As a parent, we can sometimes get caught up in a parenting bubble, where we feel that how we raise our children only affects the children themselves. However, parenting can be radical and have an impact on the immediate community, and the world at large - sometimes for the good, and occasionally for the bad.

Keeping our mind on the truth that we aren’t just bringing up children, but human beings can help us keep perspective on our long-term goals. When going through tough times, our best laid plans can go awry - we go into fire-fighting mode, just trying to keep the basics met while dealing with our own emotions. Every challenge can test our resilience and we may find our limits are reached a lot more quickly than usual. Despite the pressures of crises, they can also present opportunities for us to look at what really matters to us, our family and how we can stay connected with our children and avoid rupturing the relationship. 

There are a few things you can do during those otherwise tense times. 

• Make your family and your connections a priority. Despite the storms of life, this should be a priority. Empathy and play become acts of courage when they are sometimes the last thing we want to do, but they matter.

• Try to maintain a sense of routine and rhythm. Some of your usual plans may fall by the wayside during challenging times, but try to keep sufficient healthy food, exercise and sleep as regular as is possible.

• Calm is important. If things need to be simplified and streamlined for this to happen, then it will be worth it. Try to make home an escape from what is going on outside - this is necessary even when things are relatively steady and easy.

• Help your child find something they really engage with and can focus on - developing their own interests and skills can give them a pocket of enjoyment within hard times. If this is also something that can be done together, then this is the best scenario to avoid feelings of isolation.

• Don’t forget to tend to your own needs. If you don’t take care of yourself, ultimately children will feel the impact.