“When you see my swollen stomach, dragging my limp-noodle toddler, and hear me gripe about being tired, consider it a Christmas gift to me by refusing the comment that comes to your mind. I guarantee you, I know I’m lucky.”
‘You’ll miss these days!’ Please don’t remind me to love every moment when she’s being a turd and throwing things in Target.’: Mom encourages ‘have extra kindness’ amidst pandemic
‘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’
“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.”
‘What you see is what you get. If you only see the world’s problems, THAT’S what you’ll get.’: Woman urges ‘focus on what gives you peace’
“And nothing has been harder than having to try to stay in your lane, live purposefully, mindfully, and with lasting gratitude, during the seemingly never-ending (and, perhaps, disastrous?) year that is 2020.”
‘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.”
‘BAM!’ There it was, not a soft let down, but a sucker punch. ‘That’s it, I’m taking you to the hospital.’: Woman beats Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, ‘I learned what was really important in life’
“I was the youngest at the doctor’s by 30 years. My pain got worse. I heard my husband cry for me in the hallway.”
‘Your child is not their test score DURING A PANDEMIC. It’s NOT an indication of how much you love them.’: Mom writes encouraging note to parents, ‘Love leads, learning follows’
“Have them do 2.5 months of spontaneous online instruction via platforms they’ve never used. Now, give them a test. Your child is not a test score.”
‘Some of us thrive under pressure, but some of us collapse. Everyone has their reasons. They aren’t in your life to be like you.’: Woman discusses the importance of diverse friendships, ‘Don’t let yourself be the reason one fails’
“They aren’t in your life to be more like you. They are in your life to be them and to serve the purpose on your path they are intended to. Not a single part of friendship is about control.”
‘To my 2020 baby, you are the brightest spot of this difficult year. You are not cursed, you are not bad luck.’: Mom says newborn is ‘the beauty amidst the chaos’
“Whenever I feel overwhelmed by everything in this ‘unprecedented’ year, I hold you. And for a moment, I’m lost in the wonder which is you. You are not responsible for any of the difficulties of 2020, and you are not tied to them.”
‘I still remember his face as he stared into my eyes while I puked with every contraction. The little things have helped shape what’s important to me.’: Mom writes inspirational note of hope during pandemic
“I remember the times we’ve brought each other takeout, changed a dirty diaper, remembered to pay a bill, and watched a show together despite a million interruptions… I remember how he hugged me when I cried. The little things… they’re what truly matter.”
‘This crying thing is a daily occurrence. But I’m fine. No, really, I AM FINE.’: Mom urges others ‘remind any mom you know you’re there for her’
“It is truly just that hard to be everything to everyone all at once. I’d be lying to you if I said I haven’t cried a whole h*ll of a lot.”
