Its not business as usual, this year. Better circumstances would call for huge Passover and Easter family gatherings, but what we have instead is a pandemic and a quarantine , which means everyone is staying home ... including you and yours.

Hope, though, is never lost. As much as this is a season of renewal, rebirth, and family, its also a season of resilience, and resilience means finding a way. Even if you need to be apart physically, it doesnt mean the family cant still come together and all it takes is a WiFi connection.

Here are some suggestions on how to make sure that happens:

1. Adjust your expectations

Its important to recognize that the holidays this year are different, but theyre no less powerful, Alexa Gilmour, a United Church minister in Toronto, told HuffPost Canada.

Acknowledging that Easter and Passover just wont be the same will help you to manage your expectations, and might even help you get over your preemptive blues a little faster. It might be especially tough for kids to understand exactly whats going on , too, so helping them to name their feelings and then to adjust their expectations is also a good idea. (Saying things like, Were doing things a little differently this year, just to be safe, or, It isnt going to be the same, but well still have a good time and well make new traditions might be a start, and then just be available to answer any questions they may have. )

2. Get creative with your tech

Sure, you cant be with your whole family physically, but theres nothing stopping you from being together virtually. There are plenty of interactive apps out there that offer video conferencing, but right now Zoom seems to be reigning supreme: its free, it accommodates up to 100 participants, and it has a breakout chat feature, too. With Zoom , you can prepare meals over video with your family, or even hold the entire dinner on camera so it feels like youre still together.