Recently, my son and I were out on a neighborhood walk when a car stopped slightly past us. Its driver rolled down the window and yelled out, “Go home!”
I was so taken aback — mostly because I wasn’t doing anything wrong. The CDC guidelines have stated that going outdoors for walks is fine as long as you are practicing social distancing, which is exactly what I was doing.
I’ve shaken off far worse mom shaming before, so why was I so hung up on this?
Because I’m doing the best I can right now.
COVID-19 has affected everyone in some capacity. We are dealing with unprecedented and uncharted territory. News on the virus changes hourly; it can be exhausting and overwhelming watching what is happening and following the recommended CDC guidelines of how to keep yourself healthy and prevent the disease from spreading.
Many parents have found themselves working from home and homeschooling their children simultaneously; others have been forced to file for unemployment due to stay-at-home orders affecting certain industries. It’s a very stressful and scary time. It has impacted everyone’s life in some way, shape, or form. Because of that, we should be far more understanding of each other.
My son’s daycare has been closed for a month now. I have also been working from home for the same period of time. And my fiancé is still going into work. Which means I am working from home full time while also taking care of an 18-month-old for a majority of the day.
It’s hard. Very hard. There are a lot of days where I feel absolutely defeated because I didn’t cross off enough tasks on my work to-do list or I did not provide my child with enough stimulation or attention. I feel guilty that I keep the TV on, sometimes for hours at a time, because that is the only way I can answer emails or get through a conference call in relative peace. I miss our old routines and the normalcy we once had, but I’m trying my hardest to make the best of it for all of us. I often feel like I’m on a tightrope, teetering on each side and praying I just don’t fall.
In a time of uncertainty, one thing I have relied on is getting outside to get some fresh air whenever we can. My son loves being outdoors, and while we can’t go to the playground, walking around some of the fields in the local parks or just pushing him in his stroller around our neighborhood does us both a world of good.
So when I was publicly shamed for taking a safe and socially distanced walk? It got to me. This is a scary time, but I can’t not live life to some degree. It’s impossible to sit inside all day with an 18-month-old and stay sane — any parent knows that.
So next time you see a mom out and about with her children, either getting some fresh air and exercise, going for a drive, or grocery shopping, how about giving her an encouraging smile. At the very least, spare her your commentary and mom shaming. Because we’re all going through it right now; try to remember that.
