P 101
by Jessica Gregg
andemic arenting
Here’s how
to navigate
this summer’s
emotional challenges.

14 Washington FAMILY JUNE 2020



The most accurate quote on parenting in this COVID-19 crisis
belongs to Jon Hershfield, director of The OCD and Anxiety Center
at Sheppard Pratt. “There’s no book, ‘What to Expect When
You’re Expecting a Pandemic,”’ Hershfield says. And yet, “adults
have a lot of pressure to be the perfect parent right now, and
there’s just no frame of reference.”
Indeed, there has been no shortage of challenges
facing families as the world shut down in response
to the coronavirus pandemic. In just a few
months’ time, they experienced health worries,
unemployment, grocery shortages, online
learning challenges, stress, boredom,
regression, anxiety, depression and more.

This summer, experts say, we can
expect more emotional changes—
in our children and in ourselves.

With than in mind, we talked to
psychologists and social workers
from Sheppard Pratt, University
of Maryland, the American Red
Cross and more to find out
how we can best take care of
ourselves and our families
during this time, and
even how we can
emerge stronger.

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