Until now, I can’t remember a time in my 40 years of existence on this planet that I’ve felt like I’m carrying so much. So much stress. So much anxiety. So many plates spinning while I run around frantically waiting for the first one to come crashing down. We had a massive ice storm. We live on an acreage and have lost SO MANY trees. We haven’t had power for a week. We lost the entire contents of two refrigerators and freezers, but managed to save the deep freeze with the help of a small generator. COVID-19 is still a thing, and we’ve been at it for months. Our daughter, who has autism, is falling so far behind in school and in therapies. We’re in the middle of a transition from one school to a new one. My husband is recovering from surgery. It’s all very overwhelming.
Oh. And tomorrow is Election Day. In one of the most contentious election seasons I can remember in my adult life. No big deal, right?
WRONG. It’s a very big deal, and a lot of people are anxious. People are waiting in line for hours to exercise their right to vote, and while that’s inspiring, it also proves that people are placing a lot of importance in this election. Rightfully so.
What I want you to know as we move forward from today through tomorrow is this: Mamas, I love you and I believe in you.
You are spinning so many plates – probably several that no one else even knows about. I understand your anxiety and your stress and your apprehension as we move through this week. No matter what happens tomorrow, a lot of people are going to be angry, and won’t know how to release it in ways you understand. A lot of people are going to be sad, and may need to vent to you, even though you’re out of bandwidth. That angry, sad person might even be you. But you can do hard things, mama. You can figure out how to follow election coverage on your cell phone while feeding your tiny people (and maybe other full-size people) by candlelight. You can figure out how to replace all the food you threw out with a deep grimace on your face. You can, and you will. I love you and I believe in you, even when you feel like it’s too much.
So, go have one of the Reese’s peanut butter cups you stole out of the kids’ Halloween bucket. Enjoy a glass of wine with it, too, because tomorrow will be another rough one. But you can do it, mama. I love you, and I believe in you.
