THE AGE OF PANDEMIC: CHAPTER 22 Salute to Parents and Caretakers

No matter what one's issues or complaints may be, there is always someone's else's story that knocks yours into the hinterland. Mole hills in comparison one might say; whine vs reality.  I can't get my hair cut vs. I lost my job cutting hair; I can't go to my favorite restaurant/bar vs I can't afford to buy food for my family; I have to wear a mask to leave my house vs I'm in quarantine after exposure; I can't visit my relatives vs mine died alone in a hospital and I couldn't be there.  See how that works? At any rate, most of us do feel your pain and have empathy. Forget the vocal and selfish minority screaming my freedom first as they spew their bodily fluids your way. Be sure to stay out of range of the freedom seekers who wish to take yours.

How the "sandwich" generation copes with working from home while caring for their parents and children out of school is unfathomable to those who do not have those responsibilities. They cheerfully proclaimed  "well at least I have a job and everyone is safe" for the first 30 or 60 days or so. The parents of small and school age children that require supervision, education and entertainment while being accountable for a full-time job are heroes. 

I asked my working Mother daughter if I could take the grandson for a week. To her credit she looked skeptical and warned me he was a bundle of energy, perhaps overwhelming for a week, but no worries. All was good, until I had to sit in on a ZOOM meeting. Amazing how much noise and commotion one small boy and his friend can cause when one is trying to act professionally in  a business meeting. Mute is a great feature so I can whip around and say "I'm on a call - CHILL." Not usually in an eight year old's vocabulary but fortunately he has been trained by his Mother to keep the noise level down when she's in a "virtual meeting". I mean when you hear "let's try a cannon ball" when they're in the bedroom, it does result in an anxious moment as you cringe for the inevitable crash.

NOTE: No one was actually harmed in the duration of the conference call. 

They were blessedly quiet when I made my remarks, although the follow-up phone call with the Executive Director was interrupted a couple of times with a "can I have a Faygo" or "what the heck are you guys doing, just wait a minute".   

The best part is at night though, when he winds down...a little. After an evening of fishing (when he landed a large catfish on his own) his "pungency" resulted in a quick shower, pjs and a cuddle. He gives Grandpa a hug and I tuck him in with his menagerie where he crashes in minutes. "Sleep in if you want" more of a wish than a reality. Love that boy!