Bloomfield Small Business Owner Offers Quarantine Tips For Moms

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The following article comes courtesy of Lovlee Tang and the Bloomfield Information Project. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

My name is Lovlee Tang. I am a wife, mother of four children ages 1 to 12 years old, and a small business owner. As I have been finding my own equilibrium during the coronavirus quarantine, I know that many other women with young children are striving to do the same.

When my oldest was 3 years old and my second child just 10 months, I made the decision to stay home and open a home-based preschool called Lovlee Day Academy.

The preschool served children from infancy to 5 years of age and had a heavy emphasis on art and nature. I ran that business for five years before moving to Bloomfield, where I opened an art studio for children and adults called Lovlee Art Studios. I have a lot of experience working with kiddos and creating fun ways to engage and entertain them, especially under these unique circumstances.

Here are my tips for Bloomfield mothers trying to find their way at this time.

• This too shall pass. It is true that we are experiencing a level of disruption and unease on a number of levels but it is so important to look for the silver lining. This could be a time of proximity to your children that you may never experience again. Make the most of it.
• You have what you need. We can decide what this season of quarantine can look like for yourself and your family. You can seek peace and fun amid the fear and frustration of this moment. And when you find it, help your children and those around you find theirs.
• Find time for your self. This may mean getting up early to have a little extra quiet time where you can have some time with your own thoughts, journal, pray, or exercise.
• Find ways to bring yourself joy throughout the day. I have learned that I need a morale boost around 2 PM. My mornings are usually high energy but homeschooling and the demands of the day take their toll by the afternoon. So I treat myself to a nap that gives me energy for the next portion of the day.
• Express yourself through action. Tap into what your heart desires at this moment. Do you want to write a book? Paint a picture? Write a note to a friend? Organize that closet? What have you been putting off because you haven’t had the time? Can you find time now for it?
• Become a student of your children. We all need a little bit of grace to adjust to this new normal so listen to what your children need. Create a routine for them that allows them to feel a sense of consistency and security each day. (It will provide some sanity for you, too.)
• Be ready for arts and crafts. I like to plan activities for my children before the day starts. And that means keeping arts and crafts supplies in mind. I recommend saving your egg cartons, cereal boxes, and scraps of paper and fabric. Keep childsafe scissors on hand, as well as glue, crayons, markers, watercolors, and washable paint.

Mothering under quarantine is not easy. So find time for yourself, try to bring joy into your home, and if you’re looking for virtual art lessons, birthday parties, or playdates for your children, Lovlee Art Studios is here to help.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com