I have to confess, this is borderline clickbait since I usually have NO idea of how to avoid fights with my parents, let alone advise you on yours. Today, however, we’re discussing a very specific category of arguments—the ones that have arisen during the course of this year’s collective, prolonged grounding, which seem strangely worse than those of normal times.

Scholars, gone are the days when school and extracurriculars served as respite from the drudginess of your domestic lives. Remember that time when Mom popped in during Physics class to loudly confirm the kind of paranthas you wanted for lunch? Or when Dad asked if you took your daily multivitamins so loud that all thirty kids in your Math class became an unintended audience? Yes, that’s not stopping for a while.

Well, much like most events this year thus far, the quarantine situation is beyond our control. The majority of our living spaces are not even designed in ways to facilitate the independent, varying lifestyles of 4–5 individuals, let alone those of double that figure in joint families. The situation grows exponentially complicated in cases of single, working parents, divisive households, and those dominated by financial hardships and technological roadblocks—thus emphasizing the need for more sustainable and synergetic environments.

To add to this conundrum, we find that there is no extant model to fall back on! Sadly, it is not quite feasible to consult a “New York Times Bestseller: How to Not Fight with Your Parents During a Pandemic”, given the apparent lack of literature in that genre since 1918.

Well, dear Scholars and Parents, fret not. Athenians have figured out a way or two to assuage your collective anxieties a tiny bit:

   Schedule a family meeting: Setting clear expectations and recognizing each other’s needs is crucial. Communicate clearly and patiently, keeping in mind that we are all undergoing this strange situation without any prior experience. Unfortunately, Raising Kids during Pandemics 101 is still a bit far off at this point.

   Make your peace and pick your battles: Scholars, readily accepting the current scenario will help you find fewer reasons to argue with your parents. Quite often, we project our frustrations onto those we’re most comfortable with. Try to not treat your parents as punching bags; they constantly shoulder much more responsibility than they exhibit.

   Less screen time = more family time: A significant cause of most arguments this year has been our Scholars’ extended screen time. Naturally, this brings up concerns of digital well-being and safe online behavior. Agreed, FaceTime and Netflix Party have replaced meeting friends in person and going to the movies for you. Don’t forget about your loved ones just across the hall! Try hosting family movie or game nights for weekly fun and bonding!

   Nothing like home: For many, this has been a serendipitous turn of events as parents with children at distant schools and colleges (think out of state, boarding…) can now spend quality time together. Scholars, for those of you heading off to college in the coming years, there is no better time to develop a positive relationship with your parents and siblings. Trust us, you’ll be missing Mom’s paranthas and Dad’s multivitamins when you’re gorging on salty, packaged ramen in your college dorm room.

Use these as starting points and remember that ultimately, co-existence is key. Feel free to contribute your own solutions in the comments section and share with us how you are surviving and thriving!