5 minute read
Parentlife
parentlife
WITH STACIE GAETZ
Helping your kids cope with stress
The stress level in your house is probably higher this fall than it has been in years past.
With parents going back to work and kids starting school (either in class or at home) amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, all members of the family may be feeling mounting anxiety.
Signs of stress in children include nightmares, bedwetting, increases in tantrums/outbursts, withdrawing and changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
Of course, all of these add to your stress and anxiety levels as a parent, causing a spiralling effect that can get out of control quickly.
Practices that can help children deal with stress include simple things, such as: • breathing deeply in and out (add animal-themed arm movements to make it fun for younger kids); • yoga (there are tons of videos from which to choose on YouTube); • a quiet activity such as colouring; • going for a walk; • getting their bodies moving.
Something that has helped many times in my house is simply creating a distraction from the “big feeling” such as asking them to stand on one foot or doing jumping jacks. It seems to snap them out of the distressful moment and help them “reset.”
Follow airdrielife on social media for our weekly Boredom Buster indoor activity that helps keep kids’ minds and bodies active.
The effectiveness of each of these will depend on the child (my daughter likes to calm down with a quiet activity like a craft where my son needs to actively burn off energy to feel better).
Although these distractions help in the moment, it is important to come back at a later time when the child is calm to talk about the cause of the anxiety. Take the time to really listen and try to understand what they are worried about and answer their questions honestly.
The No. 1 thing to remember is the fact that children learn by what they see, so it is very important to take care of yourself as a parent.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
North Rocky View Community Links (nrvcl.ab.ca) offers helpful coping tools for parents to deal with increased stress in their children and one-on-one support via the phone, virtual means and in person. life
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EXCELLENT 42 | HARD AT IT 44 | MARKET MOVES 45 homelife
IDEAS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR HOME, INSIDE AND OUT
HOMELIFE | OUTDOOR
Opulent Oasis BEAUTY OF BACKYARD BRINGS BALANCE TO BUSY LIFESTYLE
STEPHENS’ TOP 5
GARDENING TIPS:
1. Water and fertilize 2. Read a great Alberta garden book (as some things can be hard to grow here) 3. Don’t give up 4. Use annuals to add bursts of colour 5. Add decorative elements to your garden such as old frames and antique items to make it your own
Longtime Airdrie resident Terri Stephens says her backyard oasis, which she has worked to build over the past 17 years, brings happiness and balance to her life.
Her large pie-shaped yard in The Fairways includes hundreds of flowers in a whimsical garden complete with a gazebo, bird houses, a waterfall and a privacy screen built entirely out of greenery.
“Gardening gives me peace and a sense of accomplishment,” she says, calling her garden her “quiet place.”
“My yard is therapeutic for me from a busy lifestyle.”
The Realtor says her favourite part of her yard is the more than 40 trees, which offer shade, privacy and a variety of birds that visit regularly.
Some of the feathered friends that have visited her yard include nesting sparrows, swallows, cedar waxwings, robins, chickadees, red capped finches, wrens, a Cooper’s Hawk and even a pair of ducks who stopped by briefly for a dip in the waterfall.
Stephens has been in her home since 2003 and has been adding plants, trees and decorative items to her yard every year to make it her perfect paradise.
“Around my yard, you will find old windows given to me by clients, an old wagon wheel, a milk cupboard, an old seeder,” she says.
“I so enjoy the memories all over our yard; seeing things that remind me of clients, friends and family. Each year something is added by a friend or client to our yard, sometimes by surprise.”
She says she thinks gardening is something that should be shared and she practices what she preaches: this spring Stephens gave away 16 ferns to people in Airdrie.
“I love the bursts of colours in annuals in our Airdrie garden, unique pots and things to add into our yard. I like deadheading and sharing plants when
I can,” she says.
Her advice for others who would like to plant a garden but don’t know where to start is to go big.
“I would say plant some trees for shade and invite birds into your yard,” she says.
“For flowers, start with annuals in pots for colour and plant a few perennials as a good base for your garden.”
She adds that gardening takes patience and a little generosity.
“Fill in each year with new plants. Dividing and sharing plants with friends adds a special touch to anyone’s garden as well,” she says.
In the mindset of sharing, Stephens has offered up her personal oasis for the use of others and has hosted weddings, family photo shoots, goddess parties, book clubs and spiritual classes in her yard.
“Always be open to new adventures for your yard and share,” she adds. life
