Social Distancing and my kids' sanity: what are you guys doing - honestly?

[Anonymous]

We haven’t changed what we are doing since March. We work from home, delivery or carry out only for shopping. Kids are 3 & 6. They play a lot together — pretend games, flying kites, digging in the dirt. We started a vegetable garden and they love checking it every day for bugs and new vegetables.

I’m trying my best to mix things up. Once school stopped we did some project learning and they liked that a lot. Puppet shows, crafts, baking, anything to give a rhythm to the day. The older one likes online classes and is doing a few camps here and there — art, music, foreign language, etc. Maybe 2-3 hrs spread out through the day. We were hiking and playing in empty fields, but it’s too hot now.

Social interactions with other kids, apart from online, are limited. Occasionally the neighbor kid, who is on strict lockdown also, will run around with them outdoors. We went to visit cousins who quarantined for two weeks before. We’ll trade off visits a few more times before the summer is over. Honestly that is making me feel a lot more sane, to know we have an outlet. I also try to get a new activity in every week so the kids can focus on that and forget the oddity of the situation. This summer it will be simple things like berry picking, sprinkler pad, raising a butterfly, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seriously feel bad for some of you. The level of anxiety disorder you must have to be borderline shut ins must be hard to live with.

All these kids I know hanging out and no one has corona yet. Lol

“Yet”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pattern in these threads:

Post: I’m going crazy, this is terrible.
Post: Suck it up, you first world entitled prick. If you can’t do this for a few months you’re a miserable excuse for a human being.
Post: That’s not reasonable. We’re allowing our raindrop to play with two people outside as long as they wear Saran Wrap.
Post: We decided to let our kids congregate in close quarters with elderly people and asthmatics. This is all overblown and we can’t live like this forever.
Post: You’re a monster!
Post: No, you’re the monster for judging that other monster!
Post: OMG, I’m going crazy, this is terrible.

[Repeat]

Accurate

[Anonymous]

I suppose we are pretty strict, but it doesn't really feel that way. My kids 6 and 10 play together with video games, make believe and outdoors. They haven't been inside anywhere but our home since March. My older has walked around with a friend (socially distanced). We go to the pool a few times per week (where they only play with each other). We are going to see some of our family soon, so that that's a calculated risk I am willing to take.

[Anonymous]

The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk. My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk. My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

This. 100%.
I would choose between letting your kids see friends and hanging out with your parents/in-laws, OP.

Personally, I would choose to let my kids see friends, but you know your family relationships better than I do. I wouldn’t do both though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk . My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

Have you calculated your contribution to public health risks? For the likelihood that you might contribute to an outbreak among your friends and neighbors, or expose essential workers in your community to the virus? With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission a very real possibility, your own health is only one factor among many that need to be considered.

I'm not saying we should all stay home forever, and I agree that we all have to assess our personal risks. But when you completely ignore your own role in the community and the risks you might unknowingly pose to others, you're not appropriately judging COVID-19 risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk . My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

Have you calculated your contribution to public health risks? For the likelihood that you might contribute to an outbreak among your friends and neighbors, or expose essential workers in your community to the virus? With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission a very real possibility, your own health is only one factor among many that need to be considered.

I'm not saying we should all stay home forever, and I agree that we all have to assess our personal risks. But when you completely ignore your own role in the community and the risks you might unknowingly pose to others, you're not appropriately judging COVID-19 risks.

(But +1 for wearing masks where required, at least!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk . My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

Have you calculated your contribution to public health risks? For the likelihood that you might contribute to an outbreak among your friends and neighbors, or expose essential workers in your community to the virus? With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission a very real possibility, your own health is only one factor among many that need to be considered.

I'm not saying we should all stay home forever, and I agree that we all have to assess our personal risks. But when you completely ignore your own role in the community and the risks you might unknowingly pose to others, you're not appropriately judging COVID-19 risks.

I assume most will not be a fan of my view for my contribution to public health risks. I believed in flattening the curve, but I am not under the false believe that we can eliminate the disease. So I would like to keep a high rate of active infections and hospitals at close to capacity. If the capacity were to come close to the limit, then you can implement more stringent methods, i.e. go back to phase 2. But, I believe COVID-19 should spread so we can eventually reach herd immunity. The high risk population should remain isolating at home while this happens.

I have seen at least one poster saying they work in the scientific research field and a vaccine is coming by the end of the year, but I do not believe this yet. There are some promising vaccines in the works, but none are a guarantee. If this person thought that would happen, I would love to know what stock to buy since it is a sure thing. For the people posting that immunity is not guaranteed, then there is really no need for a vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk . My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

Have you calculated your contribution to public health risks? For the likelihood that you might contribute to an outbreak among your friends and neighbors, or expose essential workers in your community to the virus? With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission a very real possibility, your own health is only one factor among many that need to be considered.

I'm not saying we should all stay home forever, and I agree that we all have to assess our personal risks. But when you completely ignore your own role in the community and the risks you might unknowingly pose to others, you're not appropriately judging COVID-19 risks.

I assume most will not be a fan of my view for my contribution to public health risks. I believed in flattening the curve, but I am not under the false believe that we can eliminate the disease. So I would like to keep a high rate of active infections and hospitals at close to capacity. If the capacity were to come close to the limit, then you can implement more stringent methods, i.e. go back to phase 2. But, I believe COVID-19 should spread so we can eventually reach herd immunity. The high risk population should remain isolating at home while this happens.

I have seen at least one poster saying they work in the scientific research field and a vaccine is coming by the end of the year, but I do not believe this yet. There are some promising vaccines in the works, but none are a guarantee. If this person thought that would happen, I would love to know what stock to buy since it is a sure thing. For the people posting that immunity is not guaranteed, then there is really no need for a vaccine.

Lol...you will know there is a promising vaccine when you see the stock prices jump, not before (even if you are working on it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk . My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

Have you calculated your contribution to public health risks? For the likelihood that you might contribute to an outbreak among your friends and neighbors, or expose essential workers in your community to the virus? With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission a very real possibility, your own health is only one factor among many that need to be considered.

I'm not saying we should all stay home forever, and I agree that we all have to assess our personal risks. But when you completely ignore your own role in the community and the risks you might unknowingly pose to others, you're not appropriately judging COVID-19 risks.

I assume most will not be a fan of my view for my contribution to public health risks. I believed in flattening the curve, but I am not under the false believe that we can eliminate the disease. So I would like to keep a high rate of active infections and hospitals at close to capacity. If the capacity were to come close to the limit, then you can implement more stringent methods, i.e. go back to phase 2. But, I believe COVID-19 should spread so we can eventually reach herd immunity. The high risk population should remain isolating at home while this happens.

I have seen at least one poster saying they work in the scientific research field and a vaccine is coming by the end of the year, but I do not believe this yet. There are some promising vaccines in the works, but none are a guarantee. If this person thought that would happen, I would love to know what stock to buy since it is a sure thing. For the people posting that immunity is not guaranteed, then there is really no need for a vaccine.

We are similar, but older, so higher risk. We wear masks inside but rarely outside. We have a circle of 4 couples we are socializing with, even traveling with. We go shopping and to whatever is open... dentists, eye doctors, haircuts, zoos, drive ins, manicures and pedicures, hotels, restaurants. Dh and I work from home. Son, 18, starts his first job next week. We are hoping it helps his mental state; he is struggling with so much he enjoys being closed. He missed prom, graduation, etc.


We watch the cases in our area. They are quite low here. If things change, we will hunker down more.

Mental health is as important as physical health. We are doing better overall since we started seeing friends.

[Anonymous]

We are doing outdoor play dates for kids, cleaning lady, dentist appointments, social distancing at the pool. Having a couple of families to our family beach house. Masks at the grocery store etc. As a result we are not seeing grandparents.

We are taking on some risk. But is it more risk than we will be taking on during the hybrid-model school year? I don’t think so.

A vaccine will not be a silver bullet here. Fauci and others have said as much. We are in this for months and months more.

And so our family has calibrated our risk level accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk. My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

This. 100%.
I would choose between letting your kids see friends and hanging out with your parents/in-laws, OP.

Personally, I would choose to let my kids see friends, but you know your family relationships better than I do. I wouldn’t do both though.

With FaceTime and Skype we have chosen letting our kids see friends. We’ve also gone to our parents’ house and talked to them from the sidewalk while they are at their front door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk. My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

The level of selfishness and entitlement of this poster is astonishing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers on this thread remind me of college. You know the kids that were never allowed out or to do anything in high school, then they get to college on their own. Who would have guessed they party hard, don't study, and end up dropping out during freshman year.

To answer the OPs original question, the family and I are out pretty much as normal. We go to restaurants and stores. The kids have had multiple play dates with different friends. I wear a masks in stores since that is required, but we do not wear masks when we are outside exercising or walking.

The difference between the posters that don't do anything and me is that I can appropriately judge risk. My family is low risk, but the in-laws are not. So we don't hang out with them. Your kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than killed or seriously injured by COVID-19. In 2017-18 187 children died from the regular flu. We haven't hit those numbers yet. So if you are scared of your kids dying you should be locking them in the house every winter. Plus the overall rate for death is low. When you look at the deaths from COVID-19 almost half the deaths are from 75+ year olds. Another quarter of the deaths are 65-74 years old. The next quarter of deaths are between 45-64 years old. I imagine if you break that down there would be a much higher rate as you get towards 60. My whole family has no real risk or fear of the disease. I know people will say but what about the permanent lung damage... but that generally doesn't happen.

This is such a tone deaf post