Spring Is Finally Here!*
*Unfortunately, so are some things that are driving parents insane...
If you’re new to this channel, welcome and subscribe here:
Friends,
Let's start with some good news. The sun is shining; Spring is upon us, and, with 100 million vaccinations already in distribution, we are nearing the point where all Americans will have access to a vaccine. In New York, Central Park is starting to fill back up with runners, strolling couples, and birthday-celebrating families. I was personally able to take two outdoor walks with the kids without having to worry about Coco (6mo) freezing in 20-degree winter weather. It feels like we are healing.
Also, a baseball fan got seriously hooked up when he saved a woman from being hit with a foul ball using only his full beer. The team rewarded him with more beer and a signed bat.
And now for an abrupt transition to more unpleasant topics…
Another indication the country is healing from the pandemic is mass shootings seem to have returned. In the past week alone, we've experienced mass shooting events in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado, the combination of which claimed the lives of nearly twenty people. The first one was racially motivated, while the second one, well, who the fuck knows.
It seems that our collective reentry into everyday life is going to be a healthy mix of exciting, nerve-wracking, and downright terrifying. The very thought of which is anxiety-inducing, especially considering that many people are still saying they won’t get the vaccine at all. 🙄🤦🏾♂️
On one end of the spectrum, live events* are prepping for a significant return in the fall as a few music festivals have not only announced new lineups but have also successfully gone on-sale. This is all excellent news for the industry and entertainment enthusiasts alike!
At the opposite end, Miami Beach was recently placed in a state of emergency as thousands of Spring Breakers descended upon the city, tossed their masks aside, and celebrated as if the pandemic had fully ended (or never existed in the first place). From afar, it seems like a total shit show.
When a few thousand visitors results in more than a thousand arrests and pepper spray bombs deployed on gatherers, I have to wonder how on earth cities are going to handle 100,000 festival attendees, most of whom are traveling to and from cities from around the country.
I don't have an answer to that question, but given the large number of colleagues I have in the live events industry, I hope someone figures it out soon. For me, the return of live events will mark the most significant leap in feeling like we are returning some sense of normalcy.
The good news is vaccinations are accessible to more and more people and, as a result, restrictions are beginning to lift, which we should absolutely celebrate.
Now, onto the big news highlights that are affecting parents this week.
01. Pandemic Anxiety Continues
Anxiety is a mental health issue that plagues roughly 40 million American adults over the age of 18. Despite being highly treatable, only 39% of those who have anxiety seek treatment. The pandemic is amplifying the former number dramatically as extended isolation takes its toll. According to a recent HuffPost article, a more specific form of "health anxiety" (or hypochondria) contributes to the rising rates. In the article, Kimberly Presley (clinical director of Taylor Counseling Group) says, "…a feeling of helplessness or lack of control coupled with real fear is a perfect recipe for anxiety.
The takeaway: We've discussed this topic at length over the last couple of months, and the same takeaway remains— research signs of anxiety (health-related or other) and seek treatment options. The best place to start is your therapist or primary care physician. Note that your teen children are especially high risk for mental health issues during the pandemic.
The good news is spring has emerged from behind a winter season that affected people from Maine to Texas in extreme ways. Now is a great time to start trying out some mental health-friendly cardio options.
02. Racial Tension Turns Extremely Violent
The Asian-American community (and minority communities at large) are reeling after a series of horrific attacks ranging from in-the-street assaults to a recent hate crime (and domestic terror event) in Atlanta. How the flying fuck that guy got arrested without incident is beyond me, but I digress.
I remember when hate crimes on South Asian and Middle Eastern Americans increased in the days and years after 9/11. I am still trying to process the number of innocent black and transgender lives lost in the last handful of years as political rhetoric shifted to villainizing both groups of Americans. Now Asian Americans are targeted because of a ridiculous connection to how COVID may have originated (spoiler: Asian Americans had nothing to do with it).
The takeaway: Minorities continue to be under attack, as we have been for the past few years. This is not a new situation, but a particular community is under attack as I type this. We should be aware and actively work to become an ally in the fight against this type of hate. PBS released a great list of ways you can help Asian Americans in this time of crisis. The sentiment is applicable across all targeted minority groups.
From a parenting perspective, racism is far more pervasive than many hoped (I know I was incredibly optimistic of our progress during the Obama era). Knowing that no community is protected from it, conversations about race should happen early and often with our children. It will support their development and protect them from any negative influences they will undoubtedly encounter from within their social circles (classmates, friends, family, etc).
03. Schools Reopen Slowly
As schools continue to reopen at varying paces across the country, parents remain frustrated at the lack of attention and support given to families struggling due to various financial and social constraints. Lawsuits are getting filed in multiple cities as protests continue. The situation is getting better, albeit incredibly slowly.
In a country already struggling with extreme income disparity between the wealthy and poor (along with the middle class's near decimation), access to childcare and school services is magnifying the issue. Parents with the means have been able to get their children back into private schools or start homeschooling. Lower-income communities are left behind.
The takeaway: We need to be acutely aware of the pandemic's impact on people in lower socioeconomic groups, especially when we vote in the midterms.
04. Spring Break
Is Miami's state of emergency, which lead to pepper-spraying beachgoers and more than a thousand arrests, a sign of what's to come? Dr. Fauci and the CDC have been saying, pretty consistently, that getting vaccinated is only one step in the process of returning to normalcy. A complimentary step in the process is staying masked-up and limiting social interaction to small, controlled groups. We do this because, while we know the efficacy rates of the various vaccines available, we still don't know how long they will remain effective and how protected we will be against the virus's new strains. The fear is that prematurely relaxing our protections will lead to another significant spike in cases which will reliably lead to the reinforcement and extension of existing restrictions.
National hospitals are saying the latest spike in new cases is fueled by people who have already received their first shot of a two-shot vaccination regiment (Pfizer and Moderna). Increased confidence led to more reckless behaviors. These patients are really unhappy and incredibly sick.
The takeaway: I don't know when we are going to return. It feels like "normal" or a new version of that term is on the horizon, but we are our own worst enemy in this endeavor. Stay masked up and, once you are vaccinated, continue to follow the CDC's guidelines on group activities, and we will get there faster.
05. The MF Bookshelf
Currently Reading: Triumph of the City, Edward L. Glaeser
On deck: The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
Just finished: Range, David Epstein
Article: Five Brutal Truths of Motherhood That I Learned The Hard Way, Scary Mommy
Article: How to Apologize to Your Kids, New York Times
Article: 11 Sneaky Signs You Have Health Anxiety Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, HUFFPOST
Watching: Zack Snyder’s Justice League
If you like what you read today and know someone who would benefit as well, please share!
*For those new to my world, I spent the last 10 years of my career in live entertainment in various ways.