Moms Are Crying Out For Help - But Who Is Listening?

Moms are crying out for help.

Are you listening?

Are you listening to moms who are tired, moms who are stretched too thin, moms who are filled with anxiety and worry, moms who are trying (and failing) to be everything to everyone? Moms can't keep up the pace much longer.

Moms are crying out for help, but who is listening?

It seems like the ones listening are other moms. They are the ones taking the time to read and respond to pleas on social media. They are the ones who try to keep in touch with their friends because that friendship is one of the only things to keep them going. They are the ones who comment "Me too!" or "I feel the same way!" or "I understand."

Moms who are at their breaking point are trying to help other moms avoid their breaking point.

Moms were already dealing with a lot before the pandemic, but now they are overwhelmed. I know this is difficult on everyone, but let's face it - when it comes to the house and home, most of the burden still falls on the mom.

Moms are trying to make this pandemic as normal as possible for their kids. They are trying to balance virtual learning and jobs. In many cases moms are giving up their jobs to help out more at home. In September over 800,000 women dropped out of the labor force - a significantly higher number than men.

The fact that there is no end in sight makes it so much harder. We don't know how much longer we are going to stay home and do virtual learning. We don't know how long we will have to socially distance ourselves from others. We don't know when we will be able to travel and do all the fun things we used to.

Moms need help, but before help can be given, people have to listen. Not just other moms, but husbands and partners need to listen. Kids need to listen. Community helpers, leaders, churches, and politicians all need to listen.

Everyone needs to heed the cry of moms, because something needs to change. Something needs to be done.

I wish I knew what to do. I wish I knew the answer when my mom friends come to me feeling defeated. I wish I could lighten their load when they text me their frustrations. I do what I can - I listen, I send messages of love and hope, I try to help out in whatever way I can. But I have my own mom burdens to bear.

We need to find ways to support moms, to give them a much needed break, to lighten their load. I don't have the answers, but maybe, just maybe, if we acknowledge the problem first, we can find solutions.

All I know is that many moms cannot continue this way - something needs to give. Let's do our best to support them before that happens.

- Amy Young