PHOENIX — As a parent, getting yourself psychologically ready for your kids to learn online can be a game changer for their success.
Valley single mom and caregiver to her twin boys and her autistic twin brother, Rainey Daye Holloway shares with ABC15 her take on getting on-board for online learning.
"None of us like this, we are all mad at the virus," says Holloway.
Holloway is not only mom to her twin boys who are entering 7th grade on Monday, she also takes care of her twin brother all while maintaining a full-time job.
"Not only do I have twins, but I am part of a twin. My brother has autism, higher functioning but he lives with us," adds Holloway.
She feels blessed to be able to work from home and able to be attentive to her kids and brother's needs but, that also comes at high price since she's trying to keep her head focused on her job and cook for the family at the same time.
"You do have that guilt when you are working mom and it's even worse when you are under the same roof!"
Her job keeps her busy from one meeting to the next.
"I've got 3 people looking at me like 'we are bored' or 'what's for breakfast lunch and dinner' and why aren't you paying attention to me?," she adds.
The thought of her boys going back to school all within the four walls of her home can be daunting.
"It won't just be me on the computer, I'll have the kids on computers how do we work around meetings? and do we all get noise canceling headphones to cancel each other out," she adds.
Rainey Daye says she's staying positive and according to behavioral health expert, Patricia Dobratz, that's a great first start.
"Children are going to feed off of their parents' response. So, the more anxious or frustrated parents are adapting to the circumstances, the more it's going to trickle down to the kiddos," says Dobratz.
For Rainey Daye, it's about seeing the cup half full, and turning that anger at the virus into a glimmer of hope that this too, shall pass.
"Now is a time to go back to the village mentality and help each other out," she adds.
