You don’t have to be on the front line of every battle. 

Friends who sew, I’m speaking of mask making specifically here. Although, I remind myself of this every time a good cause comes along. 

This month it’s masks. A few months ago, it was bags and pouches for baby animals. Then, there are baby quilts for hospitals, state patrol, fire departments, animal rescue. The list goes on. Meal trains, nursing home caroling, babysitting, painting shutters, and on and on. All good causes. 

But, you can’t do them all, and be effective where you are needed most. I can’t remember when it was, but I found myself spinning like  a top. 

In some ways it was energizing. In some ways, it was an ego booster because people would comment they didn’t know how I did it all. In reality, I was mentally and physically exhausted enough that I was forgetting things...appointments, meetings, birthdays. 

Before I run out of space, here. My encouragement to you, if you are seeing thousands of masks being sewn and you don’t have the energy or passion for it. It’s okay. You don’t have to be on the front line of every battle. 

What can happen when you jump to the front line for every thing, you run out of energy, you get burned out and then when a front line come along that is non-negotiable, will you be able to be there? 
At Christmas, my mom was in the hospital for 7 days. My siblings and I came up with a rotating schedule, so someone could always be there. She was home on Christmas Day, but when I got back to my home, with my adult boys and hubs, I told him. I love you. Merry Christmas. I didn’t make cookies or prepare a huge meal. I had been on the front line that needed me most, and now it was time for me to sit and knit and be calm. 

Yesterday, I made 2 masks for my folks. They asked. They would do anything for me. 
Choose your front lines. Don’t feel guilty. For some, making masks is keeping their hands busy, so they don’t worry as much. For others, it’s because they feel guilty. 
Do what you love and help out where you can. But, be mindful of how many front lines you are on, and where are you needed most? If you have been thrown into schooling your kids at home, and working or having others in the household suddenly working from home, you have your front line. It’s not as glorious, I know. It’s never as glorious. Posting a picture of your child finally getting their math done, and you trying to stay patient about it, doesn’t make a colorful picture. But, it’s your front line and it’s important. 

Your friend,
Anne Dovel