The "Safer at Home" order has just been mandated here in California, though most of us who have school-aged children have been self-isolating for the better part of a week. In fact, most people I know have been sticking close to home and only going out for grocery, gas, or banking runs — all in the hopes of slowing down the spread of COVID-19. But there’s one group of people who seem dead set on living life as if things were normal, and that is our elderly parents. None of us can seem to convince them to stay home.
Even actress Jennifer Garner, who was a guest on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon (via video chat, of course), reported that while the world has literally shut down to keep elderly people safe, her elderly parents were on their way to go out as if there was no deadly virus taking people down.
Jennifer Garner isn’t the only adult working overtime to keep her parents from going out
A hot topic amongst my friends is our rebellious elderly parents who think it’s totally appropriate to go to dinner with friends, hit the gym, or see a movie — despite the rest of the world taking a hard pass on human connection right now. Basically, they're laughing in the face of social distancing.
I can certainly relate.
My parents are over 80
Up until this week, my dad was going to the gym each and every day. He and my mom went over to a friend’s house for dinner and had made plans to see a movie the next day. The poor man barely survived the earful I gave him on the phone about how irresponsible he was being to himself and to others.
His response? “But I’d hate to miss my workout.”
Sorry this worldwide pandemic is getting in the way of your social life, dad, but it’s time to hunker down and stay home.
It’s almost as if COVID-19 has turned all of our parents into the rebellious teens that we probably were. It's like our parents are getting their payback, albeit in a totally ignorant and potentially dangerous way.
My dad acted like I had lost my mind when I told him he should be skipping the gym. Other friends report that the only thing more stressful than the threat of COVID-19 is trying to keep their aging parents from hitting the golf course while everyone else is staying home. Much like the teens that our elderly parents are acting like, they think they’re untouchable and nothing will affect them.
It’s as exasperating as it is dangerous
So, to the retirement set, your adult children love your desire to stay fit, go shopping, and socialize at book club, but the world has literally stopped for you. We can’t all be in this together, if you’re out playing mahjong with the girls.
On behalf of all adult children whose aging parents think they’re invincible: It’s time to go home and stay there. You’re making your children crazy and we’ve got enough on our minds right now.
If you don't do it for yourself, do it for us
Please. We're begging you.
We’re not trying to ruin your lives and we know we’re the least cool adult children ever — but we’ve been asking nicely. The next step is to ground you. It’ll hurt us more than it’ll hurt you, but we have to do what’s best. Even if you hate us for it, we’ll always love you.
