Mum whose son has spent ‘half of his life in coronavirus lockdown’ pens open letter for parents

A Melbourne mother has written an honest open letter about the realities of being a mum to a one-year-old during the coronavirus lockdown, and it has struck a chord with parents around the world.

Michelle Daga, her partner Jahmin, both 32, and baby Jahlee, 1, live in an apartment without a backyard, and they are three of thousands who are subject to the strictest restrictions Australia has ever seen. 

‘My baby is turning one this week, and he has spent half of his life in lockdown,’ nutritionist and childbirth educator Michelle wrote in the letter.

‘Isolated at home with mum and dad, for six months now and counting. He has never played with another child, patted a dog, or had a chance to dig in the dirt.

‘He is yet to meet most of his family, visit a shopping centre, or spend a day in the playground.’

Melbourne has been in stage 4 lockdown since Sunday 2 August and this will continue until at least Sunday 13 September.

During this period, residents can only travel 5km from their house, there is a curfew between 8pm and 5am, and people can only leave their homes for one hour each day.  

While Michelle acknowledged that she knows their situation is ‘not unique’, she also said that doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult. 

‘The only other faces Jahlee sees are hidden behind masks,’ she said. 

‘And he has no idea food grows on trees or sprouts from the earth, just that it arrives in bags and boxes, left by a man in a mask at the front door.’

Michelle and Jahmin recently celebrated Jahlee’s first birthday with a party for the three of them, and all 20 of their extended family joined from across the country on Zoom. 

‘To look at him, you wouldn’t know of his sheltered little life,’ Michelle said.

‘He was a baby when lockdown began, not even able to crawl. Now, he’s a walking, talking toddler, with a whole lot of personality and a toothy smile.’

In Michelle’s open letter, she said while Jahlee is ‘happy, healthy, vibrant’ and ‘full of curiosity and laughter’, she has a sense that he is ‘longing for more’ and that even he knows something ‘isn’t right’.

‘That was confirmed just last week, when he hurriedly crawled across the floor, pointing to the window, squealing, laughing, shrieking with delight,’ she said.

‘I turned to see two pigeons, perched high on the roof of the building next door. A look on his face of pure joy, and then I realised, these are the first birds my one-year-old has ever seen.’

Michelle said she sat with Jahlee for a while watching the birds who were ‘so peaceful, so free’, before they flew away and left ‘us alone again, in these four walls’. 

‘There is nothing normal about living half your life in quarantine,’ Michelle said.

‘There is nothing normal about parenting in a pandemic. And although I’m well aware things could be worse, this is far from easy.

‘Millions of others are sharing this strange new reality with us every day. And I’m here to remind you, you’re not alone.

‘Here’s hoping we can all spread our wings, and teach our young ones to fly very soon. Happy birthday, my baby.’ 

The mum-of-one’s post struck a huge chord on Facebook, where over 1,000 people reacted to it and shared their own stories during lockdown.

‘In Melbourne too with 3.5 years old, 18 months old and baby born in stage 4 last week… I feel you. This Is madness,’ one mother posted.

‘Sending strength! Here in WA we are sheltered from the madness happening over where you are right now but I had a newborn in lockdown over here and I can already see the difference between my older son and my younger one,’ another woman added.

‘My youngest is clingy and won’t go to anyone … why would he when he spent 10 weeks at home with just me.’

Others said they were drawing huge moral support from the mother’s post during an ‘impossible’ time.

Michelle told FEMAIL that due to ‘rolling lockdowns’ throughout the majority of this year, Jahlee has only met his uncle who lives in Melbourne and his two parents. 

‘He hasn’t had a chance to meet other babies or make friends,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘I’ve received hundreds of messages from other parents saying their little ones in that 0-18 month age group are in the same situation.’

Michelle added that it is also ‘incredibly isolating’ for new mothers, who would usually gather at parenting groups, women’s circles and playgroups.

‘It’s also hard for grandparents, who have to watch their grandchildren grow up on FaceTime and Zoom calls, knowing they can’t get this time back,’ she said.