Covid-19 made me a hands-on parent

After being forced to work from home due to coronavirus, Ruth Macharia a teen’s pastor, has got more quality time to spend with her two children.

Raising children is an amazing experience, full of memories and happiness, but is also a journey riddled with hurdles and confusion.

Parenting is never easy, more so with this Covid-19 pandemic, which has presented a learning experience for both parents and children.

For Ruth Macharia, children and teen’s pastor at Deliverance Church Lang’ata, this Covid-19 period has presented its own share of blessings and challenges.

On week days, pre-coronavirus pandemic, she would wake up early in the morning and take her children to school.

Then she would head over to church to work. Most of the time, she would be preparing for Sunday sermons, praying or offering counselling. 

However, currently, she has been forced to work from home. “I miss how things were.

What we are now doing is that different teachers are doing recordings and every Sunday, we share with parents to listen with their children,” she narrates.

Keeping in touch

Being a teen pastor, the church she serves in has organised Zoom meetings for teenagers. On Tuesdays, they have a Bible study from 6pm to 7.30pm.

On Thursday, they have a mentorship programme from 6pm to 7pm. And on Sunday, they hold a service from 2pm to 3pm.

This has assisted her to keep in touch with her students. 

“Zoom has helped me to keep in touch with the teenagers in church. We have also involved some parents to do some lessons and we cover topics on sexuality, peer pressure, emotional intelligence and many more.

Our bishop and other church leadership have been supportive,” she says.

However, despite missing the good old days of church, Ruth has enjoyed staying at home with her children, especially because she hasn’t stayed this long at home with them.

She is a mother of two teenagers; Grace Macharia , 17 years old and  Mark Macharia aged 13 years.

Both of her children are candidates — Mark is in Class Eight while his sister is in Form Four. 

“We are all trying to cope with the situation. I encourage them all the time, telling them to be always positive in life.

After all, Covid-19 is a world-wide pandemic, we are not the only ones facing it. And I know we shall overcome,” she says. 

Her daughter has Monday to Friday Zoom lessons, which starts from 9am to 4.30pm with breaks in between.

For her son, she has made arrangements for him, since his school does not offer  online classes.

“He has a timetable, which I help him follow. Luckily, he has also matured to do things by himself. This has made it easy for me to provide guidance to him,” Ruth says.

Discovery period

The close-knit family loves doing activities together, they play games and watch TV together.

At night, they gather together for a family devotion where they pray together as a family, open up on how each and everyone’s day has been and also forgive whenever wronged. 

Currently, most parents with teenagers are grappling with fears not only of contracting coronavirus, but also the rising cases of teenage pregnancies.

“I sit down with my teenagers and talk to them. I set rules and make sure they are followed.

I have been firm on them, but I must say our relationship has grown. I have known my children better,” she explains.

Ruth says she has discovered her children’s hidden talents­­— her daughter is a great cook.

Also, she has learnt to make her hair since she couldn’t go to the salon because of social distancing measures.

Her son is into technical things, helping in managing sound equipments.

She has also kept them busy with house chores when they are not learning. 

Another thing that she is proud of is that her daughter is part of a teen programme in her church and trains young girls on sexuality.

This has kept her busy and accountable during this period.  As for her son, he is currently undertaking a sex-week programme on Boys to Men.

He wants to be a bishop in future, and loves preaching and sharing the word of God. 

“To me, we have enjoyed the Covid-19 season. We have done things we could not have done.

As parents, we have also taken this time to develop ourselves. My husband, Rev Stephen Miano, just finished a programme called Intentional Dads.

I also had a five-week-programme on Lifeskills and graduated recently. I’m soon starting another eight-week-programme on Intentional Mums,” Ruth reveals.