Did kids actually unmask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

So glad you left DC- please don’t come back and try to stop stalking DC parenting blogs. You, too, only get one life to live - try to live it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

NP. Might want to focus on building resilience if the thought of your kids catching a virus that poses only a minuscule risk to them scares you so much, as it will be around for the rest of their lives and they can't mask forever (or can they?). Let them build immunity now while they are young and low risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

Why do you have to be a dick? Seriously, the PP said nothing to shame anyone else or suggest that anyone do anything different. They just moved to respond to something that they perceived as being detrimental to their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

Agree. DC folk make such a big deal out of this. I am a teacher in VA and we’ve been mask optional for a month. No one really cares. Some wear masks. Some don’t. I’m not traumatized by masks but really don’t like it so I was glad to ditch mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

Agree. DC folk make such a big deal out of this. I am a teacher in VA and we’ve been mask optional for a month. No one really cares. Some wear masks. Some don’t. I’m not traumatized by masks but really don’t like it so I was glad to ditch mine.

+1

Except I am a DCPS high school teacher. No one gave two craps that I came to school without a mask Wednesday. And I didn’t care at all that most people kept their masks on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

NP. Might want to focus on building resilience if the thought of your kids catching a virus that poses only a minuscule risk to them scares you so much, as it will be around for the rest of their lives and they can't mask forever (or can they?). Let them build immunity now while they are young and low risk.

I have no issue with my kid taking off masks and I don’t disagree about performative masking in the DC area. But calling masking traumatizing is just as hysterical as wanting to wear them forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Lafayette there were maybe 2-3 masked kids per room, everyone else had them off.

Wow, I definitely think you will notice a difference between predominantly white schools, and predominately black schools. My school is 90+% black, everyone wore a mask.

I noticed in my predominantly white ES that a much larger percentage of black students were masked than white. That makes sense to me, however. If your community has felt the effects more, and lives with a heightened sense of threat on a daily basis, you might easily be slower to unmask. Our black students who really never fully/effectively masked during the pandemic were unmasked today however.

Yes, rich white people have seen it as a status symbol to be unafraid of COVID infection and its consequences.

"My children are not wearing a mask at school, because my family can afford to gamble the medical bills and lost productivity from long-COVID."

Again, CDC's "All green!" isn't about the likelihood of infection, but about the likelihood of hospital systems breaking down. It is a "Go on ahead and risk your and your employees' health for now, while you can! We'll let you know if and when we're on the brink of collapse and you can pull back then!"

Actually, progressives, which in this area are disproportionately rich and white, are the group most afraid of Covid:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/18/briefing/covid-risks-poll-americans.html

It remains true that several JKLMs seem to be the least masked schools in DCPS this week, including teachers.

Well, they are the most vaccinated ones, so that makes sense.

You know, OK. You can convince me that the rich white people at the broadly unmasked JKLMs believe that 2- and 3-shot series of COVID vaccine are sufficient to keep everyone in their household healthy and competitive for future college sports. You can convince me that the rich white people unmasking in dense public buildings daily are not showing off that they're fine with gambling on the risk of long-covid, but that they just don't even think of long-COVID. OK. I'm convinced.

What are you trying to say? Yes, they do believe in science, and yes, they have the ability to evaluate risk rationally. "Gambling on the risk of Long Covid"? You clearly aren't of the rational or science-minded sort.

Gaslighting heavy.

NP. Absolutely gaslighting.

Care to explain what you mean? Because you aren't making sense to several posters.

That would require making a coherent, fact-based argument. Or maybe not. But it's definitely harder than typing a two-word sentence.

Gambling on the risks of long-covid when vaccinated, irrational fear or science-based concern?
Science seems to suggest vaccination reduces the risk of long covid by about half, but 9 to 14% of breakthrough cases still lead to long-covid.
This published long-covid researcher gives a little summary of each of 8 relevant studies right here https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1504971103470510083?refresh=1647658317

As they say, there are studies that show that Long Covid is a common phenomenon, and then there are studies that have a control arm. I put more stock into this large meta-analysis done by actual experts in the field and published in an actual medical journal:

https://www.journalofinfection.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0163-4453%2821%2900555-7

But I'm sure you think these experts are trying to gaslight you as well.

There are posters on anonymous forums who'd like you to think you're looking at the wrong studies and there is the Government Accountability Office in the Legislative Branch https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105666 .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

+1. " Grieved?" "Constant fear and confusion?" "Traumatizing?" Stop raising such fragile snowflakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

Holier than thou passive aggressive sounds so much more boring than this, in Philly: https://twitter.com/PsychDocB1/status/1505577882759974917

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

+1. " Grieved?" "Constant fear and confusion?" "Traumatizing?" Stop raising such fragile snowflakes.

Plus one.

And yes there was a lot of constant fear and confusion because it’s a novel virus. We wiped down our groceries because we didn’t know. We didn’t mask in the beginning because we didn’t know.

So it was confusing. We also thought it would be 6 weeks.

But you moved so move on. And I hope that you never got asymptomatic covid. I hope those who got it don’t have some medical problem in 10 years.

I hope we find out in time why some got it and others didn’t. One of my dear friends got covid in March 2020 w her husband. He is 100% fine and she still loses her breath randomly. She used to peloton 2 times a day and now getting on the bike is hard. None of her kids got it, her husband never got it again. But no one knows why she got it and still has it like she did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Might want to focus on building resilience if your kids were traumatized by wearing a mask indoors.

+1. " Grieved?" "Constant fear and confusion?" "Traumatizing?" Stop raising such fragile snowflakes.

Plus one.

And yes there was a lot of constant fear and confusion because it’s a novel virus. We wiped down our groceries because we didn’t know. We didn’t mask in the beginning because we didn’t know.

So it was confusing. We also thought it would be 6 weeks.

But you moved so move on. And I hope that you never got asymptomatic covid. I hope those who got it don’t have some medical problem in 10 years.

I hope we find out in time why some got it and others didn’t. One of my dear friends got covid in March 2020 w her husband. He is 100% fine and she still loses her breath randomly. She used to peloton 2 times a day and now getting on the bike is hard. None of her kids got it, her husband never got it again. But no one knows why she got it and still has it like she did.

Recall that there is a child mental health crisis from the pandemic. Is this all bc of masks? Probably not. But masks contribute to the sense of abnormality. So when a person is upset about the trauma that her children have experienced, consider that she is not exaggerating. Try to have the empathy you are requesting from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

Holier than thou passive aggressive sounds so much more boring than this, in Philly: https://twitter.com/PsychDocB1/status/1505577882759974917

Ha! I needed this laugh this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand these comments about kids who choose to mask being "fearful." My kids, in ES and MS, understand that by continuing to mask indoors we reduce the odds of someone in our family getting covid. They, like we, would rather avoid getting covid so they choose to continue to mask. They don't seem to mind wearing them and their education doesn't seem to have suffered because they are wearing masks. They don't wear masks outside because they know it doesn't make a difference. They also wear KN95s, not cloth, because they know that cloth masks are pointless and if you are going to cover your face you may as well use something that is effective. Their lives are pretty much back-to-normal except for wearing masks indoors. They know that even with mask wearing there is a chance someone in our house will get covid because we are not locking down completely, but they also know that the odds are good that no one in our household will be hospitalized or die.
Seems like rational decision-making to me. It does upset them when other kids accuse them of being "scared," or don't understand that just because masks are now optional, it still might be a good idea to wear them.

You are right, it could be just a rational choice to reduce your risk of getting Covid. (Although you do have to wonder if they are thinking this through long-term -- the virus isn't going away, we will eventually catch it, which for a kid might actually be a good thing because they will build immunity at a low-risk age against a virus they will have to encounter over and over for the rest of their lives. Are they going to mask indoors forever?) But there are definitely kids who are scared. Maybe they are in the minority, but they are not rare. We went hiking with friends recently, and one of their young kids didn't want to take off her mask out on the breezy trail, even though nobody else in our group was. That is a sign of unreasonable anxiety, and I felt really bad for the kid.

This is my thinking. If we are going to keep cycling through acute and calmer periods with this virus for some undefined extended period of time, my kids and I...we all need breaks. We can't stay at DEFCON-1 indefinitely. I'm glad that for many of you, masks don't bother your kids. My kids are super compliant, but really hate them. We didn't take advantage of the pre-Delta lull, thinking that vaccines were coming for elementary-aged kids and *then* we could ease up. And despite our extreme caution and efforts to "do our part to stop the spread", Omicron hit as soon as the kids were vaxxed and they got no reprieve. We've been so careful and conscientious the last two years, and my little kids missed out on A LOT, so this time around, we're going to take more risks than we normally would during this lull (they gleefully unmasked at school yesterday), recognizing we may have to hunker back down, masks and all, if/when things get bad again.

So glad to hear you are giving your kids a break. I have grieved so much for the kids during this time. I left DC to get my kids out of the mask and out of the constant fear and confusion. We've been just fine and while my children were compliant last year, I can see that the masking was traumatizing by the way they react if a business has a mask sign and unwillingness to participate in any activities that require masking. Daily life is relatively "normal", people have gotten and recovered from covid, there is no public shaming on either side. I am grateful we had the option to easily relocate. Kids get one childhood. Let them breathe.

Y’all are being jerks to PP, but our family went away for a weekend to a place where masks were a lot less universal. People wore them, didn’t, whatever. It felt like such a relief to me (and I’m definitely not traumatized by wearing a mask). The constant holier than thou, passive aggressive bs is much more exhausting than the masks.

Holier than thou passive aggressive sounds so much more boring than this, in Philly: https://twitter.com/PsychDocB1/status/1505577882759974917

Ha! I needed this laugh this morning.

They had an easy target. Everyone is too scared shtless to confront the typical non-mask wearer on DC metro.