“There were things which took me by surprise when I left the corporate world, the most important realization was I didn’t WANT to be a stay-at-home mom. My feelings of loneliness led me to create a practice of gratitude.”

‘I left work to become a stay-at-home mom. I ceased to ‘exist.’ I expended all my energy, but had little to show for it.’: Mom starts journaling business for kids, ‘I wanted to work on MY TIME’

This Mom’s List of Pandemic ‘Parenting Fails’ Is So Relatable
“My 6-year-old plays Fortnite all day. My kids could sleep with a tablet in their bed and I wouldn’t give a flying hoot anymore, as long as they’re quiet. I’ve let the boys wrestle like they’re in a cage fight, right in front of me, and I haven’t done a thing. My selective hearing has really improved.”

‘Am I going to be able to do this forever?’ I wasn’t ME. I felt let down and abandoned. The anxiety was horrific.’: COVID-19 nurse encourages healthcare workers, ‘We’ll get through this’
“When I was a new nurse, I walked with a pep in my step. I had new scrubs, perfect pens, and a glow. I went from feeling calm to terrified. The pandemic rages on. The frontliners are still there, showing up, sacrificing their own safety.”

‘We used Zoom to ‘gather’ and share your gender. We did a drive-by and virtual ‘shower.’ I have loved ones who never saw my pregnant belly in person. I’m glad I can consider 2020 the year of YOU.’: Mom pens touching letter to ‘pandemic baby’
“No waiting mass of family and friends in the waiting room. No hospital bedside meeting with your sissy. Just us. And you.”

‘Real talk: I am tired. I’ve gained 20 pounds, and I miss my church family. This isn’t normal. It isn’t okay.’: Woman struggling with mental health says ‘It’s normal to feel done and over it’
“The internet is losing it’s mind. My mental health is in the toilet. We simply can’t escape it. I am also tired of pretending.”

‘My patient died,’ he said with a sigh. ‘The one I was so worried about.’ The look on his face broke my heart.’: Wife of healthcare worker applauds heroism, ‘They always show up’
“‘He said he was sorry. He thought the whole thing was a hoax. He was terrified.’ The conflict was clear across his face, He just grabbed his coffee and kissed my cheek, then headed out the door.”

‘I send them back, I’m selfish. I keep them home, I’m depriving them of proper education.’: Mom weighs in on school reopenings, ‘We could all use a little extra love right now’
“I don’t want to take that mental health risk, so I’ll send them. But, now I’m greedy and don’t care about the teachers. Okay, so I’ll send them… but, we have to skip Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthday parties. Now, my kids are upset. They miss their family.”

‘All the adults are freaking out because they don’t like the sudden change in routine!’: Autism mom says ‘autism doesn’t allow change; he expects his old normal back’
“He worryingly asked her if he had coronavirus. He is 6 years old. He has no concept of social distancing. We thought schools closing was our biggest worry.”

‘Do I send my child to their brick and mortar campus and worry about their physical health EVERY SINGLE DAY?’: Mom shares frustrations for fall school re-openings
“Most of us are going out of our minds trying to decide what to do in the fall, if we have a choice, which it sounds like we will. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. That’s how I feel.”

‘I feel like I’m pissing off a lot of people. I break my back, good mood, and spirit in pursuit of the best me. Don’t mock.’: Mom struggling with best decisions asks for understanding, ‘You have no idea’
“I’m too much or too little of something, or I’m doing too much or too little of something I should or shouldn’t be doing. Sometimes you’ve got to call other people out and now it’s time for that.”