Bonus Episode #4: What to tell your kids about COVID-19, how to get your kids to open up, and ways to keep calm

Joining the Grace In Real Life podcast today is licensed professional counselor Shey Reichenau. Shey is a mental health therapist with Forever Hope Counseling & Educational Services specializing in working with children and adolescents.  And she's here to help us answer these questions:  How do I talk to my child about the coronavirus and all that's going on in the world in an age-appropriate way? How do I help my younger kids have the language to share their feelings? How do I get my older kids to open up? What can we practically do to mitigate the sibling rivalry that keeps surfacing? We dive into these questions and more PLUS Shey shares valuable resources with us at the end. And what she says when I ask her about how we moms can maintain a calm attitude will be on repeat in my head for a long time! Key Quotes "It's okay to have trial and error." - Shey Reichenau "There's no such thing as a perfect parent." - Shey Reichenau Mentioned in the Podcast CDC.gov Child Mind Institute PBS.org Not Mentioned in the Podcast (but used by Team McCormick) The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you!   These are products we use. I am not prescribing them, but wanted you to know what we've personally found helpful. Natural Vitality Calm: "Helps support healthy magnesium levels and supports a calming and unique relaxing experience." The girls use this powder to quiet their minds naturally so they can relax and go to sleep. Feelings Chart: If you have littles who don't have the vocabulary to share exactly how they feel, pointing to this chart can help.  Genexa Calm Keepers: All-natural supplements that help lower anxiety.  Weighted Lap Pillow: It's cuter than a weighted blanket, but helps calm and soothe people  White Noise Machine: Helps relax our people Need help with sibling rivalry? Check out this free resource by author Becky Kopitzke. Here's how to connect GraceInRealLifePodcast.com Instagram Facebook group Facebook page