Although motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, women have long relied on their family, friends, and community of fellow mamas to shine a light down the long and sometimes unpredictable road that is parenthood. They say that children are life’s greatest adventure, which makes us all eager travelers, determined to scale the mountain that is motherhood, totally unscathed.

We’ve headed the warnings about potential roadblocks, such as endless teething spells and sudden sleep regressions. We’ve researched what developmental landmarks to look out for as we trek through the toddler territory. We’ve become comfortable following the directions clearly outlined in our parenting roadmaps, enjoying the security that comes with following the tried and true trails recommended by others.

…. And then the pandemic hit, and suddenly we found ourselves in the dark, standing in socially-distant solidarity, navigating an unpaved path into the unknown, together yet apart.

There Is No Roadmap…

Parenting during a pandemic isn’t something that we were adequately prepared for. Prior to 2020, no woman was ever asked, “So, what kind of pandemic mom do you think you’ll be? Will you focus on structured homeschooling or implement free-range learning during your time spent in isolation?” Once again: Zero. Preparation.

Before this year, just the thought of watching the global society come to a swift halt sounded like something out of a SciFi movie. Surely that would never become our new normal! Nevertheless, in just a few short months, life and motherhood as we knew it changed, and we were expected to adapt. Quickly.

…But There Is Still Strength

The trail we’re currently departing down doesn’t have any signage, lanes, or guardrails for our safety. It’s not a well-traveled highway; it’s a thorny switchback. Setbacks, poor planning, and detours are to be expected. After all, the only remaining map is our internal compass, magnetized by the love in our hearts and a bravery so bold, it overshadows our discontentment with determination.

There will be good days and bad. There will be missed homeschooling lessons, dinners comprised exclusively of snacks and mornings spent mindlessly in front of the television. It will be hard, but our souls will remain soft and forgiving because we will remember our new mantra: we are no longer wandering down the road well-traveled.

I don’t know what exactly this trek will entail, but I do know this: we will all take different routes, none necessarily better than another. We are all pioneering our way into a new normal, so we must make our own roadmaps now, and cheer on others as they create theirs.

So please remember, sweet mama, that scenery and terrain on the way up might not look as expected; but the summit of the mountain will still be as awe-worthy as ever. And once we reach the peak, all of our fears and uncertainty will suddenly look cloudy, foggy, and far off into the distance. And from the top of this mountain, together once more, we will thrive.