A plea for kindness, or at least keep your mean thoughts to yourself

[Anonymous]

Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this. We have high risk people in our family. Our kids are in school and I'm really worried about some of the things going on in schools right now.

It's been hard to read the dismissive and mean comments on here.

[Anonymous]

Of course, OP.

But I fear the people who most need to change their behavior aren't going to listen to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

This is fine, as long as it goes both ways....neither side should be able to force their views/perspectives on others. As you noted, some people have good reason/need for them to be more careful, and they should be able to (without ridicule, etc.). Others, may not have that same perspective, and should be able to as well (again, without name-calling, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this post. It is extremely timely and important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

This is fine, as long as it goes both ways....neither side should be able to force their views/perspectives on others. As you noted, some people have good reason/need for them to be more careful, and they should be able to (without ridicule, etc.). Others, may not have that same perspective, and should be able to as well (again, without name-calling, etc.)

Except, perhaps, when it comes to public health - things like masking, vaccinating, and testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

This is fine, as long as it goes both ways....neither side should be able to force their views/perspectives on others. As you noted, some people have good reason/need for them to be more careful, and they should be able to (without ridicule, etc.). Others, may not have that same perspective, and should be able to as well (again, without name-calling, etc.)

I think that no matter what the "other side" is doing, you can still choose to be kind and adhere to the OP's request. It's not a "I'll only be nice if they are nice, too" kind of situation in which we find ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

This is fine, as long as it goes both ways....neither side should be able to force their views/perspectives on others. As you noted, some people have good reason/need for them to be more careful, and they should be able to (without ridicule, etc.). Others, may not have that same perspective, and should be able to as well (again, without name-calling, etc.)

Except, perhaps, when it comes to public health - things like masking, vaccinating, and testing.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

happy to do that, but don't push school closures on the rest of us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:happy to do that, but don't push school closures on the rest of us

You couldn't hold it in huh? Please try.

[Anonymous]

oh geez not this nonsense again from the hysterical anxiety rider. snowflake parents.

Just be honest and say “no one should challenge me or anyone else if they say schools should be closed and kids should be virtual because I have health anxiety and I refuse to get help and now that kids are back in school and kids are doing activities it’s not fair that I have to deal with my kid’s upset because I am paranoid”

[Anonymous]

I won’t but would also appreciate you. It talking about coffins and death the night before my child’s first day of kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

I mean I agree. That’s why I don’t get the anger towards the ppl pushing for better ventilation. Isn’t that something we can all agree on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we all try to be kind to fellow parents who are trying to advocate for their childrens' wellbeing, whatever it is?

I have seen attacks in recent days on parents who chose virtual and on parents who are pushing for better safety in schools saying they are fearmongering or irrationally scared. You bullies don't know these families' circumstances. Their children or family members could be high risk or immune deficient or they could have had Covid and be traumatized from it. Or they may have had family members or friends who died. Or some children are becoming very anxious and stressed from being in crowded schools without good mitigation.

Different families have different medical and mental health needs and risk tolerances. If you're fine with where things are then you're set. You don't have to publicly lash out at other families whose needs may be different than your own.

Parents fighting for their childrens' wellbeing are not elected officials and did not sign up for any of this. They are simply parents trying to get what their kids need. The level of obsession by people - anonymous online bullying, trolling and doxxing people - is simply bewildering. Please find another outlet for your frustration.

I mean I agree. That’s why I don’t get the anger towards the ppl pushing for better ventilation. Isn’t that something we can all agree on?

Wanted to add that I’m a big proponent of keeping schools open but figure that the chances of that happening is higher if we focus on mitigation strategies such as open windows, fans, lunch outdoors and HEPa filters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh geez not this nonsense again from the hysterical anxiety rider. snowflake parents.

Just be honest and say “no one should challenge me or anyone else if they say schools should be closed and kids should be virtual because I have health anxiety and I refuse to get help and now that kids are back in school and kids are doing activities it’s not fair that I have to deal with my kid’s upset because I am paranoid”

OP here, I asked for kindness and this poster called me or someone "hysterical anxiety rider snowflake parents"

Not sure where people's humanity went. This is very sad.