Last week I discussed what helps motivate me to get up early in the morning and keep me going throughout the day. Many of my friends have called me a supermom for being so active with my little man, milking full time and babysitting for a friend. I don’t consider myself a supermom though, I’m just lucky. Lucky to have had an alternative job option to fall back on when the pandemic started. It has allowed me to stay home with my beautiful son and work in an environment where I feel safe. It’s the parents out there who are still forced to face the world and all it’s uncertainties who I consider to be super parents. Although I knew I would miss my school family, the decision to stay at home and milk cows full time was an easy one for me. I’m sure for many parents, choosing to stay home would mean losing a major source of income, seniority, benefits and so forth. For many giving up their jobs to be at home safe with their children was probably not even an option. These parents are my superheroes. They are staying strong for their loved ones but also strong for all the individuals in society who they are still helping.
It scares me that it has come to the point that every time I walk out my door there is a fear ingrained in the back of my mind. A fear of being around people is not the one I would’ve ever imagined possible less than a year ago. The fact that it makes me nervous to even be around my immediate family devastates me. There is a constant battle going on in my head about whether my precious angel playing with his cousins is worth the potential risk of him getting sick or getting them sick. When I dreamed of what my child’s first few years would look like, I pictured constant play dates, Moms and Tots, story time at the library, swimming lessons and so on. But then Covid hit, completely changing our social interactions with friends, family and society.
My hat goes off to all the superhero parents whose children are attending school and daycare, as well as to the staff, teachers, EAs and daycare workers who work extremely hard to keep a safe and healthy environment for the children. I believe that no matter what our differing opinions may be on the matter, there will always be fear and worry in the back of all our minds. It is a part of our new reality and we all cope with it in different ways. All we can do is stay positive, keep moving forward, and hope for a healthy future!
