Well, here we are: new year, same pandemic. I obviously didn’t expect the clock to strike midnight on New Year’s Eve and see all the world’s issues magically go away. But I was slightly disappointed when I woke up on January 1 and didn’t feel any semblance of a reset.
And I know I’m not alone. Like many parents, my reserves are long-depleted. I spent the “break” cooking and building off-brand LEGO sets (personal plea to LEGO: make more sports-themed sets in 2021!) and cleaning up after my rascal children, all while my husband and I tried to keep them entertained. I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted, and have been for months. So what now?
My colleague Catherine Pearson, herself a mom to two boys, is always trying to find the silver lining in every situation, which is something I cherish most about her. I love this piece she wrote at the end of the year about how parents need to learn to take better care of themselves, even and especially if in small, but significant ways. The piece served as a reminder to me to take care of myself, even if small acts of personal kindness (eg: to lock the bathroom door, if only for a few minutes of peace).
I hope you, too, can find some solace in her words. We’re in this together.
Until next week, be safe and well. | 
