written by Anonymous

covid-19 positive

I remember thinking when the pandemic officially "hit" the United States in March 2020, I would exercise everything in my power to protect my family from the virus. We quarantined, I foraged to larn enough wipes and hand sanitizers, hustled to notice the most reliable (and cutest) masks for my children, and asked consummate strangers to stay at least 6 feet away from the states in public. My husband and I waited anxiously for the vaccine for both adults and kids . When he and I got fully vaccinated, I felt almost invincible and could not expect for my children to have the same protection .

Then, the Delta variant became prevalent. This happened to coincide with when nosotros finally decided to have both our children go back to school . This decision was not taken lightly, and my husband and I oscillated as to what would exist best for our kids for many weeks. I could no longer exist working from home with both kids at domicile with united states of america. It was destroying our mental wellness. With adult vaccinations readily attainable, I assumed it would be safest.

I was incorrect. My youngest child—who was in preschool at the time—came downward with a fever of 103 degrees belatedly one evening. He proceeded to accept this same high fever for iii days nonstop. When it finally broke, my oldest kid developed similar symptoms. My pharynx as well felt irritated and my husband had painful body aches, so we all got tested merely to be certain.

W east were all positive for COVID-19.

I recall reading each examination result with tears streaming down my face. It was an out-of-body feel considering with every notification of us testing positive, I felt ashamed, shocked, terrified, and guilty. I know I am not alone in these sentiments, peculiarly now that our state is in the middle of a surge with the Omicron variant. Below are the lessons I learned from my whole family unit getting coronavirus.

1. COVID Shame Is Real

When we were all diagnosed with COVID-19, infections were rise, only still many people overall had not tested positive for the virus, especially among immature children. I felt deep shame that we tested positive for COVID-19. I didn't want anyone to know who didn't demand to know. It felt like we had scarlett "C+" messages on our chests, which gave the impression that we tested positive because nosotros were devil-may-care, irresponsible anti-vaxxers who deserved to get COVID. No one ever told me these things to my face, but information technology is what I felt in those first few days of being sick. Most people still exercise not know that nosotros tested positive for COVID because I desire to respect my family's privacy.

It felt like we had scarlett 'C+' letters on our chests which gave the impression that nosotros tested positive considering we were careless, irresponsible anti-vaxxers who deserved to get COVID.

Every bit I run across the surge happening and people sharing how they managed to avoid COVID for almost ii years but now have the virus, I feel some of that shame pitter-patter in again. We got sick concluding year even though we followed all the rubber mitigation measures and my husband and I were fully vaccinated. Only it felt embarrassing to admit we tested positive for COVID openly. In many means, it yet does feel embarrassing, and that'due south OK. Nosotros are living in uncharted territory and our feelings are valid.

2. Our Whole Family Getting COVID Doesn't Make Me a Bad Mom

Mom guilt is already pervasive. Add your entire family getting COVID and the guilt multiplies. I felt similar I had allow my family down. Turns out, I cannot control information technology all. I felt deep regret putting my youngest in a school that wasn't masking preschool kids. I blamed myself for not insisting on the kids wearing masks, including my own. The guilt wasn't rational, simply even so, it felt real. Everyone was saying immature kids "aren't getting or spreading the virus," then masking them isn't really necessary.  Plus, he was 3 years sometime and always tore the darn affair off anyhow!

When nosotros got COVID, I felt and so vulnerable for our kids because they weren't vaccinated at the time and their bodies are still developing. Nobody really knows what long-term effects COVID can have years from now. I felt I had been reckless in allowing my kids to get back to school during a pandemic. Now, months have gone by, and I completely dismiss all my "could haves, would haves, and should haves" because COVID doesn't discriminate.

I besides forgave myself considering I believe my children deserve to exist in school, even though at that place are risks involved despite all school mitigation measures in place. There are inherent risks in our kids being in a public place during times of COVID and that is a harsh reality to take.

3. Spreading Germs Is Part of Being a Kid

One time the initial shock of being infected with COVID-19 wore off, I too began to shed the shame and guilt of our unabridged family testing positive because immature children are major germ spreaders. Add the pandemic context to a child'south typical behavior and information technology can make a perfect setting for the virus to spread. Fifty-fifty though we know ways to curb the spread of COVID-nineteen, our children will still lick surfaces, remove their masks, suck their thumbs, and hug each other. Schools can have all the mitigation measures in place, but children will still be children, and that is not a bad thing.

Even though we know means to curb the spread of COVID-nineteen, our children will nonetheless lick surfaces, remove their masks, suck their thumbs, and hug each other… children volition nonetheless be children, and that is not a bad thing.

What I desire people to know is that not only can young children get COVID-nineteen, but they can also spread it. This is how our family all became sick; information technology was my preschool-age child (patient zero) going to a school without wearing a mask who afterward brought home coronavirus to all of us. The media hasn't actually portrayed (up until recently) the spread of the virus amid kids. Information technology is very much possible. Our family unit is proof and Omicron is bringing that point habitation with many more kids currently testing positive.

iv. Your True Village Volition Evidence Their True Colors

When your entire family gets sick with coronavirus, you really can't do much and yous are limited to quarantining at dwelling house. If you take children, everything is more complicated. And in times of COVID, your village shrinks. Nosotros had close family unit and friends show their generosity and back up not simply through become-well texts just too through their actions. We had friends evangelize food to u.s.a., others had Amazon deliver games for my kids to entertain themselves, and a group of friends and family would check in regularly to ask how we were doing. All these actions were very much appreciated.

At the aforementioned time, there were family members who were silent. They did not offer any assistance (fifty-fifty remotely) and frankly didn't prove much sympathy. It'southward hard not to remember who those people are considering I assumed our unabridged family unit testing positive for COVID-19 would inspire an army of friends and family to help united states of america. I was wrong about this assumption. Nonetheless, we are forever grateful to those individuals who stepped up when we were downwards.

5. It's All About Survival, So No Rules Employ

It'southward never easy when our kids are sick, but when you are likewise sick, it'southward a terrible situation for all parties involved. My kids are even so young and very dependent on us for everything. They were very needy and I felt like I had been hit by a truck, but no one could come and assistance the states. So we did all the "survival" things to make our lives easier and I am and so glad we lowered our expectations.

When we tested positive, we were told to quarantine for 10 days. That's a long time when yous're feeling sick and your little ones are too. Motel fever creeps in on day two of being within and feeling sluggish.

Our goal every day was to survive and go meliorate. This meant having the Television receiver on all day, eating junk food or food delivery, and letting the house become a mess. I did non have the energy to do anything but sleep on the couch. Any bits of energy I did take I invested in caring for my children.

My advice for whatsoever parents going through the aforementioned thing: Don't feel guilty if your earth looks like it was turned upside downward. It really was, and then accept the chaos.

6. Kids React Differently to COVID than Adults

Before I proceed, I am not a medical professional nor an communicable diseases expert. Every kid is different and, therefore, will be afflicted by the virus in a multifariousness of ways. I am just a mom whose kids tested positive for coronavirus at the same time my husband and I did. While both our kids had a fever for three days, they hardly looked listless and seemed to bounce right back to normal afterward three days. Some kids, we know, are more seriously affected, and COVID should e'er be taken seriously.

My hubby and I had a very dissimilar reaction to COVID than our kids. We believe we were infected with the Delta variant and information technology hit me and my husband very hard. COVID is not but a "bad cold." We were wearied and full of many symptoms for v days—we then had another week of extreme exhaustion and months of not having our sense of taste and scent. However, as nosotros dealt with all these symptoms, nosotros had to besides take care of our kids at the aforementioned fourth dimension.

It was brutal because they did not act sick at all after day three and, in fact, were bouncing off the walls. Meanwhile, my husband and I could barely drag ourselves out of bed. I call up feeling a sense of relief at their resiliency, just it fabricated information technology extremely challenging to then care for them while we struggled with our symptoms.

The electric current Omicron surge reminds me of how lucky we are that nosotros survived that flow when we all got COVID. Nosotros are blessed considering of the vaccine, the grace from God, our doctors, and pure luck. I cannot wait for all of this to be a distant memory, merely for now, my advice is to exist safe, go vaccinated, and accept the virus seriously. Having our whole family exam positive for COVID has shown me how important compassion, empathy, and kindness truly are. If someone you know has tested positive for coronavirus, whether it'south the adults or the children, get on the phone and reach out right away. They would welcome hearing from you. Oh, and delivering some nutrient would be a dainty gesture, also!