This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil - 027 / My MOST Special Guest!

Episode Date: August 26, 2020

Navigating these uncertain times have proven to be challenging to say the least. And with school starting back up, moms everywhere are struggling to make the best of the school year for their kids. In this episode, I welcome my MOST special guest. She is an EXPERT on understanding what our kids are going through right now during COVID. She leverages her experience and shares her perspective (and some giggles along the way) as it relates to our kids. Guaranteed to help set your mind at ease, you don’t want to miss this! This is Woman’s Work To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Welcome to today's episode of This is Woman's Work, where together we're redefining what it means to actually be doing woman's work in today's day and age. I'm your host, Nicole Kalil, and you can follow me on Instagram at NicoleMKhalil for updates, notes of encouragement, hopefully some laughs, and oh, so many motivational quotes, or visit us on our website at NicoleKhalil.com. Let's jump in because I am the most excited about my most special guest that I have with me today. She is an expert on understanding what our kids are going through right now during coronavirus and has some thoughts about school and all of that stuff. So I know a lot of us as moms are struggling with our decisions,

what's the right thing to do, and it can be super overwhelming and the feeling of potentially being judged and all of that stuff comes into play. So I thought it would be particularly helpful and important to invite somebody who could give us some perspective, some tips and ideas, and really leverage her experience for our betterment. So here we go. Today's special guest is JJ Khalil. Hi, JJ. Hi, Mama. All right. So we're going to talk a little bit today about what it is to be a kid during coronavirus. But I'm going to ask you some important questions first. Are you ready?

Yeah. Okay. How old are you, JJ? I'm six and... Almost seven? Almost seven. Yeah. So six and three quarters, I think, is what you usually say, right?

Yeah. Okay. And you're going to be seven in a few days that's how many again oh gosh we would have to count but just a few it's exciting right yeah and what grade are you going into for school this coming year like when we go back to school what year will you be I will be in kindergarten no first grade I'm just joking okay what are some of your favorite things um my favorite things to do is play. Play. Like what? Games.

We like games, right? Mm-hmm. What's our favorite game to play together? Uno. Yeah, we do like Uno. And who usually wins? Me. Yeah, kind of seems like it, right?

Mm-hmm. But I try really hard. Mm-hmm. All right. So what do you think has been the hardest part about coronavirus? Not really going to a lot of places. Yeah. That's been tough, right? Like what are some of the places you miss? I miss the muffin store that's back at home. Yeah. Where we used to go and get muffins. Yeah. Okay. And I know not being able to go to playgrounds has been a little hard, right? Yeah.

What do you think has been the best part about coronavirus? Taking walks and doing bike rides. That has been fun. Mm-hmm. Right? Yeah. And do you feel like you've had more time with mommy and daddy? Maybe only when they're not doing work yeah

when we're not working and it's a little hard when we're working right because we've got things that we've got to do and then you've got things that you've got to do I think it's been sometimes a little frustrating yeah but but what but spending time with my auntie and little cousin has been good. Yeah. That's been fun, right? That made it a little better because at first with coronavirus, it was just us three, right? And I spent watching TV all day. You sure did watch a lot more TV and iPad than before. Right? Yeah. Yeah. That was, I think that made mommy not feel so good, but we kind of had to make it work. Right. So I know a lot of other mamas like me are worried about whether or not kids should go back to school. Some mamas think

it's great that their kids get to go back to school and play and learn. And some mamas are worried because if the kids go to school, maybe, maybe they could catch coronavirus or maybe they could give coronavirus to somebody else that they love. So a lot of mommies are thinking about that. What do you think about going back to school? I think maybe just staying at home and do school would be better. For you? But if other people want to go to school, what do you think about that? Maybe they can try to go to school. Sure. And think about it. Yeah. So it sounds like maybe we have to all make our own choices. What would your choice be for you? Do you think? Do school at home so I won't catch coronavirus or give it away.

Or give it away. Okay. Well, and you know, I hope even the people who do choose to go to school, they probably won't catch coronavirus or give it away, but we just want to be extra special safe. That was our choice, right? Mm-hmm. Okay. What do you miss about going to school? I miss, hmm, there's a lot of things I miss. I bet. What are some things?

Having lunch in a cafeteria. That was a fun one? Mm-hmm. What about playing with your friends? Yeah, I also liked that yeah and also pretending i had a whole bunch of pets while we're waiting to get our food okay because we don't have any pets we had bluey the fish for a while yeah but then bluey died right yeah okay so like missing playing with your friends and pretending. Yeah. What about your teacher?

Yeah. Yeah. We miss her because she was a good one, right? I agree. So what do you think about all the teachers out there? That's a pretty cool thing to be, right? Being a teacher. Yeah.

What do you think is makes teachers special um because they help kids learn they do help kids learn and you know what they must have extra loads of patience because i know sometimes mommy gets a little impatient only helping one kid learn. That's you. But your teachers help so many kids. Like 20. Like 20. Is that how many you had in your class? Well, we used to have 19, but then someone else came. Yeah, cool. So I think your teachers must be extra special to be able to help all of you learn. So I have a question because I know sometimes mommy gets frustrated. Sometimes you get frustrated because, you know, we've got a lot to do in the day and you've got to learn and we're together all the time.

What are some things that we can do when we're feeling frustrated that might help? Maybe spending time with each other and taking walks. Taking walks, that can help. And bike rides. We really do like the bike rides, right? Yeah. Because it's fresh air and it gets us out. What about deep breaths? Yeah, that can also help. Yeah. Is there anything you think we could say to each other that would help when we're feeling frustrated? That we love each other. That's a good one. Because that usually helps, right? Mm-hmm. All right. I have a couple more questions for you. My next one is, what do you think makes a good mama? If they help their kid do things and let them have good choices.

That's a good answer. I like that. And what do you think about mama's work? Do you know what I do when somebody asks you what Mommy's work is? What do you say? Are you workers? Yeah, or what I do. Like, when I'm working, what do you think I'm doing?

You are helping people or something like that. Something like that, yeah. I don't really know what your job is. That's okay. Yeah, mommy really tries to help other women and girls. I work mostly with women, and here's why. Because I'm a woman, and so I feel like I can help them a little bit better and a little faster because I understand them a little bit. But I think it's just as important that we have brave boys and we have boys that really care about

doing cool things and growing up and being kind and like all the boys and girls doing what makes them feel good and having a cool job and stuff like that. Just like my dada. Just like your dada. Yeah. What does your dada do? He helps people and he's kind. He is pretty kind. What else?

He's a pretty good cook, right? Yeah. Oh my gosh. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Yeah. I agree. So when mommy and daddy have to work during the day, how does that make you feel? Maybe just a bit sad why because i don't really get to spend more time with you

since i'm not at school and um and you'll have to take more breaks to come and check on me. Yeah. I know it's a little hard on both of us, right? Yeah. Because I really love my work and it's very important to me. So I want to keep working, but then I really love you like the most. And I want to make sure you're taken care of and safe and happy. Right. All right. My last question, and this is a really big and important one. Okay. Okay. When does mommy love you? All the time.

All the time. What about when I'm working? Yes. What about when I'm frustrated? Yes. What about when I'm eating cheese? Yes. Even though that you love cheese way too much. That's true. You can even eat two cheeses in one day or 100 cheeses in one day. I really could do that. But mommy still loves you when I'm eating cheese, right? Yeah. So you know that mommy loves you all the time. Do you think that's important? Yeah. Okay. How does that make you feel? That makes me feel good. Good. I'm happy to hear that because it makes me feel good too. And what do you think you want to be when you grow up? I have a little something every day I change my mind every day yeah what is it today today is zookeeper zookeeper oh god that's a cool one I would like that too I could come and visit you and see the animals

okay how do you think you want to be when you grow up what do I want to be yeah like do you want to be smart or kind or brave or strong or funny or what are um maybe a bit of everything a little bit of everything what do you think is the most important um kind i agree being kind is super duper important all right friends JJ thank you so much for spending a little time with me and doing do you remember what this was called that we're doing a podcast yeah yeah thank you for being a guest on my podcast only really special people get to be guests okay so you heard it here first I think the most important thing during all of this is that we be kind, kind to each other and kind to ourselves. Because we have some important decisions to make and they're big decisions and there is no right answer. There is no wrong answer. There's only what's best for you. So my loves, my mamas out there, I know it's been a rough few months and my heart goes out to you and to the teachers. Thank

you. Thank you. Thank you. I think our kids are going to be okay as long as we keep taking care of ourselves so that we can be our best for them. It's not going to be perfect. It doesn't need to be. The most important thing is that we remember to be kind to each other, make the best choices that we can for ourselves and our families, and to keep loving each other. Because this is woman's work.