Navigating Co-Parenting During COVID: A Family’s Journey to Stay (Somewhat) Healthy

infant holding mothers fingerartificial insemination syringe

On Christmas Eve, which also happens to be my birthday, I picked up the kids for a small celebration. As a Jewish family amidst a global pandemic, our plans were limited to visiting my elderly relatives, both of whom have compromised immune systems.

The bagel brunch they prepared for us was delightful; after the challenges of recent years, every gathering feels precious. We enjoyed a variety of delicious foods, from lox to fresh vegetables, a true testament to their generosity.

After brunch, we returned home for a cozy day of festivities, saving our energy for the next day’s gathering at a friend’s house to celebrate a secular Christmas. We looked forward to indulging in good food and films in each other’s company. Our host was just recovering from breast cancer and also immunocompromised, so we kept it intimate.

However, around 3 PM, my ex-husband called to inform me that he had developed a fever the previous night. Fortunately, we hadn’t left for our friends’ house yet. I promptly notified my friends that we would stay home, despite all our planning. It simply wasn’t worth the risk.

By December 27th, my ex-husband confirmed he had COVID-19. I then had to inform my relatives about our potential exposure, which was distressing. Thankfully, they took it well, and we all began our quarantine.

We spent three and a half days in isolation before scheduling a drive-by PCR test. Luckily, I had ordered at-home tests from Amazon a few weeks prior, which provided some initial reassurance. I opted to have my daughter tested, who showed no symptoms, while my son, with a cough and sniffles, received a full panel to rule out COVID.

By December 29th, my daughter tested negative, while my son tested positive for rhinovirus but negative for COVID. The relief was immense; we could manage a cold. We updated my relatives, who continued to receive negative results. We remained in quarantine until the CDC’s recommended ten days had passed to ensure no further complications arose. On the eleventh day, we finally ventured out for BBQ.

However, on the morning of Day 12 since my ex-husband’s infection, my daughter developed a sore throat, similar to the symptoms my son had experienced earlier. Given our close quarters, I suspected she was coming down with the same illness. So, I decided to keep them quarantined for their final three days with me before they returned to their father. This way, we could prevent spreading anything further.

The day before their return to their dad, I took them to a school-approved COVID testing site. They were set to return to school the following week, and I wanted to ease the burden on my ex, who had only recently recovered from COVID but wasn’t fully back to normal.

On the 14th day since my kids last saw their father—six days after my daughter’s test—we learned from the school district that she had tested positive for COVID. Since they were already on their way back to their dad, we agreed to keep them there, as he was the only one who had contracted COVID thus far. This arrangement also minimized exposure risks, especially since they tend to co-sleep at my house.

That was two days ago. Since then, my son’s school-sanctioned COVID test also came back positive. This means that, despite over eleven days of negative results and some miscalculated testing, COVID had indeed made its way through our home. Thankfully, those affected are experiencing mild symptoms.

Living in two separate homes has provided us with some much-needed space and healing time during this ordeal. Both my ex-husband and I are fortunate to work from home, allowing for minimal disruption in our professional lives. However, that might change next week when the kids return to virtual learning. We’ll see how things unfold then.

For more insights into home insemination and related topics, check out our other blog posts here and learn more about the artificial insemination kit for your needs. For comprehensive guidance on pregnancy and insemination, visit this excellent resource.

Probable Search Queries:

In summary, co-parenting through the pandemic has been a challenging yet enlightening experience. As families navigate the complexities of health and safety, communication and caution remain crucial in fostering wellness for everyone involved.

Keyphrase: Co-Parenting During COVID

Tags: “home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”

modernfamilyblog.com