Let me start with a disclaimer: Please be sure to follow whatever local guidelines are set forth for your community and practice safe and healthy measures to keep you and your family healthy!
For our Murfreesboro area readers, here is the latest from Governor Lee for much of Tennessee:
· Restaurant Industry Guidance can be accessed here.
·Retail Industry Guidance can be accessed here.
·Exercise Facility Guidance can be accessed here.
·Close Contact Guidance can be accessed here.
Now that I’ve shared that, I’m going to share what my family is doing here in Murfreesboro, TN since some of the restrictions have been lifted and where we stand with future plans.
We have continued our visits to the grocery stores, hardware stores, and other essential stores without our children in tow. While we’re not super concerned that they are at “risk” while with us, its easier to navigate the aisles and search for endangered goods without them.
Local restaurants have been able to open their dining rooms with some social distancing guidelines in place. Our family has not yet ventured into this scene, but then again, I know lots of families who NEVER go out with children under five under normal circumstances.
Many churches are slowly segueing into corporate worship sessions on site but are taking lots of precautions such as pre-registering attendees, applying social distancing guidelines, requiring PPE and more. Our particular church isn’t opening its doors until June 7th but we haven’t decided if we’ll attend right away or not.
For Mother’s Day, my family and I went hiking at Old Stone Fort Archeological Park in Manchester, TN. The drive was rather pleasant and the weather was beautiful. However, when we approached the entrance of the park, there was a line of cars on the shoulder – unable to enter the park. There was a park ranger directing traffic into the park with a sign that read, “Park is Full – Come Back Later”. While parks and other venues are opening back up for business, it may be a good idea to call before leaving to make sure they aren’t inundated with people waiting to get in or that they are actually open.
The local schools have released students for the remainder of the school year, so there is no discussion about our children going back to school just yet. But, the conversation will likely change over the summer. I have seen a number of articles, videos, and other publications showing what school might look like going into the new school year. As a former teacher, I absolutely understand all of the precautionary measures being taken and appreciate the tenacity shown by administrators. As a parent, though, I’m not sure sending my children to school under pretenses such as the ones being introduced are a suitable choice for our family. Hopefully, this situation will evolve in a way that will be beneficial for our children and their futures.
Whatever it looks like for you and your family, tread lightly and try to think outside of the box. None of us have ever navigated through something quite this murky, so we’re likely to come out of it looking a hot mess. But, try to remember that not one way is right or better than another. At the end of the day, we must work together to get life back to some sort of normal. Until then, hang in there and be a friend to those around you (just remember to stay six feet apart!).
Make sure to subscribe to Macaroni Kid Murfreesboro to be in the know!
You can find us on Facebook, too!
