This week I sat down with my sister-in-law to discuss what it’s like being a mother during a pandemic where most people are self-quarantining. Early last October, my brother and sister-in-law were lucky enough to bring our family my beautiful niece, B. Just a few months later, we were all separated by this invisible barrier of fear. It has been a while since any of us have been able to see her or her mom and dad in person. We have been lucky enough to utilize Zoom for events like her first birthday, but it just isn’t the same. I couldn’t even imagine what it was like for Taryn and Steven, my brother, to be in this situation as new parents.
Her Campus (HC): How has being in quarantine affected you personally?
Taryn (T): “Personally, it hasn’t changed my day to day life as much. Having a newborn in itself is challenging, but not being able to physically interact with family and other mothers is tough!
HC: Do you feel as though this time is allowing your family to bond? If yes, how so?
T: Yes, being able to all be together to see our daughter hit big milestones has definitely been a blessing in disguise.
HC: What are some activities that you do with your baby to keep busy?
T: We go on daily walks and spend a lot of time reading and playing.
HC: How worried are you when it comes to the coronavirus?
T: I am pretty concerned about the coronavirus. I am the primary caretaker for our daughter and if I were to become sick it would make it challenging for my husband to be able to work and care for our daughter and myself.
HC: When was the last time that you and your baby interacted with people other than family?
T: Other than seeing neighbors in passing, we have not interacted with people since March!
HC: What are you most excited to do with or show your baby once this period of self-quarantine is over?
T: I am most excited for her to be able to see other babies and start to socialize which is a major part of babies’ development. Luckily, now that she is older, we have been able to take her to our community swimming pool — of course when no one is there. At 10 months old she was able to go to the park and sit on the swing for the first time. We went at 7:30 in the morning to ensure that we were the only ones there, unfortunately, but I think this is our new normal until a vaccine is created.
At a time like this, it is clear that so many of us and our families are dealing with different obstacles. Just being that person to reach out to or reaching out can make the biggest difference. Thank your parents, thank your siblings, and be glad that we are moving through these times as one.
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