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I am feeling very unsettled. Today, I visited a gas station — not in my town but within my county. I wore my mask, while nearly everyone else in the store, including six others, did not. The only exception was an older man who entered after me. Though no one verbally confronted me, the atmosphere was palpable with judgment. The air was thick with silent disapproval; no one made eye contact, and smiles were nonexistent.
As I was leaving, a boy around ten years old mocked me with a “Baa Baa” as I passed by. Unsure if I had heard correctly, I stopped and asked him to repeat himself. Again, he said it. I took a moment to explain to him that his comment was hurtful and inappropriate. I shared that while I am fully vaccinated, I have a child at home with serious health issues, including a heart condition, who relies on supplemental oxygen. I emphasized that one never knows another’s story, and there’s no justification for ridiculing anyone for their choices.
The boy rolled his eyes and walked away, just as his mother approached from their vehicle. I subtly shook my head in disbelief, and she pretended to search for something in her car, likely aware of my frustration from a distance.
If a child feels emboldened enough to make such a remark to an adult, what might he say to his peers? Throughout the day, I received messages from friends, particularly those in the special-needs community, whose children have faced harassment for wearing masks, which they consider a necessary choice. One friend shared that her daughter had her mask forcibly removed, stomped on, and tossed in the trash. This girl’s sister is homeschooled and undergoing chemotherapy. While such incidents may seem extreme, they often stem from a child speaking out. How many children remain silent and simply hide their masks away to avoid bullying?
My friend’s daughter has now switched to virtual schooling for the rest of the year to ensure her safety, leaving her heartbroken at the thought of missing her final weeks of middle school with friends. Meanwhile, her sister is grappling with the feeling that her illness is disrupting everyone else’s lives.
With just two weeks left in the school year for many kids, most remain unvaccinated. My daughter was set to return to school this week, but following the Iowa Department of Public Health’s announcement, our school district lifted the mask mandate over the weekend. She received the school’s text alerts and came to me in tears, saying, “I can’t go back. I’m not fully vaccinated, and I’m scared I’ll bring COVID home and hurt AJ.”
Is this fear extreme? Perhaps. But she has witnessed firsthand the medical emergencies we’ve faced with her brother and understands the gravity of the situation.
Throughout the year, my daughter has struggled with virtual learning. She feels invisible, stating that it seems no one cares about her. With her assignments primarily on Google Classroom and minimal direct interaction, she feels disconnected and unchallenged. Although she is a gifted student, she is now barely scraping by with average grades. We are even paying for tutoring to help her keep up, all because she genuinely fears for her brother’s wellbeing.
Just when we thought she could resume in-person learning — with vaccinations underway and safety measures in place — my twelve-year-old had to choose between receiving a proper education and carrying the burden of potentially making her brother ill. This choice shouldn’t rest on her shoulders, nor should she have to question why others can’t help her keep him safe. “It’s just a mask. They’re not difficult to wear!” she exclaimed in frustration.
My son, who is medically fragile, repeated preschool this year to improve his social skills. He had just begun attending school during recess. We managed to visit once before the announcement, but now, with upcoming medical procedures in Philadelphia, he cannot afford to get sick. The loss of recess time means he misses out on vital social development.
The CDC continues to recommend mask-wearing in schools, yet the IDPH has disregarded these guidelines, and the Republican legislature rushed to pass this bill at the last moment. This issue goes beyond individual freedom; it’s not about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school to express patriotism. Wearing a mask poses no harm to anyone, and giving schools less than 12 hours to adjust their policies was unreasonable.
This legislative decision appears to cater to the far-right agenda rather than genuinely addressing the needs of Iowa’s vulnerable populations. While people commend the focus on mental health, if that were genuinely a priority, legislation aimed at improving mental health support and suicide prevention for children would have taken precedence.
Critics may argue, “No one is prohibiting you from wearing a mask.” However, it’s essential to recognize that masks primarily prevent the wearer’s germs from spreading, not necessarily from catching the virus. They protect surfaces we all touch but don’t stop others from bringing germs into shared spaces.
Some suggest vulnerable individuals should just “stay home.” Yet, our legislature has stripped unemployment support and neglected the direct care workforce, making it nearly impossible for people to prioritize their health without risking their financial stability. All this is happening because a simple mask mandate is deemed too restrictive for a small group.
Who exactly are our politicians aiming to protect with these recent bills? It seems more like a concession to the radical right than a commitment to Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens. Typically, I shy away from political discussions, but I find it essential to advocate for my family.
The date of November 8, 2022, cannot come soon enough.
For more insights on navigating these challenges, check out this blog post. Additionally, Make a Mom provides valuable information on at-home insemination kits, and WebMD is an excellent resource for understanding various pregnancy and home insemination options.
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In summary, the normalization of anti-mask sentiments poses a significant threat to the wellbeing of our children, especially those with medical vulnerabilities. The recent legislative changes have heightened fears and challenges for families, while the lack of understanding and empathy in communities fosters an environment of bullying and isolation.
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