Two weeks of holiday break are slowly coming to an end. It’s safe to say that with two kids under two that were sick for a total of nine days, there was little resting possible. Luckily, we managed to sneak in a quick getaway into nature. Nature always heals the mind and soul. It’s really the only thing that always, no, ALWAYS works. It didn’t help that our campervan spontaneously died on us as we were returning from an otherwise fantastic trip, and we had to arrange emergency transportation back to our home. We ended on a stressful note. But we’re safe, the car is in one piece, and we’re all where we are supposed to be.
I have said it before, and I’ll repeat it here. Anyone who expects young parents to be rested after two weeks of holiday is quite the fool, that A) has never had kids, or B) has had little input in raising them. I am not rested, and will not be rested on Monday morning. My resting starts then. I am going to need a week of recovery. This sounds horrible and all, but it isn’t meant to be that way. I absolutely love my kids, being with them, and taking care of them. But I can’t deny that the continuous 110% attention they need from both parents at this age is very exhausting. Rewarding too, but exhausting nonetheless. I had a great holiday break, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Now I need a real break! On Monday, we can bring our son to daycare again, and our five month old daughter alone is a little easier to handle for us at home during home office.
On the one hand, I’m looking forward to next week, as there are exciting things waiting to be executed with the team (more on that pretty soon).
Yet, I feel quite conflicted about it, too.
I’ll be sending my son into daycare again, and this of course at the worst possible time. Covid numbers are – again – rapidly increasing in Germany too. Omicron is rolling in, and I would not be surprised if we start seeing 100K+ daily cases here within a week. Without a vaccine or anything hopeful on that end in near sight, or masking in place to protect the little ones, I feel guilty for sending them into the danger zone. We have a very small day care group, regular testing, and a group of highly responsible and communicative parents. We do the best we can, and it’s so much more than many other places are doing, but still, these little muppets are sitting ducks. It’s only a matter of time before one of them will catch it somewhere and drizzles all the others in a fine aerosol of covid cough. That’s just the reality of the situation. It feels like a ticking time bomb. Can we please acknowledge that?
All over the internet, people keep regurgitating this ‘omicron is mild’ crap. Today my mother even told me, this variant is only a mild cold. No mom, you haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about. From what I’ve seen over the weeks, it’s much more easily transmittable, has partly dodged vaccine efficacy, and sends more young people, including kids, to hospital. There’s very little positive about that. So fuck off with that mild virus crap. This may be true if you have had three jabs, but that isn’t the case – and will not be the case anytime soon – for kids below five. We as a society are basically collectively sacrificing our kids to covid. Whatever happens to them is seen as very superficial collateral damage. A risk society seems willing to take.
On Monday, schools and day cares open again after holidays. A nice mixer. Fresh blood for the beast!
And this makes me very very nervous.
Robin Heinen 