It was about four or five months into the pandemic when Lisa Francis’s* eight-year-old daughter started getting sleepover invites from another family.
Francis, who lives in Orillia, Ont., had been diligently following public health guidance, so she said no.
?And the other mom said, ?Oh, right, you?re still doing the whole pandemic thing,?? Francis recalls.
She knew the two families had very different approaches to COVID rules and restrictions. Francis was limiting any contact beyond the members of her household, and they were avoiding indoor hang-outs in particular. But this other family was going to the cottage with various groups of relatives, and their kids were regularly having sleepovers.
?It was clear from day one we had totally different points of view.? But because the kids have been friends since kindergarten, Francis would sometimes try and let her daughter participate in play-date invites in a way that felt pandemic-safe.
The situation came to a head in early January of this year.
At the time, Ontario was under a second stay-at-home order: You were only supposed to leave your home for exercise, work, groceries or medical appointments. Schools were closed.
The doorbell rang, and Francis opened the door to find the other mom standing there with her three kids, none of them wearing masks. They asked if Francis?s daughter could come to the park.
Francis saw that her daughter was excited to see her friend, and after weighing the potential mental-health benefits ...