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Adventures with Gen Z/Millenial adult children and COVID-19:
Both daughters (24 & 18) had a mutual friend diagnosed with Covid on Monday. Friend had been tested as part of normal work protocol, and the test results took 10 days. She had no symptoms.
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Both daughters (24 & 18) had a mutual friend diagnosed with Covid on Monday. Friend had been tested as part of normal work protocol, and the test results took 10 days. She had no symptoms.
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She had also just been dumped by her boyfriend, so tons of tears had been shed the week before, and looking back, likely her loss of smell/taste and the headaches were Covid, not her tears. Both daughters had hugged her during said breakup week. 2/
Friend was horrified she may have exposed her friends, and called everyone. Given the days of exposure, both of my girls would be displaying symptoms by Wednesday, so both stayed home from work and waited to have rapid tests done (thank you Dr Askari!) 3/
And both tested Negative. However, the 18 year old’s roommate tested positive! So a second test to determine if it was an active infection or antibodies was done. Very proud of 18 year old for not freaking out, as she told me “mom, you taught me how to take care,” 4/
“I’m not worried, I know to wash my hands every time I look at her.” (Grama was a pediatric RN. My kids never shared bugs, as we quarantined the sick kid and everyone washed their hands when you looked at them!) 5/
Results back today: the roommate had antibodies. Likely the “bad cold” she had in late February was Covid. It’s the only time she was sick all winter. 18 year old was incredibly proud of the fact she didn’t get it back in February, as she had been the one caring for her. 6/
24 year old has been fighting a sinus infection, so she was told to be retested today. Again, negative. Both girls are now outside of the incubation time of exposure....this mama is rather relieved. The girls have been out and about, practicing good hygiene, but that’s it. 7/
Good hygiene. Can we all talk more about that? We now know my 18 year old literally cared for her roommate with Covid, and did not get it. Time-honored practices of hand washing, quarantine, and being very deliberate about your actions spared her. 8/
There are multiple ways to stop the spread; we seem focused on only one. Why aren’t we preaching ALL methods? Why aren’t we teaching people the basics my RN Grama instilled strongly in my mother and me? Back in February, those measures protected my daughter. Not a mask. 9/
If you want to wear a mask, please, feel free. It’s one of many things that can be done. But to forget everything else-not touching your face, washing with soap and water for 30 seconds, disinfecting items-seems very strange to me. No, everything hinges on wearing a mask. 10/
Being the rare person who cannot wear one, I notice how others act. The face touching is out of control...and maybe the spike is due to this? It’s interesting that in Phoenix/Scottsdale masks have been mandatory and cases went UP in the following month. 11/
The 24 year old has decided she’s wearing a mask now; as she saw her work colleagues react to her exposure. I’m very proud of her, for thinking of others’ feelings. At the same time, I’m very proud of the fact neither daughter has had it, by practicing good hygiene. 12/
Can we please add this to the conversation? It is possible to stop the spread with methods other than masks. There are CENTURIES of scientific proof to back up WASHING YOUR HANDS. And yet...people are touching their germy masks, and touching other things...ewww. 13/
So I get it: masks help. But when you only do ONE PART, you only get one part of slowing the spread. How about we add back in not touching your face, washing your hands for 30 seconds and disinfecting things? If my Gen Z and Millennial daughter, practicing these preventives 14/
have avoided Covid, despite caring for one with Covid, and definite exposure to Covid, think of how quickly we could contain it?
Oh, and they attended this event three weeks ago, too. 15/
Oh, and they attended this event three weeks ago, too. 15/
It’s time to take politics out, and remember we know how to do this. We never needed government intervention before: good common sense seems to work best. May this time quickly be but a memory, and all of us stay safe. 16/16
