artificial insemination syringe
I’ve never been the kind of mom who panics about germs. My kids are familiar with the five-second rule; we’re not germaphobes, and I definitely haven’t wrapped them in bubble wrap. I’ve always been the mom who encourages their exploration, brushing off their “gross” activities as simply ways to strengthen their immune systems. But then came the pandemic—COVID changed everything.
Now, I scrutinize every little thing my kids do. I remind them to sneeze into their elbows, avoid touching anything that isn’t theirs, and, for goodness’ sake, do not let anyone else breathe on them! With my children back in school, I find myself on edge at the mere hint of any cold symptoms.
On September 13th, a million kids returned to NYC public schools, including my four-year-old who just started preschool. My second grader had been in school for almost a month. While I was relieved to have them back in a structured learning environment—especially since my oldest despised remote learning—my anxiety shot up to a whole new level. I was prepared for the typical back-to-school germs from my second grader, but the constant dread over every sniffle was something I hadn’t anticipated.
Is this the new normal?
I had often envisioned what my mornings would look like once my older kids were in school. I pictured peaceful days filled with quiet and the freedom to focus on whatever I wanted. But instead, I find myself in a state of panic post-drop-off, worrying if I remembered to give them their vitamins. Our morning routine is a whirlwind—wake up, breakfast, VITAMINS, wash faces, brush teeth, get dressed, hair, backpacks, water bottles, masks, and then double-checking their masks.
Because heaven forbid anyone returns home with even a sniffle!
I’m constantly battling between keeping my kids in a protective bubble for my own peace of mind and sending them to school for their well-being. I can’t trust that my seven- and four-year-olds will remember to do the right things all day. They are kids who are just thrilled to be back around their peers, and since they’re under 12, they aren’t eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Although NYC has mandated vaccines for teachers, it doesn’t guarantee that no one will get sick. Illness is inevitable.
As kids have returned to school across the country, pediatric COVID cases have unfortunately surged. This doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who understands how germs spread. The increase in cases means that pediatricians’ offices and urgent care facilities are struggling to keep up with the demand for COVID, RSV, and other rapid tests. Finding at-home tests is becoming increasingly difficult, and those are not sufficient for kids to go back to school if they show any symptoms. Since schools reopened, my chances of experiencing a panic attack at home have risen dramatically.
I feel like I’m missing out on the peace of having my children at school because I’m now hyper-focused on their every cough or sneeze. The CDC states that fever and cough remain the top symptoms of COVID. Any parent of school-aged children knows that these symptoms are quite common, especially this time of year.
So, I’m left with the constant worry: is it a cold, the flu, or the dreaded COVID? The only surefire way to determine whether it’s a cold or COVID is through testing. But I dread going into any environment where germs are prevalent. So here I am, at home, fervently hoping my kids remember to keep their masks on and not to share germs. They should have fun and be kids, but for everyone’s sake, please stay healthy. To reiterate, I can’t handle even the slightest cold right now. If you feel the same, know you’re not alone.
If you’d like to read more on this topic, check out this insightful post here. For more information about home insemination, visit Make A Mom, an authority in this area. You can also explore excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination at Hopkins Medicine.
Related Searches
- How to handle kids’ colds during COVID
- Signs of COVID in children
- Keeping kids healthy in school
- Managing anxiety as a parent
- Returning to school during a pandemic
Summary
This article reflects on the heightened anxiety many parents feel about their children returning to school during the ongoing pandemic. It discusses the challenges of managing everyday illnesses while dealing with the fear of COVID-19 and emphasizes the struggle between wanting to protect children from germs and allowing them the freedom to socialize and learn.
Keyphrase: kids’ anxiety during COVID
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]