Erin Loftson & COVID-19

Bringing a baby into the world during a pandemic was not part of Erin Loftson’s birth plan. Amidst so much sanitization and uncertainty, her baby boy entered the world bringing new hope. ​

What challenges have you faced during Covid-19?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I’ve faced an unusual set of challenges bringing a new baby into this world while the virus hit Calgary in late March. My final midwife appointments were cold, sterilized, and rushed. Our hospital delivery was met with PPE, sanitizing, and worrying about what I should or shouldn’t touch while labouring around the delivery room. Our postpartum days were filled with uncertainty, worry, and the disappointment of not being able to introduce our new baby to family and friends. 

But most of all, I miss the opportunity of connecting with our spiritual family, the Body of Christ, face-to-face. We have been unable to celebrate our son’s baptism with our family and friends, unable to see our friends every Sunday, and unable to join in Communion with our parish. My family has a new found realization of how much we truly need our brothers and sisters in worship, support, and fellowship. 

What blessings have you received during Covid-19? 

To say the least, welcoming our new son safely into our home has been a great blessing during this pandemic. We have also been privy to the love that our friends and family have for us by supporting us and helping our family even when unable to be physically present. Praying outside the church during the baptism, dropping gifts and food off for us, offering to run errands. Even though Covid-19 has limited our ability to physically come together with our community, it has highlighted our friends’ and families’ love and support for us when they have gone the extra mile to be there for our family. 

Interiorly, being quarantined initially emphasized my need to pray as I work in the home. “Every diaper is a Hail Mary,” I’m always told. With the inability to attend Mass for three months, I wanted to really lean into my work as a mother and offer it all to Jesus. However, I quickly burned out. I realized that my Sabbath was not set apart from the rest of the week as it used to be, and my daily activities wore me down. This all led me to a great fight for prayer time, recognizing more than ever my need for silent, uninterrupted prayer time. I still offered up the diapers, the spills, and the tantrums, but I realized that being stuck at home with little children, without any outside reprieve, necessitates a deeper connection with Christ that only prayer time can offer. Even if it’s only 10 minutes while the newborn naps and the toddler is likely getting into worlds of trouble, those 10 minutes provide me with the grace, patience, and love necessary to offer up the diapers and spills and tantrums. All for Jesus!

Erin Loftson is a wife and mother of two. The Loftson family are parishioners of St. Anthony's Parish, FSSP Latin Mass.