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In   •  by Siobhán Fitzpatrick, August 24, 2019

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Siobhán Fitzpatrick (a.k.a. The Law Mother) is a mom of four girls, lawyer, and writer. With no legalese and a lot of humor, she discusses  legal, business, career, and parenting issues.

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In our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we' In our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we've been forced to make our children part of a worldwide mental health experiment. No opting out. No control groups. No placebos. No hypothesis. Will our kids emerge more resilient? Or will they grow up to be overly cautious and germaphobic adults? Case in point, my 6-year-old. We wear masks when we are in a public, indoor place where social distancing is not possible. So shopping at Target, we wear a mask, riding bikes we don’t. Sensible, right? Except now she’s terrified of people NOT wearing a mask. Like last week at her speech therapy appointment, a little (unmasked) girl approached her to say hi. By my daughter's reaction (clinging, tears), you would of thought the little girl was a zombie. She's afraid of those too. Zombies, that is. So what’s a mom to do? Worry more about her contracting COVID-19 or passing it on to someone else? Or worry more about the risk to her mental health and development if I continue to insist on wearing a mask? I'm still pondering this one. What about your kids? Is their mental health suffering? What has been their reaction to wearing a mask (or other people either wearing or not wearing masks)? Do you think kids should wear masks when they return to school in the fall? Leave a comment. #covid19 #workingmom #workingmoms #workingmomproblems #workingmomlife #facemask #4daughters #4girls
In the gym for this week’s virtual race. Spartan In the gym for this week’s virtual race. Spartan Sprint. 5K on the treadmill and 20 gym obstacles. While not as exciting as running the race at AT&T Stadium, at least I didn’t have to crawl under a field of barbed wire. Yes, that’s an actual obstacle in the real race. @spartan #spartanprojectunbreakable
What strange times we live in that the decision I What strange times we live in that the decision I get the most flack for is visiting my widowed mother. Not ending the homeschooling day with margaritas. Not giving my kiddos the answers to get to those margaritas faster. Nope, hanging out with my mom and increasing her risk of exposure to COVID-19 (and in turn hospitalization and death). Calculating the exact increase in risk? Above my pay grade (though I doubt the so-called experts could even make a “I won’t hold you to it” guess). COVID-19 is scary. People sick and dying. People losing jobs. No vaccine, no treatment. So much uncertainty. What is certain is we still need to make decisions. Going back to the office to work. What to do with the kids. Daycare and camps. Grandparents. And I’m making those decisions the best I can. Evaluating risk and mitigating risk, weighing the both against the perceived benefits. My mom? Her health and well-being are more at risk from the loneliness brought about by self-isolation than me and her grandkids hanging out with her poolside in her backyard. Daycare and camps? They are a “yes” for my family so long as they are screening kids, enforcing good hygiene and cleaning procedures, and spacing everyone out. How are you making decisions about daycares, camps, and grandparents? CDC guidelines or bust? Or a more nuanced analysis. Leave a comment and let me know. #workfromhome #workingmomkind #workingfromhome #workingmom #workingmoms #workingmomlife #workingmama #covid19 #quarantine #quarantinelife
Quarantine fatigue has set in big time at our hous Quarantine fatigue has set in big time at our house. Tempers are short and quick. Hair is long and unruly. The breakfast room a one-room schoolhouse run by an unqualified teacher whose stock response to any question is "Google it." And the kids never leave the house. Always there, pacing back and before behind you while you’re on a ZOOM call. No indoor voices, no volume control. Always wanting to be entertained, never wanting to create their own amusements. Forever in need of a snack or drink, never satisfied with the selection in the pantry. I’m never alone. Well, almost never. I have managed to find ways to get “alone” time when the kids are always home. I use areas of the house that get the least amount of kid traffic. I wear noise cancelling headphones when I need to get work done. And when I really need to just be by myself? I get a room at the hotel down the street. Seriously, I do this 3 or 4 times a month even though I don’t spend the night. What are your hacks for getting “alone” time when the kids are always home? #carpoollinelaw #workingfromhome #4daughters #workingmoms #workingmomlife #workingmomproblems #wfh #wfhlife #wfhmom #boseheadphones #quarantinelife #remotework #remotelearning

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In our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we' In our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we've been forced to make our children part of a worldwide mental health experiment. No opting out. No control groups. No placebos. No hypothesis. Will our kids emerge more resilient? Or will they grow up to be overly cautious and germaphobic adults? Case in point, my 6-year-old. We wear masks when we are in a public, indoor place where social distancing is not possible. So shopping at Target, we wear a mask, riding bikes we don’t. Sensible, right? Except now she’s terrified of people NOT wearing a mask. Like last week at her speech therapy appointment, a little (unmasked) girl approached her to say hi. By my daughter's reaction (clinging, tears), you would of thought the little girl was a zombie. She's afraid of those too. Zombies, that is. So what’s a mom to do? Worry more about her contracting COVID-19 or passing it on to someone else? Or worry more about the risk to her mental health and development if I continue to insist on wearing a mask? I'm still pondering this one. What about your kids? Is their mental health suffering? What has been their reaction to wearing a mask (or other people either wearing or not wearing masks)? Do you think kids should wear masks when they return to school in the fall? Leave a comment. #covid19 #workingmom #workingmoms #workingmomproblems #workingmomlife #facemask #4daughters #4girls
In the gym for this week’s virtual race. Spartan In the gym for this week’s virtual race. Spartan Sprint. 5K on the treadmill and 20 gym obstacles. While not as exciting as running the race at AT&T Stadium, at least I didn’t have to crawl under a field of barbed wire. Yes, that’s an actual obstacle in the real race. @spartan #spartanprojectunbreakable
What strange times we live in that the decision I What strange times we live in that the decision I get the most flack for is visiting my widowed mother. Not ending the homeschooling day with margaritas. Not giving my kiddos the answers to get to those margaritas faster. Nope, hanging out with my mom and increasing her risk of exposure to COVID-19 (and in turn hospitalization and death). Calculating the exact increase in risk? Above my pay grade (though I doubt the so-called experts could even make a “I won’t hold you to it” guess). COVID-19 is scary. People sick and dying. People losing jobs. No vaccine, no treatment. So much uncertainty. What is certain is we still need to make decisions. Going back to the office to work. What to do with the kids. Daycare and camps. Grandparents. And I’m making those decisions the best I can. Evaluating risk and mitigating risk, weighing the both against the perceived benefits. My mom? Her health and well-being are more at risk from the loneliness brought about by self-isolation than me and her grandkids hanging out with her poolside in her backyard. Daycare and camps? They are a “yes” for my family so long as they are screening kids, enforcing good hygiene and cleaning procedures, and spacing everyone out. How are you making decisions about daycares, camps, and grandparents? CDC guidelines or bust? Or a more nuanced analysis. Leave a comment and let me know. #workfromhome #workingmomkind #workingfromhome #workingmom #workingmoms #workingmomlife #workingmama #covid19 #quarantine #quarantinelife
Quarantine fatigue has set in big time at our hous Quarantine fatigue has set in big time at our house. Tempers are short and quick. Hair is long and unruly. The breakfast room a one-room schoolhouse run by an unqualified teacher whose stock response to any question is "Google it." And the kids never leave the house. Always there, pacing back and before behind you while you’re on a ZOOM call. No indoor voices, no volume control. Always wanting to be entertained, never wanting to create their own amusements. Forever in need of a snack or drink, never satisfied with the selection in the pantry. I’m never alone. Well, almost never. I have managed to find ways to get “alone” time when the kids are always home. I use areas of the house that get the least amount of kid traffic. I wear noise cancelling headphones when I need to get work done. And when I really need to just be by myself? I get a room at the hotel down the street. Seriously, I do this 3 or 4 times a month even though I don’t spend the night. What are your hacks for getting “alone” time when the kids are always home? #carpoollinelaw #workingfromhome #4daughters #workingmoms #workingmomlife #workingmomproblems #wfh #wfhlife #wfhmom #boseheadphones #quarantinelife #remotework #remotelearning
A virtual 10K in the rain for ‘Rona Running Stre A virtual 10K in the rain for ‘Rona Running Streak Day 56, bringing the miles run total to 198.2. No PRs, no pounds/inches lost (thanks to to-go margs and chips/guac). But 2,180.2 glorious solo (and kid-free) minutes. Stats are for nerds and I am most definitely a nerd. On to next month’s 10 mile race. @themotherrunner #lovetherunyourewith #amrlovetherun #virtual10k #motherrunner #bamr #running #runningmama
Amid all the racing cancellations and disappointme Amid all the racing cancellations and disappointments (I’m talking about you Rock ‘n Roll Seattle and Spartan Sprint), 1 ray of sunshine. The virtual “Love the Run You’re With” 4 race series from Another Mother Runner. 4 month training plan, 1,000 other mother runners geeking out about running and cheering each other on in the Facebook group, and this awesome swag pack (because we all know every race is all about the swag). Can’t wait for this week’s 10K race. @themotherrunner #lovetherunyourewith #runningmama #running #virtualrace #virtualrace
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