Day 678

Today I sent my youngest to school with a cough. No fever, no other symptoms really, but she had a cough. A few scenarios went through my head... 

    

    a - she was at my parents this past weekend and she has allergies so that's more than likely why

    

    b - who has she been around that she could have gotten sick from (immediately asks who was out in her class yesterday... answer, no one so maybe she didn't get sick from someone there)

    c - do I need to get her checked out before sending her to school or if I send her, will I get called to come pick up her early?

I took her to school. So far no phone calls, so I'm thinking I was right with my mommy intuition that it's just allergies. 

Since March 13, 2020 we have second guessed every sneeze, cough, runny nose, scratchy throat, etc, and let's be honest — that takes a lot out of a mom every morning trying to decide if she's making the right decision to send her kid(s) to school or not. In preschool, we didn't have to worry about this. Your child had a cough, you kept them home. In grade school, your child has a cough and unless there is an undeniable reason for that cough, you send them to school because you don't want them to miss something important, but also, they only have so many days they can miss. I can't imagine being an administrator or teacher with a child in school. They have more than anyone on their plate because they want to keep their kid(s) safe, their students safe, and themselves safe. That weight truly has to be heavy,

Right now our school systems are doing all they can and are hanging on by that last string on their violins. Should they shut down and go virtual, well, they could. But, there is no guarantee that giving students time at home with virtual learning that some of those aren't actually going to stay at home. Some, not all, are going to say, okay, free time let's go on vacation (and possibly spread or catch something to bring back to school when it starts back.) Some will be like us and stay home and hibernate like we did before.

We are almost two years into this, and it's hard to see that we are still struggling with this. So to the mamas who are like me and worry daily if you are doing the right thing, to the mamas who are worried daily if someone in your family is going to catch that germ that takes the family down for a week or more, to the mamas who are in the thick of quarantine and just need a break — your pain is felt by us all, one way or another. We need to pray for each other, and wash our hands and sanitize everything, 'cause as the saying goes... Jesus and germs are everywhere!

To the mamas who are worriers like me — "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

To the mamas who are tired like me — "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

To the mamas who are sick or have sick ones at home — "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5:14