Declan clambered beside me, desperately sifting through my travel bag, looking for a pair of sunglasses that I did not possess. Disgruntled, he returned to the playground we deemed he could play at since the caution tape had been removed.
I followed his journey and saw him start to circle a slightly older boy who was swinging on the swings—wearing a fresh pair of sunglasses above a lightly colored mask. I could see why Declan wanted to emulate the look.
Sitting three swings away, and then two from the boy, Declan jumped up and ran over to me.
“Please push me!” His masked, muffled face implored. Swinging on the swings is not a skill Declan has mastered yet. Moving his torso and his legs to gain momentum is a skill that still evades him.
I looked back at the soccer game we were there to watch. Since only one masked parent spectator was allowed for each player, this was my game. My turn to watch Catelyn play.
So, I lifted my finger and replied, “At half time, which is just a few minutes from now.”
This weekend we had a first since the quarantine in March. A tournament weekend: Catelyn to play soccer, Bobby to play basketball.
There were special rules. Waivers needed to be signed. Special precautions.
And of course, our own special discussion:
“There is a chance one of the kids will get sick,” Bob stated, looking at me.
“I know. I thought about that.”
“Are we okay letting them go out and play?”
We nodded and began to plan the driving, which games each of us would attend, and how to manage Declan in the process.
In the past two months, we have allowed the kids to practice with their sports teams. We were comfortable knowing all the precautions that were being taken to allow them to play. And as long as sports are active under these precautions, we have allowed our kids to participate.
In the past five months, there have been risks I have taken, and others I have not.
Risks I have not taken:
We have not traveled. No vacations, no time away.
I have not gone to any social gatherings. (Not really a hard one for me, although I was actually asked).
We have not eaten in a restaurant. We didn’t go to bars before COVID, and we haven’t started since.
I do not run on my favorite paved trail. The filled parking lots make me think the trail is too busy. I choose a larger outdoor area to run to stay socially distant.
Risks I have taken:
I take a strength training class 5 days a week with one to seven other people, socially distanced and masked.
I go to the grocery store, masked.
I do see some people on my trails but respectfully cover my face with my running towel as we pass.
I do let Declan swim at our pool. I don’t talk or sit near anyone, but he does try to engage play with peers in the water.
I think that is it.
Our kids and their close friends and teammates have done the same. If a teammate travels to a hot spot state, they are not allowed to join the team until they have quarantined for 14 days. If they do not follow the rules, the entire team must forfeit their games.
Nobody wants to be THAT player.
If our school was going to have an in-school or hybrid schedule, I was going to allow my kids to go into school as well. I knew there was no guarantee for my kid’s good health. There never is. There is always a chance they will bring home a bug. Yet I was still okay sending them knowing this time they could have brought home a COVID bug.
For the past five months, we have contemplated the risks we were willing to take in every situation. We watch others do the same. A risk I may be willing to take is not a risk someone else would, and vice versa. We are all trying to live in a world that COVID is a part of now. We are living, taking our precautions, trying to stay safe.
During half time, I pushed Declan on the swing as he talked with the boy wearing sunglasses. Declan learned his new friend lives two hours away, to the west. His schooling will take place in the school at the start of the year. The boy is very excited for school. He also likes to swing high and jump off his swing in the air.
Declan thought jumping was too big of a risk for him to take. Instead, he dragged his big boots in the mulch to stop himself and hobbled off his swing after the boy to converse through his mask about the year ahead.
Glad that the children got to do what they love.
Me too! I don’t know how much longer sports will last. I have a feeling they are going to cancel football and basketball, if not everything. So I am glad they got a weekend to play what they love to play!
We need to treasure these times.
I am so happy to hear your kids are able to play team sports again. The happiness is evident on Catelyn’s face even masked! And the story about Declan is so adorable and lovely photo at the top. Sounds like sunglasses for him soon!
It sounds to me that your family has approached the pandemic very thoughtfully and with care and taking measured approaches with every outing that you make. Glad you are able to enjoy the summer!!!
Me too! I don’t how long it will last, but it was nice to get a weekend of play in! He was so cute. When he targets a new potential “friend” he is so focused and adorable for me to watch his attempts to interact. He just wants a friend so badly!
We’re trying! I am sure a gym class would make people cringe, no matter how small or careful one can be. But I really value my time there, and I see all the precautions they are taking, so I take the risk. I love it for the workout and the small interactions with other humans. So far, the risk has been worth the reward – I’ll take it!
Declan will have a friend. There is someone out there for every one of us.
You do what you gotta go to get through this pandemic. Those who cringe at you going to the gym can stay home and get fat and lose their marbles. Enjoy your classes!
The Kootie isn’t going away. We will be doing risk assessment for quite a while. Both Daughters and I have talked about risks and safety. Older is a nurse, so we are always at risk of her bringing all kinds of nasties home.
I think if any of us had other health issues we’d be a lot more cautious than we already are. We aren’t restaurant or bar people either. I did miss the cancelled concert, but there’s next year.
Looking at that picture of Cate on the field reminds me of me 40 (!) years ago when I played soccer.
Us too! I saw fields and fields of game play and scattered spectators. And I thought of all the parents and players that agreed to the circumstances and agreed to play. Although one player on Catelyn’s team has heart issues and her doctor forbade her to play. The risk for her was too great considering the pandemic. I totally get it. If in our shoes, we would do the same. I feel it is just a personal decision for everyone based on a whole lot of different issues.
That is awesome! I am happy it took you back down memory lane!
It must be so good for your kids to be able to play team sports again after such a restrictive year. I agree, though that risk assessment is a real and tricky balancing act, and what one person considers a risk, another doesn’t. it’s different for everyone and it’s different everywhere. All we can do is our best and hope for the best. But you seem to be doing pretty well so far, Robyn, so well done for keeping you and yours safe.
Thank you, Alli!
C is growing up quickly. I’m so pleased that the kids are getting a chance to live a little. To enjoy a childhood. I’m so with you on the way you manage risk. If we all do that then the kids will continue to get these chances. Do you run and do the gym with a face covering?
I have to wear a mask into and out of my gym and anytime I leave my 6 x 6 area. We are all positioned so no one’s area is next to someone else’s. There is a 6×6 box separating us. On the trails I usually carry a towel for sweat, so I cover my face with it if someone passes by. I do that now regardless if they are more than 6 feet away or not. About half of the passer by’s do the same.
I have to put off visiting my mom for another six months. I am not happy about that…
I’m sorry. That is a risk I wouldn’t take either right now.
You seem to be coping nicely, Robyn.
Thank you! How are you doing?
I grow more insane as the week goes on, then I go to the grocery store, talk to people I know there, and come back sane again…
That is what my gym class does for me. I get to go everyday which is what I think helps me so much.
That is great! You’re right, it’s so hard trying to figure out what works best for each person’s family. It seems so foreign watching a simple thing like kids playing a soccer game, but it does me good to see it Thank you for sharing
I am sorry for the late response – for some reason your comment got sent to my spam folder. I’m sorry! Thank you! I agree – just having any bit of “normal” at this point really does my mind good!
The risk/reward equation goes through my head several times a day. Our risks: Susan working at a shelter, Eli and I participating on a bike team. Susan’s risk is unavoidable and we’ve all decided that we get too much out of the biking to not do it. Still, I feel fairly hypocritical about it. I’m as disgusted as anyone about people gathering in bars, whereas I trail 20 kids on my bike and help out any laggers. We do try to keep distant, but it’s not lost on me that while out running, I’ll give someone going the other way 15 feet of clearance whereas I’m right behind someone on my bike. I’m the highest risk case in my house: Hypertension, Type A blood, Male pattern baldness, a scarred lung (all listed as risk factors). I suspect by the time we’re through, most of us will have had covid19.
I feel the same hyprocritical way. When I tell someone I go to my gym, I always feel the need to clarify the small class sizes and all the precautions in place. But I still am going to a gym – we breathe heavy at times, we sweat. There is still a risk. I agree – I think that when this is over we will all have had COVID as well.
It’s draining to continually have to evaluate the risk of everything we do. I still don’t go to any public places and am always evaluating even going into family member homes. My husband and I both have autoimmune conditions in addition to being over 65 so we are cautious. I often think too cautious. I’m glad you and your husband can agree on what risks you feel are worth taking.
Thank you, Debbie!
Sounds reasonable. Glad to see your location finding a good middle ground Some places act like kids should be in a bubble, other places act like the virus doesn’t exist. My town is similar to yours with masks and some distancing, but no one is getting choked out if their mask slips or anything. So far, it’s been pretty chill and reasonable. Good deal.
Yes, it sounds like we are in similar areas. I read blogs where people travel and go to states where masks are laughed at. Seems dangerous to me!
Oh wow. Masks aren’t perfect, but I definitely wouldn’t do that! A little too risky for me. Better safe than sorry