The Impact of Covid-19 on Work and Parenting Roles

The Covid Problem

Work-related mental health injuries have always been problematic in our society. If you were going to design a first world Workers Compensation nightmare scenario you couldn't go past what is happening to young families on much of the Australian Eastern seaboard.

The pain and anguish is readily apparent for hospitality, travel, accommodation, arts and other businesses. Some of their employees and managers may already be making claims. No doubt insurers are testing the loopholes.

The invisibility of the emotional and physical work overload and the unrelenting pressure to carry on physically isolated from family, friends, local community and work colleagues is truly troublesome.

Aggravated because it is hidden away behind the front doors of millions of family homes.

Everyday parents are faced with impossible conflicting priorities. The physical and psychological boundaries usually present between home, work and school are fused into an unrecognisable landscape. Without fences.

To manage our lives we all need the ability to establish and maintain manageable limits to our workload. When this is not possible there is a price to pay and sometimes no matter how hard we try we will still not be able to cope. No amount of positive thinking will overcome the reality of hardship for some. This will have nothing to do with our intentions to do the right thing, to try harder, to sleep less.

Children's' needs bleed into work pressures into home duties. Without hope for an end date. Without recognition that it is unsustainable. Without acknowledgment of the vexing issue of the loss of superannuation that accompanies a decision to stop paid work to focus on the wellbeing of the family.

Without adequate appreciation for the long term health implications of parents of young children who may struggle through these times and fall over health wise some time in the future.

How can we reconcile the heartfelt desire of parents to meet their children's' emotional, social and intellectual needs when many social structures, so carefully nurtured over many decades, are being stripped away leaving the nuclear family and worse still single parent family feeling abandoned?

How will workers compensation liability be decided in our Covid 19 age? Will there be adequate recognition that the expectations by government, employers and society that it is viable to perform paid office work whilst homeschooling several preschoolers, primary or secondary children for months at a time is nonsensical. How will adequate provision be maintained to meet the liability?

As we head into our bumpy journey out of lockdowns have we adequately considered the generation of justifiably anxious, hostile parents, who, often feeling abandoned, are then expected to carry on and contribute as workers, business owners, taxpayers and parents as if nothing had happened?

Something big is happening. The end to the Covid 19 upheaval is not here yet. Realistic optimistic thinking requires us to face into the mire of lost dreams, aspirations and home purchase opportunities - the realities faced by the parents of the next generation.

Reframing a Problem with Realistic Optimism

In Skyes fall from grace it was clear that more was needed than simply maintaining a positive or optimistic mindset;

"If I just believe enough, if I just block out any negative thoughts, if I just focus hard enough, after all I have been riding for 10+ years - then one day soon I will have the courage to get back on my horse".

Wishful thinking will not get us there.

Belief that you will succeed is an important part of the recipe for success. It feeds motivation and sustains us through difficulties. We know that positive emotions such as happiness lead to higher motivation and perseverance and improved interpersonal relationships. Whereas a pessimistic outlook can generate depression and anxiety leading to lower engagement levels and results.

Applying Realistic Optimism to Covid

An honest realistic appraisal by myself of whether I had what it takes RIGHT NOW (the requisite underpinning knowledge, skills level, will and athleticism) is sometimes necessary.

It follows that, as in my case when I assessed that I could not get back on my horse, Skye, and be safe enough RIGHT NOW, that I had to instead commit to an uncharted path with no guarantee of ultimate success.

If your goal is important enough to you then you will hunt down the effective strategies.

Smarter Feeling and Kinder Thinking

Likewise if we reframe our thinking and feelings towards Covid we will recognise that there are opportunities and benefits also. Admittedly these are not universal. Here are a few suggestions.

Professional

Employers are noticing that the output and quality of work has not deteriorated substantially thus enhancing levels of trust. People are developing personal effectiveness methods to work in a remote work environment and becoming more savvy in their communication methods. The drastic reduction in commuting time has freed people to have more time to focus on their wellbeing at the beginning and end of their working day.

However these benefits are not universal and those working in hospitals for example do not have this choice and instead face into the higher risks of covid infection on a daily basis.

Personal

People have learned how to develop more resilience in the face of hardships and challenges.

Relationships

Both fathers and mothers have shared the joys and burdens of welcoming a new baby into the home. Fathers and mothers have seen their child' first steps, heard their first word. Spent more time with their child.

Final Reflection

We must not forget the generosity and sacrifice that parents of young children make to our society. To support one another into the near future we can encourage them also to utilise smarter feeling and kinder thinking strategies about their own careers and working lives.

Helping to create constructive conversations around new possibilities and ways of working is one way to ensure that a generation of people do not lose hope.

The Equine (EQ) Link

Equine Experiential Education programs can significantly assist people to draw on their unique strengths and attributes and tap into their job crafting and leaderwork capabilities. Equine assisted Team building exercises can enhance this work.

Dr Deb

29 August 2021