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So this year has pretty much been a
dumpster fire. Corona virus, murder hornets, odd weather that we normally don’t
have for our area (including an earthquake AND a tornado), tanked economies,
high unemployment rates and now there are protests and looting. So it’s safe to
say that 2020 isn’t winning any awards for, well, anything really.
The emphasis was on Corona virus
for so long that I felt like there wasn’t any other topic of conversation
available. It was infection rates, death rates, mask requirements, and stay at
home restrictions, all day, every day. This, while a little scary, at least
reminded the public of the invisible threat that was stalking our population
like a kid stalking their mother after hearing the crinkle of a snack being
unwrapped. Unfortunately, the George Floyd situation seems to have changed that
focus (probably because America has severe ADHD) and apparently this means that
COVID isn’t really a problem anymore.
Okay, so you and I both know that’s
not true.
But it does seem like something
shifted the panic over the global pandemic. Was it the travesty of racism that
overshadowed over a million deaths? Was it Memorial Day weekend? The change to
nice weather? Phased opening of the economy? Whatever prompted the change in
tides, it now seems like people have been given carte blanche to ignore all
social distancing and mask wearing protocols.
Personally, I’m optimistically
terrified.
On one hand, moving towards a
semblance of normal is welcome after months of worry and stress and cloroxing
and sanitizing and losing sanity over home schooling. On the other hand, the
threat is in no way eliminated (and won’t be until a vaccine is available) and every
time my FaceBook explodes with these pictures of non-compliance, I cringe and
wonder if I’m the only one in the world that remembers we are still in the
middle of a pandemic.
What is great though (said in my
sarcasm voice), is that there are still bullies out there who want to make you
feel like a moron for being “overly cautious”. People who say that THEY refuse
to live in fear. Or that they live in a FREE country so they don’t have to wear
a mask. People who feel like this is all a hoax or selfish people who only worry
about themselves getting it and not the fact that they could be a carrier. All
of these comments are made to target any people who don’t conform to their way
of thinking. (Sadly, as a society, we really haven’t grown all that much.)
Ultimately, this means that us “overly
cautious” people feel the need to defend ourselves. And the sad part is, we
really shouldn’t have to do so. Remember when you were allowed to have a
difference in opinion and it wasn’t the end of the world? (Think pre-social
media.) Remember when you could say what you think without trying to shove it
down someone’s throat until they agreed with you? Sure social media has given
us a platform to connect with people but unfortunately, not everyone uses their
powers for good.
(Evil villain voice) Muah ha ha ha
ha ha ha.
But I really am
digressing.
So now, the economy is starting to
open back up and people are starting to feel like this is a sign that
everything is “normal” again. I’m not sure if I feel brave enough for the old
normal. Not when we have successfully escaped the great and terrible 'Rona thus
far.
This means that my household is
also taking a phased opening approach. The orthodontist for the 13 year old was
deemed necessary as he hadn’t been since December. This was the first time that
he has been anywhere in almost 12 weeks. I had visions of fending off giant virus
attackers with my handy sword and shield. “Oh no you don’t!” I’d shout loudly. “Not
my boy! Take THAT!” And I’d stab them with my sanitized covered sword and send
them off to that great petri dish in the sky. None of that really happened
however. (But it does show you that writers can have vivid imaginations and a
way with imagery!)
He’s also been invited to his first
post-Corona virus event. This is much more nerve wracking. As a parent we fight
a constant battle with trying to keep our kids safe while trying not to stifle
them at the same time. These are the types of situations that we struggle with.
Now I have that same sword wielding vision warring with swaddling my kids and
rocking them in a rocking chair, all gangly legs hanging off the side as they
are way too big to be coddled. (You know, like in that creepy/sweet book where
the mom rocks the grown son?)
But we can’t help it, us over
protective parents. We put a lot of work into getting them where they are
today. Teething, toddling, tantrums and teenage eye rolls….that’s a lot of time
and work invested to throw caution to the wind now! Not to mention that this
baby making factory is CLOSED. In capital letters, with rusty padlocks on the
gates and dry tumbleweeds blowing through. (To emphasize just how closed my
uterus is!) So it’s not like I can pop out a replacement human or two if someone
breaks one. (I’m looking at you Corona Virus.)
I guess what I’m trying to say is,
if we decline an invitation in the next few weeks, please know that it’s not
us, it’s you. We can’t quite be sure where you’ve been, but we’re positive good
ol’ Rona is sneaky AF. We’re not hedging our bets.
Need more mayhem? Find me on
FaceBook (modern mom mayhem) or on the Instagram thingamabob (modernmommayhem).
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