“There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind. ~Mr. Rogers
Over the past several weeks, I have journeyed through the spectrum of emotions. Our nation’s health crisis has led to many tears of sadness and frustration. On a positive note, it has also led to tears of happiness due to the unity of community. I want to share what my community of Inspiration, Texas, has done to bring joy and light to its families. These social distancing activities have certainly brought a new perspective for myself to our current realities and makes me feel less isolated and more united with my neighbors.
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” ~Mr. Rogers
I was at the end of something alright, my sanity. I am always on the go and have been home for a full day maybe twice out of the past year. My anxiety kicked in quickly with the shelter-in-place orders. As I panicked for how I would educate and entertain my daughter while also fulfilling all of my own responsibilities, I turned to social media for help on finding resources. I had no idea that the best page would be the one that belonged to the moms of my own community.
With that said, it really helps if you have a Facebook page specifically for the moms of your neighborhood. This way, you can flood the page with craft tips, school resources, and local small business specials without flooding the main page. I immediately turned on notifications for our specific mom page when I noticed the Shamrock Hunt happening shortly after entering quarantine. Neighbors decorated shamrocks to hang in their windows, and then when you were out on your daily walk, you could count the shamrocks. This worked out perfectly for St. Patrick’s Day, and we followed that up with a window egg hunt for Easter. I love that this works for any holiday, and it gets the kids involved in arts and eager to get outside for some exercise.
“As I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.” ~Mr. Rogers
Lindsay Patrick, owner of LRTR Studios, is our community hero. She has gone above and beyond to bring life to ideas given by residents in our neighborhood. She uses her computer skills and creates fun graphics, organizes information from ideas and creates timelines and positive energy to get everyone involved. Lindsay is a hero to me after all the smiles that she has put on my daughter’s face.
Some of the community events that we have had that you should try as well are Chalk the Walk, the Bear Hunt, the Front Porch Project, and Spot that Toon. For The Front Porch Project, Lindsay volunteered her photography skills and time in exchange for a donation to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. A big thank you to Kari Scherf as well for The Front Porch Project and helping make that a reality. For Chalk the Walk, Lindsay purchased additional sidewalk chalk to share with any families that needed some. She has also created mom only events via Zoom. More details for family-friendly events are on the flyers below, and they all involve social distancing and sheltering in place. All you need is art supplies and a smile.
“All of us at, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors in our own way. Each one of us is a giver and a receiver.” ~Mr. Rogers
Please implement any of these ideas in your community. If you already have, share how they went for you in the comments below. I love reading all about positivity in a world that I currently find terrifying. In addition, if you have any new ideas, I would love to read about those as well.
For more great advice for your family during unprecedented times, check out the following articles:
“20 Indoor Crafts & Activities for Kids” by Kelly Mock
“A Quick and Easy Covid-19 Curriculum” by Joanna Martin
“7 Resources for Explaining Coronavirus and Social Distancing to Young Kids” by Elysa Ellis
