Pretty sure my kids will not have a semblance of normal childhood socializing again

[Anonymous]

Proceed as you were originally intending. Worry about the new variant of concern when you need to - which may be months away or never for this particular one.

[Anonymous]

We do indoor play dates with limited groups of friends where families are all vaccinated, and larger outdoor gatherings.
It feels pretty close to normal.
But I think it’s also helpful to remind ourselves that normal changes a lot over the years—when I grew up in the 70s, toddler music classes, big bday parties and places like bounce u were not normal. Playing outside with neighborhood kids was normal. Having one or two friends whose house you would play inside was normal. I feel like for my mom growing up in the 40s, no one has indoor play dates—moms didn’t want the houses messed up. And people had no money for birthday parties. So it’s not like these things are essential to human development. Most of the things people are bemoaning were pretty rare before the 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do indoor play dates with limited groups of friends where families are all vaccinated, and larger outdoor gatherings.
It feels pretty close to normal.
But I think it’s also helpful to remind ourselves that normal changes a lot over the years—when I grew up in the 70s, toddler music classes, big bday parties and places like bounce u were not normal. Playing outside with neighborhood kids was normal. Having one or two friends whose house you would play inside was normal. I feel like for my mom growing up in the 40s, no one has indoor play dates—moms didn’t want the houses messed up. And people had no money for birthday parties. So it’s not like these things are essential to human development. Most of the things people are bemoaning were pretty rare before the 80s.

Thanks for this. I definitely don’t feel like the op, but this still felt like a really helpful perspective to hear and remember!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do indoor play dates with limited groups of friends where families are all vaccinated, and larger outdoor gatherings.
It feels pretty close to normal.
But I think it’s also helpful to remind ourselves that normal changes a lot over the years—when I grew up in the 70s, toddler music classes, big bday parties and places like bounce u were not normal. Playing outside with neighborhood kids was normal. Having one or two friends whose house you would play inside was normal. I feel like for my mom growing up in the 40s, no one has indoor play dates—moms didn’t want the houses messed up. And people had no money for birthday parties. So it’s not like these things are essential to human development. Most of the things people are bemoaning were pretty rare before the 80s.

We didn't have bounce houses but it really varied by family. We had kids in the house and sleepovers.

Most people I know complaining are used to the kids going to others houses and they get a break from their kids. We constantly had kids over before covid and some of those families are really pissed at us because we still say no. Beyond covid, its nice saving the money from all the meals/snacks and I got tired of them not reciprocating.

The kids are just fine. Its the parents.

[Anonymous]

It’s better that way. They won’t know what they’re missing. Try having a kid on their third covid-affected year at college. Imagine finally reaching freedom only to encounter more restrictions than anyone could ever imagine. The whole thing has been a nightmare and a waste of money and time that they can never repeat.

[Anonymous]

This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

I love Texas. Sort of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

In normal circles of DMV, it is as well. This board tends to attract the crazies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just do indoor play dates with masks. Honestly, I spent a good part of the pandemic terrified of my kids getting covid, and really did not allow them to do anything indoors beyond school. Then, they got covid from a vaccinated family member anyway. It was so incredibly mild in all my kids. In fact, two of them had no symptoms. I regret being so strict with them even after all adults in their life were vaccinated.

+1. I absolutely regret not allowing more once adults were vaccinated. One kid had the sniffles and the other two nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s better that way. They won’t know what they’re missing. Try having a kid on their third covid-affected year at college. Imagine finally reaching freedom only to encounter more restrictions than anyone could ever imagine. The whole thing has been a nightmare and a waste of money and time that they can never repeat.

My kid had a pretty normal year at Bama. I was initially resistant to the south but it was the best decision for these times although we couldn’t have predicted it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

Tell me more. I’m actually looking into moving purely for normalcy. Masks in school? Play dates without hesitation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

Tell me more. I’m actually looking into moving purely for normalcy. Masks in school? Play dates without hesitation?

Most places don't have masks requirements. Schools can't require them. My kids are tweens and teens but socializing and sleepovers and homecoming and parties are all the same as 2 years ago.

That said, there are no abortion rights anymore and the state laws are getting more red and I have no confidence that Beto or Matthew Dowd will win. I aim to move out when my kids graduate because it's feeling Gilead.

[Anonymous]

If your kids are all vaccinated and you still aren’t letting them live a fairly normal life, that’s on you. The actual risk is incredibly low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

Tell me more. I’m actually looking into moving purely for normalcy. Masks in school? Play dates without hesitation?

Where do you live (I’m guessing MoCo)? I’m in McLean and have 3 kids. Completely back to normal for months with all friends in terms of sleepovers and play dates indoors with no masks. All parents and kids have gotten vaccinated as soon as they could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. I live in Texas. I am pro vaccine and anti all of our state leadership.

But our kids are back to normal. School is normal. Sports are normal. Playdates are normal. It's all normal.

Tell me more. I’m actually looking into moving purely for normalcy. Masks in school? Play dates without hesitation?

Where do you live (I’m guessing MoCo)? I’m in McLean and have 3 kids. Completely back to normal for months with all friends in terms of sleepovers and play dates indoors with no masks. All parents and kids have gotten vaccinated as soon as they could.

Yes, escaping MoCo is key. I got out to five years ago. It’d be awful to be stuck there now.