PSA thread. People of Alberta Twitter, this week is going to be the most challenging since March. By a long way. Before I begin - huge respect for our fantastic teachers & education staff who are going back into the classroom so our economy can keep “ticking along”. #abed 1/13

So - people of Twitter - a challenge for the next few weeks with focus on looking out for each other and #BeKind I’ll try my best to do this and hope you join me: 2/13

1. Teachers are our heroes. They are re-entering the classroom in Alberta with minimal provincial plans & inadequate PPE. I applaud local school boards for filling those gaps. We’d expect no other industry to take that risk. Tell a teacher how much you appreciate them. 3/13

2. If you know people who are grandparents, check to see how they’re doing. They may be isolated if their kids - and grandkids - are having to send their kids to school. My in-laws sobbed tonight as they hugged the kids goodbye. 4/13

3. If you know parents of school age kids, be there for them. Make no assumption that they’re doing ok. They are not. 80%+ of parents I know are feeling sick at the “choices” they have to make. 5/13

4. If parents need to talk about how these decisions are keeping us up at night, use your ears and mouth in the proportion with which you have them. Unless your surname is Van Gogh. 6/13

5. You may have the most logical feedback to provide with evidence that may “calm parents down”. Don’t take it personally if rational argument doesn’t work. Speaking for myself, The Beatles could rise from the dead and come tell me to not worry & I’d still not be convinced. 7/13

6. Many of us are not feeling positive around #SafeSeptemberAB . Please don’t expect that to shift. My lack of positivity isn’t due to teachers (see no. 1 above) but how we’ve let them down with a lack of a plan. 8/13

7. Many of us are doing our best to keep our anxiety in check. However, the coming weeks will likely be very stressful. I’m not asking for a blind eye to be turned if I’m clearly short or distracted, but I am asking for compassion and appreciation of the context we’re in. 9/13

8. We’re about to have a whole bunch of individuals mingle who have had different approaches to how best to keep society safe during the pandemic. Not all approaches will align. Don’t judge other choices and respect where people are at. 10/13

9. Don’t be offended if someone’s risk tolerance is a lot lower than your own. For example, my son was a preemie who has asthma and my in-laws household has an immunocompromised person in their bubble. I’m effectively bleaching my face as I leave the house. 11/13

10. Non parents may be suffering too. If I’m not seeing your suffering it’s because I’m worried sick about my kids, @pamelamroach & in-laws. Don’t be afraid to tell me if you have things going on & need me to help. I’ll try to see but I may be blind due to my own concerns 12/13

Finally:

11. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be supportive. We got this if we all tackle it together.

Much love friends.

13/13