Our children returning to school after a year and a half should be a joyous occasion filled with smiles, hugs, and happy tears. It should signal a sigh of relief, a return to creativity, work, and social connections. Surely, parents can finally reclaim a sense of “normalcy,” right? Wrong.
If you have a friend with kids, especially those under 12, they are likely not okay.
Last year was incredibly challenging. We navigated the chaos of remote work while keeping our kids entertained and engaged at home. We attended virtual meetings amidst the background noise of toys and tantrums, all while feeling guilty about the excessive screen time we allowed. We crafted detailed educational plans but often found ourselves overwhelmed, resorting to endless hours of cartoons just to survive the day. The weight of our worries about our health and that of our parents was heavy.
We avoided farmer’s markets due to safety concerns and then felt guilty for not providing nourishing meals for our families. Playground fears kept us indoors, leading to YouTube workouts that only added to our guilt over screen time. Our own well-being deteriorated as we struggled to find time for self-care.
So, this year should be better, right? Kids are back in school, and it’s time to relax with friends, regain our work rhythm, and focus on healthy eating! The possibilities seem endless! But when school started, it became clear that it was anything but easy.
The Delta variant was surging, and pediatric COVID-19 cases were climbing. Many of us spent sleepless nights convincing ourselves that sending our kids to school was the right decision. We weighed the pros and cons, realizing that they need this social interaction and education, and many of us depend on it for our jobs and financial stability. But that decision brought no comfort.
Our eyes are weary from late-night research into frightening statistics—those that others dismiss as “too insignificant to worry about.” We obsess over news of local child fatalities, spending more on high-quality masks than on the healthier foods we intended to buy. Dropping our kids off at school is a nerve-wracking experience. We hold onto them tightly, snap a quick masked photo, and then feel our anxiety spike.
We worry that our child could become a statistic and ponder what photo would be used if they were among the rare cases. Our stomachs churn, yet we struggle to eat well. We often find ourselves finishing the leftovers from our kids’ lunch—like the Spaghetti-O’s they craved but didn’t touch. Frequent illnesses leave us anxious, convinced each time that it might be COVID. Testing becomes a routine, and we avoid close contact with our children until results come back, leaving us uneasy even with a negative result. We wonder, “Will I be the one to make them sick?”
Despite our fears, we don’t let our kids see our anxiety. We maintain a cheerful demeanor, keeping our voices light as we engage in play and storytime until they finally drift off to sleep. Once they do, we often feel utterly exhausted, questioning how much longer we can hold it together. We toss and turn through sleepless nights, endlessly scrolling through articles that only add to our worries.
So, if you’ve noticed that your mom friend seems a bit dimmer lately—lacking the spark and humor you’ve always cherished—rest assured, she is likely struggling. I know I am.
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In summary, the journey of parenting during a pandemic is a rollercoaster of emotions, especially for those with young children. As the world opens up again, many parents are still grappling with fears and anxieties that linger beneath the surface.
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