I've been thinking a lot about the mothers during this pandemic. Particularly the single mothers that are parenting alone. Mothers naturally stress about their kids more than fathers. Nurturing is within us, and we care so much about our children. Not that men don't care, but it's different. My husband is an amazing father, but many things simply don't cross his mind that cross mind. I could list all the things I think about and do for my kids, but moms...you know, you get it. And with this pandemic every emotion and stressor is heightened.
To be honest I'm a bit jealous of moms who stay at home right now. Jealous of moms that can solely focus on their kids, and have no distractions from work. However, it's two-fold because I love my career, and have been working my ass off for where I am today the past 10 years. I pretty much made nothing when my twins were born, and I sent them and Turner to daycare knowing that one day it would pay off. That I would pursue my marketing career, find a role I found joy and purpose in, and make a good wage doing it. I'm very blessed for that dream to be fulfilled. I don't want to stay home with my kids 24/7, but if they are being forced to be home due to COVID I hate being distracted by work. I wish I could give them the attention they so desperately want from me. I will say I am extremely lucky to be able to work from home, and send my twins to daycare. Turner was home with me for the second half of the year and I did virtually learning with him. It absolutely sucked, but we did it. Now thinking about physical school not starting this fall and I seriously want to throw up. I took a poll on Instagram and asked mothers if they had to either quit or go part-time in their job due to COVID, and 30% said yes! That freaking sucks. Women have worked so hard to work their way up in the male dominated corporate world, and now we're dropping right and left. Men naturally make more money therefore they aren't the ones leaving their jobs to stay home (I did have one woman say her husband is going to quit to stay home with the kids because she makes more).
I've been interviewed twice the past week about my stance on kids going back to school. It's a sticky and emotional subject, and I get both sides. I worry about my son's reading disability if he doesn't go back. I worry about his mental and emotional state. I worry about my role if I can't keep up the pace because my child is home and I'm trying to teach him. I worry about paying my mortgage and bills if I lose my job. I think about the families where both parents or a single mom work outside of the home, and they don't have the option keep their child home. That child will have to go to some sort of daycare, and that is a HUGE expense. In Austin it could be $600 or more a month. However, I don't want kids, teachers and faculty to get sick. I don't want people who have compromised immunities to be forced to work and potentially be exposed. I don't want people to die.
So now what? Whatever happens I pray for every child, mother and family out there. I pray for our government. I pray for strength. I pray for patience. I pray this ends soon. If you want your voice to be heard, vote!
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