This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the moms in my life. 2020 has been challenging to say the least, and the moms in my life have kept me grounded and feeling sane.
Of course, I am thankful for my husband and kids, but I just want to shout out to the other moms in my life who are the unsung heroes.
Sweet Gestures
I am lucky enough to have friends who have shown their love and support throughout the pandemic. Whether it’s sharing a funny gif or meme, or sending personalized gifts to my house, I know they have my back.
A girlfriend who lives out of state sent me a bracelet engraved with “I got this.” I think of her every time I wear it. It caught me completely by surprise and quite literally brought tears to my eyes when I opened it.
You don’t have to physically be there to support each other. In fact, in the age of social distancing, we have to find ways to check-in and lift each other up from afar.
I am a huge fan of “The Office” and watch it repeatedly. My bestie finally got hooked on her maternity leave. She left me a “Serenity by Jan” candle on my porch with an encouraging note. It made my day! The little things seriously go a long way.
How to Connect
Think of your gal pals and what their love language is. Worlds of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Physical Touch. How can you reach out to remind them you are sending love their way in the most impactful (safe) way?
- Send a text
- Drop off food
- Give them a call
- Fun gifts (check out our Genius Gear!)
- Video chat
Misery Loves Company
We’re all in the same storm, but it affects us differently. When it comes to virtual school or balancing work from home with kids in the house, my tribe has been for me when I needed it.
From providing an ear to listen or some productive ideas to get through the days, my girls have been there for me. I’ve read article after article about how moms are, in general, taking on the burden of the pandemic. We are putting our needs and careers on hold to make sure everyone else in the family is taken care of.*
Sometimes, just listening to someone in a similar situation can really help validate your feelings and make you feel less alone. I try to FaceTime with friends every now and again just to say hi or share a virtual glass of wine. They don’t judge the clutter/chaos going on in my house, and theirs usually looks similar.
Thanks, Mom
I would be remiss if I didn’t give my own Mom and Mother-in-Law a shoutout! These moms always come through for us. This year has been tough on them since they haven’t been able to see their grandkids as much as they would like to and they are typically always on the go. If you see them out and about, tell them to go home! 😉
In the early days of the pandemic, my mother-in-law dropped off activity kits for the kids on our front porch. A retired teacher, she thoughtfully curated fun and educational kits to keep the kids busy while my husband and I could work.
My mom is a trooper and spent countless hours in the pool this summer with the kids. Sometimes, I’m not sure who’s having more fun.
Both my mom and my husband’s mom helped with supervising virtual kindergarten in the fall. We brought them into our bubble, and it was such a big help on so many levels! First, my husband and I could actually get some work done. Second, our daughter loves one-on-one attention. Having someone to keep her company while Zooming with her teacher and classmates helped keep her focused. There are just so many ways it helped all of us.
Working Moms
The moms I work with are also an all-star team! While some of us are working remotely and at different locations, I love these ladies! We’re there for each other on the tough days and laugh through the good times.
It’s really good I like them so much considering how much time we spend together- even though it’s mostly virtually right now.
Thankful
With all the challenges 2020 has brought, I am truly thankful for the moms in my life. Make sure you tell the people in your life why you’re thankful for them. We could all use some encouraging words!
*I should add the caveat that my husband is 100% an equal partner in caring for our kids, but it’s still a lot. Other moms get it!
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