A third lockdown in Israel. Schools are still open, but “unnecessary” shops are closed. And of course, culture, restaurants, social events. And our parents can’t come over to see their grandchildren. It is a political lockdown: it could have been avoided if the government managed to enforce restrictions on the communities that persistently refuse to obey them (orthodox jews, arabs). In Tel Aviv, in our neighborhood, the pandemic is very much in control and weekly tests in my daughter’s school repeatedly show no positives. But there’s no afterschool activity, and friends are not allowed to come over (we don’t obey that). In the picture: a domestic “science” experience with oil and colored water.
January 31, 2021
Last weekend E. and I took E. to the airport: he is beginning his active duty tour supporting the air guard’s COVID vaccination efforts. While I admit it’s nice to have some space to breath -we were both working from home and we only like in 1,200 square feet!- taking care of a house and an toddler by myself is exhausting, even with daycare and the cleaners coming this week! I forgot how stressful it is to have to decide on and prepare a meal every day—I guess I’d better get back on that meal planning bandwagon. Thankfully we get a lot of support from our little bubble. E. misses daddy a lot already and is very demanding when we chat over FaceTime—she is obsessed with seeing the bathroom in his hotel room. We prepared a few weeks in advance, telling her he was going to go help people; she started too respond that she likes to help and wanted to go too, so I tell her I need her to stay and help mommy. So far she is satisfied with that answer and she does try to help me by picking up her toys and getting towels to wipe up spills both real and imagined. [He] did get the vaccine right away and I’m grateful for that. Our bubble friend who works out of his home part time also got one, thank goodness. The county says they plan to start vaccinating teachers at the end of this month, perhaps because our governor has decided in person school must resume March 1. I hope that means E.’s daycare teacher will get one soon but honestly just looking at the weekly supply numbers and the size of our various priority groups I don’t see how it is possible for teachers to be vaccinated in time. I am worried for our teachers—worried for their health, and worried that the great teachers in our country will chose to retire or leave the district rather than risk their lives.
January 26, 2021