Ask Amy: Mother worries about her son being exposed to COVID-19-Lifestyle-Providencejournal.com

Immunocompromised mothers share custody of a 3-year-old mother with the original mother who has not taken all the recommended precautions against the coronavirus.

Dear Amy,

I have a 3 year old son. His father and I separated when he was a baby, but we have a good parent-child relationship. We have never had any problems with this arrangement. My son meets his father almost every day.

The problem is this: I have immunodeficiency and mild asthma. Worried about the COVID-19 pandemic, I don’t want to leave my young son without a mother.

We take every precaution to prevent getting the virus, such as using lots of hand sanitizers and cleaning things that come into our home (such as food items).

My ex has a very strong immune system. He is not worried about the coronavirus. He is out to buy groceries. He does not use hand sanitizers or clean surfaces that he touches frequently, such as car handles and cell phones.

He is physically separate and washing his hands a bit more than usual, but I don’t think this is enough given my immunodeficiency situation. If he is infected with the virus, he is likely to have mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. I’m afraid he might catch the virus and give it to my son. I talked to him about this, but he is unacceptable. I don’t know what to do.

What is your advice

— Worried mom

Parents should have the ability to forget immediate impulses for their children. The best way to prevent this disease is to avoid exposure. The best way for your son to keep both parents far in life is to avoid exposure. You and your ex should seek medical advice (through video conferencing) -immediately-with your son’s pediatrician.

Your boy travels between his parents almost every day. One obvious idea is to temporarily stop or reduce these visits. This is temporary (including him, of course) for the safety of everyone.

If your ex agrees to reduce these visits to three times a week, this will limit the number of possible exposures between households. You also need to seriously discuss the reality and potential of one parent (you or he) perhaps the next month without you and your son, and negotiate how to make up the difference after the risk has passed.

The CDC recommends that children over the age of 2 wear a cloth face cover when in a “community environment.” When your son is delivered to you, you should wear a mask and he should wear a mask and be taken directly to the bathroom for a healthy hand wash and his body temperature. There are many online examples of cloth masks made for a child and you can either buy it for him or make it at home.

If you keep visiting, please do not let him bring toys or books between households.

Need cabin fever cure

Dear Amy,

This is probably a small issue, but one shared by many. Quite simply, COVID-19’s home-at-home command drives me crazy!

Netflix can only take people for now. All my closets are clean and tidy.

Do you have any advice?

— Stirred

Order bird feeders and seeds. Birds are incredibly interesting, calm and beautiful. If you add some foliage plants, you can bring a little inside and outside.

The reader will make more suggestions.

Tame office lunch bullying

Dear Amy,

“George wants pastrami for Rye!” I wrote about one colleague, Donald, who always ruled the office by doing all the sandwich orders, except George.

This situation is not uncommon. Once again, “High school girls and boys”.

When I hired someone on maternity leave, it was starting to happen in my company.

With the dominant “Donald” character making the staff fully visible, it is very open. Ordering a sandwich was a waste of his time.

I was in charge of all the staff for ordering sandwiches and told them that the order had to arrive by 11:30.

The problem is resolved — most.

To break up the faction, I offered to go somewhere, add a walk, and have lunch one day a week unless everything went at once. This worked.

George, wait a minute. You are a mature person and I will hire you soon. (Donald’s review doesn’t look very good.)

— The boss sees everything

well done! I will be happy to work for you.

Write a question to Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068, or email [email protected].