“You must be new here,” a mother remarked as I watched my two-year-old zoom down the slide. I was dressed in typical mom attire—a worn T-shirt and leggings. She sported a baseball cap and yoga pants, while I had a sweatshirt casually tied around my waist. I couldn’t help but wonder what made me seem out of place to her. It struck me that her comment might have stemmed from my biracial son’s darker complexion compared to her own fair-haired child.
In truth, I had traveled a mere seven minutes from my home to visit my favorite playground on Coronado, often dubbed “the gem of San Diego.” From the play structure, the view of the bay and downtown was breathtaking—boats gliding across the shimmering water on a Friday morning, my day off. I climbed to the top with my son and peered through the toddler-sized telescope, savoring the moment. The fresh air and warm sun momentarily distracted me from the pandemic that had kept my family indoors for nearly ten months. The playground was my sanctuary… or so I thought.
“You’re wearing a mask,” she said, interrupting my peaceful thoughts. “No one here wears one.”
My initial sense of relief turned into disbelief. She mentioned that she came to the playground early, wearing a mask to avoid the “regulars”—moms in Lululemon, pushing their UPPaBaby Vistas, coffee in hand, sans masks.
Playgrounds in Southern California had been closed for months due to COVID. My family of five had adhered to safety regulations since the beginning, confined to our 900-square-foot home with three young children (ages two, five, and eight). When the playgrounds finally reopened, the caution tape was removed from the slides, and the swings were set free. Yet, two sandwich board signs at the entrance clearly stated the rules; the first being, “Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask.” While I had to coax my five-year-old to keep her mask on, my two-year-old was compliant—as long as there was a fruit snack reward involved.
A week later, I returned to my beloved playground. Noticing it was busier than usual, I checked the time: 10:30. I masked up for both myself and my child and strolled towards the sandbox. Five moms with a dozen children filled the space, all impeccably dressed in mini-me jeans and adorable outfits. Yet, not a single one wore a mask.
“Do you all have your masks?” I asked cheerfully.
They looked back at me, confused. One mother seemed taken aback by my interruption of their casual gathering.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“It’s a requirement for the playground,” I replied.
“Oh, we didn’t know,” she laughed dismissively.
Didn’t know? I thought. I couldn’t decide what was more troubling—her dishonesty or her blatant disregard for the rules.
“There’s a sign right there,” I pointed out, indicating the nearby notice. “It’s a city requirement.”
“Well, we’ll just stay away from you,” she said, rolling her eyes. I had no interest in joining her friend group or participating in their hazing. I was merely trying to adhere to city guidelines meant to protect our community.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first confrontation regarding masks at the playground, nor would it be my last. I sensed an air of entitlement among some parents—a “I can do what I want” mentality. To promote safety and peace, I now carry a pack of disposable masks, ready to offer one to those who claim, “I didn’t know” or “I forgot.” While most turn it down, I’m unfazed by their eye rolls. They can roll their eyes all they want—wearing a mask not only protects my family but also safeguards our entire community. We are in the midst of a global public health crisis, and COVID doesn’t discriminate based on neighborhood privilege.
Perhaps I’ve wrongly equated privilege with entitlement, but then again, maybe I haven’t. For those who refuse to cooperate—I suggest masking up, as your entitlement is showing and it’s not a good look.
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Summary
In this narrative, a mother navigates the challenges of mask-wearing at a playground during the pandemic, encountering resistance from a group of local moms who refuse to comply with safety guidelines. As she grapples with feelings of entitlement and community responsibility, she emphasizes the importance of adhering to health regulations for the sake of everyone’s safety.
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