Dear parents,


I just got off a Zoom call with parents from Nigeria, Sweden, Hungary, and the United States.


The call was for climate change activists. However, most of the parents needed to first figure out how to adjust to the change in their lives as parents due to COVID-19. What became clear was that parents worldwide were experiencing the same difficulties, and the connection we made with each other was like a salve [a lotion that heals] on a wound. 


It was an honor to be on the call. I was moved by what everyone is up against [confronting] right now. All were experiencing similar challenges. All of us were struggling to think about how to keep our children safe, how to keep our parents safe, how to keep connections with other families, and how to wash our children’s hands. And how do we explain to our little ones why they can’t be close to some of their best friends right now, and close to their grandparents? And how do parents get work done? And how do we deal with not getting a paycheck?


Being together was reassuring. We cried about how much we love our children and our parents. We cried about how much we love each other. We talked about how to reach out to other parents.


I invite you to write about what you are struggling with and/or what you have figured out.


I would also propose to parents’ support group leaders that you call (when you can) a Zoom parents’ 
support group. If you don’t have a group, find two other parents and do a three-way Zoom or phone session.


If you have the space in your lives, you might do a Zoom support group with friends from outside of RC. You could tell them that you need some support and that it would help if you could have a few friends listen to you. And then listen to them. I have found that a crisis is a good time to organize.


One of the dads on our Zoom call had been planning to have a “special time” class for parents who don’t have the time to commit to RC. He was thinking of not doing it because no one can get together—but I suggested he do it as a Zoom class because this is the perfect time. Many parents would love to have a tool like “special time” right now, when they are home with young people and don’t know what to do. They would love to know they are not the only ones going through [experiencing] what they are going through.


Go ahead and find each other.


And remember, you are good parents, and your young people are good.


Love to each of you,