Page 31 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
the opposite of what you might expect being with someone every day. You would expect to not see the small changes over time. But, to me, they were magnified. Over lunch, I learned about his friends at school, his dream last night, what he played that morning while I was working or any number of things that come across a 4-year- old’s mind. When I took Jude to doctors’ appointments, I was so impressed with how effortlessly he wore his mask, how mature he can be and how brave he is.
Doing speech therapy and occupational therapy at home via Zoom—typically done at school by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit—allowed me to see how his mind processes things, and how far he has come. One night, when I was getting Jude to come up for dinner, I found him in my office at my desk, typing away. “I can’t come to dinner, Mom,” he said. “I’m too busy working.” I smiled, realizing that not only have I gained insight into his world, but he has a deeper understanding of mine.
The pandemic forever changed me—as a person, a mother, a wife, a lawyer. I strive to be mindful of the fact that my pandemic experience does not match the experience of so many others—those who have lost their jobs, their loved ones, their lives. I am more awake to the small but significant moments throughout the day; tiny details I missed when life moved at a faster pace. Most importantly, I am more cognizant of the suffering around me, and remember to treat myself and others with a bit more compassion, patience and grace.
26