Mother'sDay
I would usually be wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day but I’ve heard so many mothers complaining recently about how they’re going to cope with having their kids at home until September. So I’d like to bring a little perspective.
If you have a healthy, non-disabled child whose behaviour lies within a “normal” curve and who isn’t at a high risk of dying if they contract the virus, then please just feel very, very grateful and make the most of this precious time with your child.
There are other mothers for whom this next 5 months is going to be deeply challenging. We will be nursing and caring for our disabled children on our own, because it’s too dangerous for their carers to come and give us respite.
We will be answering the same repetitive questions from our autistic children and living with the constant noise of our ADHD children day-in, day-out.
We will also be preparing as much as we can in case our disabled children contract the coronavirus, making sure that we have enough oxygen canisters for when they start to struggle to breathe, for example.
We will be coping with all this whilst also living with the knowledge that, if they do contract the virus, there is a very strong chance they will die, and that these precious weeks or months ahead may be our last with them.
And we will be giving emotional support to any other children we may have who are also trying to prepare themselves for the potential loss of their sibling.
So please, don’t moan about having your healthy, non-disabled, non-autistic children at home for 5 months, who are very likely to only suffer mild symptoms and bounce back from having the virus. There are other mothers facing much, much worse.
This Mother’s Day, I honour and pray for all the mothers, especially the single mothers, who are caring for vulnerable, at-risk children. May you feel the wings of angels wrapping around you, filling you with strength and courage. I see you, I honour you, I am praying for you and your children.
With my deepest love and prayers
Annabel Du Boulay ?♥️?
