of planning a wedding, but it is not impossible.

Try to remind yourself that this day belongs to the bride and groom and that choices that are made that do not align with your personal preference were not made as a personal attack on your perspective. You can stay involved by offering to throw a bridal shower, help with the rehearsal dinner, or simply be a sounding board. This huge milestone does not need to be filled with family tension, so do your part to avoid creating any for the sake of your child.

Everyone knows that moms are the most special people globally, but how many of us do something special for our moms? It would be nice to know that people out there take time out of their day to make our moms feel special. On Mother’s Day, we should all be thinking of ways to make our moms feel special. If you are looking for ideas on making your mom feel special on Mother’s Day, you have come to the right place. Here are some great ways to make your mom feel special on Mother’s Day.

1. Take The Time to Treat Her to Lunch

Going out for a nice lunch is one of the best ways to make your mom feel special on Mother’s Day. Take her out for a nice, relaxing lunch, and make sure that you allow enough time so that she can relax while you enjoy your meal together. This will make her feel special.

2. Make Her Feel Special With a Card

Mother’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for many people, so it would be nice to be able to send your mom something that she can appreciate. One way to make your mom feel special is by sending her a card on Mother’s Day. A card should bear a special message, like how much you love her and how thankful you are to have her as a mom. A card will mean so much to your mom on Mother’s Day, especially if you handwritten it.

3. Give Her Flowers or a Bouquet

Flowers are one of the best ways to make your mom feel special and unique. When you send your mom flowers, this will mean a lot to her because it will show that you care about how she feels on Mother’s Day. When you send flowers to your mom, make sure that it is something unique and something that she won’t find in any local florist shop. When sending a bouquet, make sure that it is big enough so that she does not have to carry them home on the train. Mothers day flower delivery by Pearsons Florist helps you create the perfect floral arrangement for Mother’s Day.

4. Help Her Decorate Her House

If your mom is the kind of person who likes to decorate her home, then you will want to make sure that you help her do this. Taking the time to help your mom decorate her home will make her feel special because she will appreciate all of your efforts to make it look great. This will also make her happy because she will be able to use the space that you have helped her decorate. If you are looking for new ideas for making your mom feel special, then take a look at these great tips for making your mom feel special.

5. Blow Her a Kiss

Whether or not you are the most good-looking guy in the world, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that your mom will love to see a big smile on your face, and she will probably want to get a big hug from you as well. This is why it is so important to make sure that you give your mom a big hug when she gets home from work on Mother’s Day. One way to make this happen would be to blow her a kiss. If the two of you are not home when she gets home from work, then you can always send her a big kiss with a card or a text message. This will make her feel special because it shows that she is your number one priority on Mother’s Day.

6. Cook a Special Meal

Cooking a special meal for your mom on Mother’s Day is a great way to make her feel special. When you cook a complete meal for her, this will show that you care about how she feels on Mother’s Day. Assuming that she does not cook, you will want to make sure that you help her with the cooking at least part of the way through. This will mean so much to her because she will appreciate that you took the time to help with the cooking rather than just eating your meal while she was busy.

7. Take Her to The Theater or a Concert

When you take your mom out for a nice dinner, this can be a great way to make her feel special on Mother’s Day. When you take your mom out for dinner on Mother’s Day, make sure that it is something that she enjoys as well. This is a great way to make your mom feel special because she will appreciate it.

Conclusion

Mother’s Day is one of those days where everyone wants to be able to do something really special for their mothers. There are no limits to what you could do for your mom on Mother’s Day.