I’m nervous about the coronavirus.
There. I said it.
In a world where there seems to be two extremes in opinions about this widespread illness — you’re either panicked or think everyone who is panicked is crazy — it feels risky to say that out loud.
If I’m being completely honest, it has me feeling pretty uneasy
That’s why, when I hear my mom friends accuse people of overreacting to the coronavirus, I get a bit touchy. When I see social media posts poking fun at people who feel the need to stock up on hand sanitizer and food staples, I don’t laugh. When I witness rants from my co-workers about how ridiculous the public is acting, I start to feel prickly.
I’m not an alarmist
I’m not a germaphobe. I’m the mom who follows the 5-second rule, the mom who firmly believes that germs help build up my kiddos’ immune systems. The mom who usually forgoes the flu shot.
I’m also a teacher, so I obviously tough it out through coughs and colds and migraines and cramps pretty much constantly. And, while I generally encourage kids to try to come to school, even if they don’t feel their best, right now I’m all about sending them home.
Extreme? Probably. But it’s just not worth that slight risk. Not for the other students, not for me.
While I’m not usually a worrier, I find myself living with that little bit of gnawing fear. I worry mostly for my family. As a 30-something healthy woman, I fully realize I am not in the high-risk category for this virus. If I got the coronavirus I would, most likely, be just fine — so would my husband and kids.
But I can’t forget about the rest of my family
My parents — in their 70s, with numerous chronic conditions and health struggles — sit very uncomfortably in that high-risk group. My parents are also my child care providers and lifeline. They are day care for my 3-year-old daughter and take my son to and from school daily. I see them every morning and every afternoon. They are very much a part of our daily life. Therefore, if one of us gets it, they, mostly likely, will too.
That is just not a risk I am willing to be frivolous about. So, while I listen to public figures accuse me of overacting and while my friends think I’m crazy for keeping my kids out of church nursery and avoiding unnecessarily going to crowded public places, I’ll at least know that I’m doing what I can to keep my people safe and healthy.
I hope I’m wrong
I hope I look back a year from now at my cautious behavior and feel silly that I overreacted. But, for now, the words “better safe than sorry” have never rung truer for me. All the people who are giving me grief about being an alarmist or a worrywart can just go ahead and zip it — and cover their mouths when they cough.
