Return to Normal-Urgency

 Variants and variants and variants, oh my! 

I have worked throughout this pandemic, some virtual, some in-person--ALL with masks. I'm tired and concerned. I am concerned about the kids--you can use the word resilient all you want, but, kids should not have to be resilient. They should be able to be kids. 

Here is what I am seeing in the schools: masked kids trying to read each other's emotions, most never talking anymore, many worried beyond belief about covid (which hardly makes them sick whether vaxxed or not vaxxed), addicted to electronics, losing SOCIAL SKILLS. 

The social skills are the MOST IMPORTANT this that I see right now. 

I don't doubt that we eventually can attempt to make up content (math, reading, etc...in SOME students)-we will. Many won't. Our marginalized kids will never. BUT, the kids are socially a FULL year behind in maturity. It's concerning. 

So, what I fail to understand or see is this: we have known since day 1 that covid was of very minor risk to kids (in fact to most people under the age of 50). We are 2 years past the start of this, we have vaccines for ADULTS and KIDS aged 5+, we have defanged this into a COLD-yet we still have restrictions on our youngest. 

My children still sit 3-6+ feet away from each other at lunch, they have to wear masks all day (even outside at school), they rarely get to play in a house with another friend without masks all for their "safety." 

Who are we protecting at this point? MOST kids get 0-minor symptoms. ALL adults have had access to vaccines + boosters. 

Are we really so afraid of a cold? Covid will be around for the next 50 years. Our children need to LIVE and have a normal childhood. Adults need to stop pushing their anxieties of this onto them, it is not their burden to bear. One way masking with a quality mask works if you are OLD or have other concerns. 

And-while I am super thankful for this vaccine-the reality is, it's about as effective as the flu vax! And we will all get covid OFTEN-probably 1-2 times a season. So, stop isolating the kids. In reality being healthy means more than NO COVID. 

BUT-LET.THE.CHILDREN.LIVE.NORMALLY! It's time. We followed all the rules. 

I am a liberal-and I am saying this.