What message do mothers need to hear this Mother’s Day?
Words may be inadequate, but this might come close: You are enough.
It’s hard to name a population more prepared than mothers. For every diaper change, bump, bruise and hard day at school, a mom stands ready and waiting with the appropriate remedy.
Still, for mothers around the world, parenting during the spread of COVID-19 is the ultimate test they never saw coming.
No one could have anticipated the toll a pandemic would take, through it all highlighting the real heroes and leaders in the community. Yet, one group will hardly receive the credit they deserve: mothers.
Psychologists and labor experts believe the effects of the coronavirus are taking a greater toll on women than men. Women already tend to bear the brunt of household work and childrearing, as well as the “mental load” — the emotional and physical toll that comes with remembering what groceries are needed, which school forms need to be filled out and hundreds of other daily details.
Add unexpected home schooling, caring for the emotional well-being of the family and trying to balance regular work, and it’s no surprise mothers are feeling the weight. We hope they take time to address their own needs and mental health.
And yet, if you take a look around, it’s these women who also are keeping up community morale.
From putting pictures of hearts in the windows and throwing neighborhood driveway dance parties to spending time each week sewing masks to donate to those in need, the selfless work of mothers everywhere propels their communities forward.
Perhaps more than anyone, mothers have taken this drastic change in lifestyle in stride. Despite what many social media posts or well-meant advice may say, there are no rules for parenting during a global pandemic.
Even so, mothers have created a new type of work-life balance, which some have described as more of a “life-life” balance. Expectant mothers have been forced to face some of the hardest and most emotional moments of pregnancy all alone. The mental effects are strenuous, and surely many moments arise when a mom may feel a rainbow of emotions, perhaps even guilt for not living up to her own expectations.
It’s been said that love begins and ends with motherhood. The power of that love has hardly been more evident than during this uncertain, anxious time. That love is keeping communities strong, putting a smile on the face of lonely strangers and giving others the strength to look forward.
Now it’s time to give back some of that love.
On this unique Mother’s Day, we salute the moms everywhere who bravely answered the call to keep a nation’s spirit up. They have given their time, energy and talents to lifting others. It’s past due they know they have been more than enough.
To mothers near and far, young, old and expectant, struggling or managing: Thank you. Your response to these unprecedented circumstances is nothing short of inspiring.
Future generations may look back on this time and attempt to piece together what helped humanity push through. While the science will have worked to heal our bodies, it was the mothers who will have healed spirits with their love and compassion. And that will ever be what makes all the difference.