The Pandemic and Your Kids

I am a late bloomer.

Back in my day, one needed grade 13 to go to university. I wasn’t a good student. I lasted to grade 12 and then dropped out. If it wasn’t for music, I wouldn’t have made it that far.

I gained an interest in photography and a year later applied and then attended a program at Seneca College. There I took an elective in psychology and with that applied as a mature student to York University.

Nearing graduation I then applied for graduate studies at five universities. I was rejected at all five.

I took a job as a childcare worker in a group home and from there applied to a Masters program in social work.

After graduating and four years later, I applied to a PhD program in social work and was rejected.

Married and moved to Hamilton, I took a job at a hospital based brain injury rehabilitation program. I was literally squeezed out by a rogue psychologist who himself was later let go.

I have developed and managed two brain injury rehabilitation programs, both lost owing to legislative changes to auto insurance.

I started a healthcare marketing company in the late 1990s that grew exponentially until the dotcom crash of 2000.

So, like many others, I can mark my life by failures.

However and despite even further upsets, I feel successful. Indeed, in many ways, I am.

I kept working at it. I took opportunities and made opportunities. Perhaps I learned much of that from my mother with whom some may be acquainted.

Here we are in a pandemic.

Many are worried about their kids.

Please know, their lives are not yet written.

These times will also be one of many hardships to be faced. That is the nature of life. It is not a straight line.

Throughout, hopefully we learn and develop.

That is why I often emphasize managing oneself as well as problem solving. That is why so many of my posts offer guidance to cope. We take from each experience to create greater resiliency for the next.

There will be a time when this pandemic is in the rearview mirror.

There will be a time when today’s kids will face another crisis, be it collective or personal.

Let them take from this time lessons in self-management, self-care and problem-solving such that they cope even better for times to come.

Let us recognize ourselves as their current teachers for tomorrow’s challenges.

As fearful as the present is, it may just create the greatest number of creative, resilient and resourceful persons of this generation.

The world will need these persons.

At the very least they will be the ones to solve the climate crisis and hopefully bring a more sustainable and inclusive life to the world.

Let the outcome of today’s adversity be those who lead a better tomorrow.

Your kids.

Their lives are not yet written.

---

Are you following me on Facebook yet? If not, you are missing many more posts!

I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support

www.garydirenfeld.com – to build your successful practice

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.