It has begun. We thought we would escape baseball season this year, but alas, we find ourselves in the midst of a late summer season instead of the usual spring one. Don’t get me wrong, my kids (well, OK, just one kid really) love playing sports and we like the exercise, socialization and camaraderie that it gives them. But man, is it stressful for working parents. Sure, it can be stressful for all parents. I don’t mean to start a war. But, I don’t imagine stay at home parents having the same issue with trying to leave work on time, pick up kids, feed them, get them into their sports gear, and drive them to whatever far away destination their game is at by 5:30. Needless to say, mine are never on time, no matter which parent is doing the delivery. I have been known to pack their dinner and take it to work with me, hurling sandwiches at them in the backseat while I drive like a maniac and then make them change in the car. Mother of the year, I know. So while I was disappointed that the kids would be missing their baseball season this year due to this virus that has taken over our lives, there was just a little bit of relief in the knowledge that I would have one less thing to stress about. Cue the mom guilt.
But, here we are. Our local athletic association, of which my husband is a member, fought the town selectmen and won. They got their season rolling with a little bit of hope and a whole lot of new rules. So, from someone who lives in a state that was among the first to lift their restrictions, I thought I would let you know what you can maybe expect. Firstly, the park isn’t open to the public. There is a gatekeeper who takes your form stating that neither you nor your child are experiencing any symptoms. You must take their temperature at home (or if you’re me, while on the highway) and list any family members that are entering the park. Next, you must pull up in front of the gate surrounding the field, which marks the spot your child will stand (six feet apart) from the next kid and car for the pre-game meeting. After the meeting, they are given a squirt of hand sanitizer by yet another parent volunteer (definitely not me) before entering the baseball field. Parents must remain on the other side of the fence. No masks are required for kids or parents. Once everything starts, the entrance gate is closed and locked so that no errant teenagers can get in to play basketball or kick around a soccer ball. I totally get it, playing outside is so dangerous, but cramming into a Walmart is totally fine. Got it.
Look, I have done nothing but take this seriously. We locked ourselves in our home for over two months, only venturing out to go hiking or to the beach before it got closed. I have implored the public to please just stop being giant crybabies and put on a goddamn mask in a store. Wash your hands often, don’t touch your face, don’t get too close to other people, all of it. But, we have to employ a little bit of common sense. I’m no scientist, but our kids live with us. Like, in the same house and they are always up in my shit. Believe me, if I have something, they have it too. For example, when we drop our kids off at our summer program in the morning (thank God we got them into one, but that’s a whole other conversation) parents are not allowed inside. Fine with me, I would just toss them out of a moving vehicle if I wouldn’t get arrested, but where is the logic? Especially since we are required to wear a mask in order for the counselor to get close enough to us to hand us the form we must fill out every morning stating that no one is sick? Kids are not required to wear masks. Again, we live together in case you thought this was a Children if the Corn situation. It’s not. They would never make it.
I completely understand most of the rules and am baffled by others, and I know everyone is just trying to give themselves and everyone else a sense that we’re doing everything in our power to keep everyone safe. I went for a mani/pedi and had to be masked (no problem) and my temperature taken at the door. Okey dokey. All good until someone yelled at me to wash my hands before I was allowed to sign in. Oh my goodness, OK I will. Calm down.
So parents, it doesn’t look like we’re getting out of this one as easily as we got out of work for a couple months. It’s more time consuming than it used to be, in fact. It takes more forethought to make sure you have everything you need than it used to. But, it will be good for the kids to see their friends and play a team sport. The fresh air is good for all of us. If I can get us all there in one piece that is.
Let's Be Dramatic 