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Mary Bello
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Nigeria - Halifax
Art by Emily Honderich
Mary Bello story
Mary Bello is a stay at home mother to four amazing boys and with a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. She came to Canada from Nigeria in 2014 and became a Canadian citizen in 2019. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Society and is a member of the Catholic Women League.
We Are Like House Rats
I am a stay-at-home mom with four amazing boys between the ages of three and nine and a wonderful strong supportive husband, my best friend. Staying home is normal for me, but for the boys and my husband, it is challenging. Having each other has kept us strong along with our connection with family and friends, although physically apart. Not being able to have my mum over has been difficult for the kids.
Homeschooling was exciting. It kept us busy while my husband worked from home. I stopped watching the news and everything related to COVID-19. It was depressing. Instead I opted for comedies and cartoons.
The pandemic is a learning period. I realized the importance of teachers, had a glimpse of my husband’s job, and will never take things for granted again. We did crafts with the kids, dance challenges, watched movies, cleared out stuff we did not need, and I spent most of my time cooking.
The most challenging for me has been not having my children in school. They have not been able to play outside or be with their friends. My second son, fondly called Bosa, said, “We are like house rats.” I burst into laughter. Absolutely, house rats, indeed.
"Having each other has kept us strong along with our connection with family and friends, although physically apart. Not being able to have my mum over has been difficult for the kids."