>> IT IS 8:40 5 A.M. AND FOR DR.
FATIMA WATT, THIS IS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
>> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO EAT BEFORE WE GET ON SCHOOL CAMERA.
I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE HUNGRY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO LEARN.
>> FOR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD TERESA AND HER SISTER ISABELLA, LEARNING IS FULLY REMOTE.
CREATING CHALLENGES FOR DR. WATT AND HER HUSBAND.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?
>> MY HUSBAND WORKS IN THE EVENINGS, SO IT HELPS THAT IN THE MORNING, WHILE THINGS ARE CHAOTIC, WE ARE BOTH HOME.
>> SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE REMOTE AND WE DID HAVE THE CONVERSATION, DID ONE OF US HAVE TO QUIT OUR JOBS?
OUR FOCUS IS OUR CHILDREN.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS AROUND OUR GIRLS.
IT IS STRESSFUL.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE TERESA, WE ARE STARTING WITH GO NOODLE THIS MORNING.
WE THOUGHT LAST YEAR WAS HARD BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A DREAM.
YOU DROP THEM OFF AND YOU PICK THEM BACK UP.
NOW, EVERY DETAIL IS ON US.
SHE IS GOING TO NEED ME ON THE MATS PACKET, ALL ABOUT ME PACKETS.
WE HAVE ALL THESE MATERIALS AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED.
I GOT ONE.
>> AT TIMES, YOU HAVE TO LET A COUPLE THINGS GO BECAUSE IT FEELS RIGID.
YOU ARE GOING TO HIT YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.
>> WE HAVE TO BRING THE FOLLOWING, A LITTLE COW, A CUP, AND A SPOON.
I HAVE A LITTLE COW LAYING AROUND THE HOUSE.
MY GOAL IS TO KEEP HER FROM FEELING OVERWHELMED OR FRUSTRATED WHILE ON THE SCREEN EVEN IF WE CAN’T FIND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
>> IT HAS A HORN.
>> AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE THERE, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO SWEAT THE LITTLE THINGS.
>> MOM, I NEED HELP.
>> OK.
THIS IS ABOUT THE POINT WHERE I START TO BREAK A SWEAT.
WE SPENT THE FIRST FEW MINUTES CLICKING AROUND AND SEEING WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.
WHAT PASSWORD IS GOING TO WORK, WHAT LINK IS GOING TO WORK.
THIS IS SO CONFUSING.
RIGHT ON TIME.
THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE DOES NOT SEEM TO EXIST AS MUCH.
EVERYTHING LEADS INTO EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHAT I’M TRYING TO DO IS ASSIGN POCKETS OF TIME THAT HELP ME FOCUS ON JUST MY WORK AND HAVING POCKETS OF TIME WHERE I I’M NOT SCHEDULED FOR ANYTHING SO I CAN FOCUS ON THE GIRLS.
ONCE THEY ARE STABLE, I TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE FOR WORK, CHECK EMAILS, CHECK MY PHONES TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.
SO FAR, I ONLY HAVE ONE PATIENT IN CRISIS TODAY, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.
>> LIKE MANY PARENTS WORKING FOR THE PANDEMIC, DR. WATT IS FORCED INTO A DOUBLE LIFE.
WHEN NOT TROUBLESHOOTING ZOO MEETINGS TO SUPPORT HER DAUGHTERS’ DISTANCE-LEARNING, SHE IS SUPPORTING OTHER CHILDREN AND PARENTS AT HER BALL AS DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES AT FRANCISCAN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN BRIGHTON.
>> A LOT OF THINGS FALL UNDER OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
WE TRY TO SEPARATE OUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL BEINGS A LOT IN THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO BECAUSE ONE IMPACTS THE OTHER.
WE NEED TO BE KIND AND FORGIVING TO OURSELVES.
>> LIKE ALICE CLIMBING THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, DR. WATT TAKES TO THE VIRTUAL SIDE OF A ZOOM SESSION TO EDUCATE PARENTS ABOUT WAYS OF SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN IN OUR CURRENT CRISIS.
>> COVID IS A VERY UNUSUAL SITUATION.
IT HAS ALL OF THE COMPONENTS TO MAKE SOMEONE VERY ANXIOUS.
WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.
IT IS OK IF WE MAKE MISTAKES.
BUT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE TALKING TO OUR CHILDREN AND THAT WE ARE LISTENING.
BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE CONVERSATION WITH A QUESTION IS A GOOD WAY TO GET STARTED.
>> DR. WATT HAS SPENT MANY YEARS LEARNING THE TECHNIQUES SHE REGULARLY USES WITH PATIENTS, BUT KNOWING WHAT TO DO IS DIFFERENT FROM DOING IT.
>> I HAVE DISCOVERED I’M NOT ABLE TO BE MOM AND THERAPIST.
SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I GIVE TO OTHER PARENTS, I’M LIKE, I SHOULD TRY THAT.
I FEEL LIKE I AM SO BLESSED AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PARTNER.
NO ONE CAN REALLY DO THIS ALONE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE CHILD.
THE SAYING THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE IS TRUE AND IN THESE TIMES, IT IS EVEN MORE TRUE.
♪ >> YES IT IS.
DR. WATT OFFERS A LOT OF ADVICE ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WE WILL HAVE LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE.
SHE REMINDS US THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT WHEN TALKING TO KIDS TO PUT YOUR OWN PHONE DOWN AND SHOW THAT YOU’RE WILLING TO LISTEN, EVEN IF THEY DON’T WANT
TO TALK.
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