Day 1
Should I pay for child care, soccer or dance classes if they aren’t happening?
We’re all trying to support small, local restaurants via take-out orders. That’s been an easy financial decision even though times are tight. Other financial matters are tougher, particularly as our schools and child care facilities are closed and all kid-based activities are postponed or cancelled.
During this prolonged, uncertain-to-end lull, many parents are rightfully wondering: Should we pay certain monthly bills if these services aren’t being rendered?
I follow a simple decision tree to make that judgement.
First, if the COVID pandemic has you collecting unemployment, pay only essentials like the mortgage and utilities. Everything else waits while rationing the cash you have. If this is you, do not underscore the ability of your creditors to help you through the crisis. Don’t be too proud to ask for short-term help. But, while you ask for short term relief, don’t over burden yourself with an aggressive catch-up payment schedule that starts far too soon.
If you are still working, you have an obligation to pay if the organization you’re paying is continuing to pay their employees during the crisis. It is an absolutely fair question to ask your pre-school, dance studio or soccer club if their instructors are receiving paychecks during this period of uncertainty. If the organization is not laying off of their people, employed workers still receiving a paycheck have a responsibility to fulfill their payment obligations.
Third, there is a special place in my decision tree for sole proprietorship’s – single owner businesses who rely on our monthly payments to fill their refrigerators and to cover their locked-in fixed costs.
If you’re employed, take care of these one-person businesses in whatever way you can (even if a full payment is not pragmatic). And, while you do, pay attention to anything that could help a small business owners in your communities. These entrepreneurs may be more occupied keeping their checking account positive at the moment than analyzing whether they qualify for newly expanded S.B.A. loans or lease payment relief.
Next, during the COVID crisis, squash the urge to demand refunds. The time will come where postponed events will either happen or not. Not until this time is it acceptable to mention items for which you’ve paid and have not happened. For now, be patient as each race organizer or spring baseball commissioner figures out what has (and hasn’t yet) been spent.
Lastly, I would not be paying in advance for anything that is kid activity related. No one knows when this will end, no one knows when normalcy will be restored.
If your little Messi made next year’s top 12U soccer team and the club is pushing for a commitment? Decide when the situation clarifies.
Need to order a special leotard for a competition whose date is currently unknown or that may not happen at all? If cash is tight, wait until the date is set.
COVID-19 has put a temporary end to many aspects of our daily lives. If you’ve continued to work, though, the virus should not exempt you from doing the right thing, protecting your family and being fair to businesses that, under normal circumstances, serve you.
Finding the Funny
If you haven’t done so, take the COVID crisis as a chance to orchestrate a virtual meeting with a person over 70 and/or a child under 10. Trust me, there will be plenty of opportunities to laugh in doing so.
All these sildenafil sale herbs are blended in right combination to cure sexual disorders without any fear of side effects. With viagra prescription canada great efforts and determination, you can make recovering changes in your life. This online service as well provides you the FAQs section for your common queries on cipla cialis india medicines and prescriptions and reviews. http://amerikabulteni.com/2013/01/26/komedyenlerin-sakalariyla-abdde-gecen-haftanin-gundemi-15/ soft viagra pills This solution even helps to better the confidence levels, overall safety and alertness.There will, no doubt, be troubleshooting required – likely for the older party who won’t be able to see, hear or voice their opinion without interrupting someone else’s. As an added perk, record the time before the elderly participant’s frustration simmers and they proclaim, “What did you say? I can’t hear because everyone is talking at once!”
On the other hand, the younger set of video callers will have no issues with technology or that others are talking simultaneously. No, they just want to see you and repeatedly tell you what’s going on in their lives. You’ll quickly find out who got straight A’s, which kid has been sent to their rooms most and whether Mom or Dad did more yelling today. The little participants will wonder if COVID is happening where you live and if anyone close you has “it.”
Yes, video calls are COVID therapy on so many levels.
Parting Perspective
The masks our kids are seeing around will seem scary, and none of us should assume they totally get it.
In some ways, the sight of people walking the streets in surgical mask will seem fun – like Halloween. For other kids, though, a masked neighbor can emphasize the gravity of the COVID-19 virus in a child’s own circle of familiarity.
Seeing and hearing about the virus on the news is distant. Seeing Mom or Dad strap up a mask to take an essential trip to Publix for milk and eggs is another layer of serious for our little ones. Be sure to demystify the mask as an important tool to help end this COVID crisis sooner – just a precaution (like sampling their Halloween candy).
Settle into a routine that works.
You’re doing the best you can.
Admit you’re as antsy as your children.
Your conscience is your compass.
Stay safe.
Parent on.
More to come.
