How Small Has Your Circle Become? - by Susan Burrell
The other day I was at my favorite grocery store in the flower section. Years ago, I made a commitment to myself to always have fresh flowers in my home. Arranging them gives my creativity freedom and my heart joy.
As I was trying to decide which flowers would look good with which, I noticed a woman gathering into her basket bunches and bunches of sunflowers. Through my mask, I smiled and asked if she was having a party. She replied yes with some sadness and I thought, “oh oh, you stepped in it again, Susan. She must be hosting a memorial. ”
She went on to explain that her niece had just had a baby and they were going to celebrate her. I thought, “Isn’t that a good thing?” The woman said that because of the limits on gatherings, they were only having a few people over. The sadness was that they had a very large family and everyone wanted to be there to celebrate the new mother and child.
Her family circle had shrunk. Because of this whole pandemic thing, this new mom’s circle was even smaller.
When I became a new mom, gathering with other mothers is what saved my sanity. Sharing stories about our babies and allowing the crawlers and toddlers to interact and begin to socialize is how my circles began to expand. While holding other women’s babies to give each other a break, I listened and learned. I received tips on parenting, including how to keep my child safe and healthy. My circles grew to Mommie and Me, swimming lessons, and picnics in the park with many moms and kids. It grew to play dates at other people’s homes and swapping baby sitting dates so us tired moms could get a break (in my case a nap). Not to mention T-ball and soccer for 4 year olds! (Necessary so that the kids run around until they are exhausted and moms can relax.)
In this masked up and isolating time, how are this new mom and baby going to socialize and get some help? How is her circle going to grow? How are kids going to make friends and learn about people who are different from them? How are children going to learn to trust the world they live in if everyone is displaying fear and you can’t see people’s faces?
Like all of us, I am challenged with how to navigate this amazing time in history. I keep choosing balance and love. I am attempting to see with the eyes of love even when I only see sunglasses and a mask. I rely on my spiritual practices of meditation, journaling and listening to my Higher wisdom.
As we parted, I asked the woman to tell her niece that at least one stranger would share in celebrating the birth of her child with loving thoughts and prayers for a beautiful and amazing life. Join me in saying a prayer for all the mothers and their children all over the world.