Elmo’s Dad Reminds Parents in Quarantine to “Take a Moment to Breathe”

Parents are exhausted. Having to parent 24/7, taking on the new role of teachers, managing household work and a job—it seems impossible that one (or even two) people might be able to accomplish it all. Elmo’s dad, Louie, agrees, and, as part of a new PSA from Sesame Street, he’s reminding parents to take some time for themselves—no matter how hard doing so may seem.

In the short video, Louie is taking a much-needed break from Elmo—who 5 seconds into the video asks his dad to help him build a fort. “It is wonderful to be able to spend so much time with our children, but it can also be a bit overwhelming,” Louie says. “So I just wanted to say, parents, you are doing an amazing job. Remember though, it’s important to take some time for yourself. You know, take care of you. Listen to your favorite song, stretch, or just take a moment to breathe.”

He then invites the viewer to take a deep breath with him and reminds them that they’re doing the best they can, and that’s enough. At the end of the video, Elmo calls to his dad and Louie goes to resume his dad duties, but not before saying, “Hang in there. Keep up the great work.”

The video is part of Sesame Workshop’s new Caring for Each Other campaign, which aims to help families stay optimistic, as well as both physically and mentally healthy as they deal with life during the ongoing pandemic.

It never hurts to hear you’re doing great, so the next time you feel overwhelmed by everything on your plate during quarantine, play Louie’s voice in your head, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re doing amazing as a parent.

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