#MyC19Story 1 A House W/ No Toilet Paper + High Anxiety

About 2 weeks ago, I told my husband that I wanted to go to Sam’s and “beef up” just a little bit because I had a gut feeling about this virus. He looked at me like I had grown a second head. But, being the smart man he is, he listened to me. We got a few extra things, some canned soups, some extra energy drinks, etc. That next Monday, TP started to fly off the shelves (alarming to me, since we didn’t get toilet paper!). 

I work for a hospital system (in IT, but still) and I get a lot of the info. It’s scary, but we can deal. 

Ever since my darling son was born, I’ve been struggling with anxiety. COVID-19 has ramped that anxiety up so much. I worry about me or my husband getting it and passing away. I worry about my kids getting it and having some sort of underlying medical condition that we never knew about and being really ill. I worry that we will contract it, show no symptoms, but pass it on to our parents, one of whom has ALS. The logical part of my brain (it’s a really tiny part of my brain 😂) tries to say “what-if you’re smart, follow the rules and don’t get it!” But that part is usually overridden.

I know my husband and I are lucky. He works from home full time and I have the option to work from home most of the time. Having our 9 year old home for 3 weeks will be obnoxious, but we’ll make it work (thank you vodka!). If our son’s daycare closes, my husband has the ability to take 2 weeks off, paid, not affecting his PTO, to spend with our son. We are blessed in ways that many aren’t. And that makes me feel guilty, because not everyone has that option. 

I hope people get smart about this virus and just stay home. It’s not easy, but hopefully it’s not too late.

- Amberlee T.