“I expected the coughing, the fever and the low energy that makes you want to give up. What I didn’t expect was the flood that absolutely surrounded my family. Friends I don’t even know well offered to run errands.”
‘Last week the exact thing we’re all trying to prevent happened to me. I ‘did things right’ and came down with all the symptoms.’: Woman grateful for acts of kindness during pandemic, ‘They showed up’
‘I used to judge victims of abuse. ‘Why are you allowing them to hurt you? Just stay away.’ I’ve learned a lot since then.’: Woman credits her dog with helping with her mental health ‘he doesn’t understand, but he doesn’t have to’
“My friends are starting to notice. They’ve asked me what’s wrong. If anyone looks at me, they’ll know. Somehow, they’ll see right through me. It had to be my fault. I provoked you. You’d never hurt me. We’re happy. I’m fine.”
‘You’ll never remember these nights. When I lie in bed, listening to you breathe, and question if someone, anyone, could do this better.’: Mom says ‘you’ll never remember these nights, but I will’
“The nights I leave my comfy spot on the couch beside your Daddy to snuggle you instead. The nights I lie there, smelling your hair and studying your beautiful face. I will remember them for the rest of my life.”
‘The doctor said, ‘It’s just a matter of time.’ She started reaching for things in the air. I thought it was the end.’: Mom of five-time leukemia warrior says ‘Ali’s light has remained a constant through it all’
“Holding down my screaming daughter for the third time that night felt like torture. Little did I know, that night was just the beginning. She kept looking at me confused, wondering why I was allowing someone to do this to her.”
‘Dear kids, someday you’ll need these AP Life Skills classes you didn’t know you signed up for.’: Mom says children are learning powerful ‘life lessons’ right now
“I’m not talking about math or spelling or reading. Someday, you’re going to need to know these expensive lessons life is teaching you right now.”
‘Someone drove by and shouted, ‘Get back in your house. You’re the reason people are dying!’ For sitting on my lawn. Alone.’: Wife of nurse says ‘have grace, you don’t know what others are going through’
“I haven’t kissed or hugged my husband who works on the frontlines as a nurse in weeks. Every night, I must reassure my 5-year-old that no, daddy’s not going to die. But when the lights go out, I worry about the same thing. There I was, instantly sobbing because someone decided to lash out on me for breathing air.”
‘Mommy?’ she whispered. ‘Why wasn’t Daddy wearing his superhero mask?’ My heart fell into my stomach. I knew where this was leading.’: Mom says ‘our babies never had to question our superpowers until now’
“‘I love you, Daddy!’ she said. ‘I love you, too, Baby Girl!’ Then she said, ‘Don’t get coronavirus, Daddy!’ He paused. My heart fell into my stomach.”
‘The toddler who threw an epic tantrum? He’s bored right now, and he’s picking up on everyone else’s emotions.’: Woman urges ‘love harder, we’re all in this together’
“The teenager who’s frustrated and full of attitude? She’s lonely and misses her friends. Your spouse who’s been short tempered? He’s carrying worries he’s too afraid to communicate. The friend who forgot to call back? She’s overwhelmed and just doing the best she can to get by right now.”
‘Today my husband to let a few of his best guys go. There’s only so much distance you can put between yourself and another person in his line of work.’: Couple says pandemic ‘has shown us how much we take for granted’
“My husband is considered essential and is still able to work. Everyone at his job is basically walking on eggshells. It’s hard not to worry about him being exposed and bringing the virus home to us. There’s only so much distance you can put between yourself and another person in his line of work.”
‘When this is over, I’ll let you pick the restaurant we dine at first. I promise I won’t complain, be picky, or be impatient if the food takes longer.’: Woman tells husband ‘let’s make the most with what we’ve got’
“Date nights were our peace in the beautiful chaos of family life – our time, just you and me, together. Date nights reminded us our marriage was a priority, before being daddy and mommy. I miss the romance, break from the ordinary, and the routine too.”