Just last week we were living our lives as normal. We were at work, kids were at school, life as usual. If we needed groceries, we went to the grocery store. If we needed to get out of the house, we did so.
This week, we are all home quarantined and social distancing. Everyone’s world has been flipped upside down. Working from home. No school. Staying away from everyone who isn’t immediate family. No normalcy what so ever.
As a nurse, I completely understand why we are doing this. As a mother, I’m just left feeling so incredibly uneasy. Uneasy because when we left school on Friday, we hadn’t planned for it to possibly be our last day of the year and how will I tell my kids if we don’t get to go back? They love school and their teachers and friends. Uneasy because how am I supposed to get all of my daily things done plus teach three preschoolers? Uneasy because what if I run out of something my children need and I can’t go buy it? Uneasy because what if the kids were already exposed at school? Uneasy because what if my elderly mother in law or my older parents are exposed or get sick and how do I explain to my young children they have to stay away from their grandparents? Uneasy because how do I explain what is going on to my five year old and twin three year olds without making them feel uneasy? Uneasy because everything we had planned has been erased.
Everything has changed and is different from what we know! As mothers, we are programmed to fix things, to make things better, and to calm the storm. How am I supposed to do any of that when I am so anxious and uneasy about the future?
As for now, I will try to enjoy the extra time spent with my babies. I will do my best to make this time fun so we can (hopefully) look back and see good memories instead of bad. I will love them a little harder. I will pray for the well being and health of our country and our community. I will pray for the medical professionals on the front line and their families. I will pray for our economy and our small businesses.
