Story #60 - Postpartum Pandemic Stories - Jena, Woodbridge VA (USA)
Jena works as a trainer in a fitness and wellness coordinator at a continuing care retirement community in Lakeridge, VA. When her work went in complete lockdown, she was called into and helped deliver food to over 300 rooms, since the dining room was close to the residents. Beyond being an incredible caretaker for the community's residents, she is an amazing mom of seven — to include a little boy born sleeping — and previously shared her postpartum stories on the site.
When I think about this pandemic, there is one word that comes to my mind: uneasy.
I am worried. I am worried for so many reasons.
I worry about their health. I have six kids, and a couple of them have asthma. If they catch this virus, would this be devastating for them?
I worry about their education. I know I'm not good at organizing educational activities for my children because I work full-time. I can't be there during the day to help them learn and do the things their teachers do. I must work because our family needs my paycheck, but also because I love my job. It's important to me.
At the same time, I feel I'm missing out on this special time I could have with my children. I feel I am not giving them the time and attention they need right now.
Moms are posting all the "fun" educational projects they are doing with their kids while I'm barely staying afloat with work and running the house.
I'm struggling just trying to feed them the meals they need, let alone make sure they are learning.
Are they exercising enough? Will they be behind next year? Am I dropping the ball?
What happens then when "normal" returns?
My kids will be used to being with my husband, who's currently on admin leave from his work, all the time.
My one-and-a-half-year-old hasn't been with his babysitter for a couple of weeks. That will be a big adjustment for him when that time comes again.
My three-year-old was just getting used to his preschool before it shut down. We will have to start again at the beginning of next year.
My other kids do best in a structured environment, and my husband and I can't offer that with the six of them at home.
What is going to happen to my kids' friendships? They miss them. My daughter, who always had such a rough time finding friends, finally had a few good ones this year. Now she doesn't have much contact with them.
I worry, will we have enough food? What about the paper supply? The grocery stores now restrict the number of items you can buy, which is great against hoarding, but as a family of eight, we do use more than two boxes of cereal per week!
As any parent knows, it is a struggle to have the kids at home all the time. They are bored, and it's affecting our mental health and wellbeing.
Even without a pandemic, the worry never stops with children. But in these uncertain times, it becomes exponential.
I simply want to be able to provide them with an engaging, safe, and fun life. I want them to remember how mom and dad transformed this situation into a good time. This is a challenge, and I'm trying to turn it into an amazing opportunity to do something unprecedented.
Here's hoping I can pull it off.