A Better Normal: Family Life
Time since last year has been nothing short of a dangerous ride the world rode together. We all lost some loved ones and faced a difficult time getting adjusted to a new lifestyle, be it children cut off from school, or adults cut off from their social buzz. Yes, it has been difficult. After all, it’s a health crisis of the century. But, despite challenging times, how beautifully and bravely have we embraced the change. Every day, someone finds a solution to a problem that we might not have faced before Covid. Every day, we become slightly more resilient and fresh winners. The world has continued to grow, people have continued to learn something new every day, humanity is continually coming closer (more quickly) to join hands and stand strong. Scientific breakthroughs haven’t stopped as the world continues to evolve due to the lessons the humanity learnt from the pandemic.
One of the positive outcomes that I have come to experience is “A Better Normal for Family Life”. A recent article by The Washington Post focuses on a common theme found in all families in these complex times. They all have found a source of enjoyment at homes and a sense of comfort in what we call a New Normal. Many of us have taken a step towards pursuing a hobby and have embraced a slow paced life. Let’s discuss some of these things of joy.
Connecting with Adult Children
Millennials and Gen Zs love exploring life independently. Graduating from college to work somewhere brings them away from home. During college and job, they gain maturity and understand outside life better. However, they miss on understanding family life first. Getting to know parents more and letting them know us more. Pandemic healed that difference for many families. Together they are strong. Staying close during Pandemic developed a special connectedness.
Exercise Routine
Consistent exercise routine. Invested in a fitness goal. Prioritizing health. The world became fit. It’s one of the best things that has happened and also a much needed one. Especially for our generation that is so busy in socializing, fulfilling dreams, partying that our health takes a backseat. Family exercise routines, building necessary exercise infrastructure at home and taking care of diets during these times is going to have a very healthy long term impact on humanity.
Becoming “patient” coaches to their tech-devoid parents:
This is undoubtedly a delightful sight to behold in every house. As the world shifted to Zoom, parents particularly faced some friction in getting adjusted to this new digital normal. At last, their children’s endless obsession with technology came in handy. No one would believe, if a couple of years back you said that your grandmas and grandpas are playing Housie on a Zoom call. It happened! I know, like Woah! Also yes, it seems like a payback for testing our parents’ patience from when we were infants.
Let's go for a Walk
With our social life and outdoor sports suspended, walks have become a more common part of some families’ routine. It’s that part of the time when we share our day’s stories, emotions and insecurities safely. You not only keep your mind healthy but body as well. Walking is a much advised healthy habit to have.
Taking part in child’s education
With education being delivered online, parents have to sometimes set up the zoom class for children and sit with them. They are now able to keep a closer check on their child’s education. How much really their child is able to retain from what is being taught at school? There is also a better understanding of what their child is being taught at school. For the good of young generations especially in metro cities where parents were finding less time for children, Parents are now more involved with their child’s education.
Chance to slow down
Waking up peacefully. Going out for morning walk. Preparing your coffee with love instead of queuing up to get a standard shot of caffeine from your office machine. Getting to sit longer on dining table instead of sitting in cabs or metro. Lockdowns and curfews have offered us some relief from the pre-Covid fast-paced life. We’ve had a chance to look inwards and heal ourselves. For some it has had career changing realizations, for some opportunity to go back to academics and others a chance to incorporate healthy habits to reap results for a lifetime. If asked, one aspect of Lockdown life we would most like to have in a post-pandemic world, it is this slow paced life.
The family life has certainly evolved. Good habits have developed, resilience has toughened and souls have healed. Families have come closer and we understand each other better. My takeaway from the new normal has been that things change for good if time is invested in the right places and the pandemic taught us just that. Almost as if we have a ‘Better Normal for Family Life’.