Masking off-ramp coming soon?

[Anonymous]

And just to add … this risk analysis was from 2020 before there were vaccines.

https://www.mackinac.org/for-most-people-coronavirus-presents-similar-risks-as-car-accidents

Unless you’re elderly, car accidents are a similar risk to COVID (both still fairly low). If you’re under 45 (especially under 25) then motor vehicle accidents are much more of a risk to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family hasn't masked since May. We go to Whole Foods in Clarendon and Harris Teeter at Lee Harrison. We also frequently indoor dine. Please say hello next time you see us.

And if it's so easy to catch COVID and spread it according to the doomers, you're only catching it once anyways (reinfections are extremely rare among non-elderly) and it's only for a few days while you're contagious. I caught it last year pre-vaccine and I was way less sick than when I had the flu (consistent with statistics, as it is for a non-obese 40 year old).

FYI - every single one of you will be exposed to COVID repeatedly for the rest of your lives (it's not going away). You're simply wasting your life, delaying the inevitable (and considering the extreme age stratification, delaying it to when the virus will be even more dangerous because of your age).

That's fine if you want force your own kids to live in fear even vaccinated, but our kids are getting set free from this COVID Zero nonsense as soon as this child vaccine is out.

Sounds like your kids won't need the vaccine only a positive attitude

Don't forget your vitamins and your horse deworming meds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family hasn't masked since May. We go to Whole Foods in Clarendon and Harris Teeter at Lee Harrison. We also frequently indoor dine. Please say hello next time you see us.

And if it's so easy to catch COVID and spread it according to the doomers, you're only catching it once anyways (reinfections are extremely rare among non-elderly) and it's only for a few days while you're contagious. I caught it last year pre-vaccine and I was way less sick than when I had the flu (consistent with statistics, as it is for a non-obese 40 year old).

FYI - every single one of you will be exposed to COVID repeatedly for the rest of your lives (it's not going away). You're simply wasting your life, delaying the inevitable (and considering the extreme age stratification, delaying it to when the virus will be even more dangerous because of your age).

That's fine if you want force your own kids to live in fear even vaccinated, but our kids are getting set free from this COVID Zero nonsense as soon as this child vaccine is out.

Sounds like your kids won't need the vaccine only a positive attitude

Don't forget your vitamins and your horse deworming meds!

Oh stop it. The original PP did not say that they were not going to vaccinate their kids. Check out their statement in bold.

[Anonymous]

Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

18 months into the pandemic, it is not easy. It is dehumanizing, annoying and not medically proven, especially post-vaccine. It also sends a message to the unvaccinated that vaccines don't work.

It is nonsensical in a highly vaccinated community for a virus that will be here forever. You're free to mask forever with an N95.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

I have an asd child it was absolute hell getting him to consistently wear a mask. I literally drove him around to all the stores parked and made him watch all the people wearing masks going in and out of the store multiple times to show him he had to wear one. His aba therapist designed a rewards system around it and we have zero problem wearing them. It sounds like you have plenty of money to build a controlled life for yourself: walkable neighborhood solar panels etc. you aren’t in charge of the pandemic and cant maneuver your way out. You cans deal with masks even if they are annoying. We all agree they are annoying but let’s get through cold and flu season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

We only use disposable masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

I have an asd child it was absolute hell getting him to consistently wear a mask. I literally drove him around to all the stores parked and made him watch all the people wearing masks going in and out of the store multiple times to show him he had to wear one. His aba therapist designed a rewards system around it and we have zero problem wearing them. It sounds like you have plenty of money to build a controlled life for yourself: walkable neighborhood solar panels etc. you aren’t in charge of the pandemic and cant maneuver your way out. You cans deal with masks even if they are annoying. We all agree they are annoying but let’s get through cold and flu season.

NP with autistic 13 year old. Do you not understand that most of us and our kids are dealing with the masks as directed? We are just advocating for a masking off-ramp next year once the 5-12 year old set has been vaccinated. We do not want to force ourselves and our children to wear masks for another year or two or three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

I have an asd child it was absolute hell getting him to consistently wear a mask. I literally drove him around to all the stores parked and made him watch all the people wearing masks going in and out of the store multiple times to show him he had to wear one. His aba therapist designed a rewards system around it and we have zero problem wearing them. It sounds like you have plenty of money to build a controlled life for yourself: walkable neighborhood solar panels etc. you aren’t in charge of the pandemic and cant maneuver your way out. You cans deal with masks even if they are annoying. We all agree they are annoying but let’s get through cold and flu season.

NP with autistic 13 year old. Do you not understand that most of us and our kids are dealing with the masks as directed? We are just advocating for a masking off-ramp next year once the 5-12 year old set has been vaccinated. We do not want to force ourselves and our children to wear masks for another year or two or three.

Thank you. It’s not anti-mask craziness to point out that wearing a mask is a pain for some people (despite those contending “but it’s not big deal for me and my family, so your family should have the same experience!”). Some kids are really uncomfortable in them and once the 5-11 population has had time to get vaxxed, the scale starts tipping away from masking. It doesn’t mean we aren’t complying and masking in the meantime (we do want our kids in school after all). But some of us are tired of constantly being dismissed as if we should just continue to mask our kids without any sort of end goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

We only use disposable masks.

Klassy. I bet you don’t even cut the strings to keep wildlife from being strangled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

I have an asd child it was absolute hell getting him to consistently wear a mask. I literally drove him around to all the stores parked and made him watch all the people wearing masks going in and out of the store multiple times to show him he had to wear one. His aba therapist designed a rewards system around it and we have zero problem wearing them. It sounds like you have plenty of money to build a controlled life for yourself: walkable neighborhood solar panels etc. you aren’t in charge of the pandemic and cant maneuver your way out. You cans deal with masks even if they are annoying. We all agree they are annoying but let’s get through cold and flu season.

NP with autistic 13 year old. Do you not understand that most of us and our kids are dealing with the masks as directed? We are just advocating for a masking off-ramp next year once the 5-12 year old set has been vaccinated. We do not want to force ourselves and our children to wear masks for another year or two or three.

Thank you. It’s not anti-mask craziness to point out that wearing a mask is a pain for some people (despite those contending “but it’s not big deal for me and my family, so your family should have the same experience!”). Some kids are really uncomfortable in them and once the 5-11 population has had time to get vaxxed, the scale starts tipping away from masking. It doesn’t mean we aren’t complying and masking in the meantime (we do want our kids in school after all). But some of us are tired of constantly being dismissed as if we should just continue to mask our kids without any sort of end goal.

Yes, exactly. I have complied with masking recommendations all along. And yes I CAN wear a mask but it sucks and I'm so tired of everyone acting like it's NBD so suck it up. My kids especially are getting tired of it all and it's overwhelmingly clear that vaccines are the game changer in transmission mitigations. We need to have an understanding that once kids are eligible for vaccine that we can drop the mandate. Northam's silence on this is maddening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing masks does NOT mean that you "live in fear." Wearing masks means that you understand risks and you're willing to do something that is 1) easy and 2) causes no harm to mitigate risks for others. Only the insane or mentally ill would not wear masks.

Spoken like someone without a child with sensory issues and speech delay.

Oh and frankly I’m just burnt out on trying to keep track of all our family’s masks. I set up a system to put dirty ones in a basket right away so I can wash them, but somehow they keep getting stuffed into backpacks, car seat cup holders, lost, etc. And this is with kids who are overall pretty responsible managing their stuff (water bottles, sports equipment, etc.) and my house is fairly minimal. But they get ripped off the first chance the kids get. Not to mention, if you actually want to properly mask, you need to be replacing them fairly often, which I’m skeptical people actually do. One pack I ordered off Amazon said to replace after like 8 washes. With multiple family members wearing them and masks costing at least $3-5 each when bought in packs, this has added up to hundreds of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic. And don’t get me started on the disposable masks. If you’re wearing those then you’re literally killing the environment and animals for a virus you have essentially a zero percent chance of dying from if you’re vaccinated. Which is gross and selfish. I wish they would be banned. We are a fairly green household (EV, solar panels, composting, walkable daily life, etc.) so the thought of masks in landfills kills my soul somewhat.

Sure the downsides of masks were worth it when we thought there was a significant benefit and I can still see the reasoning behind using them in medical facilities where there are sick people and on crowded airplanes. But I’m not convinced masking is still needed in schools, at least once kids have the option to be fully vaccinated. Even if masking is not a huge deal to some people, there still needs to be a benefit to it or else it’s just wasted time and environmental resources.

Sorry this is hard for you, PP. Living in a pandemic is hard.

I have a child with a severe speech delay and sensory issues and we are very pro mask. We spent some time finding a mask that he is comfortable in. I encourage you to do the same.

This. I have a child with a language disorder, not just a delay. It has nothing to do with covid. Be real. Its a bunch of excuses.

I have an asd child it was absolute hell getting him to consistently wear a mask. I literally drove him around to all the stores parked and made him watch all the people wearing masks going in and out of the store multiple times to show him he had to wear one. His aba therapist designed a rewards system around it and we have zero problem wearing them. It sounds like you have plenty of money to build a controlled life for yourself: walkable neighborhood solar panels etc. you aren’t in charge of the pandemic and cant maneuver your way out. You cans deal with masks even if they are annoying. We all agree they are annoying but let’s get through cold and flu season.

NP with autistic 13 year old. Do you not understand that most of us and our kids are dealing with the masks as directed? We are just advocating for a masking off-ramp next year once the 5-12 year old set has been vaccinated. We do not want to force ourselves and our children to wear masks for another year or two or three.

Yeah but you can't know what next year is going to look like with this pandemic. No one does. We need to see what the conditions are then. I'm not advocating for masks or no masks for next year because I have literally no idea what next year will bring. I'll see what the conditions and the recommendations are at that time.

Right now the CDC recommends masks and the numbers are still pretty bad and my kids are really glad to be wearing masks because it means they can be in school and do activities with a reduced chance of getting sick. I'm good with that.