But, you were so careful...

We’ve been one of the more careful families since COVID came on the scene. We definitely haven’t been perfect and we’ve definitely taken our fair share of risks but we’re the family that doesn’t let their daughter go hang out indoors with 3 friends when we’re told not to by the governor.

So it’s funny when we got COVID how we wanted to say things like “wait, we got it, us, what about them?” and it’s funny how some of our friends, including my daughter’s teacher who knows us, said “but you guys were so careful…”

And all of that is true but it also speaks to a very Western thing and not the ONLY reason we were careful.

It’s not about us. It’s about Us.

Our daughter goes to school twice a week. Our son teaches at a school that has been… shall we say not the most careful… so when we don’t let our daughter go inside with 3 friends it’s not just because we’re scared of her getting it, we’re scared of her giving it.

Which, it turns out, she would have had we let her hang out with her 3 friends inside the night before our son tested positive. That could have been 3 families. Which, it turns out, we would have potentially given it to my parents and my wife’s parents had we hung out with them. And on and on it goes.

You see, the response isn’t always '“but you were so careful, how did you get it?”

Sometimes it’s “you were so careful, thanks for not spreading it to more people.”

Keep wearing masks. Keep social distancing. Keep doing all the things, yes you might protect yourself but you will also protect others.