Casey is the director of an after-school program serving vulnerable communities; Megan teaches English online to students in China and watched their families experience COVID-19 before things got serious in the US; Jayme is weeks away from having her second baby and worries that being married to a hospital physician might separate their family. All three are also moms dealing with the everyday challenges of clingy toddlers, remote-learning kids, and work-from-home demands. Hear what’s hard, what’s hopeful, and what life is like for Casey, Megan, and Jayme in Episode 01 of Pandemic Perspectives.

This episode was recorded on April 6-7, 2020.

A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities.

AND ALSO: Our Pandemic Perspective guests are moms just like you, doing their best with the resources they have. Their opinions do not necessarily represent those of the podcast, and the information they offer should not be taken as advice, medical or otherwise.

One Way Moms Can Help
Our friends at Crisis Text Line offer free, 24/7 support from trained crisis counselors – all delivered via text. And with a huge demand for extra mental health support right now, they’re working hard to build up an even larger base of volunteer crisis counselors.

You don’t have to have any particular education or work background to apply to be a volunteer – just a desire to help out, and empathy, which we know our listeners have so much of. Crisis Text Line provides all the training you’ll need to turn your desire to help into the skills and knowledge you need to make a difference.

Visit themomhour.com/ctl to submit your application and get started. And if you’re having a hard time right now and need some help, you can also get support right now! Text GO to 741741 and you’ll be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor.

Share Your Pandemic Perspective
If you’d like to be interviewed for this project tell us your perspective here.

Send A Note To Another Mom
If you’d like to share a note of encouragement with one of the moms you heard on the podcast, send an email to hello@themomhour.com with Pandemic Perspectives in the subject line and we’ll make sure to pass along your note.