Meet Wendy: Campus director of student development and multicultural programming, mom of two children, ages 12 and 15
“Encourage the kids to find ways to brighten someone else's day. Our kids wrote inspiring words and drew pictures with chalk in the driveway for all of the people walking by.”
Wendy Brubaker, M.Ed., campus director of student development and multicultural programming
- What do you do at HACC?
I work with students and employees to bring fun, spirited, co-curricular, leadership and multicultural programming to our students.
- How old are your children?
I have an almost 13-year old named Madison and a 15-year old named Will.
- How are you effectively juggling your professional duties and your personal duties of having your children at home while you work?
Schedules. Each morning our two teens receive a to-do list from my husband or me. The lists include their normal chores, time for reading, Girl Scout or Boy Scout work, art/cards to send to their grandparents who are isolated, making a meal for dinner, finding a game online to play with the family in the evening or strengthening their skills (my son found Quizlet games to improve his biology skills and drawing tutorials for his art class) and get outside and play.
- What tips (things to do and things to not do) would you offer to other parents who are struggling with this?
- Find humor and fun in what you do. Every weekend, we have gone on a hike in a local state park. The kids moaned before the first one, but really enjoyed the 2- to 4-mile hikes that we’ve gone on at Strawberry Hill, King’s Gap and Cunningham Falls. We’ve had great conversations and learned a lot.
- Make a point of playing together. We have played tennis in the street, card games, corn hole, basketball and more every night before or after dinner.
- Don't beat yourself up. No one is going to be perfect during this time. It is okay if your house is cluttered, the kids don't go to bed on time or they have too much screen time. Forgive yourself.
- Let them connect with their friends by using the House Party app or other social media platforms.
- Let them talk and just listen.
- Is there anything else you would like to share that we did not ask?
Encourage the kids to find ways to brighten someone else's day. Our kids wrote inspiring words and drew pictures with chalk in the driveway for all of the people walking by. Send an elderly friend or relative a card or drawing. Say I love you (even to your teens). Turn off the television.
