To every mother out there in quarantine, whether you are working out in the scary world, working from home, or just stuck in the house. You are not alone in your feelings of isolation. Sure you are surrounded by family and that is great. It just isn’t the same as caring for your family and having choices to run to the gas station without compromising everyone’s health in your home or in the gas station. Before the pandemic, you had options even if you decided to stay home or preferred to stay home, I understand the feeling of being forced to stay inside.

You are not alone in your worry about your family to a debilitating level. I understand not wanting to get out of bed but having to because you are e-learning with your kid or kids. I understand how hard it is to brush your hair and get dressed. I haven’t had real pants on for more than a month now! I get the feeling of exhaustion from working from home all day and still doing everything for your kids. There is no such thing as work/life balance even if you are at home doing it all. I understand how good moving from your workspace to your couch can feel at the end of the workday.

Fellow mother, you are not alone in your mental breakdowns and your feelings of frustration. You are not alone in your feeling of isolation even if your partner, spouse or kids are around. It is okay to feel bored being surrounded by the same walls, the same messes, the same dust and stuff that needs to be thrown out.

It is the new normal to feel burnt out from the same schedule as before just now never leaving your home. Cooking the same dinners over and over. Or deciding to let your kids eat tons of Easter candy because you just want to finish one more task for work instead of making an elaborate lunch. I get it!

I understand how hard it is to get to work on time even if you are walking a few steps away from your bed. Listen to me, you are not alone in feeling like you might be crazy after all this is said and done. I know you feel impatient and at your wit’s end. I know you feel alone and lonely. I know you feel overworked and under-appreciated.

Do not underestimate what you are doing and what you are capable of doing. You may feel like you want to give up, but you are still pushing through. You are stronger than you realize. You are the worker, the maid, the cook, front of the house wait staff and the cleaning staff, you are the activities coordinator, the bill payer, the teacher, the disciplinary, you are the bath giver, the laundress, you are the strength that is holding the family together. You are everything. Don’t give up, you are not alone.