I’ve never been the type of mom to fret excessively over germs. My kids are familiar with the five-second rule, we’re not germaphobes, and I certainly haven’t kept them wrapped in bubble wrap. I was the mom who encouraged their natural curiosity and didn’t sweat the small stuff, believing it all contributed to “building their immune systems.” But that was before the pandemic transformed everything.
The ongoing crisis has made me hyper-vigilant about my children’s activities. I constantly remind them to sneeze into their elbows, avoid touching anything that isn’t theirs, and, for goodness’ sake, don’t let anyone breathe on you! Now that my kids are back in school, I find myself unable to cope with even the slightest signs of a cold.
On September 13th, 1 million kids returned to NYC public schools, including my four-year-old who just started preschool. My second grader had already been in school for almost a month. While I was thankful for some peace and quiet—especially since my oldest despised remote learning—I found myself plagued by a new wave of anxiety. I was mentally prepared for the usual back-to-school germs from my second grader, but the sheer dread I felt over every sniffle from my preschooler was something I hadn’t anticipated.
Is this how it’s going to be from now on?
I often fantasized about what our mornings would look like with both older kids in school. I imagined quiet days filled with freedom (thanks to baby #3, that dream is on hold). I never thought I’d be sitting on the couch post-drop-off in a panic, worrying whether I remembered to give them their vitamins. Our mornings are a whirlwind of activity—wake up, breakfast, VITAMINS, wash faces, brush teeth, get dressed, hair, backpacks, water bottles, masks, and double-checking for masks. Because heaven forbid anyone in our home returns from school with a sniffle or sneeze.
I’m constantly torn between wanting to keep my kids in a bubble for my own peace of mind and sending them to school for their social development. I can’t rely on my seven- and four-year-olds to remember to do the “right thing” all day long. They’re kids, excited to be around others again. And as children under 12, they aren’t eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. While NYC has mandated vaccines for teachers, I’m a realist; this doesn’t mean illness is off the table. Kids will get sick.
Since schools reopened, pediatric COVID cases have surged. This isn’t surprising to anyone who understands how germs spread. It also means that urgent care facilities and pediatricians are overwhelmed, constantly restocking tests for COVID, RSV, and more. Finding at-home rapid tests has become nearly impossible, and they often aren’t sufficient for children showing symptoms. The likelihood of my own panic rising at home has increased dramatically.
I feel like I’m missing out on the tranquility of my kids being at school because my anxiety over their cold symptoms has escalated. Every cough or sniffle sends me into a tailspin. According to the CDC, fever and cough are still the top symptoms of COVID. If you’ve been a parent of school-age children for any length of time, you know that fever and cough are all too common, especially this time of year.
Now, we find ourselves worried—is it a cold, the flu, or the dreaded virus? The only way to truly differentiate between a cold and COVID is through testing. But I have no desire to step into any environment rife with germs. So here I sit at home, fervently hoping my kids remember to keep their masks on and avoid sharing germs. Be kids, have fun, but please—stay healthy. My anxiety can’t handle even the mildest of colds right now. If you relate to this feeling, know that you’re not alone!
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Summary:
As schools reopen, anxiety over children’s health is on the rise, especially regarding cold symptoms that could signal COVID-19. Parents struggle with the balance of allowing kids to enjoy school while grappling with the fear of illness. The experience of constant worry over minor symptoms is shared among many parents navigating this new reality.