How to Continue to Support Women from Your Couch or Kitchen Table
Wow, what a 2020 we are off to. I’d love to say something affirming or comforting here, but I, probably much like you, have eaten way too many of my quarantine snacks already, while frantically trying to design engaging lessons from afar, as I contemplate my mortality and also whether I really need more pretzels. We are in scary times. I hope that you are being safe, staying home, and are able to convince your older parents that, no, they don’t need to go to the gym today. But even if you are home, hopefully watching Netflix, practicing some self-care and saving the world by social distancing, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your quest to support women. Here is a list of some ideas to help you stay engaged in the fight while making safe choices for you and your family.
Help out working moms!
We know that the lion’s share of child care often falls to mothers and this quarantine situation is no different. Many women are working full-time jobs from home, while simultaneously teaching their kids and stopping them from lighting small fires in the house, using finger paints on the walls, and sticking their fingers into light sockets. You all are heroes and deserve giant hugs (when we are allowed to be within 6 feet of each other) and long beach vacations after this is all over.
So how can you help? Could you have Facetime storytime? Make a video of yourself reading a children’s book and send it to friends who have kids in that age bracket? Host a Google Hangout sing-along with some friends’ kids? Could your kids have a virtual playdate with someone else’s kids? It takes a village to get through something like this, so reach out and ask your village what you can do and also communicate what you need. Also, in case I haven’t mentioned it, stay home. Special thanks to the people who can’t stay home because they are out keeping us safe, healthy, and fed. We see you. We appreciate you.
Help out struggling small businesses.
This is going to be a really hard time for small businesses. As someone who lives in a small, incredibly cool town, I have thought a lot about all of the restaurants, shops, and bars in my neighborhood that are locally owned and operate on very small margins. But since we are staying in (which we are—because it is our civic duty), how can we support these local places? Gift cards and takeout are great options here. Also, remember to tip your delivery drivers like crazy.
Support your local food pantries.
The economic impacts of this situation will be profound. For some of us, they will be frightening or inconvenient. But for some, they will be devastating. If you are a person who is not currently dealing with food insecurity, this is a great time to donate whatever amount you can to your local food pantry. Single mothers, especially, may feel the brunt of the economic hit in the coming months due to being out of work and taking care of children; food pantries are a great way to make sure that those women in your community have the resources they need to take care of their children and themselves as they navigate this terrifying reality.
Be gentle with yourself and with others.
This last one is something that I am working on and I won’t for a moment pretend to be an expert in it. But let me tell you something that I know to be true. You will not get as much done during this isolation period as you hope. Maybe it will be because of anxiety, maybe you will get sick, maybe you will be continually distracted by your social media, maybe you will be meeting the needs of children or parents constantly, or maybe you are still working, trying to meet the needs of others. But whatever the reason, grant grace and forgiveness to yourself and to others. Don’t think the work your child’s teacher is sending home is the best or most rigorous? Believe that they are doing their best, while also balancing their own lives. Irritated that you promised yourself you would accomplish eight things on your to-do list and you only got two done? Remind yourself that it is two more than you had done this morning. We are all doing the best we can. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. And, if I haven’t mentioned it before, tip your delivery people like crazy.
Stay safe, stay calm, and stay healthy. And don’t eat all the snacks in one day.
-Amy