>>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL
SERIES "PARENTING IN THE
PANDEMIC."
IF YOUR TYPICAL DAY INVOLVES
JUGGLING MORE THAN YOU KNEW YOU
COULD HANDLE, THE NEXT FEW
MINUTES ARE EXACTLY FOR YOU.
>> AND THAT’S EVERYONE.
YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET THREE
WORKING MOTHERS FROM OUR "TODAY"
SHOW FAMILY.
PARENTS OF TODDLERS, TEENS, AND
OF BIG KIDS WHO’VE NOW RETURNED
HOME.
AND WE WILL EXPERIENCE A DAY IN
EACH OF THEIR LIVES.
>> FIRST UP, SOMEBODY WE REALLY
MISS SEEING AROUND THE STUDIO.
HOLLY PALSHULTZ.
HERE IS A DAY IN HER LIFE WITH
ADORABLE LITTLE HELEN.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT’S 8:00.
I’M GOING TO GET READY AND FEED
HELEN.
YOU THINK BREAKFAST IS COMING
NEXT, BUT THEN YOU GET A PHONE
CALL.
HAVING TO WORK.
THEN EVERYTHING KIND OF CHANGES.
SO BACK TO EMAILS FOR NOW.
HELEN, CAN I HAVE MY HEADPHONES
BACK?
THANK YOU.
MY SHOW STARTS IN ABOUT 15
MINUTES.
MY HUSBAND’S GOT THE BABY OUT ON
A WALK.
IT’S SHOW TIME!
I WILL TAKE THE BABY SO WE CAN
SWAP OUT A BIT AND HUSBAND CAN
GET BACK TO WORK.
WANT TO TAKE A.
THAT?
HELEN.
HI, LITTLE GIRL.
♪
TRUTH IS TONIGHT WE JUST DON’T
HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO IT.
SHE HAS DECIDED SHE DIDN’T WANT
TO EAT ANYTHING WE PUT IN FRONT
OF HER TONIGHT.
SHE IS EATING JELLY OFF THE TOP
OF PANCAKES.
YOU HAPPY?
SAY GOOD NIGHT, HELEN.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, SHE’S DOWN.
SO BACK TO WORK.
CHECK SOME MORE EMAILS AND I
THINK I AM GOING TO BED EARLY
TOO.
>> GEL
>> JELLY OFF THE TOP OF
PANCAKES, HOLLY.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
I LOVED IT.
AND LOOK AT LITTLE HELEN.
YOU EXECUTIVE PRODUCE MY RADIO
SHOW.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES THERE.
YOU’RE WORKING TIRELESSLY.
>> LISTEN, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON
HERE.
BUT I AM THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL
TO BE HOME WITH HER HEALTHY AND
HAPPY.
IT’S, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATED BY
WONDERFUL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SHE’S GOING TO RUN OFF AND PLAY
AND I KNOW YOU’VE GOT A
QUESTION.
WE HAVE OUR EXPERT HERE.
OUR CORRESPONDENT VICKY NGUYEN.
SHE’S A WORKING MOM TOO.
WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION FOR HER?
>> HEY, VICKY.
THE JUGGLING IS THE PART I
STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THE PHONE RINGS
AND THE BABY NEEDS YOU AT THE
SAME TIME.
>> I TOTALLY FEEL YOU, HOLLY.
MY 4-YEAR-OLD SEES ME, SHE WANTS
A HUG OR TO PLAY.
CREATE A SEPARATE WORK SPACE IF
YOU CAN OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT
OF YOUR TODDLER.
AND REALLY TRY TO STAGGER THE
SCHEDULE.
I SEE YOU’RE DOING THAT.
LOGGING BACK IN AFTER THE BABY
GOES TO SLEEP.
OBVIOUSLY IT CREATES A LONGER
DAY FOR YOU.
SOMETHING ELSE I WANTED TO SHOW
YOU, THESE ARE LIFESAVERS.
WE HAVE THESE REUSABLE PUFFY
STICKER BOOKS AND THESE SPIRAL
GRAPH FOR OLDER KIDS.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO DO.
IT’S A SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITY.
AND THE BEST PART IS NO ADULT
INVOLVEMENT.
THIS WILL BUY YOU 30 MINUTES
EASILY.
THEY HAVE ANIMAL ONES.
THESE CRAFT KITS ARE WONDERFUL
IF YOU’VE GOT OLDER SIBLINGS.
THEN THEY GET SOMETHING DONE AT
THE END OF THE DAY.
>> LOVE THAT.
>> FEDEX.
FEDEX IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT, HOLLY.
>> ONE CLICK.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS, HELEN.
OKAY, WILLIE.
>> I LIKE WE’RE LIVING IN 30
MINUTE INCREMENTS.
LET’S MOVE ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
AND
-- GRADE SCHOOL AND TEENS.
WE’LL GO TO OUR STEPHANIE RUHLE.
HERE IS A LIFE IN THE DAY OF
STEPH.
>> IT’S 8:54.
I HAVE TO GO ON TV AT 9:00 AND I
HAVE THREE KIDS WHO IT’S THE
SUMMER AND IT’S AN ODD SUMMER,
THEY’RE ALL DOING DIFFERENT
THINGS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF OUR
HOUSEHOLD BUT NONE OF IT WORKS
WITHOUT THIS SCHEDULE.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR SCHEDULE TODAY?
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPEN TO SEE MY
SON REESE CAME INTO THE STUDIO
AND WE WERE GOING OVER A SCRIPT,
ACTUALLY, AND NEXT THING I KNOW
THERE I WAS ON LIVE TV.
MY KIDS HAVE HAD TO BE THE SOUND
TECHNICIANS.
YOU KNOW, IT’S BEEN ONE OF THE
COOLEST PARTS OF WORKING FROM
HOME.
SO I’M ABOUT TO DO A ZOOM
INTERVIEW, AND AGAIN, IT’S IN MY
HOUSE.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS I’M NOT
ACTUALLY GIVING 100% OF MY
ATTENTION TO THE INTERVIEW.
IF I WERE IN THE OFFICE, I WOULD
HAVE SPENT MORE TIME DOING THIS
HOMEWORK.
HE DOESN’T GET TO GO TO
GRADUATION OR RUN AROUND THIS
SUMMER.
I’M SAD OF WHAT THEY’RE MISSING
OUT ON.
WHAT ARE YOU SAD YOU’RE MISSING
OUT ON?
>> JUST BEING ABLE TO TALK TO
PEOPLE AND COME HOME.
JUST LIVE LIFE LIKE IT WAS
NORMAL AGAIN.
>> STEPH, I FEEL YOU ON ALL OF
THAT.
YOU’RE HERE WITH YOUR THREE
CHILDREN.
STEPH, YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE TO AN
EXPERT FROM THE CHILD MIND
INSTITUTE ABOUT WORKING FROM
HOME WITH KIDS.
WHAT’D THEY TELL YOU?
>> HEY, WILLIE.
I DID.
BECAUSE LIKE SO MANY FAMILIES
OUT THERE, MY HOUSE WAS HEATING
UP THIS SUMMER AND NOT BECAUSE
OF THE WEATHER.
SO I WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH
THIS.
ONE THING I LEARNED SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT KIDS IS THE IS THIS THING
OVER YET IS THE NEW ARE WE THERE
YET.
WE KNOW IT’S NOT, SO WE’VE GOT
TO HELP OUR KIDS UNDERSTAND THIS
IS OUR NEW NORMAL FOR AWHILE AND
WE’VE GOT TO MAKE THE MOST OF
IT.
FOR PARENTS OUT THERE, I AM NOT
SAYING IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A
SHOWER-FREE SEASON.
HOWEVER, WE CAN’T SWEAT THE
SMALL STUFF.
OKAY?
I KNOW OUR KIDS -- IT SEEMS LIKE
THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME.
BUT ESPECIALLY FUROR TEENAGERS,
THIS IS FRUSTRATING.
THEY WANT TO EXPLORE AND TAKE
RISKS.
THEY CAN’T DO IT THIS SUMMER.
YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GET A
PERFECT TEETH BRUSHING SUMMER.
>> THAT’S A GOOD LOOKING CREW
THERE.
VICKY, YOU’VE GOT THREE KIDS AS
WELL.
WHAT CAN YOU ADD THERE?
>> AMEN TO WHAT STEPH SAID FOR
SURE.
THE THIRD THING I’D SAY IS
ACCOMPLISH ONE LITTLE THING A
DAY.
THAT’S HELPED TO KEEP US SANE IN
THE HOUSE.
BECAUSE THESE DAYS CAN FEEL LIKE
THEY ALL BLEND TOGETHER AND
BECOME ONE BIG BLAH SESSION.
WE HAVE THIS ACTIVITY JAR.
THE KIDS HAVE PUT THINGS THEY
LIKE TO DO.
READ A BOOK, PRACTICE DRIBBLING
A BASKETBALL.
THEY DO ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
DAY.
AND THEN WE CAN SAY AT LEAST
THEY DID SOMETHING.
MAKE THE GOALS SMALL OR BIG, BUT
GET SOMETHING DONE.
>> WHAT’S ON THE CALENDAR TODAY,
STEPH?
GOT A BUSY ONE LINED UP?
>> OH, MY GOODNESS.
WE GOT CAMP, SWIM TEAM, SURFING,
AND MASKS AND SUN BLOCK.
NEVER FORGET MASKS AND SUN
BLOCK.
NOT THIS SUMMER.
>> PLUS A TV SHOW IN A FEW
MINUTES.
THANKS SO MUCH.
SAY HI TO THE GUYS THERE.
>> LOOKS GOOD, STEPH.
CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE BIG KIDS.
OF COURSE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
THE PARENTS WHOSE LOVELY CALM
EMPTY NESTS ARE FULL AGAIN
THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC.
FOR THAT WE TURN TO ELIZABETH
ROSE.
SHE’S A REAL ESTATE AGENT.
SHE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE MOM
OF OUR SUPERSTAR OVERNIGHT
RESEARCHER JASMINE.
HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT THE DAY
IN HER LIFE.
>> SO HAVING OUR DAUGHTER COMING
HOME IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN
THE MORNINGS FOR US.
HAVING HER BACK IS GREAT, BUT WE
DON’T JUST HAVE COFFEE ANYMORE.
I KNOW THAT PROBABLY ALL
PARENTS, ALL MOTHERS CAN RELATE
TO THIS.
HAVING THEIR GROWN ADULT
DAUGHTERS HOME IS IF YOU CAN’T
FIND SOMETHING, GO LOOK IN THEIR
STUFF.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN ALL HER
STUFF.
AND MY PRODUCTS ALL GONE.
OH, MY GOSH.
HERE’S MY FAVORITE CEREAL HALF
GONE ALREADY.
SHE’S ACTUALLY HELPED WITH
GROCERIES.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF HAVING OUR
YOUNG ADULTS HOME, THEY CAN HELP
WITH LAUNDRY.
IT’S LATE AFTERNOON KIND OF
GETTING IN SOME FAMILY TIME.
WE DON’T HAVE TO FACETIME WHICH
IS AWESOME FOR ALL OF US.
JASMINE WORKS OVERNIGHT, SO
NORMALLY WE TEXT MESSAGE HER.
BUT NOW THAT SHE’S HOME, SHE’S
IN HER ROOM.
JAZ, ARE YOU UP?
WE DON’T GET TO BE IN THE LIVING
ROOM TO WATCH LATE NIGHT MOVIES
ANYMORE SINCE SHE’S BEEN HOME.
NOW IT’S HER OFFICE.
SO I’M TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFLECT ON A FEW THINGS.
PRETTY BLESSED THAT WE GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR DAUGHTER
COME HOME.
SHE’S THE YOUNGEST OF THE
FAMILY.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY’S SAFE.
>> WELL, ELIZABETH AND JASMINE
JOIN US RIGHT NOW.
LET ME GIVE A LITTLE LOVE TO
JASMINE.
IT’S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
ALL OF US CAN RELATE TO THIS.
SOMEWHERE IN OUR CAREER PATHS WE
HAVE THE DAUNTING TASK OF HAVING
TO WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT.
YOU CRUSH IT FOR US.
YOU’RE DOING IT FROM CALIFORNIA
RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS
WORK.
>> AMEN.
>> BUT ELIZABETH, YOU GOT TO GO
TO COSTCO TO BUY THE BIGGER
THING OF CEREAL.
>> FOR SURE.
FOR SURE.
>> WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION FOR
VICKY?
>> SO AS PARENTS THAT HAVE THE
YOUNG ADULTS, THEY’RE
INDEPENDENT, THEY’RE BACK HOME.
KIND OF WONDERING HOW WE
CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THEM HOPE
THAT THEY’LL BE INDEPENDENT
AGAIN?
>> I LOVE YOU ALL ARE SEEING THE
SILVER LINING IN THIS FAMILY
TOGETHERNESS TIME.
YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE POSITIVES.
REALLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE,
THEY’RE MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH.
THERE’S FEAR, HOPELESSNESS.
REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE A
SPACE WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR
FEELINGS AND VALIDATE THEIR
FEELINGS.
AND REMIND THEM OF THE BIGGER
PICTURE AND THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO LAST
FOREVER.
THE OTHER THING I THINK IS
IMPORTANT IS ENCOURAGING THEM TO
HAVE SAFE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.
THAT’S WITH A SMALL GROUP OF
TRUSTED FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
GET OUTSIDE, DO SOMETHING
PHYSICAL.
WHETHER IT’S WALKING THE DOG,
TAKING A HIKE.
RESEARCH REALLY SHOWS GETTING
OUTSIDE, ENJOYING NATURE AND
BEING ACTIVE ARE ALL MOOD
BOOSTERS.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> AWESOME.
>> WE LOVE YOU, JASMINE.
>> THANKS.
>> LOTS OF RED WINE NEVER HURTS
EITHER.
>> BY THE WAY, CAN I TELL YOU
SOMETHING MARIA SAID ABOUT HER
SON BEING HOME?
A PARENT’S JOB IS TO HOLD ON AND
LET GO AND DO IT A THOUSAND
TIMES IN YOUR LIFE.
>> THIS IS A LONG HOLD ON WITH
NO END IN SIGHT.
FEELING PRETTY COZY NOW THAT
YOU’RE HANGING ON AGAIN.