Today, we venture out.
My boys are so overdue for a dental visit by now, it isn’t funny. So, today I get to load them in the car and take them to the dentist (good thing we got those ridiculous toothbrushes last week).
Last night, I had my husband explain to them that they would have to wear masks. They haven’t had to before because we have not taken them anywhere in months. I honestly relished for them the freedom of that – that for the last few months, they’ve just been kids and not really cared about a virus.
I can’t describe the feeling I got seeing their little faces covered. I’ll say right now that I believe wearing masks at this time is essential, but I will also admit that it carries with it a lot of emotion – particularly for the deaf/hard of hearing community.
I sat my oldest son down after he tried on a mask and explained to him that he might have trouble hearing the dentist today as well as his brothers or me but the time with masks would be short. I let him know in advance that masks muffle sounds and block facial expressions so he should feel free to ask people to repeat or speak up if needed. I am still working on making an acceptable mask with a window… but of course as I wrestled with my sewing machine the last few weeks, it occurred to me that the clear vinyl might block the sound even more. A mask with a window solves one problem and possibly creates another.
It’s just a weird world. And I’d honestly just rather stay at home today… but we can’t avoid the essential things that keep us healthy in other ways.
So this is my prayer this morning by St. Teresa of Avila:
“Let nothing disturb you,
nothing frighten you,
all things are passing,
God is unchanging
Patience gains all;
nothing is lacking to those who have God:
God alone is sufficient.”
Off we go – the three wild masked boys and me. Wish us luck!
