Staying Linked In A Digital World

Social connection is vital at all stages of parenting. We need co-parents with whom we can pity and share milestones, ask for advice or even coordinate play dates and childcare swaps with them.

But how do we stay socially connected under this "new normal" of social distancing? How do we get the support we need and fill our cup, so to speak, when we cannot access the personal support that we have become used to?

The first step is to realize that there is nothing "normal" about our current situation. The level of stress and anxiety we feel is not normal. Closing schools and day care centers is not normal. It is not normal not to visit with family and friends. For some, working from home with your children is not normal.

So we look for "normal" where we can find it. Just as parents had to look for a new normal, Parenting Now! Our model has always been to offer personal groups in which parents receive childcare so that they have two hours a week to concentrate on themselves and develop their parenting skills.

But parenting has been since March! The atrium and playroom are closed to visitors. Instead, we've gone virtual, offering Baby Connection and live discussions via Zoom, as well as One-2-One support for parents via phone or SMS.

However, the missing piece of the puzzle is bringing back our typical parenting groups, the First Three Years Program and Make Parenting A Pleasure. However, we are happy to announce that virtual parent groups will be set up this fall! As with our personal groups, families meet for 10 or 12 sessions - all are supported by parent educators - at Zoom for 1 hour.

At Parenting Now! Do we know that "connection" is one of the protective factors for strengthening families. While we must find new ways of doing things, it is better for our health and wellbeing and the condition of our families to keep in touch with others!

To find out more about our upcoming virtual groups, visit one of our virtual open days via Zoom on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. This gives you the opportunity to meet our educational educators, ask them questions and test our new virtual format. For more information about our Virtual Open Houses or to register for a parent group, send an email to register@parentingnow.org or call 541-434-4343.

This article appeared in the September 2020 issue of Oregon Family Magazine.