Variants and the return to normal

[Silvermist999]

I hope so but my daughter told me she got an email from her university (Queens) today saying they expect Fall 2021 to be online for most classes.

Sadly, I have heard that there are some public school boards here already planning to offer online school for the upcoming school year. It may not be a separate virtual school like this year but would be a part of the home schools, not requiring a separate administration.

My oldest is going into grade 12 and she has already told us she wants to be 100% in person for her final year in high school, no matter what. We switched her over from the hybrid model to full virtual after the break. She misses being with her friends, going to school, all the simple basic things.

Although I do miss the freedom and privilege of travel, I feel the worst for the school aged children who are missing out on so many experiences during this pandemic.

 

[hdrolfe]

My kiddo is doing homeschool this year, which has allowed him to explore a lot of topics he probably wouldn't have gotten to in regular school. He misses his friends though, and with lock down, winter, etc, that isn't going to change for awhile. He should be going to grade 7 in the fall, which is high school here (or at least the high school building) and he wants to go. I'm not sure yet. I will probably register him for the school he wants, but we will see if it is "normal" or this new way. I do wish he could be doing swimming lessons or something though, something to be more active and out of the house.

We really miss travelling, so I know when that is allowed again, and we're vaccinated, we'll be hopping a flight! Even though he has severe anxiety when he flies and throws up. We are also do a lot of work on that anxiety, his ADHD and he finally agreed to talk to a therapist so I am really hoping she will be able to help with all of it, and he'll be able to do better in classes, and on planes. The time home has given us time to really focus on his mental health. I just can't wait for warmer weather so we can get outside more.

 

[TammyLynn33]

My brother is so discouraged. He hates the online learning. He was considering going pre-med, but said he doubts he'll be able to now, since his mark's have been affected with the online format. So many students are struggling with the online format, it's sad. I really hope that universities will be a bit leniant in their consideration of scores during Covid.

my son is in the same boat . He was accepted last year into a program and they wouldn’t defer him . Last year a requirement was hands on hours , he had 6x the required numbers .
thai year they aren’t accepting hours as part of admission, not college level classes as he stayed local and took classes here to at least do something . Now he’s online upgrading high school marks and taking college classes and may have to sneak in the back door route by taking another course next year and getting admitted form that.
so we have seen zero compassion m/flexibility starting with no deferral for a kid with medical issues who didn’t want to commit before they knew where / what mode they would be teaching in. It may end up costing my son this years tuition and an extra year so about a 17k covid expense that this single mom didn’t see coming ..

 

[mshanson3121]

Well... here we go....

DH just got an email from his college today, that "due to the increasing spread of the variant", all employees are now requested to not travel not just outside the province, but outside their health zone. Any employee who does travel outside the province will be required to comply with all provincial isolation measures at their own expense (so you'll have to use your summer pay etc...). What's not clear is if they're going to grant the same exemptions as the province, or not. This is potentially a huge issue for us as DD is having major surgery, outside our province, in April, which is exempt from isolation. If he isn't allowed to go with us, we'll have to postpone till summer or else potentially go without him, which will be devastating for DD. And honestly, I'm not sure she'll even be able to cope without DH. Days like today.... I just want this Covid mess all over with, so badly.

 

[ottawamom]

If your daughter needs the surgery mshanson3121 don't put it off for Covid reasons. Life cannot stand still for some things. If the surgery is still available go ahead and get it. We don't know what is going to happen a few months from now. You don't want to be in a situation where something needs to be done on an emergency basis.

I can say from experience the hospital will be safe and the section where you are will be as Covid free as possible.

You will be able to do this, just the two of you, if that is what has to happen. It will work out.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

I agree to proceed with the surgery.

Back in early December, right when Halifax was having its second wave, I had a hernia repair surgery at hospital outside of the city. I had to get a covid test and DH wasn't even allowed in the hospital with me because we were from Halifax. But everything was normal once I got into the hospital.

 

[mshanson3121]

If your daughter needs the surgery mshanson3121 don't put it off for Covid reasons. Life cannot stand still for some things. If the surgery is still available go ahead and get it. We don't know what is going to happen a few months from now. You don't want to be in a situation where something needs to be done on an emergency basis.

I can say from experience the hospital will be safe and the section where you are will be as Covid free as possible.

You will be able to do this, just the two of you, if that is what has to happen. It will work out.

The surgery is major, but not life saving, just life changing. So technically, we can put it off if we want to (though we don't want to). The challenge is our daughter has Autism, and has a lot of anxiety, and it will be extremely difficult for her to cope without her father there. It will definitely be an easier process for her if he can come. So if his job won't honor the medical exemption, we'll probably let her make the decision on whether to proceed as planned without him, or wait.

 

[mshanson3121]

I agree to proceed with the surgery.

Back in early December, right when Halifax was having its second wave, I had a hernia repair surgery at hospital outside of the city. I had to get a covid test and DH wasn't even allowed in the hospital with me because we were from Halifax. But everything was normal once I got into the hospital.

Yes, we have no qualms about being in the hospital. It'll be safer than the grocery store. We've been at the hospitals many times during Covid for appointments, tests etc...

Her surgery is going to be at the IWK. Currently they have told us the procedure will be:

DH, DD and I will require a Covid test 3 days before leaving for IWK. We then have to all isolate.

We then all have to be re-tested upon arrival in Halifax (rapid test I believe).

Then day of surgery, only one of us will be allowed in with DD beforehand. However as soon as she's out of surgery and assigned to her room, DH and I both will be allowed to be with her. However we will all be isolated in her room - as in literally none of us can leave the room for ANYTHING. So definitely going to be a different experience, for sure.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@mshanson3121 wow! Quite the list of procedures! All worth it though

 

[mshanson3121]

@mshanson3121 wow! Quite the list of procedures! All worth it though

100%

 

[maya213]

We hope to go next spring break (2022), but I'm not sure if we'll be able to travel at that point. I'm a RN and we're not allowed to leave the country (even take vacation to stay home isn't an easy task!) My kids are doing great with masks in school, so wearing a mask in WDW wouldn't be a problem, but I'm not sure my 2yo would cooperate a lot..

 

[damo]

Well... here we go....

DH just got an email from his college today, that "due to the increasing spread of the variant", all employees are now requested to not travel not just outside the province, but outside their health zone. Any employee who does travel outside the province will be required to comply with all provincial isolation measures at their own expense (so you'll have to use your summer pay etc...). What's not clear is if they're going to grant the same exemptions as the province, or not. This is potentially a huge issue for us as DD is having major surgery, outside our province, in April, which is exempt from isolation. If he isn't allowed to go with us, we'll have to postpone till summer or else potentially go without him, which will be devastating for DD. And honestly, I'm not sure she'll even be able to cope without DH. Days like today.... I just want this Covid mess all over with, so badly.

The hospital regulations are so difficult. My daughter and daughter-in-law both had babies in the past six months and were worried sick that their husbands would not be able to stay with them after the babies were born. The thought of going through labour and then being alone to care for a newborn on your first day and night was overwhelming to them. Luckily, covid restrictions were eased when they both actually did give birth and both husbands were allowed in the Mother and Baby recovery time. Having the dads there was vital in their hospital stays. I sure hope you get your husband there! Dads are so important!!!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I’m still hopeful we will be largely back to normal in Canada by fall/xmas of this year. Normal meaning no more lockdowns and lessened social distancing. Masks might be here for awhile...

I agree masks will be here probably for the reminder of 2021 or least through the Fall, if all goes well.
I am also cautiously hoping for mostly back to normal this Fall - Oct to Dec timeframe.
The day the restrictions such as multiple tests and quarantine are lifted I told my family, we are packing our bags and planning a bunch of trips. Lol. If all goes well Christmas at Disney world. The only trip we have scheduled though is cruise mid January 2022 that we moved out from one of our cancelled ones.
I know some people think we will never return back to normal. We will. Travel resumed, masks went away post the Spanish flu pandemic, I for one don’t compare them but so many look to history.
Things that I can see staying will be increased cleaning and sanitization, more options for virtual services and curbside pick up, that kind of thing. All welcome changes imo. Some people may wear a mask travelling on an airplane long after they are no longer required, I may do that during the regular flu season, can’t tell you how many times I came home sick from vacation. Will I walk around in a mask when this is all over though? Nope. It will forever remind me of this awful pandemic. I do believe we will go through a transition period starting at some point (this fall?) where masks will be recommended but no longer required. Gradually they will go away in 99% of places.
Just my thoughts right now.

Just imagine how absolutely amazing that day will be ! The day when we finish up work and pack our suitcases in the car and head to the airport . The anticipation will be unreal !!
One day

Yaaaaaas!!!! Omg I know I will cry. Hoping it will be later this year (maybe December) but not planning yet. That’s when we hope to fly, go to Disney world again etc.
This summer I hope we can at least explore some Canadian provinces but not getting my hopes up. My kid wants to go to great wolf lodge so bad (resort near Niagara Falls) and they say on their website they anticipate opening SEPTEMBER 2021
That’s sad they will be closed for 1.5 years when it’s all said and done. Anyway, getting off topic here. I agree with you, the anticipation of travel on the horizon will me AMAZING.

 

[wdwmom3]

I agree masks will be here probably for the reminder of 2021 or least through the Fall, if all goes well.
I am also cautiously hoping for mostly back to normal this Fall - Oct to Dec timeframe.
The day the restrictions such as multiple tests and quarantine are lifted I told my family, we are packing our bags and planning a bunch of trips. Lol. If all goes well Christmas at Disney world. The only trip we have scheduled though is cruise mid January 2022 that we moved out from one of our cancelled ones.
I know some people think we will never return back to normal. We will. Travel resumed, masks went away post the Spanish flu pandemic, I for one don’t compare them but so many look to history.
Things that I can see staying will be increased cleaning and sanitization, more options for virtual services and curbside pick up, that kind of thing. All welcome changes imo. Some people may wear a mask travelling on an airplane long after they are no longer required, I may do that during the regular flu season, can’t tell you how many times I came home sick from vacation. Will I walk around in a mask when this is all over though? Nope. It will forever remind me of this awful pandemic. I do believe we will go through a transition period starting at some point (this fall?) where masks will be recommended but no longer required. Gradually they will go away in 99% of places.
Just my thoughts right now.

Yaaaaaas!!!! Omg I know I will cry. Hoping it will be later this year (maybe December) but not planning yet. That’s when we hope to fly, go to Disney world again etc.
This summer I hope we can at least explore some Canadian provinces but not getting my hopes up. My kid wants to go to great wolf lodge so bad (resort near Niagara Falls) and they say on their website they anticipate opening SEPTEMBER 2021
That’s sad they will be closed for 1.5 years when it’s all said and done. Anyway, getting off topic here. I agree with you, the anticipation of travel on the horizon will me AMAZING.

I totally agree about looking to history. This will end. And things will get better. Hopefully the vaccines will help us get there just a little quicker.

It’s interesting too all these people going on about how we are giving up our freedoms by going along with these things like lockdowns, masks, and travel restrictions, and how we won’t get them back. The same things happened during the Spanish flu and no we didn’t lose all our freedoms.

 

[hdrolfe]

I am rather glad that if this had to happen it came at a time when internet made working from home possible, and mobile order/curbside pickup was already in place in many stores/restaurants. Perhaps not used that much but available. I think that made it easier to be confined. I mean when I was my son's age there was no internet, computers were in their infancy and not everyone had one. They were more glorified word processers with some limited gaming capabilities.

I know not everyone likes working from home, for me, it saves over an hour each day in commuting, which is time I can spend with my kid, or walking the dog, or whatever. And so much less stress than having to drive in bad weather or rush hour. So I am glad for that, but I miss having coffee with friends, and seeing my parents when I feel like it, or being able to take my kid swimming. Hopefully, by April, when Ontario's new March break rolls around, things will be better and we'll be able to do these things, even if it's limited at first. Heck, I'll be happy when I can take my dog to the groomers without concern. They keep shutting that down and then when it reopens there is huge waiting lists. And yes, it's for his health and well being, not just for fun. No way I can use the clippers on him myself. Any way. It's all a bit exhausting. But oh I want to get to being able to travel again. I am hopeful for my December cruise, but realistic that it may not happen, or we may not want to go if there are too many restrictions (or the border is still closed).

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I totally agree about looking to history. This will end. And things will get better. Hopefully the vaccines will help us get there just a little quicker.

It’s interesting too all these people going on about how we are giving up our freedoms by going along with these things like lockdowns, masks, and travel restrictions, and how we won’t get them back. The same things happened during the Spanish flu and no we didn’t lose all our freedoms.

Yes! Right now it’s not about losing our freedoms as it is about emergency measures due to the situation, having said that I understand people’s frustration because it’s gone on long enough. As you say though, things will get back to normal. Yes it’s taking a lot longer than we imagined and we still have a ways to go, but will we be wearing masks for years? I really doubt that. To be clear , I wear one now, of course I do. Once the threat of the pandemic is over I have no intention to continue. Once it’s over. Same goes for travel. It may be the last thing to fully resume but it will.

 

[mshanson3121]

I totally agree about looking to history. This will end. And things will get better. Hopefully the vaccines will help us get there just a little quicker.

It’s interesting too all these people going on about how we are giving up our freedoms by going along with these things like lockdowns, masks, and travel restrictions, and how we won’t get them back. The same things happened during the Spanish flu and no we didn’t lose all our freedoms.

Amen for #commonsense!

On that note, I heard one even better than this (we're losing our freedoms) today.... Get this: did you know that by requiring a mask to enter the store, the storeowner is now "practicing medicine without a license" which is a criminal offense? I have to say, Covid really has brought out a whole new special level of stupid.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I am rather glad that if this had to happen it came at a time when internet made working from home possible, and mobile order/curbside pickup was already in place in many stores/restaurants. Perhaps not used that much but available. I think that made it easier to be confined. I mean when I was my son's age there was no internet, computers were in their infancy and not everyone had one. They were more glorified word processers with some limited gaming capabilities.

I know not everyone likes working from home, for me, it saves over an hour each day in commuting, which is time I can spend with my kid, or walking the dog, or whatever. And so much less stress than having to drive in bad weather or rush hour. So I am glad for that, but I miss having coffee with friends, and seeing my parents when I feel like it, or being able to take my kid swimming. Hopefully, by April, when Ontario's new March break rolls around, things will be better and we'll be able to do these things, even if it's limited at first. Heck, I'll be happy when I can take my dog to the groomers without concern. They keep shutting that down and then when it reopens there is huge waiting lists. And yes, it's for his health and well being, not just for fun. No way I can use the clippers on him myself. Any way. It's all a bit exhausting. But oh I want to get to being able to travel again. I am hopeful for my December cruise, but realistic that it may not happen, or we may not want to go if there are too many restrictions (or the border is still closed).

I have mixed feelings on the internet/gaming thing especially when it comes to my 12 yo. I was 12 yo in 1994 and yes while internet was a newer thing , I think we had dial up AOL “you’ve got mail” but overall it was nothing like now. My kid now is experiencing anxiety for the first time, usually happy, athletic and easy going seems to be afraid of his own shadow. It’s not us at home, we stay so positive and put on a smile instead of being doom and gloom, it’s the internet. Constant covid, constant negative, I know it’s affecting a lot of kids. Same goes for online gaming and sitting in front of a screen for hours. My kid when was almost 11 when this first started (pandemic) and we allowed him to play a game that has millions of (mostly kid/teen) users omg he turned into a disaster in a matter of weeks. It’s so hard because you want them to stay in touch online but tons of kids have become addicted to online gaming and if you look to experts it’s super scary.
I agree with you and at the same time I’m so torn if it’s better to be locked up now than it would have been in the 90s when I was a kid?
I used to be happy with books and board games then, nowadays our kids want to be entertained by electronics. I know it is the way it is... but same as you looking forward to a return of normal times and taking away some of the online from my kid. From myself even. Ha!

 

[hdrolfe]

I have mixed feelings on the internet/gaming thing especially when it comes to my 12 yo. I was 12 yo in 1993 and yes while internet was a newer thing , I think we had dial up AOL “you’ve got mail” but overall it was nothing like now. My kid now is experiencing anxiety for the first time, usually happy, athletic and easy going seems to be afraid of his own shadow. It’s not us at home, we stay so positive and put on a smile instead of being doom and gloom, it’s the internet. Constant covid, constant negative, I know it’s affecting a lot of kids. Same goes for online gaming and sitting in front of a screen for hours. My kid when was almost 11 when this first started (pandemic) and we allowed him to play a game that has millions of (mostly kid/teen) users omg he turned into a disaster in a matter of weeks. It’s so hard because you want them to stay in touch online but tons of kids have become addicted to online gaming and if you look to experts it’s super scary.
I agree with you and at the same time I’m so torn if it’s better to be locked up now than it would have been in the 90s when I was a kid?
I used to be happy with books and board games then, nowadays our kids want to be entertained by electronics. I know it is the way it is... but same as you looking forward to a return of normal times and taking away some of the online from my kid. From myself even. Ha!

The anxiety and stress, I get that, my son has anxiety (on medication for it now, fun times) and he's 11. His doctor told him to cut back on the screen time but what do we do instead? He is not going to school, can't go play with friends, and I'm working. But even when he could go play with friends most of them preferred to be in the house playing video games, while my son wanted to go to the park and play tag or basketball. He wants to be active and do more, it's just not possible now. So I hope for a change when things start to improve. I also hope when he goes from his small elementary school with 40 kids in his grade to grade 7 in a bigger school with over 250 kids his grade he'll find some friends who want to do the same things he does. There must be other kids out there who want to be active! I hope... At least once the weather improves we'll be able to get out for bike rides and walks. He'll have to be stuck with me for a bit I guess but hopefully it will help.

His pediatrician talked to him about how the brain works. The old brain (he called it the monkey brain) controls impulses and reactions, it puts you in fight or flight. The new brain (human brain) controls your rational thoughts. The old brain puts out more power though and it takes work to have the new brain be in control. Kids lack that practice so it's hard. Then there is this little part of the brain that controls addiction, and screens are as bad as any drug could be. It is an addiction. I think right now, it's hard to break that, but I hope it will be easier soon. Someday. I made a list of things he could do that don't require screens and it's all "too boring". So yeah, we'll get through this.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

The anxiety and stress, I get that, my son has anxiety (on medication for it now, fun times) and he's 11. His doctor told him to cut back on the screen time but what do we do instead? He is not going to school, can't go play with friends, and I'm working. But even when he could go play with friends most of them preferred to be in the house playing video games, while my son wanted to go to the park and play tag or basketball. He wants to be active and do more, it's just not possible now. So I hope for a change when things start to improve. I also hope when he goes from his small elementary school with 40 kids in his grade to grade 7 in a bigger school with over 250 kids his grade he'll find some friends who want to do the same things he does. There must be other kids out there who want to be active! I hope... At least once the weather improves we'll be able to get out for bike rides and walks. He'll have to be stuck with me for a bit I guess but hopefully it will help.

His pediatrician talked to him about how the brain works. The old brain (he called it the monkey brain) controls impulses and reactions, it puts you in fight or flight. The new brain (human brain) controls your rational thoughts. The old brain puts out more power though and it takes work to have the new brain be in control. Kids lack that practice so it's hard. Then there is this little part of the brain that controls addiction, and screens are as bad as any drug could be. It is an addiction. I think right now, it's hard to break that, but I hope it will be easier soon. Someday. I made a list of things he could do that don't require screens and it's all "too boring". So yeah, we'll get through this.

Yes I agree, we took our kid to see a therapist a few times. She said to cut screen time to 1/2 hr daily. During lockdown? Lol
I know you are right on all this!
Btw I didn’t count right I was 12 in 94 lol
Either way ions ago bahaha
So sad I can’t even do math right now.