I’ve never been the kind of mom who obsessively worries about germs. My kids are familiar with the five-second rule, we’re not germaphobes, and I’ve certainly never kept them in a bubble. I’ve always encouraged them to explore freely and shrugged off their gross habits as “building their immune systems.” But that was all before the pandemic hit.
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has made me hyper-aware of everything my kids do. I find myself constantly reminding them to sneeze into their elbows, avoid touching things that don’t belong to them, and, for heaven’s sake, don’t let anyone breathe on them! Now that my little ones are back in school, I can’t handle even the slightest sniffle.
On September 13, a million kids returned to NYC public schools, including my four-year-old, who started preschool for the first time. My second grader had been in school for almost a month. While I was relieved to have them out of the house—my oldest despised remote learning—I was also overwhelmed by a new layer of anxiety. I was prepared for the usual back-to-school germs from my second grader, but the sheer dread that accompanies every little sniffle from my preschooler caught me off guard.
Is this the new normal?
I often daydreamed about how peaceful our mornings would be once both of my older kids were in school. I imagined silence and freedom (though baby #3 had other plans). Instead, I now find myself sitting on the couch after drop-off, panicking because I can’t remember if I gave them their vitamins. Our morning routine is a whirlwind: wake up, eat breakfast, take VITAMINS, wash faces, brush teeth, get dressed, fix hair, pack backpacks, fill water bottles, masks—don’t forget the masks!
Because, heaven forbid, anyone comes home from school with a cough or a sniffle.
I’m constantly torn between wanting to keep my kids safe at home for my own peace of mind and sending them to school for their social well-being. I can’t trust that my seven- and four-year-olds will remember to do the “right thing” all day long. They’re kids, excited to be around their friends again. And since they’re under 12, they can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine. While NYC mandates vaccinations for teachers, that doesn’t guarantee that no one will get sick. Kids will get sick.
Since schools reopened, pediatric COVID cases have surged, which isn’t surprising to anyone familiar with how germs spread. Urgent care centers and pediatric offices are inundated with requests for COVID, RSV, and other rapid tests. Finding at-home tests in drugstores has become a challenge, and even those aren’t enough to allow kids to return to school if they show any symptoms. As a result, my anxiety at home has skyrocketed.
I feel like I’m missing out on the joy of peace and quiet while my kids are at school because I’m now consumed with worry over their cold symptoms. Each cough or sniffle sends me into a spiral. According to the CDC, fever and cough remain the top symptoms of COVID-19. Any parent knows that fever and cough are commonplace among school-aged children, especially this time of year.
Now, we face the constant dilemma: is it just a cold, the flu, or could it be COVID? The only way to differentiate is through testing, but I’m not eager to venture into germ-filled places. So here I am at home, praying my kids remember to keep their masks on and avoid sharing germs. I want them to enjoy being kids and having fun, but please—stay healthy. My anxiety simply cannot handle even the mildest of colds right now. If you’re feeling the same way, know that you’re not alone.
For more insights, check out this blog post, and for expert information on your fertility journey, visit Make A Mom. For a comprehensive understanding of artificial insemination, this Wikipedia page is an excellent resource.
Suggested Search Queries:
- home insemination kit
- self insemination
- home insemination syringe
- artificial insemination process
- how to get pregnant at home
In summary, the return to school has transformed my perspective on germs and illness. I’m navigating a new reality where every cough and sniffle sends me into a panic, longing for the carefree days before the pandemic. If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone in this struggle.
Leave a Reply