A year ago today

Today it is one year since the first case of Covid 19 was reported in New Zealand. One whole year. For some it won't feel that long... for some it will feel every bit of every day of one whole year.

As those babies born during lockdown are getting closer to their first birthday, there will be much reflection on what has happened, and what it was like a year ago. I know some mamas feel happy and reconciled with how things went for them.

But I also know for many, those dark days are still with them, and it is far from reconciled or alright.

I hear from many of you that you are still grappling with the loss of so many things; missing classes, missing baby showers... missing those first days of your newborn's life when you introduced them to their grandparents... some of you have still not been able to do that, and some of you may now never have that opportunity.

There are mixed feelings when your friends are now pregnant, happy for them, but resenting the fact that they get to have that baby shower... and maybe you're finding it hard to feel as happy for them as you know you would have been if Covid hadn't happened...

Be kind to yourselves mamas. You have been through, and are still going through, extraordinary times. Nothing like this has happened, probably ever, before in New Zealand.

It's ok to feel these big feelings, but if you are feeling overwhelmed or those big feelings are getting in the way of you enjoying life, please reach out for help. If you don't feel up to that right now, please reach out to me if you can. I'm happy to listen to you, without judgement, just a place for you to put some of your heavy load, in the hope that it lightens the burden for a short while...