Grandparenting: Navigating risk as the pandemic continues

At the end of March, as the pandemic reshaped all our lives, I wrote a blog post about how grandparents might cope with safety recommendations made at that time while remaining connected with their families. Many of us hoped that the crisis would be short-lived, enabling us to return to “normal” before too long. Now six months have elapsed, and as one reader recently wrote to me, “we grandparents are muddling through.” So, with fall here and winter on the way, what’s next for grandparents? Those with serious medical conditions may find little has changed since March: it’s still safest to limit in-person contact with grandchildren and the outside world. For grandparents who have been able to connect outdoors with family for bike rides, meetups at a park, shared meals outside — or even vacationing together — new decisions loom as grandchildren return to preschool or school, spending more time with other kids and other families. Given what we know currently about COVID-19, how can we consider decisions about the risks and rewards of grandparenting, then navigate these with our adult children? Do the basics All of us benefit from taking basic preventive steps: handwashing, physical distancing, meeting outdoors when weather permits, and mask-wearing. It’s also important for everyone in the family to get a flu shot this fall. Fortunately, the same steps that help protect against COVID-19 also help protect us from the flu and other illnesses. Balance piles of safet...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Parenting Relationships Source Type: blogs