Mothers became the default solution to this pandemic crisis. As a mother who is also a mature student trying to change careers, this pandemic has been especially challenging to navigate. When the government shut down schools to stop the spread of the coronavirus, they offered no real solution for parents and mothers were often left to pick up the pieces to this plan B. It was especially disheartening in April 2021 when Ontario schools closed with no date of reopening. With two young children at home, it is a constant struggle to manage their needs along with my own. I know that I am in a better situation than most but the feelings of stress and anxiety are still very real. A friend, who is also a mother, described the pandemic as being in a marathon with a constantly moving goal post. Mothers are the ones doing it all, caring for the young and the elderly, working or studying, supporting schooling, and supporting the household. So many had to give up on their careers to focus on their families. Mothers need a break from this crisis. People tend to say that something as simple as taking a shower or bath is a form of escape but it is really just satisfying basic necessities. Even during those times, they are often interrupted by the needs of the children. Some days can feel extremely overwhelming and that you are barely on the surface gasping for air. This self-portrait represents the need to escape for mothers during this pandemic when there is no time to pause. The self-portrait shows my face partially submerged in water in the tub surrounded by my children’s toys. This is to convey the realities of anxiety, exhaustion, and stress from being a mother during these times.