Mum’s the word
People missing their mothers in the midst of pandemic
NEW WATERFORD — With the COVID-19 pandemic, people are feeling a void of the finer things in their lives – their moms.
Donna Ferguson of Gardiner Mines says life has changed, she’s missing her sidekick. Her mom.
“It’s extremely difficult,” she said. “I’d see my mother every day.”
Ferguson said no matter what, before the pandemic, she would do something with her mother, Louise Macneil, 80, daily. They’d go for tea, to see Ferguson’s sister and go shopping.
“I’d be with my mother all of the time,” she said. “I wouldn’t go anywhere without her.”
Ferguson said her mother is known for always being on the go, extremely active in everything from darts to dance lessons. They also travel a lot, take trips to
Toronto a couple times a year to see family, or weekend trips to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or Halifax.
Since the state of emergency, she has still seen her mother regularly but from the driveway, talking through the window, often her mother’s cat Cilo joining in on the visit.
“I still talk to her a lot on the phone, too, at least a couple times a day,” she said. “She’s finding it hard though as she’s so active.”
Ferguson said there are five children and it’s a closeknit family, so it has been difficult for all of them. They're all used to lots of time with their mother.
Sister Mary Moore of New Waterford and Peter Macneil of New Victoria both also do regular window visits. Raymond Macneil of New Waterford makes the grocery trips. Brother Jimmy Macneil is in Vancouver.
Past years for Mother's Day each would spend time doing something special with their mother, such as taking her for dinner.
“We'd all do our own thing but we'd all end up at ma's for Mother's Day.”
This year, Mother's Day will most likely mean a longer window visit.
“I plan to pick her up a pizza,” Ferguson said. “I'll leave it on the step and then we'll talk through the window.
SAY “I LOVE YOU” SAFELY
With a state of emergency in place in Nova Scotia, the Health Protection Act order includes social distancing and not being permitted to get together with anyone not living under the same roof. As well, groups of five or less are only allowed if essential, such as for a funeral.
During Friday's Nova Scotia COVID-19 update, chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said if you don't live with your mother, find a way to say ‘I love you' on Sunday either virtually or by social distancing.
Mother's Day visits might not be permitted, however people are getting creative.
TEN SIBLINGS PLANNING TO SURPRISE MOM — TOGETHER
Audrey Mugford's 10 children have always found a way to be together Mother's Day. Despite COVID-19, they came up with a way to do so this year too.
Monica Macdonald of Mira said all 10 children – from across the country – will be connecting with their mother, a resident of Victoria Haven Nursing Home in Glace Bay. They'll do so through Zoom, a cloudbased video conferencing service, at the same time.
“My sister from Winnipeg, brother from Vancouver, brother from Prince Albert and the other seven of us from here in Cape Breton, we'll all be on at the same time talking to mom,” she said, adding their mother will be on an ipad.
However, Macdonald said there will actually be 20, the spouses will also be there.
“As far as my mother and father were always concerned, once you married someone they become their children too.”
Last week, they did a practice run as not all of them are computer savvy. Part of the practice was talking one at a time.
“My son actually made the comment, 'Mom you should just record it to understand why the 20 of you should never be on at the same time,'” she said laughing. “It will be lots of fun and she has no idea. It will be a surprise for her.”
Normally Mother's Day would be everyone together for dinner, whether at someone's house or going out somewhere as a group. Macdonald said the nursing home made this hard time extremely easy for them as their mother is so happy there.
“She understands what's going on out there,” she said. “The home is keeping them happy and safe and she understands that's an important part of it all right now.”
One thing their mother loves is her treats.
“She doesn't want that fruit cup, she wants something gooey,” Macdonald said.
Prior to the crisis, they'd drop off her favourites: cheezies, popcorn, and anything chocolate, which they can't do at this time.
“She was really disappointed at Easter when she couldn't get her chocolate bunny with Rice Krispies,” Macdonald said. “Her granddaughter bought it and it's in the freezer waiting for her.”
Macdonald said Joann White, recreation director, is filling that void with daily, making rounds with a trolley full of treats.
“Joann's fabulous, they are like her kids. It's hard to be uptight when you know your mother's getting such good care.”
CONNECTING MOMS
In the meantime, Victoria Haven Nursing Home is getting prepared to treat 30 of their residents who are moms Sunday, including connecting them also with loved ones by ipad.
Recreation director Joann White said Mother's Day is always a big event there, from a special tea with loved ones to entertainment.
This year, White said they will be celebrating with a special photo booth set up and the tea will be individual, room-to-room.
“We have lots of sweets, we're always baking here,” she said. “It will be a big deal here, we're really excited about it.”
EVERY DAY IS MOTHER’S DAY TO STAN PEACH
Stan Peach isn't sure what he'll do to honour his mother Joyce Peach, 90, on Mother's Day, but knows it'll include being in his mother's driveway as she opens the back door and waves.
“When you get to be 90-years-old, every day is Mother's Day,” said Stan of Glace Bay.
“I don't need a Sunday in May to determine she's special.”
Stan said his mother, a lifelong seamstress, has been doing fine throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
“She loves doing puzzles and reading,” he said. “My sister sends puzzles home from Alberta, my niece in the Yukon sends them to her and my brother brought one back one from the Grand Canyon in February. Now she's back to doing ones she had years before.”
However, Stan said his mother is used to being on the go, especially loves bingo and shopping.
“She goes twice a year on the bingo bus to New Brunswick and loves it,” he said. ”She's always busy, half the time you have to make an appointment to see her.”
Although Joyce isn't into cooking big meals anymore, she loves to go out to a restaurant. The Miner's Village Restaurant in Glace Bay is always a favourite. Normally for Mother's Day the booking would have been made.
Joyce has five children, nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.
Three of her children live in Port Morien, all with their own ways of checking in.
“My brother Millage goes for a walk every day and he swings by and raps at the window at her doing puzzles in there,” he said. “My sister Norma Peach lives across the road and is in contact on a daily basis. My brother Claude on Long Beach Road drives by too.”
Brother Fraser lives in Alberta. Stan usually goes for a drive on the weekend and visits his mother with a wave from his truck. There are simple things he misses, however.
“It's usually just going for a cup of tea and cookie with her,” he said. “She's always got chocolate chip cookies and loaves on the go and they are the best.”