For the Parents
Everyday I think about the parents in this moment.
I read the articles about burnout, see the social shares of frustration and comiseration, and I hear the stories from friends and family with young children.
Here's a scene from my walk yesterday:
It's 5pm, I pass by dad who is wearing baby all bundled up on his chest, a newborn judging by the sounds of the wailing. He's holding out his phone at baby's ear level, it's playing white noise. His eyes and posture tell me that it has been *a day*.
Several steps behind, mum is pushing two older kids in a stroller, one is crying and the eldest is yelling for dad and mum says "sweetie he's trying to get your brother to sleep. He's making a lot of noise and won't hear you."
Mum and I smile at each other as we pass. I get a small snapshot of a moment in their life that is undoubtedly filled with all kinds of beauty, tears, magic, rage, joy, frustration, laughter, and tears.
I immediately regretted not telling her that they're both doing such a great job. I regretted not saying "I see you."
So, for what it's worth from a childless person on the internet, I wanted to say it here to you. If you're a parent trying to work from home while somehow still helping kids through virtual schooling, if you're dreading daycare exposure calls and managing the mental gymnastics of scheduling around them, if you're making impossible decisions every. single. day., if the weekend brings some element of relief, but is still very much a 🦠 weekend... I see you. You are doing such an incredible job. I hate how hard this is for so many of you right now.
My ask for this community: please leave a love note for parents below or in the question box in my stories.
Parents, if you need to be heard or seen I am willing and open to hearing from you.