Middle Schooler - Scared to Unmask for fear of bullying - mask fishing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s depressing what sheep these kids are. Barely any took their masks off. Sheep.

Are you even a parent or are you one of those old ladies with nothing better to do, a private school parent or the day care parent? Ever think that some of these kids live in situations where if a parent or relative gets covid, it could be very serious for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I encouraged my middle schooler to ditch the mask and she said people who unmask are idiots because it is too early and there is still a global pandemic.

Seems like a reasonable position to me, though I'd prefer that she unmask. It's been a rough year and it would be very slightly better if people could see her nice smile and she could speak more easily.

Such a weird thing to say.

Really weird. If your kid is having a rough year at school, maybe find them a better fitting school for next year or find other ways to make it better. Unmasking will not fix this.

Yes, let's just find Larla a "better fitting school". Ok, Karen.

Yes, ultimate Karen. Unmasking isn't going to fix it by the child smiling as if the child is unhappy they aren't smiling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I encouraged my middle schooler to ditch the mask and she said people who unmask are idiots because it is too early and there is still a global pandemic.

Seems like a reasonable position to me, though I'd prefer that she unmask. It's been a rough year and it would be very slightly better if people could see her nice smile and she could speak more easily.

Such a weird thing to say.

Really weird. If your kid is having a rough year at school, maybe find them a better fitting school for next year or find other ways to make it better. Unmasking will not fix this.

Yes, let's just find Larla a "better fitting school". Ok, Karen.

Yes, ultimate Karen. Unmasking isn't going to fix it by the child smiling as if the child is unhappy they aren't smiling.

English isn't your strong suit, is it? Sadly, you unmasking won't fix that either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is just insane to me and everywhere i look it seems MCPS is writing about those that choose to keep their masks on getting bullied. How can we encourage our kids to ditch the mask as it is really just a security blanket or fear of being different? How are you all handling? Lead don't just wait for everyone else to come around.

"Alexa, how can I write a new post about how horrible people who mask are to sow more disinformation as per my promise to Corey without sounding too calculated? I know? I will phrase it as a series of questions? Run it though Google translate a few times so it doesn't look polished? Does that sound good? Can you help me with that, Alexa? ALEXA?"

HAHAHAHA - you nailed them good!

+1000

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP here - I don't know who Kara and Tracy are honestly no clue. I have not texted my kids but am hopeful that they were able to let people see their smiles today. I simply want them to be comfortable with who they are and show their faces now that they can. They should not feel intimidated that is all I am saying. I am hopeful that with time they will ditch them all together.

This is not the big deal you are making it out to be. They can do what they want; they can choose to feel "intimidated", they can mask or unmask. This is a good time for them to learn you can't control the behavior of other people. Only your own behavior and reactions.

OP again - I understand that. Was looking for input on how other parents are guiding their kids in the conversation. Tools for explaining that although everyone has told you that this is something you have to do now you don't. Or why are you worried about what others might say? Stand up for what makes sense to you and lead by example. That is all.

OP, I'm the PP with elementary kids. DH and I explained to our kids the evidence related to masking, and also current local case rates, vaccine status, and Paxlovid availability (appropriately for their different ages). We listened to what concerns they might have about what others might say to them. We emphasized that, ultimately, it's their choice.

We also pointed out that, including ours, the four families we know are sending their kids unmasked comprise parents who work at various federal science agencies and/or conduct STEM research. In our household, we believe that science matters, that mental health is health, that we can adjust our behavior as we gather new data, and, perhaps most importantly, that very few issues are as black and white as they might appear.

Holy sanctimonious!

Caring about science and mental health is sanctimonious? Got it. I'll remember that the next time you bleat that you keep your mask on because you "care" about others.

It was more in response to the whole idea that you think you know more than the rest of us because you work in a science-y government building and have a few buddies who are your echo chamber. I’m personally agnostic about the mask in school topic and can see both sides. You have clearly made up your mind and are blind to the fact that you really want your opinion to influence the choice your children make and you are judging those who still choose to mask. Was that too much bleating for you?

LOL. Actually, given my education and expertise, I do know more than most people about COVID and public health and mental health. I should be embarrassed about that now? I should listen to people with zero relevant expertise over the CDC?

If people continue to still mask, that’s their business, and I’ll happily support them. What I won’t support is their claim to superiority, moral, public health, or otherwise. Most of the people carrying on have zero idea how complex this situation is, and how making COVID the sole public health priority is utterly untenable.

Bleat away. The people who actually have the knowledge and credentials to make policy aren’t listening.

The people who have the knowledge and credentials to make public health policy absolutely should be listening because public health policy that has no buy in from the public is not good policy. It’s also ironic that you go on and on about how other people need to stop acting morally superior when you literally keep leaning in to how morally and intellectually superior you think you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I encouraged my middle schooler to ditch the mask and she said people who unmask are idiots because it is too early and there is still a global pandemic.

Seems like a reasonable position to me, though I'd prefer that she unmask. It's been a rough year and it would be very slightly better if people could see her nice smile and she could speak more easily.

Such a weird thing to say.

Really weird. If your kid is having a rough year at school, maybe find them a better fitting school for next year or find other ways to make it better. Unmasking will not fix this.

Yes, let's just find Larla a "better fitting school". Ok, Karen.

Yes, ultimate Karen. Unmasking isn't going to fix it by the child smiling as if the child is unhappy they aren't smiling.

English isn't your strong suit, is it? Sadly, you unmasking won't fix that either.

And, here is the adult bully setting a great example for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I don't know who Kara and Tracy are honestly no clue. I have not texted my kids but am hopeful that they were able to let people see their smiles today. I simply want them to be comfortable with who they are and show their faces now that they can. They should not feel intimidated that is all I am saying. I am hopeful that with time they will ditch them all together.

This is not the big deal you are making it out to be. They can do what they want; they can choose to feel "intimidated", they can mask or unmask. This is a good time for them to learn you can't control the behavior of other people. Only your own behavior and reactions.

OP again - I understand that. Was looking for input on how other parents are guiding their kids in the conversation. Tools for explaining that although everyone has told you that this is something you have to do now you don't. Or why are you worried about what others might say? Stand up for what makes sense to you and lead by example. That is all.

OP, I'm the PP with elementary kids. DH and I explained to our kids the evidence related to masking, and also current local case rates, vaccine status, and Paxlovid availability (appropriately for their different ages). We listened to what concerns they might have about what others might say to them. We emphasized that, ultimately, it's their choice.

We also pointed out that, including ours, the four families we know are sending their kids unmasked comprise parents who work at various federal science agencies and/or conduct STEM research. In our household, we believe that science matters, that mental health is health, that we can adjust our behavior as we gather new data, and, perhaps most importantly, that very few issues are as black and white as they might appear.

Holy sanctimonious!

Caring about science and mental health is sanctimonious? Got it. I'll remember that the next time you bleat that you keep your mask on because you "care" about others.

It was more in response to the whole idea that you think you know more than the rest of us because you work in a science-y government building and have a few buddies who are your echo chamber. I’m personally agnostic about the mask in school topic and can see both sides. You have clearly made up your mind and are blind to the fact that you really want your opinion to influence the choice your children make and you are judging those who still choose to mask. Was that too much bleating for you?

LOL. Actually, given my education and expertise, I do know more than most people about COVID and public health and mental health. I should be embarrassed about that now? I should listen to people with zero relevant expertise over the CDC?

If people continue to still mask, that’s their business, and I’ll happily support them. What I won’t support is their claim to superiority, moral, public health, or otherwise. Most of the people carrying on have zero idea how complex this situation is, and how making COVID the sole public health priority is utterly untenable.

Bleat away. The people who actually have the knowledge and credentials to make policy aren’t listening.

The people who have the knowledge and credentials to make public health policy absolutely should be listening because public health policy that has no buy in from the public is not good policy. It’s also ironic that you go on and on about how other people need to stop acting morally superior when you literally keep leaning in to how morally and intellectually superior you think you are.

Our public health policy is based off politics and Biden's week approval ratings. This is his way of getting his approval ratings up. He's been a meh president and unlikely to get better.