Staying Apart, Together: I never imagined my one-year anniversary like this
Editor’s Note: This is a preview of USA TODAY’s newsletter Staying Apart, Together, a guide to help us all cope with a world changed by coronavirus. If you would like it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Saturdays, subscribe here.
One year ago Sunday, I got married.
When I walked down the aisle, I was contemplating what my life with my future husband was going to be. I imagined the house we might buy that we had begun saving for, the kids we might have, the honeymoon to the Chesapeake Bay that we would soon leave for and all the other big life moments that come after you say “I do.” I certainly didn’t think that a year later we’d be living with my in-laws, spending 99% of our time at home and unable to see the family and friends who watched us say our vows.
Although I’d rather not be spending our anniversary watching movies at home, I’m glad we have something to enjoy at all. This will be the most personal celebration I’ve experienced in quarantine. It won’t be perfect, but it will still be special. No one can take away the year we’ve spent together, even if six months of it involved a lot of masks, harried runs to the grocery store and trying not to walk into each others’ Zoom meetings.
(And Pat, if you’re reading this, just you wait until I give you your present tomorrow. It’s so good.)
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Today’s school from home tips
Doing virtual schooling can be a pain in the neck. Quite literally.
USA TODAY Tech reported that, according to a Facebook survey earlier this year from the American Chiropractic Association, 92% of chiropractors said patients are reporting more neck, back, or other musculoskeletal issues since the pandemic began. Kids are no exception. Dr. Jared Vagy, physical therapist, author, and USC Clinical Assistant Professor, says students could be more at risk, since they often do their school work from bed or the floor, slumped over screens for hours at a time.
“Spine hunched and shoulders rounded, that’s the classic middle-school and teenager posture while sitting,” Vagy explains (he is so right, as any parent of a teen or middle-schooler will likely attest). “This is where parents need to step in and use one of the many accessible solutions to protect kids’ overall health,” he says.
What are those solutions? They can actually be pretty simple:
- Get up and move: Every 30 minutes is a good rule of thumb to get up from the desk. You can set a timer, make rules, turn it into a game, or create routines that encourage getting up and moving often.
- The right height: The top of the screen, be it laptop, desktop or tablet, should be at about eye height. (Personal note: my computer monitor sits on a stack of “Wheel of Time” books to get it to the right height.)
- External mouse and keyboard are key: If your child is working on a laptop, and you can afford this purchase (basic versions can be just $20 or so), it can be extremely helpful to avoid wrist, hand, and neck injuries.
- The chair is more important than the desk: “If your budget is limited so that you can buy only a desk or only a chair, buy the chair,” says Michelle Despres, a physical therapist and ergonomics expert. Parents should look for a chair where you can modify the height, seat back, seat, angle, and armrests.
See our full story with more ideas here. And remember, these aren’t just good ideas for kids sitting in front of a computer all day – adults need to take care of our stiff backs, too.
Today’s reads
- Amazon is hiring. Like really, really hiring.
- My colleague Erin Jensen spoke to Drew and Jonathan Scott (aka the Property Brothers) about their new show “Brother vs. Brother” in which each is attempting to make more money off a house flip (to benefit charity). Yes, there were on-set pranks.
- Here’s why Lorenzo Reyes of USA TODAY Sports thinks all 32 NFL teams have a shot at winning the Super Bowl.
- Oatmeal cream pie cereal? Why not!
- In adorable and inspirational news, this seventh grader is a finalist to draw a Google Doodle.
Today’s pet
I’d like to introduce you to another member of the USA TODAY pet family.
Says Deputy Travel Editor and premiere USA TODAY dog enthusiast Jayme Deerwester, Niles the Jack Russell terrier from Crittenden, Kentucky, lives for car and jet ski rides.
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