In most jobs and professions, there are multiple potential employers with multiple standards. In #BCED, however, for all intents and purposes, we have one. Usually our beef with the gov comes down to access to the tools and conditions that will allow us to do our best work.

Where other essential workers might be able to find a different store, company, or health care setting in which to work if they or their family is at risk, teachers do not have that privilege.

Many of us are scared.

In my own circumstance, we have two children on the autism spectrum. My husband retired early with a puny pension so that he could stay home with our son who was not able to navigate school.

My husband has had a lifetime of severe asthma and has damaged lungs.

I absolutely teaching. It is integral to my identity. This is something I've really struggled with this summer. It is the work I want to do and was meant to do.

But now, my doing my job not only makes my darling husband vulnerable, it puts both our children's futures at risk.

My husband is already vulnerable. He hasn't had bronchitis since he stopped working in schools, but he was off sick every year, often for months at a time. He has difficulty keeping his asthma under control on a daily basis.

This DOES NOT qualify me for accommodation.

It gets worse. It is my husband whose daily presence keeps our son from having anxiety to the point that he's suicidal. It is my husband who makes sure our daughter can get herself organized and off to the single course she can handle on a daily basis.

My kids will be contributing members of society if and only if they have their dad to get them through these challenging years. If I end up a single mom, they will whither and become dependent on society. They are both so amazing, generous, and thoughtful and have bright futures,

but ASD is a developmental disorder and they need extra time to develop competence and grow up.

How can I say no to teaching and have us not be able to pay our bills - and how can I say yes to returning to the classroom and putting my entire family at risk?

#BCED