THE NEW NORMAL ISN'T NORMAL ("The New Normal" is what they are calling the increased restrictions due to SARS):

The twins are almost 2 weeks old. The baby boy has had heart surgery and will be in hospital for several more weeks. Because of the SARS restrictions at Toronto hospitals, only 2 people (parents or caregivers) are allowed to visit any one child. Obviously in this case, the two parents are the visitors. The other twin isn't even allowed in, so my niece, who is breastfeeding, has to seriously limit her visiting time with the twin who is in the hospital. The sick baby needs to be held, rocked, and sung to, but parents (who do not live in Toronto) can do very little of it, and the rest of us who live in the city and could do it are not allowed in!

That's "The New Normal". In this case it is very harsh and seems very wrong.

~b.w.