In the 1950s and 60s, my sister and I were often mortified by our mother’s strict rules about – well, just about everything. While other kids’ parents seemed so easy going, we had rules. While other kids were sharing each others’ sodas and scarfing down snacks sitting - open - on the table, I watched them mournfully, wanting to part-take, but fearful of the tongue-lashing I would get if mom ever found out.
Now I realize: my mom was ahead of her time.
Recently, as I was reading the various arguments about what we should be doing during and post-COVID19, my mom’s words echoed in my head:
Regarding hand washing:
· When you get up in the morning, “Wash your hands and face”.
· When you come in after being outside, “Wash your hands and face”.
· After you use the toilet, “Wash your hands”.
· Before you eat anything, “Wash your hands”.
· After you’ve eaten anything, “Wash your hands”.
· If you cough or sneeze, go “Wash your hands and face!”.
· Before you go to bed, “Wash your hands and face. Because I said so.”
When In Public:
· “Do not hold hands” – with anyone. (Makes handshakes at the office awkward.)
· If someone coughs or sneezes on you (or near you), “do not inhale until you have washed your hands and face”. (Hopefully, before passing out.)
· If you find yourself sitting or standing next to someone who is coughing or sneezing, “politely excuse yourself, go wash your hands and face – and when you come back, sit someplace else”.
· Keep your mouth and nose covered when in crowds; hold your breath, if necessary. (Pre-masks.)
When Eating:
· “Do not drink out of anyone else’s cup, can or glass” (including communion and wedding cups.)
· “Do not eat food from where someone has already taken a bite”.
· “Do not drink directly out of a glass” – use a straw (preferably delivered to you still wrapped).
Corollary: “Do not use anyone else’s straw”.
· “Do not eat off anyone else’s fork.” Or spoon. Or knife.
When sick:
· Do not go to school, to work or out to play – “Go to bed”.
· If you have a fever, take an aspirin and then – “Go to bed”.
· When your fever breaks, you must remain fever-free for another 24 hours before you can get out of bed – then get up, “Change your sheets, change your clothes, and wash your hands and face”.
Visiting other people’s homes:
· “Don’t use anyone else’s bathroom”. (You just have to hold it – indefinitely.)
Corollary: if you must use someone else’s bathroom, (remembering to always put toilet paper on the seat before you sit down), don’t touch…:
§ the doorknob, or
§ the door edge, or
§ the toilet lid, or
§ the toilet handle, or
§ the faucet handle, then…
…. “Wash your hands” before you leave (which makes getting out of the bathroom a real conundrum.)
· “After you wash your hands, don’t dry them on the cloth towels provided.” (You may have to shake your hands wildly until dry.)
· “Don’t eat anything that has already been unwrapped.” (This includes candy, nuts, pretzels, chips, hors d’oeuvres and all-you-can-eat-buffets.)
· “Unless invited for a meal, if you are offered something to eat or drink, say ‘no thank you’”. (Even if parched and/or starving – although this does help eliminate the bathroom challenges…)
Corollary: “Avoid invitations to eat at other peoples’ homes.”
In General:
· “Don’t visit people who are sick.”
· “If someone touches your face and/or hands at any time and in any manner, politely excuse yourself – and go wash your face and hands.” (This includes family members, doctors, dentists, nurses, and oral hygienists)
· “Don’t kiss anyone on the lips” – ever! (Poor dad… this explains a lot …)
I have to admit, I wasn’t that sick as a child and I find myself wondering if mom – in her over-abundance of caution – wasn’t on to something. The recommendations from our national health experts for “social distancing” and improving personal hygiene are eerily similar to – but not nearly as humiliating as – her precautions.
There’s no reason to be panicked about COVID19 – only wise and patient. Until we have accurately collected and analyzed enough data to develop the appropriate long-term treatments, it’s in our collective best interests to do whatever (sometimes inconvenient things) we can to reduce our own and each others’ exposure.
Neither are we entitled to be petulant. Prevention opportunities were missed early on which allowed the disease to overwhelm us. Shame on us. Having to take more time and effort with more primitive techniques to control the spread now is the price we have to pay for allowing that to happen.
We’re adults. We shouldn’t need anyone to tell us that the smartest thing to do at this moment is to concentrate our efforts on avoiding unnecessary deaths and focusing on moving, safely, toward economic recovery. There will be a time to hold accountable those who refused to believe there is a symbiotic relationship between a healthy population and a healthy economy; it’s scheduled for November.
One more tip from mom: “Don’t eat anything off the floor”.