I’m nervous about the coronavirus.
There. I said it.
In a world where there seems to be two extremes in opinions about this widespread illness — you’re either panicked or think everyone who is panicked is crazy — it feels risky to say that out loud.
If I’m being completely honest, it has me feeling pretty uneasy
But I can’t forget about the rest of my family
My parents — in their 70s, with numerous chronic conditions and health struggles — sit very uncomfortably in that high-risk group. My parents are also my child care providers and lifeline. They are day care for my 3-year-old daughter and take my son to and from school daily. I see them every morning and every afternoon. They are very much a part of our daily life. Therefore, if one of us gets it, they, mostly likely, will too.
That is just not a risk I am willing to be frivolous about. So, while I listen to public figures accuse me of overacting and while my friends think I’m crazy for keeping my kids out of church nursery and avoiding unnecessarily going to crowded public places, I’ll at least know that I’m doing what I can to keep my people safe and healthy.
I hope I’m wrong
I hope I look back a year from now at my cautious behavior and feel silly that I overreacted. But, for now, the words “better safe than sorry” have never rung truer for me. All the people who are giving me grief about being an alarmist or a worrywart can just go ahead and zip it — and cover their mouths when they cough.
