by Guest | Dec 17, 2020 | Being Well
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the school system as teachers learn to provide education virtually, students adapt to an online environment, and families balance working and learning all within the same home. It is easy to forget that school systems offer far more than just an education; they provide meals, childcare, transportation, supplies, peer interaction, and a network of support staff. As a Speech Language Pathologist for Tillamook County’s Early Intervention program, Kaylie Seymour provides support and guidance to families with children who need extra help learning to communicate, specifically those ages 0 – 3 with speech delays, communication disorders, autism or down syndrome, or who are nonverbal. Like many of those within school systems, the transition to virtual work was not easy as some families are uninterested or unable to meet virtually. Yet, there has been a silver lining with families who have been able to meet through Zoom: the removal of travel time between households has freed up more space in Kaylie’s schedule so that she can meet with families more frequently. This increase in interaction time, even if virtual, has led to stronger emotional connections being built with families in the community – something that is much needed in today’s world.
Although Kaylie has been able to support families more frequently through working virtually, the adjustment has also come with its own personal challenges. When the stay-at-home orders were set in March, Kaylie had just returned to her relatively new position within Early Intervention after taking maternity leave. This meant she was still learning to navigate the policies and procedures of the organization as she was also transitioning to working from home and caring for a new baby. When work and home become the same environment, it is challenging to draw a line between the two. As Kaylie pointed out in the balance of work and caregiving for her son: “You’re working and thinking of him or playing with him and thinking of work. I really had to sit down and decide to carve out family time where I wouldn’t check my phone or email.” It can be extremely difficult to set boundaries within any aspect of life, but COVID-19 has created even greater challenges. Kaylie and her family of 3 have maintained a tight bubble, and they have been hesitant to physically spend time with extended family members who have not taken as many precautions. Within these circumstances, Kaylie has felt torn: “Either I feel guilty that I’ve broken our close-knit family COVID-19 rules or I feel guilty for not letting my parents see their grandson.” As the holidays are upon us, these are the feelings that many of us are grappling with as we try to prioritize the safety of our families while also not losing those crucial connections.
Within this socially-distanced world, communication is a vital aspect of well-being. Kaylie relies on video calls with extended family and regular check-in text messages from close friends as a method for making it through each day. She also points out that navigating parenting in a pandemic is a new challenge in itself, and acknowledging and communicating stress limits is a form of self-care. More recently, Kaylie and her family have been trying to recreate favorite activities from before the onset of COVID-19. For example, planning a craft night with friends over Zoom where everyone gathers supplies ahead of time to work on the same project together, or recreating a movie theater by making buttery popcorn, dimming the lights, and turning off cell phones. These last few months have been challenging as we adapt to a virtual world and learn to set healthy boundaries, but a little creativity with the help of a few loved ones has the potential to go a long way in finding moments of joy.
AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, Tillamook County Wellness AmeriCorps VISTA
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
by Guest | Dec 10, 2020 | Being Well
Para Sequir Adelante, Mantengamos La Fe
Cuando Marilu y yo nos pusimos en contacto la una con la otra para hablar sobre este momento “bien difícil que cambió la vida” para toda la comunidad, ella me admitió que no había pensado poder “hablar ni expresarme bien” a propósito de ser entrevistada sobre tal asunto. Yo espero que ella me estuviera platicando a tono de broma cuando menospreció sus consejos alrededor de cómo sobrellevar los días frente a la pandemia del coronavirus. Lo que me compartió fueron estrategias sumamente realistas que uno puede aplicar universal y duraderamente para seguir adelante.
Su actitud pragmática de que “tenemos que hacer todas las reglas que se requieren; si no obedecemos las reglas, sigue peor, sigue más contagio del virus,” aparentemente resuena con la realidad que recién hemos observado por la subida de infecciones esta temporada otoñal. Durante la última semana de noviembre, el estado de Oregón continuó estableciendo nuevos máximos semanales de casos y hospitalizaciones. Y el Condado de Tillamook, hasta el 2 de diciembre, tenía que contar a la gravedad de 148 casos confirmados y presuntos en total (La Autoridad de Salud de Oregón [OHA], actualizaciones y datos disponibles en https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.) Es probable que el tono directo de Marilu derive de su experiencia ya extensa bajo la pandemia de adaptar las cosas para protegerse a sí misma y a la familia. Trabaja en limpieza de casas y tempranamente se acostumbró a trabajar menos horas mientras tomaba las precauciones comprensivas para prevenir la propagación del virus, minuto por minuto. Entrar y arreglar los espacios vividos por otros cuyas interacciones e itinerarios diarios permanecen desconocidos desde el punto de vista de Marilu — este servicio ha pedido a ella que asuma bastante riesgo. Lo ha combatido por,entre otras medidas, mantener la puerta abierta, poner la mascarilla y los guantes, desinfectar más las superficies y las sábanas — cada momento trabajado ahora es estructurado por una regulación que higieniza el marco. Más que nada, enfatiza que “trato de limpiarme bien antes de entrar a la casa para sentirme segura de que no voy a traer infecciones al llegar [allí].”
Para Marilu, como para muchos, el hogar contiene a las razones, personificadas, por las que ella se compromete a hacer todas las medidas preventivas, bien en el lugar del trabajo o en los sitios públicos esenciales, minimizados que sean. Tiene el orgullo de ser madre de cuatro hijos, algunos de quienes todavía viven a su lado en casa. Con respecto a ellos que ya se han mudado fuera, como su hijo mayor, Marilu espera que, algún otro día, su hogar podría albergar a la familia que sigue creciendo: la niña de él justo cumplió los dos años. Pero debido a los aislamientos requisitos de casa a casa, Marilu no pudo hacerle una fiesta para ella, su primera nieta. En vez de poder tocarle a la muchacha con el cariño compartido por una abuela, se ha acostumbrado a “visitarla” a través del teléfono o la computadora. Asistir a reuniones electrónicas o digitales es algo que se ha convertido más común en su vida, en conjunto con otras en la comunidad hispana que vienen de los deseos de reunirse con la familia y de celebrar todos juntos. Pese a la imposibilidad de reconfortarse uno en la compañía de multitudes, especialmente cuando muchas personas hispanas se han enfrentado a “tantos casos” en sus comunidades, Marilu permanece una mujer de la fe. Les anima a los que tienen depresión y que sienten tristes que “tenemos que tener la fe, o si no, buscar ayuda.” Ya que “salían las emociones [de las personas en la comunidad] porque siempre van a andar con este miedo de que agarremos el virus,” Marilu subraya que “si pone uno al pensar o estresarse, es peor.” Por lo menos, tenemos que “parecer positivos y no negativos,” — tal vez fingir una emoción puede llegar creando la cosa auténtica. Dicho esto, Marilu no se conforma a pura ilusión. Nos aconseja que “sigan las reglas, tomen todas las precauciones, que no pierdan la fe.” Esta fe se mantiene con pasos prácticos en el camino hacia “una vida más normal” — que incluye quizás una reunión en persona — y que venga en el horizonte que creemos.
To Move Forward We Must Have Faith
When Marilu and I got in touch with each other to talk about this moment, one “so difficult that changed life for the whole community,” she admitted that she had thought she could not “talk or express myself well” in being interviewed on such a matter. I hope that she was joking when she diminished her advice on how to endure days facing the coronavirus pandemic. Because what she shared with me were extremely realistic strategies that one can apply universally and lastingly to keep moving forward.
Her pragmatic attitude that “we have to follow all the regulations that are required; if we don’t comply with them, things will get worse and there will be more infection from the virus,” seemingly resounds with the reality we are observing with the surge in infections this fall season. During the last week of November, the state of Oregon continued setting new weekly highs for cases and hospitalizations. And Tillamook County, on December 2nd, had to count up the seriousness of 148 confirmed and presumptive cases in total (source: Oregon Health Authority [OHA], updates and data available at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19). It’s likely that Marilu’s straightforward tone comes from her already extensive experience under the pandemic adapting things to protect herself and her family. She works in housekeeping and early on adjusted to working fewer hours, while taking many precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, minute to minute. To enter into and arrange the spaces lived in by others, whose daily interactions and itineraries remain unknown from Marilu’s point of view — this service has asked her to assume quite enough risk. She has combatted it by, among other measures, leaving the door open, wearing mask and gloves, further disinfecting surfaces and sheets — each moment worked now is structured by a routine that sanitizes the setting. More than anything, she emphasizes that she “[tries] to clean myself well before entering the house to feel certain I’m not bringing infection when I arrive.”
For Marilu, as for many, the home contains the reasons for which she commits to take all preventive measures, whether in the workplace or in the essential public places, minimized as they are. She carries the pride of being mother to four children, some of whom still live by her side in the house. As for those that have already moved out, like her eldest son, Marilu hopes that, some other day, her home could host the family that keeps growing: his little girl just turned two years old. Due to the isolations required household to household, Marilu couldn’t put on a party for her, her first granddaughter. Instead of being able to hold the girl with the care that a grandmother shares, she has become accustomed to “visiting her” through the phone or the computer. Attending virtual gatherings is something that has become more commonplace in her life, together with others in the Hispanic community that come from desires to reunite with family and celebrate altogether. Due to the impossibility of comforting oneself in the company of multitudes, especially when many Hispanic people are confronting “so many cases” in their communities, Marilu remains a woman of faith. She encourages those that are experiencing depression and that feel sadness that “we must keep the faith, and if not, seek help.” Given that “everyone’s emotions are coming out because we are always walking with the fear that we might catch the virus,” Marilu underlines that “if one gets to [over]thinking or stressing themselves, it is worse.” At the least, we’ve got to “seem positive, not negative,” — sometimes faking an emotion can end up creating the real thing. That said, Marilu doesn’t settle for wishful thinking. She advises “sticking to the rules, taking all precautions, not losing faith” — this faith is maintained in practical steps, on the path toward “a more normal life” — including perhaps an in-person reunion — and that comes on the horizon we create.
AUTHOR: Libby Kokes, Health Equity AmeriCorps VISTA at Tillamook County Community Health Center
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
by Guest | Oct 15, 2020 | Being Well
The last 6 months have not been easy, and for local resident Julie Hurliman, the biggest concern has always been the impact on her 9-year-old son, Matteo. At the beginning of COVID-19, Julie found herself allowing Matteo more screen time than normal because it was the only way to interact with friends and other family. She worries about him feeling lonely or isolated as an only child during a time of social distancing. Luckily, Julie was eventually able to create what she calls a “germ circle” with another family who also offered childcare. The families have kept their interactions with the outside world to a minimum, allowing their children to then safely interact with each other normally. As school has started up this fall, this connection has developed into more of a “learning pod, ” which has been increasingly helpful in navigating the challenges of online school.
Like many people, Julie is trying to do what is best for herself and her family in the world of COVID-19, although that in itself has been difficult to determine. With constant streams of conflicting information about COVID-19 in the media, Julie has felt torn: “Maybe I am overreacting to this? And then you see the other stories and effects of COVID and then think maybe you can’t overreact; this is a big deal. It’s really hard to feel sane in all of this.” It has been difficult to feel confident about any decisions, especially with COVID-19 making planning for the future nearly impossible.
Within all of the uncertainty, Julie tries to focus on being kind – both to others and to herself. She points out that we never know what someone else is experiencing and it’s safer to assume that we are all doing the best that we can. She has found that although it is difficult to carve out time for self-care, she tries to take advantage of the opportunities that do come along. This summer has involved hiking, camping, kayaking, and grilling on the back deck – and thanks to COVID-19, a new evening hobby of watching the birds. Her focus is still on her son: “The world feels like such a heavy place with so much going on right now, you can almost feel guilty if you’re not consumed with worry. I don’t ever want that to feel normal for him.” Carving out time to do something fun together has become a priority, whether that involves board games or watching America’s Funniest Videos as a family on Sunday nights. These moments have become highlights of normalcy and joy in the midst of the challenges and chaos that 2020 has brought us all.
AUTHOR: Ariel Slifka, Tillamook County Wellness VISTA
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
