THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ HAS PROS AND CONS

Friends of mine recently had a beautiful baby girl, their first child, and while it’s a joyous time, it must also be a scary one. Normally with a new baby you have people dropping in and helping out, offering to babysit to let you catch up on some sleep or run errands. But with a global pandemic going on, that’s not possible. They’re left all alone, caring for a newborn. They can call friends and family to ask for advice, of course, but it’s not the same as having someone on-hand to show you how to do things. Because, let’s face it, this is all totally new to them. Nothing in your life can prepare you for having a person to look after, a helpless little human who’s completely dependent on you. On the flipside of it, they’re both at home all the time, which wouldn’t be the case otherwise – daddy would have returned to work by now under normal circumstances. They also get this time to bond with the baby, all by themselves, with no interference from anybody else. I remember another friend recently recalling with horror the pressure she felt as a new mum to always have the house spotless because you never knew when someone was going to just drop in or text to say they were on the way. So it’s a double-edged sword, I guess. Our cover star today, Tia Duffy, is on the path to motherhood and says pregnancy is much the same. Yes, it’s terrifying that her husband may not be allowed into the birth but she’s also getting a chance to take some time out and relax into her pregnancy, which she believes has already helped her to bond with the baby. I guess, like most of us, they’re discovering that there is both good and bad in the ‘new normal’. I’m enjoying being out of the rat race, not battling traffic every morning and evening, taking the time out to reassess what’s important, but I miss people, travelling, eating out and shopping. I think this will change us all, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

On page 32, you’ll meet the Irish charity workers who are staying in Africa to help Concern in the battle against Covid-19 there. They are truly selfless, brave people and face a long road ahead. Can you imagine what it must be like to face this terrible disease when you have huge sanitation and healthcare issues before it even hits the country.

One of the volunteers is even raising her children in Ethiopia. Read their stories and, if you can, make a donation to Concern.

Enjoy the issue.