Christina: Mom and Baby on Their Own

Before the COVID crisis, Christina and her one-year-old daughter had a solid routine: Christina would get them both ready for the day before dropping off her baby at daycare and heading to work at a call center. Then, after work, she’d pick her up and they would spend some time together and have dinner before Christina put the baby to bed. “Routine was important to me, it was how I had figured out how to make things work on my own,” she said. 

But Christina was laid off from her job at a call center when lockdown began, and now Christina is trying to care for her daughter with no structure and no income. Playgrounds and parks are closed, and it’s difficult for Christina to entertain her daughter and make sure she has what she needs. “Spending most of my time at home, I am struggling to keep the baby occupied, make sure she has the food she needs and isn’t hungry. It’s been a challenge, but we want to be safe in this pandemic,” she said. 

Although Ohio is beginning to open up slowly, Christina doesn’t feel safe heading out yet. “Of course I want to go out, I want to be doing more. But I am still scared about the coronavirus. It’s serious and a lot of people are getting it. I want to be safe. I have a little one, and it’s just me and her in the house. I need to be ok and make sure I don’t give it to her,” said Christina. 

By saving her tax return with SaverLife, Christina had put away about $700 for emergencies, which she has used to cover expenses since she lost her job. She also applied for unemployment in early April, but has yet to receive her benefits (she is hopeful she will receive retroactive payments for April and May once she is approved, but still hasn’t heard whether her claim was accepted). With expenses piling up, the SaverLife emergency payment came at the perfect time. “I put it straight toward rent for the two-family my daughter and I live in. It was truly a blessing,” said Christina. 

Christina has been applying for remote and work-from-home jobs and has had some interest from employers, so she is hopeful one might work out--and that soon she will be able to provide consistency for her daughter. “I just want things to go back somewhat to normal. I know it will be a long time, but I miss it. The pandemic and quarantine definitely impacts mental health and the way you look at things.”