“The dent in the wall? It’s from me. The toy I’m holding? Yep, I threw it against the wall in a fit of tears.”
‘LEAVE ME ALONE.’ I hurled a toy at the wall. It looked like a tornado struck our basement. I hit my LOWEST point.’: Mom shares candid reality of parenting in a pandemic, ‘We’re trying our best’
‘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.”
‘This is what the brink of 35 looks like. A D*MN imperfect woman, who likes this whole ‘aging’ thing.’: Mom shares thoughts on ‘life-changing experience’ of aging
“It looks like looking into a dirty mirror, taking a silent selfie I’ll surely put a filter on later, flashing a goofy-*ss grin, feeling proud I ran two miles, mowed the lawn, and got a shower in while the kids are at grandma’s. Then we remember, alas, it’s only Tuesday, and though the kiddies have a day off of school tomorrow, it’s back to work, the grind, and the monotony a typical Monday through Friday delivers.”
‘We tested positive for coronavirus. We let our guard down. I failed.’: Family gets COVID-19, ‘Stay safe and vigilant’
“We put the kids in daycare for two days a week so they could play with their friends, learn from their teachers, and participate in the holiday school activities. Two weeks after they started daycare, our whole family is sick.”
‘How was your first day of school, honey?’ He mumbled, ‘The mask was hard.’ Inside, I felt so much sadness.’: Mom thanks school staff, ‘You are leading with your hearts, and it shows’
“I wasn’t sure how this was going to work, or if it was going to work at all. I went to school that morning needing to see it for myself. When the bell rang at 3 p.m., my heart lurched.”
‘We drove past a homeless man. ‘If you aren’t going to give him money, mom, we have to make eye contact.’: Mom urges ‘in a world without human contact, smile with your whole damn face’
“I usually give money. But today, I didn’t. I didn’t know where my purse was. Cars were cutting in and out of traffic. I was stressed and quickly snapped at my kids to be quiet so I could focus on driving. My daughter’s response surprised me.”
‘I can’t be the reason your child got sick and died. It would ruin me. There is no EASY answer.’: Elementary speech and language pathologist shares why returning to school isn’t worth the risk
“I’m going to have to tell your kindergartners they can’t hold hands, even though we spend SO MUCH TIME teaching kids to be friends with each other. I’m going to have to tell that shy, little boy who reaches for my hand for some security, he can’t hold my hand.”
‘I’m going to SPIT and COUGH on you.’ She began proclaiming ‘WHITE POWER’ and snatched my mask off my face.’: Woman stands up to racist lady in Home Depot, ‘Racism is not welcome’
“I was walking with an employee when a woman interrupted us mid-conversation. She took her mask off to complain about other customers who didn’t have theirs on. I asked her to keep her mask on as well. Everything escalated so fast. Walking away would have been easy. However, it wouldn’t have been the right thing to do. Not in my heart.”
‘I walked right into CVS with my mouth completely uncovered. I forgot to pull the cotton over my nose!’: Woman urges ‘be gentle, there is no right or wrong response’ during pandemic
“Panic and discomfort took over. ‘What are people thinking of me? OMG, are they going to kick me out? Arrest me?’ This new normal doesn’t feel normal at all.”
‘A woman scans my groceries, says something to me. ‘I can’t hear.’ I tell her to write. She gives me a dismissive hand wave.’: Deaf woman reminds us to be patient during the pandemic. ‘It goes a long way’
“The tears fall. She gives me the wave off with her hand saying, ‘Never mind.’ I’ve faced frustration, but never like this.”
