Stephanie Kloostra is about to be a mom of 2! With an already 14 month old child and a baby on the way, we talked about the impact of COVID-19 when it comes to babies.
Raising a baby is difficult, and COVID-19 has added it’s own challenges to the parenting game. How are parents with small children at home coping with minimal to no adult interaction?
Throughout her pregnancy, nausea seemed to be the daily norm. Mental health has been another struggle, suffering with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter. Once Stephanie knew she was pregnant again, she reached out to her family doctor for help.
Knowing that you have people in your corner is critical, especially in the world’s current state. It’s important to know that you’re not alone. The Zoom parenting class that Stephanie was participating in was a great reminder of this. They’re all in the same boat, pregnancy and parenting during the pandemic.. Keeping in touch with the other moms has helped validate and manage feelings of seclusion and loneliness.
When you take a moment to think about all the things this pandemic has changed, the list is astronomical. As we’re welcoming new faces into the world, those little bundles of joy are missing out on so much. Playgroups are canceled, friends and family can’t visit, and those bonds beyond their immediate household aren’t being formed.
Stephanie’s daughter has grasped the concept of FaceTime and acknowledges the faces on the other side of the camera. So while physical gatherings aren’t happening, these are still great milestones.
As a mom who’s at home isolating, Stephanie has found herself with other parents in the same situation. While staying safe, they’re making an effort to get their children together to keep some socialization in all of their lives.
Thank you JJ Stewart Motors for allowing me to share these stories during such an unpredictable time.
Related: How This Couple Survived COVID-19
