Welp, it’s official, folks. It’s finally here. This is the point in the quarantine where I, Abby Mathews, has officially— yet good-natured-ly— lost her mind. (See, I’m even making up words.) I don’t even know what day it is anymore. Is it a podcast release day? Beats the heck out of me. So we’re just gonna go with today for an encore episode of Mom Writes. Why an encore episode? Because I just can’t do one. more. thing. I know you parents feel me. And I’m sending you my love. And if you are listening and you aren’t a parent, let me paint you a picture. We started this whole quarantine with beautifully bleached houses. Seriously. You could have eaten off the floors. But for the last month, no one has left the house. Or picked up after themselves. We have weird makeshift school science projects and artworks lying around the house (all made out of tras— recycled materials, excuse me). GOD FORBID WE THROW THEM AWAY. Usually I would wait for the kids to go to school, and then I would throw them away, shoving them deep into the kitchen trash and covering them with a random paper towel or something. But the children are home. And they are watching my every move. They are also consuming all. the. snacks. all. the. time. And eating lunch at their desks like tiny office workers. And my 10-year old STARTED DRINKING COFFEE. She leaves her half-consumed cups of coffee everywhere. And I’m wondering if I can program Alexa to do an hourly reminder to PICK YOUR FREAKING DISHES UP. One of my wonderful and brilliant and dearest friends FaceTimed me the other day to ask this question: what is the best way to connect two strands of paper dolls. Behind him, my 5-year old goddaughter danced with the exuberance only a 5-year old can possess. She waved several strands of paper dolls, singing in a thunderous voice about decorating the living room. I saw the look in his eyes. This call wasn’t about the pros and cons of tape vs. staples in paper doll making. He needed someone to tell him it was going to be okay. I want all of you to listen to me. It’s going to be okay. One day we will laugh about walking into our bedroom at 9 pm, and seeing our children sitting at a card table they’d turned into a slime-making station. (I know this isn’t just happening at my house.) That day is not today. But one day. I promise. We’ll laugh as long as we all stay healthy and stay home. The rest we will survive. Because that’s the point. Survival. Now I’m off to dive back into my mask-making project. I’ve made well over a hundred at this point. I’ve lost count. But what started out as my daughter’s mask-making business has turned into “mom’s project” because, as Bell said, “I made my business TOO GOOD, Mom. Everyone wants one, and it’s stressing me out. You do it.” I’ve run out of fabric, but I’ve caught up on paid orders. So now I’ve got a bunch of men’s dress shirts that the community has donated to me (because thankfully everyone is cleaning their closets!). I’m working on upcycled masks to give to those who need them. A lady in the neighborhood is looking for some to send to soldiers, so that’s today’s goal. I’ll leave you with what is still my favorite episode (and one that is still fitting)— the Mom Guilt episode. Because we all need to hear this on repeat. (Maybe I can program Alexa to play it on loop…)