In March 2020, when I first read the email regarding COVID-19 and school closing down for a few weeks, I sent a text to my sister telling her I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it through 14 whole days of my kids being home with nothing to do in the middle of winter.
Then, when they decided it would be shut down longer and they were going to start virtual learning, I really didn’t think we were going to make it.
Those first few weeks were a struggle for us, just like they were a struggle for so many families
I’m not saying every moment was easy and there weren’t challenges
But having all three of my kids home with me for so long wasn’t the total disaster I thought it would be. Maybe it’s because I let more things go, or because they actually seemed happier and found some new hobbies. Perhaps it’s because I felt like they were safer staying home with me as their company or maybe it's because they were a constant reminder about what’s actually important in life.
So when I see parents who are so relieved their kids are back in school so they feel some sense of peace and normalcy, I completely understand, yet I can’t relate.
I miss them terribly, I can’t seem to find my groove, and the quiet is making it hard for me to concentrate. I know I'll adjust eventually, but for now this mama is having a really hard time.
The most important thing is that my kids are happy and healthy
The rest will all shake out eventually. For now, I’ll just take lots of breaks so I can stare at pictures of them and smother them when they get home no matter how much they complain about it.
Besides, if there’s anything this past year and a half has taught us, it’s that things can change at any moment — so don’t get too comfortable.
