A classic, delicious, delightful cuddle.
On Sunday night I had a cuddle session with a client – gulp – unmasked!
In truth, I didn’t really have to gulp at all. I was able to relax and be present with my client knowing that we both made a conscious, sober, risk-aware choice. It felt so special to do what we do – hug, squeeze, breathe, and smile. “I’m happy,” my client said.
I don’t have a formula for you. We each have our particular histories, social backgrounds, risk tolerances and life situations. It would be my pleasure, however, to share with you my protocols. If you are considering cuddling with a friend, perhaps you can modify what I’m doing to fit your situation.
For me, it begins with proof of vaccination.
For my safety needs, I require that we are both vaccinated.
Next, I send my potential client this list of questions.
1. Do you live with or work with people who are unvaccinated?
2. How many times a week do you spend un-masked time with people who aren’t vaccinated.
3. How many times a week do you spend time indoors in public without a mask?
4. Are you comfortable filling out a short health questionnaire the day of our session if we have one?
5. Would you commit to canceling if you don’t feel well?
6. Are you comfortable having your temperature checked before our session begins?
7. Would you feel comfortable purchasing an over-the-counter rapid Covid test from a drug store and testing yourself on the same day as our session? (I would discount your session by the amount that the test costs.)
From there, I talk to those in my bubble.
I check with myself and my pandemic pod if we are all comfortable with my moving forward given the client’s responses and risk-factors.
On the day of the session, here’s what we do.
On the day of the session, I and my client fill out this health questionnaire. (Yes, you can copy it!)
I take my own temperature and when the client arrives, I take their temperature with a touchless forehead thermometer like this.
Then we have ourselves a beautiful session.
While we enjoy the bliss of cuddling, we can be proud of our efforts to balance self-care, health considerations, and respect for our communities. This is adulting at its finest.
What if one of us is unvaccinated?
If a client is unvaccinated, I’m happy to have an outdoor session doing activities like I describe in this event.
———————–
PS: Want more information and support on this topic? I provide more resources in my class Find a Covid-Safe Cuddle Buddy.