Covid impact: Parents blend priorities for their kids
PARKVILLE, Mo- As COVID-19 ravaged the world, parents were forced to adjust financially, socially, and physically with little time to do so.
After the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic in March, parents were forced to support their families despite the unpredictable circumstances that caused many to take a pay deduction and transition to online education.
Jeremy Yost, a lawyer who is the father of two, admitted, “I’ll be honest since there’s been such little person-to-person contact, that has been very very challenging for our family.” Yost also admitted that he worked with very few clients in the first few months of the pandemic, resulting in significant financial losses, and also noticed a spike in mental well-being with more verbal anger issues.
Lilly Griffin, an elementary school teacher and mother of one, said her family’s schedule didn’t change much since her family are all homebodies, “During school, my husband takes care of our daughter, and after it is usually me.” Griffin also stated that her husband has asthma, so she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family safe and healthy.
Similar to the comments of Griffin, Claire Shepley, a stay-at-home mother of three, was optimistic and happy that her children returned to a physical classroom, although admitted that her children didn’t fully understand the importance of wearing masks.
Echoing the comments of Griffin, Antonio Ruiz, a construction manager and father of three, mentioned that he experienced trouble helping his children understand the current situation concerning the pandemic, although he was optimistic, “While yeah it’s unfortunate that it took such a bad situation, I’m glad I’ve been able to reconnect with my family more.” As a result of the pandemic, Ruiz has monthly Zoom meetings with both of his brothers, whom he did not talk with much in recent years.
