An All-Quesadilla Diet Is OK for Now

March 28, 2020

A roundup of new guidance and stories from NYT Parenting.

Yesterday my lunch was cold roast chicken eaten directly from the carcass while standing up, with a side of strawberries my kids had not finished. My older daughter had Cheerios and fruit for lunch; the little one had her 47th quesadilla of this quarantine.

I am acceding to all their food orders right now, within reason, and thank goodness for this piece from Virginia Sole-Smith, reassuring me that it’s OK if my kids have an all-cereal-and-quesadilla diet for a few weeks. “We all need comfort food right now,” Evelyn Tribole, M.S., R.D.N., a registered dietitian and co-author of “Intuitive Eating,” told Virginia. As long as you’re supplementing comfort meals with fresh fruits and veggies when possible, and sitting down to eat with your kids when you can, you’re golden.

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Also this week, we have a delightful interview with Shiri Kenigsberg Levi, also known as the irate Israeli mom whose video ragging on distance learning went viral; your work-from-home Tiny Victories; a beautiful essay from Priyanka Mattoo about the lessons she learned from her mom about parenting in a crisis during the Persian Gulf war; and an essay about what it’s like to wait for your sick child’s coronavirus test results.

If you’re a single parent trying to navigate this new normal, we want to hear from you. Drop us a line here. We’re also looking for any stories about formula or diaper shortages, so let us know if you’re experiencing that in your area.

Thanks for reading!

— Jessica Grose, lead editor, NYT Parenting

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Simon Landrein

Parents Share Their Tiny Victories While Working From Home With Kids

“When I need a break, I put on the Roomba. My 1-year-old just sits on my lap and watches!”

Celebrate the little wins

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Dominic Kesterton

The Challenge of Feeding Kids During Coronavirus

Is it OK for my kids to eat nothing but mac and cheese right now?

What the experts say

Wells Gidick, 4, was forced to stay away from friends while he recovered from pneumonia and his parents waited for test results.via Kinsey Gidick

The Agonizing Wait for My 4-Year-Old’s Coronavirus Test Results

As my son’s temperature spiked, so did my anxiety.

Read Kinsey’s story

Priyanka Mattoo (left) was 10 years old when her family life was disrupted by the Persian Gulf war.via Priyanka Mattoo

Everything I Know About Parenting in a Crisis, I Learned From My Mom

As we hunkered down during the Persian Gulf war, she kept our daily lives humming with routine and humor.

What Priyanka learned

via Shiri Kenigsberg Levi

An Israeli Mom Ranted About Online Learning, and the Internet Replied: ‘Same’

“Listen it’s not working, this distance-learning thing. Seriously, it’s impossible!”

What happened after she went viral

Tiny Victories

Parenting can be a grind. Let’s celebrate the tiny victories.

My toddler isn’t afraid of his shadow anymore, because we all say, “Hiiii, shadow!” every day now. — Karen Sheikh, Washington, D.C.

If you want a chance to get your Tiny Victory published, find us on Instagram @NYTparenting and use the hashtag #tinyvictories; email us; or enter your Tiny Victory at the bottom of this page. Include your full name and location. Tiny Victories may be edited for clarity and style. Your name, location and comments may be published, but your contact information will not. By submitting to us, you agree that you have read, understand and accept the Reader Submission Terms in relation to all of the content and other information you send to us.

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