Categories
Relationship

Quarantine Survival Guide For Couples

The kids are driving us crazy, the house chores never seem to seize, and life, as we know it, has drastically changed. A lot is happening, and our stress levels have all increased. With tensions being so high, it’s only normal that there will be some altercations with our partners, especially given all the new roles we now have to play.

On a different note: NOVENA IS TOO CUTE!

I watched this funny YouTube video a few weeks ago called A Desperate Mother’s Prayer, it’s a mom who is praying to GOD, and she says “I am a child of GOD, what I am NOT is a homeschool teacher. GOD, I am at home, but Lord, ain’t no teaching going on around here. Father GOD, I am your humble servant… what I am not is the cafeteria lady, yet again the devil has attacked and sent down a tapeworm onto my family, and I need you to help them understand that just because there is a refrigerator doesn’t mean they have to open it…” you have got to listen to the whole clip, I die laughing every time I hear it.

Anyway, this mother feels my frustrations, because honestly, I feel like I’m a one-stop-shop for EVERYONE in the house. I’m sure, you are feeling the same way! Everyone is pulling at you from all sides so the second your husband says or asks for one thing (it could be anything), you blow up and start talking about all the problems with your relationship when all he asked for was…’where the laundry detergent was’ LOL, silly example but you get the point!

The problem we had which I’m sure you are experiencing to some extent, is that Bini and I weren’t seeing each other eye-to-eye, yet we continued to see a LOT of each other. LOL! Honestly, for those of us that work outside our homes or have partners that do, we are only used to seeing but so much of them. So, now that we are all quarantined together and have other stress added to that, it’s only normal that we want to lose our cool with our spouses.  

Here are some tips that have been working for us during these difficult times:

1)    Work in different spaces of your home.

Space is a great thing! Come together for lunch and “after work,” as you would have under normal situations.This will create some excitement for you and for the kids too.

Which brings me to my next point!

2)    Come up with a detailed schedule of who will take care of what, while you are all home together (especially with the kids being homeschooled).  

If dad is teaching today, then mom is responsible for all the meals and vice versa. The bottom line here is that you cannot do it all alone! You need help, help that he should provide!

 3)    Go on Date Nights (while staying home)!

Just because the outside world is changing, doesn’t mean you have to stop doing what works for you inside your home. Date nights are a huge part of my marriage. I promised myself in 2020 that I would uphold my goal of continuing date nights regardless of any situation, and I intend to keep that promise. So, with that in mind, Bini and I have gotten good at putting the kids to sleep or at least closing our bedroom door and watching a movie together or merely using that time to talk about our day and everything we have going on in our businesses. This keeps us close!

I made my first Ethiopian coffee for Easter last Sunday.

4)    Understand Each Other!

Now more than ever, we need to be compassionate and understanding of our spouses. There is so much uncertainty, sickness, and turmoil happening all around us, so let’s keep our homes a happy place and work on ensuring our spouses feel and know they are loved unconditionally. Be there for one another, help one another, and tell each other how much you love one another every chance you get.

I hope this blog helps you or someone you know. I want you to always keep in mind that everyone’s schedule has been abruptly dismantled and with that change will come lots of frustration and confusion so it’s okay to take a break from all of it and simply enjoy the moment you are in. That being said, if you feel the kids are not doing enough work, or that your workload is piling up, try to think of solutions instead of only the problem. I found that to really help calm my nerves. Also set times for each task that needs to get done, and only work within those times. I hope these tips will ease the tension in your home as it has in ours.

Longing for those summer days by the beach

As always, I love to hear from you. What are you doing in your household that is keeping you and your spouse from killing each other? Share the excellent knowledge with us all, please.

Yours,

Categories
Healthy Living

Get Your Post Quarantine Body Right

Thanks to coronavirus, we have all been stuck at home for the past couple of weeks, and while I’m hopeful that this will soon be all over or at least the issue will be better taken care of, it still scares me more and more as the days go by.  I knew there was a crisis the instant our church sent out an email asking us all to pray during these hard times and that all masses were cancelled.

My mentor brought up a great point when this whole ordeal first started, and schools shut down. She told us to never forget our why… that the HOW might change but the WHY should never change! Not only was she right, but her message also hit home for me POWERFULLY.

Like most of you, my why is to live a healthier lifestyle (especially during times like this- the healthier you are, the better chances you have to fight this virus).

The why should never change! Let that sink in a little!

The ‘how’ changed for a lot of us the second schools and stores closed, grocery stores went low on food and supplies, and most offices told their employees to work from home. Now that gyms have fully closed all over, you’re ‘how’ has definitely changed and I want you to understand and be ready to workout from home using the items you have around you. For the past couple of months, I have been posting workouts that you can do with or without weights and in the comfort of your own home. Feel free to take a look at them here.  

Today, I want to go over some of my favorite outdoor cardio workouts. With the weather getting warmer, it’s always nice to be outside and get fresh air, especially for all the moms out there that are probably getting cabin fever with the kids at home.

1)    Running –

ALWAYS MY TOP CARDIO EXERCISE! I love running because it makes me feel free and alive. I love it when I can put headphones on and simply lose myself on the road just being in my thoughts and listening to music or a podcast.

2)    Frog Squats –

A killer for your glutes, but the burn will feel so good.

3)    Speed Leader –

Get ready to get your heart rate up. I love the speed leader because there are so many workouts you can plan with it. You can create your own speed leader using chalk on your sidewalk or driveway.

4)    Walking Lunges –

Moving one leg in front of the other! One of the best ways to build muscle on your legs.

5)    Side Shuffle –

Another great cardio move!

I hope this blog helps you or someone you know. As always, I am here to help you with any fitness-related question you may have. Feel free to write your questions in the feedback section of the blog, or you can always email/DM me as well. If you are looking for a community of likeminded women that want to live a healthy life just like you, share nutritional programs, 30+ workouts a week and access to personal trainers like myself…hit me up, I’m working on a project called FitHer Nation that I’d love to share with you.

Yours,

Categories
Motherhood

How To Homeschool During Quarantine Without Going Crazy

Be careful what you wish for they said…

Just a few weeks ago, I was doing my daily prayers and asking God if I was overdoing it; am I pushing too hard? Am I letting my dream come between my time with my family? Am I being Intentional? Am I being a good mother to my children? Little did I know that within three weeks, our whole lives would change, and homeschooling would be our new norm!

Parents, I get what you’re dealing with! You’re probably like Bini and I and have had enough of your angels already! You want them back in school like TODAY! Sadly, that isn’t going to happen anytime soon, so let’s use this opportunity to not only to spend time with our children but also  teach them the things we always wanted to but never had the time.

I want to share the steps that we’re taking for my family. We are still living through all the changes that occur daily, so these steps could very well take a different path tomorrow, but for now, this is working, and you know me, sharing is KEY in my world!

1)   Create space for “school” somewhere in your home!

What I mean by creating space is; build the idea of a school environment at home. I took out Bella, Lorenzo, and Novena’s desks from their rooms and placed it in one area of the house on day 1 of our homeschooling adventure. You guys, this was a GAME CHANGER for us. The kids feel as though they really are in school. They aren’t lounging around or trying to watch T.V.! Instead, they get focused and start doing their work the second they sit in their “school space”. Another key point I want to add, is that I’ve noticed it really helps to have Bini or I stay in their space during “school hours” and be available to help at all times. Think of yourself as their substitute teacher!

2)   Have a detailed schedule written out for EVERYONE to see!

This is so important! Your kids are structured at school, so why even entertain the idea of not following that routine at home. We’ve been putting the kids to sleep at their regular bedtimes and waking them up at the same time as well. They have to change out of their pj’s before coming to “school,” and we start our day with a prayer and affirmations just like we would if they were at school. By setting this standard, we’ve provided set times for them to learn different subjects, relax, eat, and get everything accomplished for the day.

3)   Throw in new subjects and let them have a little fun!

Use this time to bond with the kids, teach them their family history, do projects at home, and create memories that will last them a lifelong. Bini and I have learned how to use TikTok for the first time; we created history lessons with our friends and their children so we can teach the kids all about Ethiopia and Eritrea. Now, every week, six children from different states get together on a zoom call and discuss their history together. This week, we are working on making goo at home using laundry detergent, glue, and some other stuff that Bella is teaching me.

4)   Keep open communication lines at all times!

We don’t know it all, but the teachers do! They know our kids’ weaknesses for specific lessons, how they act, and what they need to work on. Talk to their teachers and keep an open dialog with them. Trust me; they want to help you help your children.

 5) Don’t be so hard on yourself!

There will be some days when everything goes as planned, and you will feel like SUPER PARENTS, then there will be days where nothing goes according to schedule. Days where you can’t get the kids to focus, your little one will cry until she gets your attention, and all the while, you still have tons of work to do. When these days happen, know that it’s okay to put everything ON HOLD. Take a breather, go for a walk with the family or alone if you can, get a workout in, and know that it will all be there for you when you return. Be okay, with not getting it all done in one day. Go easy on yourself and know that you are a fantastic parent!

 I hope this blog helps you or someone you know! Leave your comments below with how you are homeschooling your children during quarantine. Oh, and if you are wondering what I pray for now, it’s patience through this challenging time and for GOD to always remind me that I love my children and cannot kill them. LOL

Yours,