RESOURCE HUB:

COVID, PARENTING, PREGNANCY + BIRTH

A list of resources for working parents, pregnant women, and expecting parents to help you navigate the upcoming months.
Compiled by Startup Parent — last updated March 13, 2020. Huge shout-out to Stephanie Pollock for spearheading and sharing so many of the resources listed here, and for all of the people working tirelessly to create resources and support  at this juncture. 

This is a central resource hub for working parents navigating the Coronavirus. We will be updating this with new resources as they become available.  Please note: this is not an exhaustive list, nor is it meant to replace government or official resources. We are not medical professionals, scientists, or experts. We are working parents supporting other working parents. As always, use your own best judgment and wisdom.

VIRTUAL GATHERINGS  |  PODCAST EPISODES  |  INFORMATION  |  KINDNESS + NOTES

COMMUNITY CALLS + VIRTUAL GATHERINGS 

Free Webinar: Planning Ahead If You’re Pregnant, Giving Birth + Parenting Little Ones Right Now

 
TUESDAY, MARCH 17TH
11AM PST / 2PM EST 

We’ll be joined by Sara Mauskopf, CEO of Winnie, Luz Maria Vilca, a a physician specialized in preventive medicine and public health. Join us on Zoom or join our Facebook Group to watch the live stream. We’ll have plenty of time for Q/A during the call.

Details for how to join the event. 

INFORMATION + RESOURCES

FREE RESOURCES + SUPPORT

Startup Parent — our beta PARENTING network. Get three months of free access (normally $9/month). Anyone can join us.

Chairman Mom — three months of free membership if you use the code TOGETHER (normally $5/month)

CaveDay — one free cave to learn skills for focusing and working remotely, 9:30am and 1:30pm every weekday. Use the code MEMBERPAL

HOW NOT TO LOSE YOUR MIND

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The next few days and weeks are going to challenge us, a lot. Having everything suddenly shift and having our lives disrupted this much is a huge deal.

Take it one day at a time.

Things are changing a lot, but they will happen one day at a time. Take today and breathe, and make sure you’re doing things for yourself today, right now, too. Take a minute to rest, take a hot bath, let your eyes close at the end of the day. Pay attention to what’s going right.

Limit your time on the news.

Staying glued to the television screens or digital devices won’t help. Pick a time to check in—maybe even a few times per day—and then pick times to put your phone down, put your computer away, and to let yourself do something other than pay attention to the news. Staying informed is important, getting stressed and worked up is not helpful. Things will change every 24 hours, but within those 24 hours, you can set time aside to work, to sleep, to exercise, and to care for yourself. Being on social media or new every moment will add more stress.

Keep working.

The world needs you, your work, and your creative energy. Yes, we need to adapt and shift and be flexible. You can do this. Remind yourself that you are brilliant, wise, creative, and strong. Don’t stop working because we’re in crisis; know that each day you’re able to show up means you can help that many more people.

Focus on what you can do.

Spend time on the areas that you can control, and the part of your world where you can make a difference. Tiny actions, done collectively, make a huge difference for everyone. If all you can do today is drink eight glasses of water and go to sleep, you are helping everyone else by taking care of yourself. Keep going. Drink water!

Know that you are resilient and adaptive.

You will find ways through this, and you will tap into a strength you might not have experienced yet. When you fall down or feel frustrated, reach out to a friend. Our power is in our interconnectedness and our strength of spirit.

There is hidden beauty in crisis.

We will witness some of the most beautiful acts of kindness and humanity amidst this.

 

Little opportunities + creative ideas

Things to do in a crisis.

You’re already home, why not toilet train now? Sure, call me crazy. Or, watch all those movies you’ve been wanting to see. Walk through an empty forest and brainstorm what to make of this all. Support a small business. Donate extra food to the food banks—we’re going to need it. Learn a new language. Write poetry. Give yourself 30 days to write that book afterall. FaceTime your friends and family members on a daily basis. Write letters. Do yoga, meditate, learn kundalini yoga, practice. deep breathing. Declutter your house and sanitize. Get out those art supplies. Try new cooking recipes. Do meditative coloring books. Play board games with your family again. Learn new card games. Start a side business—yes, now! Why not? Help people who need help. Do nothing. Get extra sleep if you can. Volunteer. Lead.

* THE FUNNIES *

A LITTLE COMEDIC RELIEF IS ALWAYS HELPFUL.

* THAT’S ALL FOR NOW *

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