In 2020, Alisha Burns became a solo mother after giving birth to her daughter Alexandra just as Melbourne’s lockdown commenced. Faced with isolation and the demands of a newborn without any immediate support, Burns shares her insights as part of a collective experience of mothers navigating the challenges of raising children during one of the world’s strictest lockdowns.
Reflecting on the five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Burns describes the lockdown as both challenging and serendipitous. It provided her with precious moments to bond with her daughter, free from the usual societal pressures. She found solace in the absence of the typical expectations of housekeeping or socialising, allowing her to focus entirely on caring for her newborn. Despite missing out on family support, especially from her mother who remained in New Zealand, she found comfort in an online community of single parents.
Conversely, Emilia Rossi, another Melbourne mother, faced a more difficult reality during the same period. Juggling a toddler and a newborn, she felt overwhelmed and experienced what she described as an “overwhelming sense of desperation,” even with a robust support system, including her husband and family. Rossi battled minor postpartum depression amid the demands of her young children, and expressed feeling emotionally spent, often going through her days in a fog.
While Burns had her own health challenges, including her daughter’s delayed diagnosis of hip dysplasia due to the pandemic’s restrictions, both mothers found their way through the pandemic. Despite the hardships, they report that their children are now thriving and healthy.
Samantha Page, CEO of Early Childhood Australia, highlighted the varying impacts of the pandemic on early childhood development, acknowledging that while family bonding was enhanced, many children missed out on vital social interactions that contribute to their growth. She emphasised how children absorb their parents’ emotions, indicating that the stress induced by the pandemic may affect them in unknown ways.
Overall, the experiences of Burns and Rossi illustrate the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on mothers and their children, showcasing how the pandemic has been a time of both challenge and unexpected joy for different families in Melbourne.