Raising Children in 2020 – When Will This Chapter Be Over?
By Merideth Tullous
I just finished reading a great book. It was the kind of book that I could not put down. I neglected all chores so that I could dive into bed and read. Each chapter provided shocking twists and turns and I flipped each page quickly trying to solve the plot. But with any good book, I secretly found myself procrastinating when I turned to the final chapter. I didn’t want to have an evening where that book wasn’t my companion. I didn’t want the story to end.
Our life is like a book. But let’s be real- the chapter we are living in right now is intense. If I could title this current chapter in our lives as mothers, it would read something like this:
Raising Children in 2020 – When Will This Chapter Be Over?
There is no procrastinating here. We want this chapter to end so we can flip the page and leave it all behind.
Or do we?
In what seems like the blink of an eye, a pandemic took over our everyday lives. As mothers, we became solely responsible for our children’s academic, social, spiritual and emotional needs. School was stripped away, attending church was not an option, extracurricular activities and social interactions were practically non-existent.
During the first few months of the stay-at-home orders, I found myself working to be a playmate for my children, a teacher, a parent, a wife, and a career person. There were trying moments, especially when I spent half of my day responding to the phrase, “I want a snack” that was bellowed every fifteen minutes from my two boys.
Recently, our family’s story took an unexpected turn. I was allowed to return to work, in-person. My children were to attend school, in-person. I was elated! I enjoy my work and my kids thrive in school. But deep down, I ended up not being as enthusiastic as I thought I would be. Of course, I was nervous regarding the virus, but there was more to it than that.
I vividly remember praying one evening — No God, I’m not ready for the next chapter. What if I turn the page and our life goes back to what it was pre-pandemic? What if I turn to the next chapter and I go back to being the mom I was before?
That prayer might seem odd. Our life was wonderful pre-pandemic, so why was this weighing on me?
God had used the pandemic to strip away distractions. Instead of having my focus turned into fractions: career, activities, schedules, tasks, housework, social life for the kids, projects – I was entirely focused on my family for months. I found purpose in the mundane and joy in the simplest things like playing blocks or games with my children. Through the hard times and through the precious times, I grew in knowledge of my influence as a mother.
As moms, we were given the divine gift of a child (Psalm 127:3-5), therefore we are called to a purpose higher than ourselves. When I wipe my child’s messy hands with a gentle stroke, I am furthering the Kingdom. When I praise my child for his gorgeous scribble and then calmly explain that drawings belong on paper and not the door, I am furthering the Kingdom. When I cook the umpteenth meal for the day so we can sit down to eat as a family, I am furthering the Kingdom. When I stop my busyness to actually talk with my child rather than talk at him, I am furthering the Kingdom.
Each time I do my best to reflect Christ in my mothering, I am honoring the gift that God felt I was worthy of.
During these challenging times, we as mothers have been stretched in our roles. We have experienced amazing joy, and brutal trials. We have undoubtedly cried a few tears of frustration and cried tears of happiness.
I don’t want to go back to the way things were because I have been a better mother during these challenging times. Not because I haven’t faced struggles, but because my priorities aligned more with what God’s priorities are for my family. Balance was forced upon us. And with that balance, God resumed His rightful place as the center of our household.
So, as I navigate through the rest of 2020 I am reminded that what I am doing as a mom is a spiritual calling. And spiritual callings usually are not easy, but they matter.
Perhaps I should change the name of this chapter to “Raising Children in 2020 – Motherhood Matters”.
Merideth Tullous has spent her career in the professional ballet industry. Her most notable contribution was redesigning and managing a now fully-funded community ballet program that reaches thousands of local children- giving them free access to the arts. She has a love for teaching children and has most recently released her first Children’s Christmas book, A Gift to Remember. To learn more about Merideth’s book or to contact for guest articles or speaking engagements, visit www.meridethtullous.com. You can also find her on Instagram @tullouswriting.
