Health and Sanity Check-Ins

[sprocketta]

Things are crazy now. I think we are all trying to stay healthy and maintain sanity as well. I thought I would start this thread so folks can check in and discuss how they're doing. I want all my BIC friends to be okay. I will kick this off with a first post. Take care of yourself lovelies.

[WinglessOne]

@MissPuff  There’s a fairly recent news article somewhere about the struggles of gen x women becoming caregivers for their boomer parents while also caring for younger generations. While I don’t have young dependents (well, not directly dependent), I do have 2 stubborn parents in their 70s who live several states away (Florida), where I can’t easily monitor them. I’m less concerned about my mother leaving the house. My father, though... for health reasons, he shouldn’t be out around other people at all right now. But he’s definitely not a stay home kind of person. He’s too extroverted and type A for that. I’m about ready to start GPS tracking him via Find My Phone or something, so I can call and demand he return home whenever I see he’s out. 😄 

I do think my mom’s trying to keep him home. She’ll drive him nuts as a warden; he’ll drive her nuts as an attempted escapee; and eventually, I’ll have to try convincing my brother (who also lives in FL, but nowhere near our parents) to drop in on them as a peacekeeping mission. 🤦‍♀️ 

It could be worse: I know someone whose house is currently full of his parents, his wife and kids, and his very young grandkids. He also has a dog and 4 cats and says wrangling the pets is much easier than keeping all the humans in line. “At least all the cats will come running and sit still in front of me as soon as they hear the can opener. What sound works on humans? What did I do to deserve this?” 🤣 

I hope you’re able to keep your parents contained! 

[MissPuff]

@WinglessOne Ha, sounds a little like my parents 🙂 I actually DO have GPS tracking on their phones, though it was for other reasons! They're finally being more cooperative this week, mostly because everything is closed now and there's no where to go! It's also currently snowing, so there's that!

Ha, your poor friend 🙂 as much as I love my family, being in one house with ALL of them...that would be tough even in the best of times!

[eshoe]

@MissPuff YES!!! I talked with my Mom the other day to check in on her, and she told me she had just gone out to lunch with some ladies! I was floored. I've been in self-quarantine for almost two weeks already, no unnecessary risks for me. 

lol at your Freaky Friday comment. Hugs to you and your family 🙂

[MissPuff]

@eshoe  Hugs to you too! The olds are so nonchalant! I'd like to think it's because some of them survived truly insane things (my parents are refugees and escaped PIRATES when fleeing their country) so at first glance, this all seems like a bit much. But we're doing this for them! 🙂 It's starting to sink in now though, I didn't even step inside on Sunday, just dropped off groceries and waved from the other side of the glass door! 

[treestar86]

it's funny they're always talking about the young ppl going out, but apparently it's the old ppl!! lol 😮

[sprocketta]

@eshoe what happened that put you in self,-quarantine? How's your sanity?

[eshoe]

ETA @sprocketta sanity is F-A-D-I-N-G 😂

[eshoe]

@sprocketta I just wanted to take extra precautions. I miss going out to eat, we haven’t been doing takeout just me cooking at home. We are trying to make the most of it, at least we can go in the backyard and have a little campfire:) I really feel for those who are alone right now, stuck in their homes/apartments. 

How are you doing with it so far?

[fatimamummy]

You are such a good daughter @MissPuff I hope they let you take care of them, the way you want. Stay safe.

[MissPuff]

@fatimamummy  you too!!! They're fighting me, but they've mostly been good this week, I think the seriousness of the situation is really catching up and freaking them out a little. Hope you and your family are keeping safe and sound!

[curlychiquita]

I hope they let you bring them stuff, @MissPuff!

[MissPuff]

@curlychiquita  They LOVE me bringing stuff to them, but then also want to go out, or want me to come in and hang (never mind that I'm still actively working since I'm in food manufacturing). They were better this weekend, the news is starting to freak them out. 

[Luvstravel]

I'm with you @MissPuff. I told my mom whatever she needs I'll get to her. She lives about 15 minutes away. Tomorrow after work I'm dropping of Sudafed to her door in a sack because our allergy season is in full swing in Louisiana. I told her if I don't have it, I'll get it shipped to her, so please stay indoors. She's a gym addict at 76 years old and truly feel bad or her home alone, while I at least have my husband, but at least I can say she's still here and I'd like to keep it that way. I would like to reiterate what MissPuff said, please stay at home and encourage others also.

[Luvstravel]

Stay on them however you get it accomplished! This article is enough for me to tell my mom anything to keep her home!

[MissPuff]

@Luvstravel  My dad's a gym rat too so this is grating on him so much! Ugh, I can't imagine allergies on top of this! Luckily/erm, or not, it's SNOWING right now, so I think we'll be spared allergy season for another couple of weeks.

I've resorted to guilt-tripping my mum to stay indoors 🙂 What if something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself! THINK OF MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. (sounds nuts, but it oddly works on asian parents).

[sprocketta]

Definitely feeling you on this @MissPuff my parents are in their lates 60s and both diabetic. My mom went volunteering on Monday and my sister had a meltdown over it. My entire immediate family including me is diabetic. My sister and her husband work in healthcare and have urged us to take this seriously and stay in. They keep going out.

[MissPuff]

@sprocketta  Oh man! That would give me a heart attack! Are they better this week!? My dad was all, we're not that old, and I had to break it to them, that YES, they are that old. 

[sprocketta]

@MissPuff it is not better. They went grocery shopping Thursday. Okay, 1 day a week is okay. Then yesterday they went for a drive to Costco for gas, and decided to go in. I was questioning why they did that and then my mom let it slip that they went to another grocery store as well. I know they only go to that store for special things, so I asked what they went for. My mom's answer was, "Fresh garlic and the ham patties your dad likes." I got really upset. Those are not necessary items. I gave her a hard time and then got off the phone because I was so upset and yelling at her wasn't going to be productive. It kept me up late last night and I had nightmares all night of them getting sick. They seem have this idea that because it's okay to go to the grocery store that they can just go a lot when they want to get out. My sister and I are very frustrated and upset. I don't even know what to say to them anymore.

[itscarin]

I’m supposed to go back to work in a week. I work in the administration of a large hospital with corona patient(s). I’ve heard admin nurses have been called to the er. I got shingles in February so I know my immune system isn’t up to par. I’ve asked to telework but my boss is playing it coy. I strongly suspect she’ll let me, but it’s giving me anxiety that she didn’t just say yes. Anyway. I’m not going back in and she can try to replace me if she wants. Good luck interviewing right now!  😤

had to vent. 

my other concern is how long can you reasonably expect anyone to self quarantine when they’re not even sick?!  My socially responsible friends are already starting to crack!  My husband has a colleague who’s become a hypochondriac. I honestly don’t know how long I can do this. I’ve already been home with the baby self quarantined more or less for 12 weeks. I need a break and was really looking forward to going back to work. 

[mrsmouse]

Oh @itscarin, I've heard having the shingles can be really painful!  😞  I am hoping that you get the approval to work from home!  I think with everything going on right now, if it is at all possible for a person to do their job from home, they should 100% be allowed to do that.  It not only helps that person, but helps everyone as there is less chance of spread if less people are in contact with each other.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[itscarin]

@mrsmouse Fortunately, a letter came in from HR saying everyone who can should telework so it’s out of my boss’s hands!  😎. Looks like I’ll be working from home. Commute time: 0. 🥳