Safer at Home

Ian chose to do his art project yesterday with Peppa while sitting in a box.

Last Spring when the COVID restrictions were the harshest in PA, our area wasn't hit very hard. The COVID restrictions at the moment aren't nearly as strict, although they are stricter in Philadelphia, but the numbers are far worse in our area than they were in the spring. I still am of the opinion that if the kids or I were to contract COVID-19, it wouldn't involve a hospitalization, but if we are going to have contact with people who are in a higher risk category (such as Paul's dad who will be turning 79 this month), I think we need to be more careful than we have been since we entered the green phase in June. I had planned to take the boys roller skating tonight, but I told them today that we're going to avoid optional activities until the COVID numbers improve in our area. No one wears masks at that rink. I also planned to take them to the laser tag/ trampoline/ arcade meet-up on Thursday. I had rescheduled Nadia's voice lesson so that we could attend the meet-up, but I've decided we won't attend that event either. Masks or face shields are required there, but I don't think they sanitize the surfaces frequently enough. Camp Susque cancelled the Christmas in Tanzania program that we planned to attend next week. At the moment my thinking is that aside from attending church, picking up books at the library, and going to the grocery store, the kids and I are going to stay at home until the COVID-19 situation improves. One exception would be seeing Esther at Sight and Sound next week. I don't think that will be risky because we'll be wearing masks/shields, and I know they are sanitizing, keeping groups separated, etc. I am fine with the kids playing outside with kids in the neighborhood without masks on, but if our local school district resumes to meet in person next week, I've asked the boys to avoid having physical contact with the kids in the neighborhood. I'm hoping and praying that the vaccine distribution will take place as quickly as possible and that the COVID numbers will start going down as soon as possible!