Advising session by Kristine Mae Rivera

1. HANDLING PANDEMIC AS A
FAMILY
… Trust the Bible.

2. Realities of life
 Sometimes, we cannot control our negative thoughts and feelings.
 Many people are going to be upset or angry because of job losses or cutbacks and
all that might mean negative.
 Most social engagements are also being cancelled.
 We don't have a clear picture of when this will end, which can lead to a lot of
anxiety.
 Hence, it is important for both parents and students to acknowledge how they feel,
whether it's angry, fearful or sad.

3. Does it affects our productivity as a
student? parent? as a whole?
 One researcher said that when we are stressed, we tend to go to our baseline
coping tendencies; some get agitated, others shut down.
 One person/families wants to address an issue and tackle it head-on.
 Other families or students just want to ignore it. (Late realizations)
 It affects our relationship with classmates and teachers.
 Tendencies are, grades are affected.
 Focus is depleted.

4. Ways to cope up
 Monitor their feelings and consider outlets for reducing their anxiety and tendency
to seek control, like exercise or meditation.
 It can be helpful to journal their feelings.
 Helps relieve the tension and helps us feel less stressed. It also opens up dialogue
to get a better perspective on what's going on with one another.
 And when parties cannot agree on how to handle something like a money issue or
issues on grades, one should have some empathy for one another.
 It is a key to say it is us against this problem, rather than me versus you.
 Even though work and school have been upended by COVID-19 lockdowns, a
researcher said that establishing a routine at home eases stress.

5. TIME MANAGEMENT

6.  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our
likeness…” So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God he created him; male and female he created
them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)
 God is systematic.
 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17 : All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began Titus 1:2

7. PRAY A GOOD PRAYER
A GOOD PRAYER TO PRAYER WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP
IS, “God give me the
determination and tenacity
of a weed.”

8. Can we trust the Bible?
 Consider in your routine to read the Bible everyday.
 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing. Job 26:7
 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in. Isaiah 40: 22
 Leviticus 13:1–8 lays out the law concerning leprosy (a large grouping of infectious
skin diseases of varying severity). It consists of a 14-day quarantine, divided by two
seven-day examinations to determine if the disease is a threat to the greater
community. If someone tested positive, he or she had to publicly declare
themselves unclean.

9.  Matthew 6: 26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into
barns--and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable
than they?
 Matthew 10: 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

10. Duties of parents
 It's important that parents not allow their own stress to spill over to their children.
 We don't react to those feelings by treating our children in a harsher way.
 Parents and students can take a timeout, take a break and calm down, then come
back to it.
 And if you have responded more negatively than you should have, apologize. It
might be helpful to explain some of your stresses. Kids are usually very
understanding.
 Allow their children to share their feelings without being criticized.

11.  Some of the fears and worries kids have might seem trivial to adults, but their
feelings are real. Simply acknowledging that something is difficult, frustrating, or
scary can help a child feel heard and understood. That reduces the likelihood that
they'll react negatively to their feelings of stress.
 Get help from available community support resources like phone or online
counselling if needed.
 Change is hard, but we do have immense capacity to adapt.

12. The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy; the pursuit of perfection is
frustrating and a terrible waste of time.
There are two benefits of failure:
1. If you do fail, you learn what does not work.
2. The failure gives you an opportunity to try a new approach

13. Thank you