Women Employed Snapshots of Life During COVID-19: Mary Kay Devine
Remote Work, Homeschooling, and Virtual Visits with My Mom
Just a couple weeks ago, I was still worrying about driving my son to dance class and picking up my oldest daughter from high school softball practice. I was focused on the Magic School Bus book report project my first-grade twins were working on. And I was knee deep in planning and participating in events celebrating Women’s History Month.
Clearly my priorities have shifted, and I’m sure yours have too.
The entire Women Employed team has moved to a mandatory virtual office. I set up my “home office” in our basement where I’ve participated in more Zoom meetings this week than I have over the last few months!
My four kids seem to fill every other space in our home — switching back and forth between streaming classrooms, enrichment apps, and good old-fashioned photocopy packets with WAY TOO MUCH screen time on YouTube, Netflix, and Snapchat. They’re snacking too much and fighting (a lot).
I appreciate the messages from Italian parents, sharing what they wish they would have done differently before things got bad. In addition to warning American parents against allowing their kids to hang out with friends while schools are closed, they also encourage us to not worry about screen time — “it’s okay if, for now, biology class gets replaced by Instagram and Tik Tok. Just accept it.”
On top of the stress of working from home while also homeschooling, I’m freaking out about my mom’s health. She just turned 86 years old and lives here in Chicago in an assisted living facility. My mom thrives on all-things community — movies, outings, art activities, sing-a-longs, and dining together with her friends.
It’s terrifying to read the news of 19 deaths in a Washington nursing home, where they thought they were just dealing with an influenza outbreak. The initial count of 22 cases of COVID-19 in a suburban nursing home, right here in Illinois, has now climbed to 46!
Mom’s facility issued guidelines a week ago announcing that visitors were no longer allowed inside the building and family members were strongly encouraged not to take the residents out into the community. While I 100% agree with these rules, I’ve still felt sad and anxious every day. I contacted the administration today and we coordinated a “visit” this afternoon. My husband and four kids joined me on the front porch of her building where we held up signs, blew kisses, and offered virtual hugs through the glass doors of the building.
As we stood outside the glass doors of the assisted living facility, I was keenly aware of all of the working women inside the building — the CNAs and nurses, the food service staff who are now delivering meals to individual rooms, the women who work the reception desk, and the housekeeping team who is working furiously to sanitize every nook and cranny to keep the residents healthy. These hardworking women are exactly the people for whom Women Employed advocates.
I appreciate the communication from Women Employed’s CEO, Cherita Ellens, on COVID-19. I encourage you to take a look at the resources for working people and families WE has organized, then share it with your friends and family. Our team is updating it on the daily as new information becomes available, so check back for updates, and visit WE’s action center where you’ll find timely action alerts.
One thing that’s brought me joy this week has been the virtual community Women Employed set up on our Microsoft Teams channel. We’ve been sharing photos of our home offices, pets, and plants. I shared a photo of “outdoor recess” when the family took a bike ride on the one sunny day this week, and also “indoor recess” when my 12 year-old son gave one of my 6 year-old twin daughters an extreme makeover.
My colleagues on our policy team are working morning, noon, and night, reviewing legislation, like the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and working with our partners to develop our advocacy plan to push to expand supports and mitigate the health and economic impact of this crisis, particularly on those most vulnerable.
While I have felt vulnerable this week, I am extremely conscious of my privilege. I’m able to work remotely for Women Employed and continue to earn a paycheck. I have access to the tools and technology I need to effectively get my work done. As challenging as “homeschooling” might be, I’m glad I can be here for my kids throughout the day. I’m doing my best to maintain an attitude of gratitude, as I’m sure you are too, and it’s hard.
I encourage you to also take time to reflect on those things for which you are grateful during these scary and uncertain times. Please be good to yourself. Do your best to allow time to breathe and take a break from the breaking news (I need to do a better job following my own advice). Pick up the phone and call your loved ones. Make time to do face time with your friends. If you have kids, forgive yourself when you yell at them. Know that we are ALL — literally the entire world — are in this together.
And remind yourself about the things you can control and those things that you can’t control.
Be safe. Stay healthy.
Mary Kay
