--- title: "Parents, Be Kind to Yourselves This COVID School Year | Sutter Health" description: "A Sutter Health psychotherapist offers guidance for parents balancing work-from-home life and back-to-school stress during the COVID-19 pandemic." url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/parents-be-kind-to-yourself-as-the-school-year-gets-underway" --- 1. [Home](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) / 3. Parents Be Kind To Yourself As The School Year Gets Underway # Parents, Be Kind to Yourselves During COVID School Year A Sutter Health psychotherapist offers guidance for parents balancing work-from-home life and back-to-school stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. August 12, 2020 ![Parents, Be Kind to Yourselves During COVID School Year](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/perspectives/iStock-1215727567-min-c0464c11.jpg?h=483&iar=0&w=723 "Parents, Be Kind to Yourselves During COVID School Year") Many parents and guardians of school-age children are buckling up for back to school while simultaneously trying to balance their own work-from-home lives. In an interview with CBSN, **Lisa Giovannetti**, an integrative psychotherapist with [Sutter’s Institute for Health & Healing](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/holistic-integrative-medicine) (IHH), lays out the psychological impact of the extended lockdown on parents and guardians. She describes how parents can help identify and manage big emotions for themselves and their children. She also addresses burnout and asks parents to acknowledge they can’t do it all— and thinking that they can isn’t being fair to themselves. After all, managing everything amid this pandemic is no picnic. It’s unfamiliar territory and parents and guardians are learning as they go. **_Watch the full interview [here](https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/4658201-parenting-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/)._** To help parents and guardians out, Giovannetti discusses how to role model coping skills for kids and teens. She looks at building in structure for the whole family and setting realistic goals that can be amended since no day is going to be perfect. “We want to acknowledge that bad days are going to happen, that’s part of life and expected during a stressful time. We want to look at how we can move forward compassionately. To mentally gear up, parents should aim for routine but also lots of flexibility,” says Giovannetti. ## Topics [Stress](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Stress%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles)[Emotions and Behavior](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Emotions+and+Behavior%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles) ## Integrative psychotherapy and mind-body medicine Your mind and body are deeply connected, and caring for both supports true healing. If you're facing stress, anxiety or chronic illness, our specialists can blend psychotherapy and mind-body practices to help you cope. [Learn more about Integrative psychotherapy and mind-body medicine](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/integrative-psychotherapy-mind-body-medicine) ## Related articles ### [Beyond First-Day Jitters: Build Confidence & Resilience](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/beyond-first-day-jitters-building-confidence-resilience-and-well-being) ### [Before You Light the Fuse: How to Stay Safe This Fourth of July](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/before-you-light-the-fuse-how-to-stay-safe-this-fourth-of-july) ### [Balancing Burnout with Healing Support](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/from-burnout-to-balance-one-patients-path-to-healing-at-mpmc) ### [Keep the Sparkle, Skip the Risk: 21 Tips for a Safer July 4th](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/keep-the-sparkle-skip-the-risk-21-tips-for-a-safer-july-4th) [See all from Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) ## Check your Vitals Get the latest in health innovation, community impact and patient care from Sutter Health — delivered straight to your inbox. 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