I feel less alone, both as a mother and as a person

What we are going through is a very sad time for us. My two-year-old son and I can’t go out freely for walks and he gets very bored. The days are long for me as a mother, and when my son gets tired of playing and asks if we can go out, I often can’t find the right words to explain to him that this virus is very dangerous, and the news that I hear every day makes me worry for his health. Covid-19 has turned our lives upside down.

Recently, now that we can start going out a bit more again, I tried to take my son for a walk outside, after two months of being stuck in the house. It was strange, I thought he couldn’t wait, but as soon as he set foot out of the house he started crying, he was bewildered and lost. I called Giulia to help me understand what to do.

Thanks to Benedetta, Giulia and Giorgia at the Ora di Futuro centre in Genoa, we feel less alone; we found support in them, and I can never thank them enough. I feel less alone, both as a mother and as a person. Having people to talk to about my son and about how I feel was so important to me. We see each other every week on a videocall, and my son can do all sorts of different activities! I can’t wait to be able to go back to normality, to breathe fresh air without a mask on, and to hug the Ora di Futuro teachers!

Being able to rely on the teachers at the THSN partner L’Albero della Vita centre in Genoa was vital for Oriana while she was at home in quarantine with her two-year-old son. They recommended activities and gave advice on how to deal with the more difficult moments. As a result, she now feels less alone, as a mother and as a person.