What I learnt about corona from my mother
Strange things are happening thanks to corona. A friend got in touch by phone who I hadn't heard from for a while.
He opened the conversation with: «I'm not going to ask how you are.» I said: «But why not? I'm doing pretty well. And you?» He then explained to me that the constant whinging of his friends was getting on his nerves and that's why he preferred not to ask any more.
As far as I'm concerned, the phone has become my window to the world and my best friend.
Of course, you can also do it that way. If you're not feeling particularly stable yourself right now, it probably makes sense not to burden yourself with the worries of others. As far as I'm concerned, the phone has become my window to the world and my best friend. I've never made so many phone calls in my life.
As I am lucky enough to have a robust psyche and can also see positive sides to the corona lockdown, I take the opportunity to encourage others. Or even just to listen. Or to have normal conversations about God, the world and coronavirus. What a difference a human voice and a little optimism can make.
I talk to my mum on the phone the most, she is the best role model for me with her energy, her commitment to other people and her steadfastness. The lockdown also had the hardest consequences for her of all of us.
She, who looked after her grandchildren all over Switzerland every week, visited museums and concerts or sick friends, who always had something going on, has been sitting at home for weeks and is hardly allowed to leave the house.
This probably has to do with the fact that she never puts herself at the centre, but always the well-being of others.
So she has every reason to be depressed, but she's not. She tends her garden, takes care of the household, goes for a long walk every day and listens to Christian Drosten's podcast, she reads and looks after friends who are down in the dumps.
«When people tell me they're bored, I sometimes wonder how they do it. I always have something to do,» she confided to me recently. Which probably has something to do with the fact that she never puts herself at the centre, but always the well-being of others.
I haven't got that far yet, but I'm also talking to her more than ever on the phone. We chat almost every day. I'm also counting that on the coronavirus plus side.
And if I can give you one final tip: When you call someone, the first thing you should do is ask them how they are - especially if they are feeling unwell. And then try to make up for it. After all, that's what friends are for.
That is also what we can all learn from mothers like mine: Those who make it their business to look after others will never be alone. That's a nice consolation.
Michèle Binswanger's diary at a glance:
- Zeiten-Paradox im Lockdown
- Ausgehungert nach Freunden
- Lockdown-Bilanz und eine Prise Optimismus
- Frühling und die Kunst, traurig zu sein
- Reifeprüfung im Corona-Dilemma
Michèle Binswangers reports on her experiences in the home office in her new lockdown mum blog. From now on, the mum of two will be blogging twice a week - on Sundays and Wednesdays. Her blog appears on www.tagesanzeiger.ch and www.fritzundfraenzi.ch.
