artificial insemination kit for humans
After a holiday season spent in solitude with just my immediate family in 2020, I thought we had a COVID-safe plan in place for this Thanksgiving. My husband, our teenager, my mother, my in-laws, and my husband’s siblings along with their partners would all be fully vaccinated—except for our nine-year-old, who would just have received his first dose.
Despite our vaccination status, I knew we had to remain cautious to minimize the risk of transmission. Our strategy was to wear masks when we went to school, work, and the grocery store, avoiding any unmasked interactions with others in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. On the morning of the gathering, everyone would take an at-home rapid test as an additional precaution. Everyone agreed to this plan, and I felt confident it would work.
That was until my mother, who is even more cautious about COVID than I am, called to express her concerns. She had seen on social media that one of our guests planned to attend a concert just a week before Thanksgiving at a bar/restaurant with questionable mask enforcement. While I reassured her that this person was vaccinated and had promised to avoid unmasked activities afterward, my mother remained anxious, especially considering our younger son’s asthma.
After our call, I looked at the calendar and realized there would be six days between the concert and our gathering. I found myself frantically searching for information on COVID incubation periods—worrying if a rapid test could detect any potential infection by then. I even reached out to a doctor friend for advice. Then, I sank onto the couch and sobbed, feeling utterly overwhelmed. “I just can’t do this anymore,” I exclaimed.
I’m exhausted. This pandemic has dragged on for nearly 20 months, and not a week goes by without me needing to assess risks. I’m tired of scrutinizing every action our family takes and weighing the risks against the potential benefits.
I remember early in the pandemic feeling unsure if it was safe for my kids to play in our shared backyard or walk through our apartment hallways. The confusion only grew after lockdowns ended. I spent the summer of 2020 agonizing over whether to send my kids back to school, only to face the same dilemma the following summer.
I’ve had to consider playdates, birthday parties, family gatherings, and even trips to urgent care—always weighing the risks. As COVID numbers fluctuated, I found myself questioning whether it was safe to visit the dentist or allow unmasked visits with grandparents.
The charts and risk analysis have become exhausting. I’m fatigued from making both major and minor decisions, constantly balancing my family’s mental health against the possibility of contracting or spreading a deadly disease.
While things were particularly challenging before vaccinations, the complexity hasn’t diminished now that most of us are vaccinated. For six months, my younger son has been the only unvaccinated family member, and we’ve remained vigilant to protect him. Even when he’s fully vaccinated, I doubt decision-making will become much easier. The thought of a breakthrough infection and the ensuing quarantine is daunting.
Most of these decisions fall on my shoulders. My husband is supportive and follows my lead, but I’m the one who ultimately makes all the health-related choices. It’s overwhelming, and I feel emotionally drained. Even simple decisions, like whether to order takeout or buy a fancy gift for my son, have become burdensome.
So here I am, grappling with extreme risk assessment fatigue. Everything related to the pandemic and daily life seems to bring me to tears. I know many parents, particularly mothers, share this struggle, which offers some solace but doesn’t lessen the burden.
If only someone could wake me when this pandemic is over and take on the role of risk assessor for once.
For further insights, consider reading about home insemination and related topics on our other blog.
Additionally, if you’re looking for further information on at-home insemination kits, check out Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kit. For pregnancy-related resources, the World Health Organization provides excellent information.
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Summary:
The ongoing challenges of COVID-19 have led to significant emotional fatigue, particularly for parents who must constantly assess risks and make decisions regarding their family’s safety. This fatigue is compounded by the additional pressures of balancing mental health and safety, with many parents, especially mothers, feeling overwhelmed. As the pandemic continues, the desire for a break from decision-making grows stronger.