Language
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Swedish

Insurance Funding Request

Did you know Firefly products may be funded by your insurance?

Learn More
Back to Firefly Blog

Coping and Embracing

Coping and Embracing

This is undoubtedly a scary and hard time to be living in 2020.

The uncertainty alone can cause panic attacks. Doctors are prescribing anti-depressants more than ever before. I spent the first several days once the virus hit the US in a state of panic. It began to affect the whole family. My husband and kids noticed the mood change and I felt frustrated with my short temper. This is not the usual me. Of course, as a parent sometimes you lose your patience but overall, I tend to be upbeat and positive.

I stopped watching the news and slowed down my brain as much as I could. I found that stopping the news and embracing our time at home was what I needed. I began making my to do list of things I have been meaning to accomplish. I sat down and made list of activities that I could do with the kids.

My husband and I came up with the best plan to keep our family safe.

It’s not often that we are forced to slow down. Our lives (especially with kids, let alone kids with special needs) are incredibly busy. We rush from one thing to another and from appointment to appointment. We rarely have time to accomplish things on our to do list at home and end the day feeling frazzled. This is the time to relax, enjoy family time and get some spring cleaning done.

I am a busy body. I tend to fill my schedule to the max and then push things I don’t accomplish to the next day. I recognize this in myself and I come by it naturally. My grandmother was the same way until her dementia began to set in.

This slowing down has not been easy for me.

Even now, forced to be home, I still find myself filling up my schedule with hopes and dreams for the day. I have a lot of things I want to do but I know I won’t be able to do them all during this time. I know this because my to do list, like many of yours is 100+ long.

As I sit and stare at our blank calendar for the month, I realize that now is the time to embrace it. One year from now when we are rushing around and staying so busy, we feel frazzled we will wish we had the time to slow down. We will wish we were told to sit and watch Netflix and have forced family time for months. Embrace it.

Firefly Blog

Real life stories, issues and experiences of day to day life by special needs parents and
healthcare professionals.

Francie Khalaf

Meet Our Blogger

I am a wife and mother of two children with cerebral palsy. I believe in making lemonade out of lemons.

View Francie’s Profile

Become a Firefly Blogger

Would you like to write for Firefly? Join our blogger network of parents, therapists and professionals.

Get In Touch

Become a subscriber today

Join over 40,000 subscribers to our weekly newsletter with insightful articles just when you need them.

Join Mailing List

By using our site you agree to our use of cookies. Click here for more info.

Accept & Close

No Interest if paid in full in 6 months on

Purchases on $99+

US Customers only. Subject to credit approval. See terms below

Paypal Credit

Pay now or pay over time with PayPal Credit. Just use PayPal Credit in PayPal checkout.

Subject to credit approval.

Purchases of $99+:

No Interest if paid in full in 6 months on purchases of $99 or more.

  • A minimum monthly payment is required and may or may not pay off the promotional purchase by the end of the 6 month period.
  • No interest will be charged on the purchase if you pay it off in full within 6 months. If you do not, interest will be charged on the purchase from the purchase date at the Purchase APR applicable to your account.
  • For New Accounts: Variable Purchase APR is 25.49%. The APR is accurate as of 6/1/2018 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate (as defined in your credit card agreement). Minimum interest charge is $2.00.
  • Individual items that are less than $99 qualify for special financing when combined for a total of $99 or more in a single transaction.
  • Multiple separate transactions of less than $99 per transaction cannot be combined to meet the minimum purchase amount.

Purchases of $98.99 or less:

Buy now and pay over time with PayPal Credit when you spend $98.99 or less.

  • If you pay your balance in full each month by the payment due date that is on your statement, you can avoid paying interest.
  • Or, make minimum monthly payments, or any additional amount of your choosing, until you've paid off your balance according to your standard account terms. Please note, interest charges may apply.
  • We'll send you email reminders when your payments are due. You can also keep track of your account and view your statements online at any time.

About PayPal Credit

  • PayPal Credit is a reusable credit line available on purchases at thousands of stores that accept PayPal. It's also available for purchases on eBay and exclusively at thousands of other online stores. Plus, it comes with the same security and flexibility you trust from PayPal.
  • If approved, we start you off with a minimum credit line of at least $250. See FAQs for more info.
  • For New Accounts: Variable Purchase APR is 25.49%. The APR is accurate as of 6/1/2018 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate (as defined in your credit card agreement). Minimum interest charge is $2.00. See Terms and Conditions tab for more info.
  • If you miss a payment your late fee could be up to $38, even less if it's your first time. See FAQs for more info.

Please wait...