Mother's Day Aches

Written May 10, 2020

To all those loving their moms and mom villages so much but not feeling all the feels about motherhood today, this is for you.

Motherhood in quarantine is no joke. Each day is a marathon to make it to bedtime, and when you finally get there you wonder how you’ll do it another day. But then the sun rises and there you are, giving good morning hugs and defending your position that everyday can’t be a Strawberry Os for breakfast day.

You’re fighting the good fight to get your kid on their Zoom meetings because you know they need to see familiar faces, and each time they end you run a 4.1 second 40 to make sure your computer doesn’t end up shattered on the floor. You’re beating yourself up about being frustrated your elementary, middle or high school age child isn’t better about managing their online assignments, while also acknowledging they weren’t meant to be put in a position to do so in the first place.

You’re grateful that you aren’t facing all the hardships that so many of your friends, family and colleagues are facing and then feeling guilty that your hardship feels so damn hard.

You’re struggling with your gratitude practice today, like you’ve been struggling with it for so many days, while seeing others post about how special this time is.

You just want to be able to go see your mom because you know she would know all the right things to say and would give you the biggest hug with the best snacks, and you can’t do it.

For anyone out there struggling to celebrate today, maybe this year you’ll observe Mother’s Day in August. Or next week. Or in 2021. Here’s to surviving motherhood, one rough quarantine day at a time and remembering like all those other phases, this too shall pass. And if you wear your mask and practice social distancing, it will pass faster.

Meredith Somsel