Another Perspective on Mask Wearing

I want to provide another perspective for any friends still reluctant to wear masks. I have 3 high-risk kids at home. Because of his wonky airway my baby, Oliver, has been hospitalized with pneumonia more times than most adults. Even before COVID we avoided taking Oliver out to places with lots of people. For years we’ve had this whole routine of washing and sanitizing when we get home and as soon as we get in the car from anywhere. We already worried about Ollie getting the flu because I know how quickly he could go from slightly sick to respiratory failure and death. So when I hear friends complain that, “It’s just like the flu!” that’s not reassuring.

Lockdown was a dream for me. Finally I could keep us all safe and not have to work to stifle this constant stream of anxiety every time we went out that one of us would pickup the sickness that would put Ollie back in the hospital. I didn’t have to balance letting them be kids and keeping Oliver healthy.

We’ve adjusted nearly every part of our life to protect the health of these kids the last few years. We’ve missed a lot of time with family and friends. We’ve missed out on things we wish we could do as a family. When Daniel was told he had to go back to working in the office (at a tech job) I told him I’d rather he just leave and find a job that allowed remote working (I was completely serious and super mad).

I do grocery pickup every time I possibly can, but occasionally I need to go into the store for a necessity. I wear my mask, try to stay away from people in the store and get out as quickly as I can. Then I see friends post “if you’re worried about it then stay home!” You’re right, I can stay home and avoid optional places. But I need food for my family. I need medicine for my kids. I have to go to the store. I’m doing what I can to stay out of your space, the very least you can do is wear a mask when you’re in places in your community that high-risk caregivers HAVE to go.

It’s not because the media or government have me paranoid over nothing, it’s because we were already high-risk for respiratory viruses and now there’s a new one that is easily spread. All the stats about it not affecting kids very much mean little to me because they don’t apply to Oliver. So even if you’re against mask wearing, please wear one to the places people have to go, grocery stores, drug stores, DMV, etc.

*I wrote this post a few days ago and let it sit. Now I think, what about the workers at those “optional” places? What about the people who can’t afford to leave or can’t work remotely? What about their families? So… please just wear a mask in public. And also a big thank you to Walmart and Smith’s for now requiring masks.