Monica Ayres gave birth to her and her partner Jim’s first child on March 10, 2020. Their home state of New York would begin full lockdown mere days later. An inherently isolating time in normal circumstance, Monica’s postpartum experience was broad brushed in profound loneliness. There were no visitors, no meal trains, no relentless check-ins, no casual chats to take her mind off nursing, or diapers, or the fact that the body keeps contracting days after the birth (what gives?!). Though together, the family entered their “it takes a village” chapter …alone.   In this episode, you’ll hear about Monica’s childhood home filled with cousins, and aunts, and uncles, and grandparents, and friends that adopted Monica’s mom as their own. When we get to the start of her daughter’s life, the contrast is palpable.  Come for a story of grace under pressure, the art of honoring your obstacles while acknowledging the way through them. Stay for our laughs, bad jokes, worse pop culture references, tears, and (of course) the anthem to Nora, and all babies born in a plague.   THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN is produced by Doug Wortel, at Spillway Street Studio. Cover art is by Natalie Renganeschi. To tell your story on our show, email us supposedtohappenshow@gmail.com    I'll never say anything happens for a reason, but it is reason enough to talk about it.