Pandemic questions...

[grumpycakes]

What are you guys doing right now? Hair salons? Restaurants? Grocery shopping? Going to the office or WFH? Remote learning or in school? Tell me about it.

[grumpycakes]

I got invited to a dinner with a few acquaintances who I would really like to make into friends. I have high risk employees who I work closely with so I didn’t accept, but I’m bummed even though I know it was the right choice.

[grumpycakes]

I have not had my hair done since Feb. It’s never looked better. Don’t tell my hairdresser...

[grumpycakes]

We are remote learning. It’s going ok so far but I’m nervous for when the novelty wears off and more is required.

[grumpycakes]

I’m super into grocery delivery and curbside pickup. I don’t use it exclusively but damn, it’s nice.

[sarenu]

Hair cuts, wax, and dentist. My hair was short when we started this, it gets so thick and uneven (hello mullet) that I needed to go in to fix it.

We dont do dinner out, we will do carry out.

Kids are home for school, F goes to daycare, I'm working from home and my husband goes in every so often.

[charlotte]

The only thing we are really doing is grocery shopping, and sometimes other stores. I was doing delivery for groceries until we moved. There aren’t any stores that deliver to our new house.

MH was WFH most of the spring/summer, but he has to go to work in-person most of the time now.

We aren’t comfortable with eating in restaurants right now, but we’ve been doing a shit ton of takeout so I try to tell myself I’m supporting local businesses. 😚

[charlotte]

Back in March when this started, I cancelled my dentist appt & one that DS1 has scheduled. At this point we are both really overdue so I think I will go ahead and schedule the appointments.

[ovenrack]

I had a dentist appt. I got one hair cut - only customer in salon. H is schooling remote, M and T are home. School starts Wed. Ugh.

No restaurants. Same pandemic grocery shopping - 20% delivery and 80% in-person every 10-14 days - mostly because I have trouble finding time without my kids, now. No kids in stores, thank you very much.

We’ve had two play dates outside of our “pod,” both were outdoors and masked.

Still pretty strict here, I guess. I have no desire to be inside with anyone, really.

[stringy]

We’ve been to restaurants but only to eat outside. Most all around here have fashioned up outdoor seating. Not with kids though- went with a couple of other moms we have seen occasionally outside.

Mix of delivery and in person grocery shopping. Way too much takeout lately.

We’ve been to playgrounds masked.

We go to a private swim club- masked unless swimming. Limited numbers of people allowed. Outside.

P goes to daycare. Masked.

M went to camp a little bit. All outside and masked. She loved it and it solidified our leanings toward choosing hybrid school.

So she starts school two days in and three out this week. Only 9 kids in her class. Large tents outside for lunch and gym and whatever they can. Masked of course. No bus. Single person desks. She is super excited and so am I. She’s been so bored.

BM is at work once a week. Will be two starting next week. I’m supposed to be back but refused (college campus, my job has zero need to be there. I have a kid home 3x a week to watch. So no.)

The X factor is my parents. Our area has very little community transmission right now. Has had under 1% positivity rate for two weeks. No cases in day cares in our area. So my kids have been seeing them as well as BMs parents and cousins on that side. I feel iffy about the cousins sometimes especially now that school is starting but we have been mostly outside. I kind of want to shut it all down for a month and see how school starting around here pans out as most towns started last week or will this week. Meaning no grandparents or cousins. I just don’t know.

It’s so damn complicated and so hard to care for kids while working. Have lost much sleep some nights.

[stringy]

Like when we shut down in March and we didn’t see grandparents at all for 3 weeks. And then only awkwardly outside for another few weeks....we kept thinking it would end. We all did. Clearly it’s not ending. I can’t imagine having not seen them for the last 6 months. Or having had to work for the last 6 months without their help.

I do fully expect the high risk to return this winter and it worries me. We figured out school so that we could cover home days if I work a second shift and some Saturday. But I worry about my parents mental health if we have to isolate for a long period as well.

I could go on and on...

[stringy]

But then oddly I have refused to get a haircut.

[ovenrack]

Sept 12, 2020 16:49:52 GMT -6 stringy said:

But then oddly I have refused to get a haircut.

Omg!  

[stringy]

Sept 12, 2020 16:52:18 GMT -6 ovenrack said:

Sept 12, 2020 16:49:52 GMT -6 stringy said:

But then oddly I have refused to get a haircut.

Omg!  

I did hack it myself twice. So it’s not like super long now. I’m due to do it again soon though I’m getting shaggy.

[ovenrack]

Sept 12, 2020 17:00:04 GMT -6 stringy said:

Sept 12, 2020 16:52:18 GMT -6 ovenrack said:

Omg!  

I did hack it myself twice. So it’s not like super long now. I’m due to do it again soon though I’m getting shaggy.

Ohhh.  I was imagining you with a long hairstyle.  Confusing to my brain.

[stringy]

Sept 12, 2020 17:01:19 GMT -6 ovenrack said:

Sept 12, 2020 17:00:04 GMT -6 stringy said:

I did hack it myself twice. So it’s not like super long now. I’m due to do it again soon though I’m getting shaggy.

Ohhh.  I was imagining you with a long hairstyle.  Confusing to my brain.

BM asked the other day why I wouldn’t just go do it and I realized I actually very much hate going to hair salons so especially given the fact that I never have to look presentable...I’m happy to never go.

[mapleme]

I've been to the salon twice, dentist once. Grocery shopping with wild abandon. Amusingly, my regularly scheduled 6 month appointment happened to be on the very first day that they were allowed to be open. But they weren't allowed to drill teeth yet (aerosols). They found a cavity and said, "We're going to schedule this a week out and hope that we're allowed to drill your teeth. We'll let you know."

C is at preschool (has been since June). M was at the same DC over the summer. Totally outside and really fabulous. Now M is back at in person school. They have single desks with bins next to their desk for personal belongings. Each kid has a personal fold up ground-chair to take outside with them for outdoor learning. And each class has their own designated outdoor area for outdoor learning. Well, M was at school for 2 days and then home for 2 days as we were all navigating this non-covid cold. Her voice is still a little raw, but otherwise seems 100% fine. So we're planning on sending her back on Monday.

Our rates are the best in the country, but I don't know if that will stick in the winter. I hope that it will. All that I can really do is hope right now.

[snowmoon]

I don’t have the option to work from home and my employer has done all the things to try to minimize the risk for the people we support. I would be devastated if I contracted it and became the source of an outbreak.

My kids have been home from school and daycare since March. Neither will be going back for the time being and I’m so grateful that we have the option to keep them home. We have only had play dates with my cousin’s kids who are also being very careful, but they have teenage siblings who still live at home and are probably not being as safe. We’ve been letting B ride his scooter with the 2 other kids in our street too.

We have been doing grocery delivery but have gone to a few stores for emergency supplies (alcohol). J and I have both gone for hair cuts where masks are mandated and the number of people inside is limited. I had a few dentist appointments because I really had to get some work done and I expect they’ll have to close again at some point.

We ate out (on a patio, off-peak hours) for the first time and probably won’t again until next summer.

Our province was doing really well but cases have been on an upward trend over the last two weeks and our county has seen daily cases rising when we had none in July and the beginning of August.

[mc13]

We’ve definitely relaxed a little about doing things and taking the kids, but always wear our masks and everyone else is required to as well if we’re indoors.

I went to the hair salon in July - my high school BFF did my hair so I felt extra ok about it.
Back to grocery stores, Target, pet store with the girls. No one wears masks at playgrounds though so we pick empty ones. If there’s tons of kids, we keep driving.
We ate outdoors with the kids the last two weekends. T sits outside with the girls and dog and I run in for the food.
R is back to school in person 2 days a week with masks. E and A start 3 mornings a week with masks.
R has been horse back riding - masks until she’s on her horse then she takes it off.
Swim lessons start next week 1v1 and teachers will have face shields but obviously no masks for the kids.

Haven’t had any indoor play dates yet but we have a few friends we might have over once it gets colder.

[milano]

I've gotten my hair done twice. Both times I was the only client.

I've been to the nail salon twice and felt good about their precautions.

Went to the dentist over the summer and am going back next week.

We visit my family occasionally and my MIL and try to be outside as much as possible. But we also sleep there so I'm not sure what good that is actually doing. Both areas are super low transmission rates and case counts (i think my MIL'S County has only 3 cases currently) so that helps us feel better about it.

I'm not interested in eating at any restaurants any time soon, indoors or out. We do plenty of takeout and tip like we would if we were eating there so that helps me feel like I'm supporting local businesses.

We are doing remote learning and seeing almost no one locally. J played outside with the neighbor kid last weekend. Our friends stopped by and we grilled and visited and it was seriously great to socialize with them. We set up a tent in the driveway and stayed outside.

We were a little more adventurous in the new town this week and went to an indoor science place where you had a private table surrounded by curtains and you ordered science experiments off a menu (on your smartphone) so everything had been sanitized- that was really great. Also went indoors to a little nature center and were the only ppl in there so that was great too.

I'm getting more comfortable as long as everyone is masked, very very small groups of people, and limited time indoors.

[rugger]

Appts: I've taken the girls to the dentist and their well checks. No hair appts (thank goodness for a husband that can use clippers). I'm overdo for a well-woman exam. I do plan to get a proper hair cut from my old stylist when we visit VA. It'll be a $$ splurge, but I could use the cut and the "me time"

Food: S goes to Costco every other week. I'll pop into Whole Foods or Target if needed. We have eaten outside at a total of 3 restaurants. Gotten takeout twice, maybe.

Visitors: we have let the girls play with the kids on the street that they are used to playing with. The one family seems much more lax, which makes me nervous, so I try to remind the girls to not be each others' faces. Play has been outside, with the exception of one family who we trust, and we've been to their house a few times.
My parents came to visit a few weeks ago and it was really nice to have different company. We also did an overnight to CO Springs and are outside with the dogs.

Activities: kids are in soccer. The coaches wear masks at all times. Kids do not. We also bought ski passes for the season, so planning to do that and just keep to ourselves when we go.

School: all virtual, at the moment. We're 3 weeks in and I think some burnout is setting in. The district might be moving to hybrid soon, in which case we'll do that, but no bus.

Work: S has always worked remotely, with some local clients, and he's slowly been going back to those clients in recent weeks. My business is pretty slow, but I've started meeting clients outside so we can maintain distance and take off the masks. In a way, it's good that it's had a change in structure, because I need to be here to keep the girls on task during there virtual school days.

[pbandj714]

I've eaten out a handful of times since things opened back up...but only outside.

Kids are back in daycare full time. They do not wear masks but the teachers and directors do.

I'm still working fully remote. They've given no indication as to when we'll go back. I'd love for that to be never.

MH has been back in the office/in the field since May. I worry about him sometimes because he works with a bunch of "good old boys"/Trumpers who think masks are bullshit.

I don't really take the kids anywhere but school and to see a few friends.

We grocery shop in store and have been pleased with the way other shoppers act as far as distancing and masks.

[pbandj714]

As far as appointments, we've all been to the dentist. Dentists seem to be taking the most precautions so I felt totally comfortable there.

My kids had their well visit in June, masked. L does amazingly wearing a mask but G is a bit more of a challenge. It still went rather well.

I've had OB appointments, masked, by myself, which is totally fine with me.

Haven't had my hair done since February but that's not out of the ordinary for me to only get a cut once or twice per year.

I haven't had a pedicure. I miss them but I'm at home or picking up the kids from daycare. No one sees my toes. So it just feels unnecessary.

[ovenrack]

I feel like I'm never going to be ready to go back to normal.

As a complete non-germaphone pre-March, I feel irrevocably altered.

[tj]

Sept 13, 2020 20:09:46 GMT -6 ovenrack said:

I feel like I'm never going to be ready to go back to normal.

As a complete non-germaphone pre-March, I feel irrevocably altered.

Welcome friend.

[stringy]

Sept 13, 2020 20:09:46 GMT -6 ovenrack said:

I feel like I'm never going to be ready to go back to normal.

As a complete non-germaphone pre-March, I feel irrevocably altered.

Whenever I'm watching a show and there's a crowded thing or people in each others faces talking, my brain is like NO NOOOOOO. And then I remember its not real life.

But then the other night I thought, well this is becoming real life, so will shows and movies show people with masks on now? (as in, to depict real life)

[violajack]

We didn't go out to eat much to begin with, so we still don't go out to eat. Plenty of take-out though.

We do a homeschool group that meets once per week. The homeschooling culture here is much more "christian" than it was in CA, and there are a few anti-maskers in the group, which makes me stabby. My oldest is the only one in his group of 6 that wears a mask. N's group has 7 and two kids wear masks, but one of the adults in that room doesn't (stabby-stab). The mask mandate in my state only applies to kids 10 and up, so technically none of those kids *have* to wear a mask, but come on people! It's indoors! In a basement with questionable ventilation! I'm trying to give the non-mask-wearing mom the benefit of the doubt, like maybe she has a good reason and doesn't owe anyone an explanation. But I do not have a good attitude about it. At least my oldest's class moved to a bigger room.

Gymnastics is our other big exposure, mixed feelings, activity. It's a big gym, but they keep opening up new classes. And I don't know what the state of the ventilation system is. I'm glad they get to open new classes and make up for the revenue lost during the shutdown, but it's starting to get crowded. They're not really enforcing the distancing like they used to, and the kids don't have to wear masks when they're in the gym. The coaches do, and most parents in the lobby do. But some schools are back in person now, which means my kids are exposed to all the other kids who are exposed to in person schooling. But we need that activity. So. Yeah.

My sister in law just had a baby a few weeks ago and we will not likely get to see him in person for a long time still. I have to be honest about our exposure level, and as much as I want to snuggle my new little nephew, I'm not going to do that. Pictures are good enough for now.

I have not gotten my hair cut in about three years and it's getting pretty tangly at the ends. I'm debating just trimming it myself. I've never been much a salon kinda girl.

My husband does the vast majority of our shopping. He does one big trip on the weekend and then occasionally a smaller trip to the local store mid-week.

[Dramaphile]

We're in PA, which is doing decently covid numbers-wise, at least compared to a good chunk of the rest of the country.

I've not been to a hair salon since way before pandemic.

We're grocery shopping pretty normally, but mask wearing is mandatory in PA and people are pretty good about complying. We do try to do fewer trips and not bring the kids.

We're doing takeout and have eaten out at a few places that have outdoor dining with well spaced tables. Not going to indoor dine at a restaurant for a very long time.

I've been back at the office since May, we wear masks whenever not behind a closed office door and sanitize frequently

Nugget was in a summer preschool program at the daycare BFF's kids go to, and just went back to her old preschool when they reopened last week. Kids over 2 and teachers wear masks all day and they're doing a lot of outdoor programming. Classes are podded so they minimize number of contacts and class sizes are small. We started C doing 2 mornings a week in their 2 year old class as well. I have a lot of trust in them and they're very transparent about their procedures.

Nugget is starting dance classes this weekend. They're enforcing mask wearing with the kids and teachers and have small class sizes.

My family is across the country and we don't have any regular contact with anyone high risk, which would obviously color our decision making.

[nikkipal]

I guess I’m the outlier, since we have dined inside at restaurants. Everyone is masked going to/from tables and tables are spaced far apart. Places are at 25-50% capacity. Waitstaff wear masks.

We try to limit grocery shopping to weekly. M went to summer camp, but is now virtual learning. J is WFH. I have been onsite some, but majority WFH.
We go to the pool a lot. It’s at 50% capacity and I feel good about it.

We have visited family, and we have close friends that we hang out with outside (as distanced as possible, but hard with young kids). I feel like we’ve been pretty careful, but certainly not compared to some.