It kind of took away our happiness in that it stole the being able to share our daughter with our closest family and friends.

painting of a mother and children at a pharmacy
Painting by Carolyn Olson

I think it's been very difficult. I think the thing that's been saving me so far is that it's summer, and I've been able to get outside, I've been meeting friends and family at parks so that we can social distance and still have that social contact, but I am a little worried about wintertime and what we're going to do as far as that, just... Yeah, social isolation is probably the hardest thing that I've been through so far.

I've been starting to do more meditation type things just to be mindful of what I am grateful for. There are so many things that are wonderful still and that I'm still grateful for, so I'm just trying to remember that and remember that a lot of people have it much worse than we do. We're so blessed in so many ways. So I think exercise is important, eating right, taking my vitamins, and just being with my daughter and making her the priority and the focus, and just being grateful that I have this time to kinda slow down and really enjoy her and enjoy just being home and getting to see all her per milestones and watch her grow, which I wouldn't have had an opportunity to do had COVID not happened.

I've been able to be outside a lot more and it's pushed me to just get exercise 'cause I know that's going to help my mental health. But I do miss my friends and family, and I just feel robbed that I haven't been able to share this experience and share my new family with close family and friends. It's been really hard that way.  It kind of took away our happiness in that it stole the being able to share our daughter with our closest family and friends. 

— Melissa Plucinak


 

 

 

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