Can Good Things Still Happen During the Ongoing Pandemic?

I've got some good news and some sad news!

Please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 SURVEY!

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Here’s a weird story:

When the pandemic first began, I instantly saw a silver lining: People working from home was going to transform the way we approach work, careers, and what our priorities look like. (Yes, I basically predicted the Great Resignation.)

At the time, my main point was that I believed that so many people starting to work remotely and doing it successfully was going to open doors and new opportunities for companies to seek talent outside of their HQ city.

My *dream* was that the media industry (which I have been a part of as a journalist since my first magazine internship in 2005 — shout out to Latina magazine!) would finally understand that New York City is not the only place where there are talented writers, editors, illustrators, photographers, fact-checkers, etc. As someone who left NYC in 2016 in order to get sober, my only big regret was that I felt I was leaving a big piece of my career behind.

Although I’ve since found success as a freelance writer and editor, there was still a lingering part of me that — deep down — still wanted to work for a top media company the same way that I had told my classmates in Magazine Writing 1 at NYU that my career goal was to be the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan magazine.

That’s no longer my goal… but I still wanted to eventually get somewhere close. And so, today I am thrilled to announce that I am joining theSkimm.com as their Parenting Editor starting tomorrow!

msirinagonzalez

A post shared by Irina Gonzalez 🇨🇺🇷🇺🇺🇸 (@msirinagonzalez)

So, it seems, that good things can happen during this ongoing hellhole of a pandemic…

But this exciting news for me does bring some sad ones: I will no longer have the bandwidth to maintain this newsletter.

I plan to continue the Pandemic Mama podcast… for now. I have some episodes in the bank that I hope to share in the coming weeks but, I will admit, that I want to focus on my new role because I am *so damn excited* to create more parenting content outside of my own personal scope. And when I’m not working, I try to take that time to rest, enjoy some fun with my family, and even occasionally have a social life.

All of this is to say, this is goodbye here but please be sure to follow me on Instagram for updates on my work, the podcast, and #realtalk about motherhood and mental health.

In the meantime, please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 SURVEY and share it with friends!!! And, if you haven’t yet, check out past episodes of the Pandemic Mama podcast by subscribing below or clicking on each episode for a direct link.

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Want to listen ASAP? Check out the full episodes below:

1. The Birth of a Pandemic Mama with Irina Gonzalez

2. Welcoming a Third Baby During the Pandemic with Lauren Wellbank

3. How the Pandemic Changed this Adoption Story with Jesus Triviño

4. Pregnancy Anxiety During the Pandemic with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco

5. Embracing the Vulnerability of Black Motherhood with Bre Scullark

6. Being a Stay-at-Home Mom with a New Baby with Casey

7. Preparing for Postpartum Anxiety with Twins with Conz Preti

8. Dealing with the Fourth Trimester in the Pandemic with Jenny

9. Setting Boundaries as a New Mom with Jacqui Hathaway Levin

10. A Doctor’s Guide to Being a Pandemic Mama with Dr. Erin Watson

11. The Grief of Having a Baby During a Pandemic with Kaitlyn

12. How to Advocate for Yourself in Pregnancy with Carmen Perez

13. Escaping New York City During the Partner Ban with Hannah Howard

14. The Long-Term Trauma of Giving Birth Without Your Partner with Elaine

15. ‘Having It All is Actually Terrible’ with Whit Taylor

16. A Long, Complicated Fertility Journey with Kristin Diversi

17. Setting a Family Routine for Survival with Maria Piedrabuena

18. The Freak-Out Moments Happened Postpartum with Amanda McCracken

19. The Importance of Size Inclusion in Birth and Postpartum with Emily Goodstein

20. Meditating for Better Sleep and Stress Relief with Nathalie Walton

21. Why We All Should Get Pre-Conception Counseling with Blaire Briody

22. Getting Through Pandemic Parenting Thanks to Therapy with Shamiko Reid

    1. BONUS: What Will Happen to Pandemic Mama When the Pandemic is Over?

23. Dealing with an Unexpected Pregnancy Abroad During the Pandemic with Jenn Chowdhury

24. Finding Normal in the Chaos of a Pandemic with a 5th Baby with Nancy Sanchez

25. How We Parent in the Pandemic One Year Later

26. The Birth of a Pandemic Papa with Adam

27. The Grief of Postpartum in the Pandemic with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco

28. Episode 2.01: The Pandemic Mama Podcast is Back! Here’s What Season 2 is All About

29. Episode 2.02: Pandemic Parents Reflect on COVID-19, 2 Years Later

30. Episode 2.03: Navigating Postpartum Body Acceptance with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco

P.S. Interested in telling your pandemic parenting story? Email me here!