Soaking up the Stress

Baby Development Linked to Pandemic Panic

“The infant-toddler brain is the best sponge you could ever buy,” says Rahil Briggs, who oversees HealthySteps. This quote from a USA Today article published on June 9, 2022.

A screenshot of the USA Today article.

I started with a simple Google search, and the article from USA Today popped up. As I started to read, I soon realized I actually WASN'T alone. Because often times, that's how I feel. Alone. Wondering if the decisions I made early on in the pandemic to protect my son, were the right ones.

Hit me Like a Ton of Bricks.

What smacked me in the face, was this paragraph:

"Emerging evidence reveals an uptick in developmental delays and challenging behaviors in children belonging to the “COVID generation.” Born during or shortly before the pandemic, many of these children are talking, walking and interacting later and less frequently. They're more prone to certain behaviors, such as outbursts, physical aggression and separation anxiety." - USA Today article written by Alia Wong.

More specifically, "...outbursts, physical aggression and separation anxiety."

Those words describe my son so well, I thought they interviewed me.

Roman at his 1-year checkup with the pediatrician.

Another striking line in the article was just how much a child's brain develops, and how quickly in the first few years.

"More than 1 million neural connections are formed every second, laying down the infrastructure of the brain. At least 85% of its development occurs before age 5, and the majority occurs in the first few years of life." - USA Today article, written by Alia Wong.

As a first time mom, I had no idea isolating my son would do more harm then good as a killer virus was on the loose across the world.

Soaking up the Stress.

"In many cases, the adults in their lives have suffered unrelenting and unprecedented levels of emotional or financial stress – stress pandemic babies have absorbed when their brains are developing at a faster rate than at any other point in the human experience." - USA Today article

This brings me to my next point, and true fear. The anxiety, fear and depression I felt as a first time mom navigating this pandemic ridden world, has affected my son, and may affect him for the rest of his life.

My Roman at around two-months-old.

"Every emotional experience – every environment, every interaction – gives instructions to a young child’s brain, telling it which neuronal connections to make stronger and which it doesn't need and can prune away. Safe, nurturing, responsive environments and interactions foster healthy brain development." - USA Today article, Dana Suskind, a University of Chicago researcher, professor and pediatric surgeon.

"If a child’s brain is continually exposed to stress, that brain is going to wire with the assumption that the environment is always going to be like that, Suskind says." - USA Today article.

My Biggest Fear.

I grew up in an unstable home life. My parents, divorced by the time I was 3-years-old, followed by constant fighting between them and their families. Threats of taking me hours away, led to a police officer tearing out of my father's arms during my birthday celebration with him. I fully understand the mental anguish of a stressful and emotionally unstable upbringing. As I even thought about having children, I refused to let them suffer the same trauma, or even suffer from my childhood trauma, and yet, it seems I may have failed.

Connect with me!

Please, feel free to reach out to me on social or email. I would love to hear your stories, share your stories on this platform, but also do the research and ask experts what we can do to give our kids the best future possible.