By Melissa Carr
WOW! This is different isn’t it? Our family of 5 is trying to figure out a new normal. My husband got home from an out of state funeral last night and we are both attempting this whole work from home, parent a toddler and 2 young adults, have boundaries and stay connected. You may think being in the same house that this should be an easy task. But I think it is easy to be very disconnected in this time.
I’ve already had to have the “you will not spend all this time on video games” conversation more than once and our almost 3-year-old is finding every button to press (literally and figuratively) and lines to cross. This is so new and so different for all of us. So how will stay connected working, entertaining, chilling, and not able to just jump in our car and go hang out with people.
We really try to eat dinner all together every night. Our older two kids’ schedules have ramped up something fierce lately and we haven’t all been around the same table in a while. We have found our family “falls apart” when we don’t have that time. So tonight, as we get to eat together again finally, we will be doing our “HOME HUDDLES”.
I am always amazed at what I learn from Highs and Lows alone. Things that I think may be my kids’ highs (more video games) are actually their lows because they would rather be working, spending time with friends, mountain biking with their team, etc.
Being in the Word and taking the time to READ it helps us learn and helps our family hear the Word, grow from it, understand how to find bible verses. Don’t know what to read? Download the YouVersion Bible App! There is a daily Bible verse you can use as your reading! You can even set reminders up and YouVersion will notify you of your readings!
Being able to TALK about God’s word and relate it to our own lives and highs and lows helps make Jesus so real to each of us! We need to know His presence!
PRAY together! Wow! That’s closeness like no other closeness I’ve ever experienced! It’s ok if this isn’t easy at first. Our kids learn from us—let them hear you pray- Have them pray. There isn’t a right or wrong way.
BLESS one another! Use the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead. You could say something like “__________ , may you know you are loved and treasured. May God’s peace be with you!” Feel Free to find a blessing that works for your family. With a little one in the house ours will be, “Grant, Jesus loves you now and always” so he can say it too!
Being close in proximity doesn’t mean we are connected—make a home huddle happen daily if at all possible so you can stay connected with one another! If you live by yourself, consider calling or using FaceTime to connect and do a home huddle with a friend and check in with each other daily.
We are here for you, we love you and care for you as a church staff and if there is anything we can do to love and support you and your family during this time, please feel free to reach out to us at: care@stmatthewrocklin.com