Help with the Perils of Pandemic Parenting
When COVID-19 swept the country in March of 2020, Beverly Weathington was driven to find a way to guide parents and families through the crisis. As a social worker and the community engagement coordinator for the Healthier Urban Families program, Ms. Weathington usually helps Detroit's families and teachers with in-person workshops. But COVID put an end to those. So she created Parenting Moments, a monthly digital newsletter that curates events, advice and other resources for parents of infants to school-aged children.
Early issues focused on COVID concerns. "Parents needed reliable information about the virus that was pertinent to families with children," Weathington said. "We were all locked in our homes, afraid, trying to figure out what it meant. Then we had vaccine decisions, and mask messages to sort through."
Though schools are now back in session with vaccines widely available, she says, "the march continues. Now parents have questions about the vaccine and boosters and staying on track academically." Issues have tackled important family topics like virtual school burn-out, holiday stressors, staying safe, racial identity, fun summertime activities, and celebrating Black History Month. Though COVID is in retreat, publication of Parenting Moments will continue indefinitely. "Parents and children still benefit from information on how to stay safe, form relationships and especially how to enjoy their time together."
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