How COVID-19 has changed our lives
Coronavirus continues to be very prevalent in my household. Even though the state in which I live is starting to navigate Phase 2, my family continues to isolate from the world. We sometimes question if we are doing the right thing. Are we overreacting, as some may say? There are still too many unknowns to COVID-19 to risk our children and ourselves just for pleasure and leisure.
We have had many scares through the lockdown with both sets of the girls’ grandparents getting the virus. That has made this all too real to try to ignore and live our lives like normal. Just about two weeks ago, my mom finally tested negative for COVID-19; after over a two-month journey to recover with a two-week stay at the hospital. Luckily, they were able to beat the virus despite now dealing with the long-lasting effects of it.
Terrified doesn’t even come close to explain what we have felt these past few months, not knowing what outcomes to expect. We have avoided seeing our family for the past three months. With just in the last two weeks being able to see them through glass windows and social distancing from afar to have the grandparents watch the girls play. We are the family that continues to have our groceries delivered to us and sanitize everything that comes to the house. Are we still overreacting? It is so hard to know if we are continuing to do the right thing or not.
As I have explained before about my 7 years old’s heart condition, she also has asthma, which that in itself is a priority to keep her as healthy as possible. Now, throw coronavirus in the loop, and we have had to adjust our lives accordingly to keep our child from getting infected. How do you explain that she is unable to play with her friends when she sees them across the street playing? How do you deal with the emotional outcome that this leaves behind to our children and us as humans?
I believe that for our family, life will never be the same again. Seeing that my 18-month old can be around our family (while social distancing) and not run towards them. This new behavior has me questioning if she has now learned a new way of socializing with our family. Observing that my 7-year-old automatically walks away or removes herself if someone comes too close for her comfort, is hard to watch. I continue to remind her that all this shall pass, and she will be able to embrace her grandparents, aunts, and uncle once again like she used to.
For all those families in the same situation, with a child with health conditions or being the one that has an underlying condition, I see you and feel your frustration. One day we will be able to look back and have all of this be just a memory of that one time.