THE SHRUG AND HUG
I’ve decided that the shrug and hug is how I’m going to get through the rest of the winter. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s because I just made it up.
You see, this variant time around the only answers I seem to have are “I don’t know.” Because I actually don’t. Feels like the more I go the less I know. Back during the original version of Covid and then when Delta came along I had a family game plan somewhat figured out. But that was Freshman and Sophomore year of the pandemic. Now that we are Omicron off and running into our Junior year, I’ve got nothing. I guess being an upperclassman isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Go out or stay home? Search for at home tests or not bother? Are they accurate or not? Eat in a restaurant or take out? Wear cloth masks or N95? Can my kids go to a friend’s house or not? Will school stay in person or remote? Do I wear day pajamas or night?
I have zero answers.
So, a shrug pretty much says it all without saying a thing. And move over prayer hands because I just discovered the shrug emoji, so that’s something to look forward to this year.
As for the hug, it follows the shrug. Currently, hugs are only reserved for my kids, my husband, or anyone willing to tackle our laundry piles. A hug pretty much says “I wish I knew honey” without saying a thing. Sometimes, during the hug when I pull one of my teens in closer and don’t let go, I can actually feel the weight of their world lighten. Just a tiny bit for a tiny second. I’ll take it. Because if anything is going to get us through this, it’s holding tight to what matters most.
