What it’s Like to Be a Working Mom Dealing With the COVID-19 Health Crisis
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What it’s Like to Be a Working Mom
Dealing With the COVID-19 Health Crisis
by Dr. Rebecca Kenyon
Psychologist & Marriage and Family Therapist
in San Diego, CA 92130
Helping moms and couples calm the chaos
& make peace in partnering
In early March you were already hanging on by a string, but you were doing your best to balance expectations from your kids, their activities, and work. Let’s not forget your romantic and social life too→when you had the energy.
Then came mid-March, when you were forced to balance work and home at a whole new level. You were expected to create structure and learning opportunities for your kids; all while trying to adjust and meet work expectations in a brand new manner. Plus you had to give up date nights, moms night out, and group exercise. All those things that previously kept you sane when you were on the verge of a meltdown.
Fast forward to April and the world became even scarier. Plus many outdoor stress relievers like hikes, the beach, and parks; which allowed your family to get out some of the energy and anxiety, were stripped away.
Connection with extended family was reduced to occasional video chats, all while fears about the health of your parents also ramped up as COVID-19 has taken the lives of many seniors. The very time you wanted to hug your parents the most, is the very time that you risk their lives if you choose to do so.
Now we're deep into May, and the emotional impact is weighing heavy on you. Your children are getting more restless, the losses are piling on, and you realize that this isn’t going to end as quickly as you had hoped. The future is unknown and the recovery from this crisis will be far-reaching
You Are Doing the Best You Can
With all that you’re dealing with, know that you’re doing the best you can under unprecedented conditions. Moms are carrying a lot of the emotional burdens right now, and you can’t expect yourself to function at the same level you did pre-COVID-19.
When being a mom, wife, employee, and teacher are happening all at once, remember to have realistic expectations of yourself. Perfection is impossible. When you feel like anxiety, guilt, and fear are getting in the way, remember there is hope and there are ways to cope.
Ways to Cope during COVID-19
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists some ideas for coping with stress and anxiety at this difficult time: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html)
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
I Can Help
If you need further support in coping, I’m here. As someone who relates to being a working mom during the COVID-19 pandemic, I can help. I have extensive experience with telehealth; and I’m offering telemental health sessions using a highly secure and encrypted video platform. Give me a call at 1-858-229-3420 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. www.sandiegotherapy.net
