Pandemic
I’m reading posts about tears right now. Crying jags, people worry...and I know it’s overwhelming.
As a military parent, I am horribly reminded of the time my son was deployed to a war zone. That
feeling that someone one wants to kill my child because of who he is, the flag on his shoulder,
our support group has discussed this horror in great depth….and compared it to how our black
mothers must feel every time their child walks out of the door right here in the USA.
Or to the parent sitting by the bedside of a gravely ill child......
It’s beyond overwhelming. Every part of a mother’s being is geared to taking care of that kid, protecting
that child, loving that boy or girl...who is now an adult and now, in our case, totally under the command
of Ma Navy. Helpless doesn’t describe it. Fear isn’t a big enough word. Crying is everyday….The
difference with today and living through this pandemic and being that military mom is that we can’t tell
one another to get up in the morning, get those tears out, wash your face and get out the door to take
care of your day...because we can’t get out the door. We have to stay home. We still worry, and
certainly not any less...it’s just we have so many more to worry about….we still pray and again,
not any less….we just have so many more to pray for…
As a military parent, I am horribly reminded of the time my son was deployed to a war zone. That
feeling that someone one wants to kill my child because of who he is, the flag on his shoulder,
our support group has discussed this horror in great depth….and compared it to how our black
mothers must feel every time their child walks out of the door right here in the USA.
Or to the parent sitting by the bedside of a gravely ill child......
It’s beyond overwhelming. Every part of a mother’s being is geared to taking care of that kid, protecting
that child, loving that boy or girl...who is now an adult and now, in our case, totally under the command
of Ma Navy. Helpless doesn’t describe it. Fear isn’t a big enough word. Crying is everyday….The
difference with today and living through this pandemic and being that military mom is that we can’t tell
one another to get up in the morning, get those tears out, wash your face and get out the door to take
care of your day...because we can’t get out the door. We have to stay home. We still worry, and
certainly not any less...it’s just we have so many more to worry about….we still pray and again,
not any less….we just have so many more to pray for…
So, I’m going to be the pragmatic me and try to tell you what we said to help one another. First of all,
you are not alone. Lord, we know that! We are not alone in our fear, we are not alone in our worrying,
we are not alone as we pray or send our energy and light to those who need it most. Some of us are
alone at home...thankful for those that reach out, thankful for the phone call or text...thankful for that
dog or cat whose heart is beating next to ours...and those birds and stupid squirrels making us smile
in our yards and as we walk our neighborhoods...where we are thankful for the brief socially distant
visits with neighbors on their porches before the heat of the day hits… and those in our hospitals,
the ICU’s, they are alone in relation to their families, heartbreaking, but the medical staff members
are such a blessing, working hard, making human connections in very un-human conditions, even
as those so ill pass on to their next Home.
you are not alone. Lord, we know that! We are not alone in our fear, we are not alone in our worrying,
we are not alone as we pray or send our energy and light to those who need it most. Some of us are
alone at home...thankful for those that reach out, thankful for the phone call or text...thankful for that
dog or cat whose heart is beating next to ours...and those birds and stupid squirrels making us smile
in our yards and as we walk our neighborhoods...where we are thankful for the brief socially distant
visits with neighbors on their porches before the heat of the day hits… and those in our hospitals,
the ICU’s, they are alone in relation to their families, heartbreaking, but the medical staff members
are such a blessing, working hard, making human connections in very un-human conditions, even
as those so ill pass on to their next Home.
We used to tell our new moms to make a list...a list of topics to talk about when we got that phone
call from Iraq or Afghanistan...the one that made you know that that day, your son or daughter was
safe, and you could sleep that night all the way through….things like “Akins High School won their
football game”....or “the neighbor painted their house pink, can you believe it?“ Or “check My Space,
I put a video of Rosie on our walk this morning”...everyday normal stuff so you didn’t spend the phone
call trying not to cry, trying to think of things to say that didn’t make them cry...saving those I Love Yous
and Come home safe and I miss you for the end of the calls… So now my lists are things to do in the
day time...work on this, fix that, make this, call that person. Lists help me. I don’t always do those
things, but I do realize I have things to do….making myself exercise, attempt to eat correctly, take
the meds...all that stuff. Thankful for the internet and social media. Frustrated by not being able to get
out to do things like protest and raise my voice ...so I do it by keyboard.
call from Iraq or Afghanistan...the one that made you know that that day, your son or daughter was
safe, and you could sleep that night all the way through….things like “Akins High School won their
football game”....or “the neighbor painted their house pink, can you believe it?“ Or “check My Space,
I put a video of Rosie on our walk this morning”...everyday normal stuff so you didn’t spend the phone
call trying not to cry, trying to think of things to say that didn’t make them cry...saving those I Love Yous
and Come home safe and I miss you for the end of the calls… So now my lists are things to do in the
day time...work on this, fix that, make this, call that person. Lists help me. I don’t always do those
things, but I do realize I have things to do….making myself exercise, attempt to eat correctly, take
the meds...all that stuff. Thankful for the internet and social media. Frustrated by not being able to get
out to do things like protest and raise my voice ...so I do it by keyboard.
And music, listen to music...music heals...and we are blessed with smart musicians getting their music
out to us...listen, watch the live shows, the videos, share with those who need to be listening to that
music...music heals. If you’re blessed with art talents, or even if you aren’t, try it..do that puzzle, find
your roots on genealogy boards….reach out to those that are good at that kind of thing...you are
not alone.
out to us...listen, watch the live shows, the videos, share with those who need to be listening to that
music...music heals. If you’re blessed with art talents, or even if you aren’t, try it..do that puzzle, find
your roots on genealogy boards….reach out to those that are good at that kind of thing...you are
not alone.
You are not alone.
It’s okay to cry.
Keep yourself occupied even in ways you’ve never tried before.
Reach out to others, for them and for yourself.
Share that post, that picture of your dog, your cat, that squirrel, your garden, your neighborhood, your life right now and favorite memories
It’s okay to cry.
You are not alone
Wear the Mask
Wash Your Hands
Wait 6 Feet Apart
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