Covid 19 coronavirus: mom writes an emotional open letter to her son who has spent half his life locked up

A Melbourne mother has written an emotional open letter to her son, who has just turned one year old and has spent almost half his life locked up.

In the open letter, posted on Facebook, the mom explained that the boy, who turned his first birthday last week, lives with mom and dad in an apartment in Melbourne and the family has been locked up for almost six months.

Melbourne residents are currently only able to leave home for four reasons and cannot travel more than 5 km from their homes. There is a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

“Isolated at home with mom and dad, for six months and counting,” wrote Michelle Daga, the boy’s mother.

“He never played with another child, or petted a dog, or had a chance to dig in the dirt.

“He has yet to meet most of his family, visit a mall or spend a day at a playground.

“The only other faces you see are hidden behind masks.”

“He has no idea that food grows on trees or sprouts from the ground, only that it arrives in bags and boxes, left by a man in a mask at the front door,” he continued.

Melbourne’s mom says she knows her situation isn’t unique, but says it’s important to acknowledge everyone’s challenges.

“There is nothing normal about living half your life in quarantine. There is nothing normal about being a parent in a pandemic.

“And although I am aware that things could be worse, this is not easy.

“Millions more people share this strange new reality with us every day.

“And I am here to remind you that you are not alone.”

Parents from all over the world left comments in her open letter expressing their sympathy and support, as well as sharing their own experiences of parenting in lockdown.

“We are in Peru and we also have some restrictions. We live in an apartment and it is very difficult to find a park nearby,” wrote a mother.

“But we have some really small green areas. My little girl will also be one month in a month.”

“My baby was born in March, just when the lockdown really took effect,” said another mother.

“He has not had the opportunity to play with other babies, meet half his family (we are in Melbourne and half in Queensland).”