We all remember the awkward days of childhood where you felt like you never really fit in. Growing up is hard for everyone, and trying to fit in can do a number on a child’s self-esteem. As parents, we collect parenting tips that we think will enable us to protect our children from the things that hurt us when we were their age. But, we also know that we have to allow them to struggle in the same ways so they can grow into resilient and confident people. 

Every year during the winter season, our community, like others all around the country experiences an uptick in illnesses like the common cold and influenza. It is not uncommon for bugs like these to pass from person to person in a single-family, and it's often difficult to keep the whole family well during flu season. This year, of course, adds another layer of concern to the issue as we're experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases that experts expect will only get worse over the coming months. 

We don’t think anyone would argue the fact that 2020 has thrown a lot of curveballs our way. From a global pandemic to a contentious presidential race, there is a lot going on in the world that feels unsettling to adults and children alike. No amount of parenting tips will enable us to control the world outside of our homes, but we can control the world inside our homes. It’s a responsibility and a privilege as parents to set the tone for our families and our homes.

Amongst many other complications, 2020 brought us a long and very hot summer. But, the gentle breezes and cooler weather of fall are a nice respite from the heat. After many months of varying levels of quarantine, families are preparing to hunker down for what passes for winter in the state of Florida. Anxieties are high, and people all over are feeling stressed, none more perhaps than parents who have multiple children at home. 

To put it mildly, the Fall season lags here in the state of Florida. As our friends to the north are sipping pumpkin spice and wearing scarves, we’re still fending off hurricane season. But as unconventional, and far too short as our fall season is, it still ranks as the favorite time of year for lots of families. In the year 2020, fall will probably feel different than any other you can recall, and you like many other families may find yourself in search of parenting tips to help you through. Our inability to gather in large crowds, and the desire to keep our community safe and healthy will put a damper on some traditional fall activities. 

We have been welcoming students back to school at St. Barnabas since our founding in 1971. For nearly 50 years we’ve ushered in each school year in a similar fashion, but this year is different than anything we’ve experienced before. 

We’re halfway through the calendar year, and so far 2020 has proven to be quite a doozy. The COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown us all for a loop and it was followed up with civil unrest and a lot of public conversation about racial inequality and police brutality. We are still wading through uncharted territory, and no parenting tips could have prepared us for what has unfolded. To begin, it should be said that you are doing an excellent job, and the fact that you’re interested in parenting tips to help you move through this season shows how much you care. None of us has all of the answers for how to navigate life’s complexities, but all of us can do our best. 

The year 2020 will go down in history as a year of transformation. People, families, and industry were forced to change the way we do life as well as the ways we do business. As teachers and school administrators, we’ve done our best to maintain as much normalcy in your children's education as we could over the last few months but we’re well aware that most of the heavy lifting was left up to you, their parents. 

In March, all of our lives changed in a big way. Schools closed for the rest of the year and parents like you were sent scrambling and forced to balance your parenting and professional lives 24 hours a day. No parenting tips could have prepared us to spend quite so much quality time cooped up with our families. We still don’t really know what to expect in the coming months. But one thing is for sure, after nearly two and a half months of playing school at home, you’re now staring down the barrel at two more months of playing summer camp counselor and you'll need even more parenting tips to get you through.

This spring semester has been one for the books. None of us will ever forget the year that our classrooms were empty, and your homes we’re overflowing! Hopefully, by this point, you’ve gotten into a groove with your children’s school, but by now they may be bouncing off the walls a bit as they’re missing their friends and their routine. There’s only so much video gaming that can substitute for actual activity. It may be time to implement P.E.