Hellobee Boards

@erinbaderin: We are doing no playdates. I really, really hope others do the same.

My rationale is: If we're going to slow the transmission rate way down (which is what we must do to save lives), then we have to take drastic measures right now. Actually, we needed to take them earlier than this, but we can't go back in time to do that. Anyhow...yes, the disruption sucks. BUT if we all actually do it, then 1) we will save more lives, and 2) we won't have to do it for nearly as long as we might otherwise need to.

Also, on the playdate issue...remember that the incubation period is apparently pretty long. So you can't be at all sure for basically another 2 weeks or so that another family isn't already infected.

We play outside in the yard and go to the park (not the playground--again, the park where we don't touch anything except the door of our car!).

Now a different complication - we’ve decided to play it safe and go no play dates, etc. My parents came down to help with the kids while we work from home. Great until they casually said that their only plans for the week were a trip to the car dealership “but we can just take the kids”, and my mom was going out for dinner with a friend one night. Now I have to figure out how to have the “you’re either in or you’re out” conversation with them.

Last night all schools in my county and two other counties announced they were closing for at least two weeks. This morning we heard from DD's preschool that they are doing the same. Tonight our governor declared a civil state of emergency and said all schools need to close for an indefinite period of time - two weeks as an absolute minimum but possibly for the remainder of the school year.

It may sound silly, and I know it is a small thing in the big picture, but I am just so sad that DD may never go back to her preschool. Her preschool is a small non profit and we have loved it so much.

DD and I will be staying home. No play dates. No visiting family. We will play in our backyard and possibly consider going to parks or trails, but no playgrounds. DH is still having to go to work so we will try to have him do any grocery shopping since he will already be out. When he gets home he is immediately washing his hands, putting work clothes in a designated hamper in our laundry room, and taking a shower before he interacts with us.

Today’s milestone: the state health department finally approved one of my requests to test. The downside is if it’s positive, I probably had an unprotected exposure myself as the patient hadn’t even come in for respiratory issues. If this comes back positive will be a huge deal as he also lives in a nursing home. Tomorrow a day off. Hopefully can elevate my edematous feet. 🤰

@catgirl: @helloperidot: i really appreciate you posting this, my DS1's nursery school class has been absolutely wonderful this year--all the kids get along so well, absolutely idolize the teachers--my DS talks about it so glowingly and sobs every single morning he doesn't get to go. he was out sick for all of last week, and now they're closed for another two weeks, but i'm also really worried about how much of this school year he's going to lose. i'm just hoping they get a few last weeks in may, but who knows. i feel a little silly to be mourning this but it makes me really really sad for him. all his little friends (including DS) are going to different schools next year.

Our province announced this afternoon the indefinite closure of all schools and daycares. I will have the ability to work from home but it will be tricky and exhausting with a 7 year old and 18 month old. Meeting with my managers tomorrow to discuss. DH is not able to work from home.

DS was really sad tonight that he doesn’t know when he will get to see his friends again and that he might not get to go back to grade one. And honestly this makes me sad too.

My little guys daycare teacher texted me to give me a heads up and her and I are both sad that when daycare does open up, even if it is only a couple weeks he will be going to the toddler room.

I am glad we are trying to keep people safe and healthy but this is hard.

@catgirl: I am so incredibly sad that DS2 might not go back to preschool. His school ends May 22nd anyway, so likely we won't return. I was the teacher for his class last year and all those kiddos are with him now. It's such a sweet and amazing place and she does such a great job mentally preparing them for kindergarten. I know in 3 years it won't matter, but it's making me terribly sad for now. Maybe we'll organize a class playdate/party in the summer... All the kids split into different schools after this.

DS1 is sad he may not go back to first grade, but he's in a 1/2 split class, so at least he will get to be back with half the kids and his teacher next year.

I used to teach 2nd grade and preschool, so I'm well equipped to homeschool (desire to do so...maybe not as much...)just figuring out what to do with the baby while I get anything done with older brothers.

We just found out the woman who cleans our house is in quarantine because she cleaned someone’s house who just tested positive. She cleaned our house last Monday

@yellowbeach: Thank you for all that you are doing. And for sharing your experiences with us. Sending good thoughts to you and your family

@yellowbeach: thank you, thank you for all you do and the personal sacrifices you and your colleagues make to keep all of us safe. You have our gratitude.

So I’m debating what to do about my daughter’s speech appointments. She usually goes to speech twice a week. I’m in the DC area, our schools are closed, my husband is working from home...we’ve decided no play dates for kids, no unnecessary outings, and we’re basically sticking around home as a family. My husband will go out once a week for groceries. So my gut feel is that I should cancel my daughter’s speech appointments, but we just got an email from the practice that they’re open and keeping their schedule...so now I’m questioning myself. Then I realized both kids have dentist appointments next week, and I’ll need to sort that out too.

What are you all doing about long-standing appointments like that for yourself or your kids at this stage?

@yellowbeach: thinking of you and hoping you can enjoy a much deserved break (and that you're not positive!). Thank you *so much* for everything you're doing at work and for updating us all here.

@caitcat: Do you go to a speech center, or does a therapist come to you? IDK if I'd go to any place with a continuous stream of new people in and out.
The more I'm reading, the more likely it appears to be that people are as contagious if not MORE contagious before they have symptoms. If you can reschedule (especially the dentist appointment), I would.

@BUNBUN: I think I’m just going to push the dentist appointments out til the summer. Speech is in a center, unfortunately. It’s the steady stream in and out there that worries me, too. I’m leaning toward cancelling, but I wish I had a better plan to continue speech services in some way for the foreseeable future.

@Mrs. Carrot: Thanks for this!

Day 1 of both parents working online and both kids having to do school work—all in a 2 bedroom apartment. I’m not like, freaking out or wishing I was day drinking like all the mommy memes, BUT I am finding my middle school students are sort of panicking in general so I’m spending a lot more time answering emails and messages that are general-anxiety related than I expected. My general message is—don’t worry, we’re all in this together (and I mean, literally, as my kids both need a ton of help to do their work, my husband is shut in the bedroom, and I’m trying to answer student questions and help 2 kids), don’t stress, we’re all going to have to be flexible, etc. I have a couple students with delays/issues and they are REALLY taking it hard and sending me multiple panic messages. =/

@caitcat: my youngest just qualified for PT. They would be coming to our house, but... forget it. The therapists go from one place to another, multiple appointments a day, and I can't imagine a better way to spread germs. I'm going to ask the PT to push back the beginning by a couple months, if it's still necessary then.

@ilovepie: thanks, will ask for sure!

@yellowbeach: maybe take time off? I understand that it doesn't feel right, now, but on the other hand baby needs you more than anyone else...

@caitcat: Speech therapy in our area is transitioning to telemed visits starting next week but has cancelled everything in the interim. I'd definitely skip the dentist if just routine cleaning. Services like hair, cleaning, dentist, etc I'm offering to pay now (so they still have income) with IUO for when I actually use the service later. That's been well-received.

@Boopers: I'm glad they let you know they cancelled. Deep down, I've been hoping that mine would call to cancel before I pull the trigger and cancel on my own. But that's silly. At this point, I'm just let them know we're not coming in. It's in keeping with all the other decisions we're making as a family, and feels like the right thing to do.

@yellowbeach: This is great advice about offering to pre-pay for services, when possible. I worry so much about some of the small businesses and practices, and this has been weighing on me with each call I make to cancel or postpone appointments. (Also, now I'm hoping our speech appointments can go to a telemed setup - that would be great.)