My husband quit his job because we couldn’t make all the time off work any more. At least when my kids were in the same school, they were quarantined together. Now my oldest is in Kindergarten and my baby is still in daycare. The idea of trying to work while my 2 year old is running all over and my 5 year old not keeping her busy… 😰. Couldn’t do it.
There's an awesome construction theme VBS happening in my city that my DS(5) would love. However, masks are optional for all. In my red city that means no masks. When I called to ask about the mask protocols I had to bit my tongue to stop myself from responding to her gleeful "we let everyone decide for themselves" answer.
I'm so worried it's when not if my DS gets COVID this fall in kinder. All these fucking assholes.
I follow Your local epidemiologist who calls it the "Pandemic of Self Over Others" rather than the pandemic of the unvaxxed. That sums it up for me.
I had the exact same experience (different theme). I did not hold my tongue. I laid it on pretty thick. My kids haven’t been in church since March 2020 (before that basically every Sunday of their lives) and the one thing they requested this summer was to go to VBS. I made no bones about how disappointed I was that I had to tell them that they couldn’t go because people wouldn’t be wearing masks. It was a dealbreaker and I told them as much. I got no response.
I was actually kind of surprised because they are still holding one outdoor service a week for those who aren’t comfortable indoors yet.
There's an awesome construction theme VBS happening in my city that my DS(5) would love. However, masks are optional for all. In my red city that means no masks. When I called to ask about the mask protocols I had to bit my tongue to stop myself from responding to her gleeful "we let everyone decide for themselves" answer.
I'm so worried it's when not if my DS gets COVID this fall in kinder. All these fucking assholes.
I follow Your local epidemiologist who calls it the "Pandemic of Self Over Others" rather than the pandemic of the unvaxxed. That sums it up for me.
I had the exact same experience (different theme). I did not hold my tongue. I laid it on pretty thick. My kids haven’t been in church since March 2020 (before that basically every Sunday of their lives) and the one thing they requested this summer was to go to VBS. I made no bones about how disappointed I was that I had to tell them that they couldn’t go because people wouldn’t be wearing masks. It was a dealbreaker and I told them as much. I got no response.
I was actually kind of surprised because they are still holding one outdoor service a week for those who aren’t comfortable indoors yet.
You can see my post history for my kids’ VBS experience. I agreed to lead the Bible lesson rotation because masks were required. Then, because cases counts were better and schools quit requiring masks, the church quit requiring them. Cases were still low-ish so we still went, but none of my family made the photo slide show for more than a millisecond because we were in masks. It was a very “othering” experience. (In a twist that was not a shock to me, cases have risen 800% since then in my area so if it were this week, our decision would probably be different).
I have a lot of anger/disappointment/frustration over how my local church leadership has handled this whole thing. My kids have been at church most every Sunday of their lives and I rarely missed a week in mine. We watched online for the whole pandemic and I made sure to still support the church financially above our tithe (and I use tithe literally). However, the last few months have made me feel disconnected from the church (both locally and globally). My kids loved church—they loved talking to the pastors and people around us. Since we have returned (wearing our masks), everyone has stayed far away from us. It is like we have the plague…and aren’t just trying to avoid it.
I obviously have a lot of feelings about this and other institutions in my area—I’m really conflicted about a lot of things now.
lilac05 & statgirl in my red city it's best not to engage with the crazies. It will fall on deaf ears and they'll laugh in my face regardless. They were only wearing masks because of our mask mandate. The CDC saying vaxxed people could unmask and then our mask mandate ending on June 30th meant covid was over.
My DS had attended church regularly his whole life until a month before he turned 4 (March 2020). He loved Sunday School and I was really looking forward to enrolling him in VBS for the first time. (I thought about it the summer he was 3 but he wasn't reliably PT yet at that point.) Hopefully next summer.
The numbers in our area are now only posted once a week where I usually follow things. Tomorrow is when it’ll get posted. I’m anxious to see how things are going in our area. I feel like it’s a ticking time bomb, and am trying to find a balance between doing everything we feel comfortable with as fast as we can before I don’t feel comfortable doing it anymore…and just shutting back down a bunch again. But other than taking the kids occasionally to a store, there’s not much we can cut out.
statgirl, long story short, we left our church and are now trying to find a new spiritual home. (We had already stopped giving at that particular institution because I didn’t agree with where/how they were spending money pre-Covid.) My faith itself is stronger than ever…but my distrust/disenfranchisement/anger at the American version of “Christianity” has also never been stronger. It’s a weird place to be.
Feel free to PM as anything further won’t be Covid related.
Our church is doing VBS this week but my kid went once a few years ago and hated it so she is not going. We have not been very engaged with church the last 2 years and won’t go back til the kids are vaxxed.
Tangentially related, today she asked “Mom what does ‘Christian’ mean?” And my exvangelical heart swelled with pride because clearly we have succeeded with not indoctrinating our kids. However we have maybe swung a bit TOO far the other way and my kid knows nothing of religion. So I put a world religions book on hold at the library.
We talk a lot about our values but don’t connect them to faith because we no longer believe the 2 must be married to be genuine.
pugz, can you share the book? I got a similar "Who is God?" question the other week and both DH and I were like "uhhh well, it's not really a person, ummm" stumble stumble stumble.
It's hard because I integrate Jewish tradition/culture into our family, not the religious aspect and DH is not religious at all.
Some anecdotes. My ds's cardiolgist told us to keep masks on indoors even though we are all vaxxed due to Delta. He is in a study to test antibodies and also said a colleague of his was vaccinated in January and does not have antibodies anymore. So he wasn't sure how long the vaccines will be effective.
Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 20, 2021 9:21:57 GMT -5
One thing I'd like to see if possible is a reduction of the 10-day quarantine guidance. Some preliminary studies haven shown that the incubation period for Delta may be shorter than for the original virus. And we need to ramp up testing in schools, or at least allow for testing back in to decrease quarantine periods (some districts do this, but not all, and not mine as of now). We're not locking down again and most employers will either require staff to come back by around Labor Day or at least require childcare not by the parents if still WFH. If Delta is going to infect more and more kids then quarantine after quarantine is going to be too disruptive for families. Safety first, I know, but this is why I'm pro-masking in schools. At some point, something has to give.
Velar Fricative, I would like to see that as well. Logistically going into our THIRD school year being impacted by COVID, something has to give. Even last spring my employer and coworkers were way less tolerant of us having to take time off because of quarantines. It certainly felt like the grace and understanding of things not being normal for parents was gone. I think that will be even more apparent this fall for working parents. And I don't know what other people's experience was, but when my kids were in quarantine their educational experience was basically non-existent. It essentially became a really boring break. Which at the time, no big deal. But we can't keep having these big gaps in learning. It isn't sustainable.
I don't have the solution. But it is really hitting me hard that this is legit the third school year that will be impacted by COVID. That is absolute insanity. Just get your freaking vaccine people!
We live in a purple town in a blue state. Cases are low and vax numbers are decent but we are already seeing things start to increase a bit, likely from delta.
In last week’s BOE meeting, the superintendent said they did were not planning to quarantine entire classes for exposure this coming year, just “close contacts.” I’m not sure how that is going to play out in real life.
The fact that there is no remote option coupled with the possibility that masks may not be required is going to be a total shitshow. My kids are are going to pick up all the school germs (even if they mask, I don’t think it is as effective as having everyone masked) and then miss school for every sniffle and not be able to follow along online like last year.
Pretty sure our district will be going with the if you don't test for Covid there won't be any Covid strategy. I don't know. They haven't released anything yet but neighboring districts have and that seems to the be gist. Stay home if you are sick or have a fever. Consider a mask if you aren't feeling well. 10 day quarantine if you test positive for Covid (but there is no virtual option). You should consider staying home if you were exposed or wear a mask. These were guidelines from June before Delta took off though. Who knows if it will change. Probably not because Texas.
I had a friend comment “I thought we were past this!” when her two kids got sent home for a 10-day quarantine due to exposure at daycare. No…no we are definitely not past this point yet.
It's clear most everyone in this area thinks we're "past this" despite a less than 50% vaccination rate and climbing cases. There's a bunch of parents on social media that are basically going to have a mutiny if masks are required in their kids' school this year (doesn't look like they're going to be anyway as of now, of course cases keep climbing so we'll see). Of course they want things "back to normal" but I predict there's going to be a lot of online learning when they have to close the damn schools down due to no masking + low vaccine rates (hell under 12 can't even get vaccinated if their parents want them to!). I have no idea how many of the teachers and staff in our district opted to get vaccinated. TBH, the only reason I'm not freaking out more this year than last is my oldest is vaccinated and my youngest is too young for school, although I am still nervous because obviously the vaccine isn't 100% and I feel bad for kids who have dumbass parents. WHY do people suck so much???
Also, I am bored out of my mind these days. Being a SAHM to a school age kid is really not that great. I am ready to return to work but there is no way. With the all uncertainty and inevitable sick days I know it's in the best interest of my family for me to stay home a bit longer. I don't want to though and am bitter. Just get vaccinated people. I understand not everyone was comfortable at first but there is plenty of safety data now. Just do it.
I am really nervous about school starting in 4 weeks. I’m in SC where the legislature passed a proviso with the budget that schools cannot mandate masks - if they do they risk funding being taken away. It makes me SO angry. Vaccination rate here is around 50%. I feel like it is inevitable that my kids will catch it at this point. I really struggled with mental health last year having kids home for virtual school. Plus we just moved so my kids don’t know anyone, I feel like they need to be at school. Freaking Republicans and their purposeful obtuseness in the name of “freedom”.
We moved to the same area yesterday. I’m scared. And probably sending my kids in masks. Will they be the only ones? No idea and I also don’t want them to be the new kids in masks but also they get it and know why we wear them (at age 8 and 5). It’s crazy to me to unmask those who can’t be vaccinated.
Also, I am bored out of my mind these days. Being a SAHM to a school age kid is really not that great. I am ready to return to work but there is no way. With the all uncertainty and inevitable sick days I know it's in the best interest of my family for me to stay home a bit longer. I don't want to though and am bitter. Just get vaccinated people. I understand not everyone was comfortable at first but there is plenty of safety data now. Just do it.
You aren’t alone. I’m a reluctant SAHM. It’s what is best for my family as a whole, but it’s not always the best for me. When my youngest went to K, my plan was to renew my license and prepare to go back to work while also enjoying volunteering in the classroom and working part-time in a different job. That lasted 6 months and then Covid hit. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my days this fall. I don’t do well with no structure or external responsibilities.
Post by formerlyak on Jul 20, 2021 14:32:42 GMT -5
We just got back from a road trip to Nor Cal. We live in LA County. Even when the mask mandate was lifted, there was still a lot of mask wearing indoors here. And camps and schools still required it. Driving north through the center part of the state was eye opening. Most places we were one of only a handful in masks. My younger Ds isn’t 12 yet so we all mask when we are in public places indoors. There were families in the Silicon Valley, SF and the East Bay that seemed similar to us, but outside the major metros, it was like 2019.
I am so thankful that LA reinstated the mask mandate and that our schools still require them indoors and plan to in the fall. Not only can DS not get the vaccine yet, but my dad was just diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing treatments. We are taking zero risks!
mskitkat - Ugh - sorry your H had to quit his job. It just shows how unstainable this is for families.
Thanks. He’s in grad school, so he’s just going to focus on finishing faster. But it sucks we have to lose out on his salary because there is just no way to make another year work. Especially since I’m in sales, and my company is making lots of noises about more sales calls.
We live in a purple town in a blue state. Cases are low and vax numbers are decent but we are already seeing things start to increase a bit, likely from delta.
In last week’s BOE meeting, the superintendent said they did were not planning to quarantine entire classes for exposure this coming year, just “close contacts.” I’m not sure how that is going to play out in real life.
The fact that there is no remote option coupled with the possibility that masks may not be required is going to be a total shitshow. My kids are are going to pick up all the school germs (even if they mask, I don’t think it is as effective as having everyone masked) and then miss school for every sniffle and not be able to follow along online like last year.
I would consider an entire class close contact, so I’m curious what their thinking is. Same classroom for 7 hours a day = lots of chance for exposure. Plus unlike most of last year, I know our kids will be eating in the cafeteria again and mingling more at recess. Ugh.
If every district had access to on-site testing with a 24-hour turnaround for results it would help reduce a lot of my anxiety but I have a feeling my kids are going to miss a lot more school because of more germ spread and waiting for test results to come back.
Also, I am bored out of my mind these days. Being a SAHM to a school age kid is really not that great. I am ready to return to work but there is no way. With the all uncertainty and inevitable sick days I know it's in the best interest of my family for me to stay home a bit longer. I don't want to though and am bitter. Just get vaccinated people. I understand not everyone was comfortable at first but there is plenty of safety data now. Just do it.
You aren’t alone. I’m a reluctant SAHM. It’s what is best for my family as a whole, but it’s not always the best for me. When my youngest went to K, my plan was to renew my license and prepare to go back to work while also enjoying volunteering in the classroom and working part-time in a different job. That lasted 6 months and then Covid hit. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my days this fall. I don’t do well with no structure or external responsibilities.
Signing in here. My DS(5) is headed to kinder this fall. Last year was going to be my year to ease into work & do some self care while he went to prek. Instead I home schooled him and he got very minimal time with other kids (he's an only child). I'm sending him to in person school with a lot of trepidation. I'll do some self care as covid makes it plausible but I'm iffy on work. My degree is in early childhood ed so is it the best choice to go back to work with unvaxxed kids in a red city in which covid is over? Maybe we'll end up pulling DS out of public school and I'll home school again? That or having to be available for when DS is sick and has to stay home. It's crappy all around.
I own my privilege in not having to work because my H makes enough (WFH full time) to support our family.
Post by breezy8407 on Jul 20, 2021 15:30:51 GMT -5
Re: close contact. DD had to quarantine last year, but DS did not. They are in the same classroom. It seemed about half the kids in the class had to quarantine. It was doubly odd for us since my two live under the same roof. But, I guess he was not a close contact. Her and the others that tested were all negative.
My optimism for the summer has worn off. We still have low/no cases in my county, but I feel like its only a matter of time. I'm so sad/mad for my kids.
You aren’t alone. I’m a reluctant SAHM. It’s what is best for my family as a whole, but it’s not always the best for me. When my youngest went to K, my plan was to renew my license and prepare to go back to work while also enjoying volunteering in the classroom and working part-time in a different job. That lasted 6 months and then Covid hit. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my days this fall. I don’t do well with no structure or external responsibilities.
Signing in here. My DS(5) is headed to kinder this fall. Last year was going to be my year to ease into work & do some self care while he went to prek. Instead I home schooled him and he got very minimal time with other kids (he's an only child). I'm sending him to in person school with a lot of trepidation. I'll do some self care as covid makes it plausible but I'm iffy on work. My degree is in early childhood ed so is it the best choice to go back to work with unvaxxed kids in a red city in which covid is over? Maybe we'll end up pulling DS out of public school and I'll home school again? That or having to be available for when DS is sick and has to stay home. It's crappy all around.
I own my privilege in not having to work because my H makes enough (WFH full time) to support our family.
I’ll sit with all of you. Last year was supposed to be my year! My “reward” for all of the hard sah with small children years. I’m still pissed that covid ruined it. I fully intended to go back to work at least part time this year but I think I will wait until the kids get vaccinated. No need to add even more stress with caring for sick kids with no leave and learning a new job. Been there done that and IT SUCKS. Like pp said, sah works best for our family right now but man it’s not the best for me sometimes. I’ve definitely lost a bit of me the last 16 months, it’s tough to come to terms with.
I am really nervous about school starting in 4 weeks. I’m in SC where the legislature passed a proviso with the budget that schools cannot mandate masks - if they do they risk funding being taken away. It makes me SO angry. Vaccination rate here is around 50%. I feel like it is inevitable that my kids will catch it at this point. I really struggled with mental health last year having kids home for virtual school. Plus we just moved so my kids don’t know anyone, I feel like they need to be at school. Freaking Republicans and their purposeful obtuseness in the name of “freedom”.
We moved to the same area yesterday. I’m scared. And probably sending my kids in masks. Will they be the only ones? No idea and I also don’t want them to be the new kids in masks but also they get it and know why we wear them (at age 8 and 5). It’s crazy to me to unmask those who can’t be vaccinated.
I’m hoping there’s at least some other kids who will wear masks. My older one wore one on the golf driving range the other day (we told him he didn’t have to, I don’t know why he did?) so I feel pretty good that he will be ok wearing one.
We live in a purple town in a blue state. Cases are low and vax numbers are decent but we are already seeing things start to increase a bit, likely from delta.
In last week’s BOE meeting, the superintendent said they did were not planning to quarantine entire classes for exposure this coming year, just “close contacts.” I’m not sure how that is going to play out in real life.
The fact that there is no remote option coupled with the possibility that masks may not be required is going to be a total shitshow. My kids are are going to pick up all the school germs (even if they mask, I don’t think it is as effective as having everyone masked) and then miss school for every sniffle and not be able to follow along online like last year.
I would consider an entire class close contact, so I’m curious what their thinking is. Same classroom for 7 hours a day = lots of chance for exposure. Plus unlike most of last year, I know our kids will be eating in the cafeteria again and mingling more at recess. Ugh.
If every district had access to on-site testing with a 24-hour turnaround for results it would help reduce a lot of my anxiety but I have a feeling my kids are going to miss a lot more school because of more germ spread and waiting for test results to come back.
The thinking is droplets. You are safe from droplets if you are 6 feet away, inside or outside. But since we now know that COVID is spread by aerosols, I really don't get why they haven't updated the definition of a close contact...
Wellp, now we wait to find out if the girls were exposed at daycare.
Long story short, MIL (vaccinated) of our daycare provider showed up at their house from FL unannnounced earlier this month. She's in the house but not around the daycare kids. But she's around the family and the family is around the kids obviously. This morning she started coughing, so daycare told her she had to get tested ASAP. At the testing site, they sent her to the hospital. She has a history of pneumonia so they're not sure if it's Covid or Pnueumonia. We're just twiddling out thumbs here waiting to find out.
Edit: Confirmed pneumonia. Not good, but better than Covid and at least it's treatable.
I’m fully vaccinated and have had covid the last week. All four of us have. My kids are only indoors with my vaccinated parents, who were also sick all last week, and my sister and her fully vax family of four. She’s positive but asymptomatic (but had allergies the week before that I suspect was covid).
This has been a shitty week. The “mild” case still really sucks. The fatigue is immense. Cough, congestion, asthma issues for me.I count my blessings we are vaccinated and didn’t get the full brunt of it.
We have been SO vigilant. Nothing indoors..limited outdoors, and one outdoor pool friend is also positive from us. Outdoor effing transmission. My zip code is 70% vax, county is 50. We are getting caught in the MO delta spread.
I’m feeling better today, The kids seemed perked up yesterday, but I spent Saturday into Sunday watching my 11.5 yo’s pulse ox even more closely as his cough deepened and levels went down to 96. DH had a rough run of coughing yesterday that just wore him out. He said he felt better at bedtime last night.
Fully vaccinated. Outdoor only, and very, very limited at that. My vaccinated family gave it to my unvaccinated 7 & 11 yo. They were symptomatic but blamed allergies and didn’t tell me.
Vaccinated folks, allergy symptoms should get swabbed.
I'm so sorry for your family.
I'm currently in East Texas to check in on my father in law who had an electrocardioversion last week and was pretty terrified. My MIL had one in March and died 5 days later. So I brought DD up with me to keep him company while I'm working, and i wanted to be here if he has to go in the hospital. Well his appointment was just fine today except for some slightly elevated blood pressure that requires a medication adjustment.
But DD - she started having allergy-type symptoms on Monday. Yesterday they started getting worse so i scheduled a covid test for this morning. This morning she woke up fully congested and threw up. It looked like a lot of mucus, so that could have been it, but she now has a low-grade fever and has collapsed in her bed in her room. Of course I'm paranoid we brought COVID into FIL's house ... he said don't worry about him because he's been around us all week so there is nothing we can do now. UGH!! I have mild allergy-like symptoms that I'm fighting off. So she and I got COVID tested this morning and are trying to wash hands diligently and steer clear of him. I bought a bunch of lysol and am spraying everything down. Any coughs are from inhaling lysol.
I don't want to be in deep east Texas if she gets worse. I want to be by my world renown medical center. We were supposed to leave tonight but she feels awful so I am going to keep her confined to her room and let her rest, and then if she is worse in the morning I'll take PTO and take her back to Houston and do a virtual visit. I'm also praying i don't feel worse because then driving home will be a chore for both of us.
If we have it, I point to going to the mall on Saturday. We were masked and sanitized our hands, but we stuck out like a sore thumb. Of course.
ETA - our hospital cases doubled from last Monday to this Monday. And yes we are seeing vaccinated people testing positive with Delta. But those are generally employees under voluntary surveillance. Patients are still like 98% unvaccinated.