I can say this here.

[TNNurse]

I do not have children. I understand the stress and horror behind homeschooling for the past year.

I could not sent a child to a school that does not require masks and vaccines for the staff.

I know people who are going to send their kids to school because they feel no other option.

I cannot say this to them, because I am not in their situation.

[Scrivener7]

1. I'm like you, and thanking God I don't have to make that impossible decision.

Feed them and keep a roof over their heads, or keep them away from Covid.

My friend's two little ones just got it from an outside picnic birthday party. 3/4 of the kids at the party got it, along with an uncounted number of their siblings. And they came down with it FAST, like in two or three days.

But my friend is so relieved, because they have gotten over it and she can see her way to letting them go back to school.

[brush]

2. Some are in a bad situation. Have to work to pay the bills/rent/mortgage...

and daycare is so expensive after not working for months.

republican governors are forcing parents to make a bad choice...neither option is good.

Vaccines and masks should be mandatory for all school staff, bus drivers included. Children and their parents shouldn't have to risk getting covid by going to school.

[hlthe2b]

3. No childcare, no option but to work, no choice but to send to school & pray. Not me--but so many...

It is depressing as hell. What do you do when you have no good options?

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Exactly right. They have no real choice but to send them to school or it's financial disaster.

[Davidizzy]

4. Delicate situation

It is really difficult for the parents to send their children to school in this situation but I feel they have the choice to do it or not

[RANDYWILDMAN]

5. I feel bad for them. my school district has done everything to combat covid

Thank goodness

Our mission at school should be to keep ALL kids and STAFF safe ALL the TIME , why does this seem so hard ?

[FakeNoose]

6. Your friends who are sending kids to school

... you can show them and convince them that their kids must be vaccinated. The kids will be exposed to virus, it's a virtual certainty, but they have a better chance of surviving if they are vaccinated.

I believe you can make that point to your friends because I've read your many wonderful posts over the years. You have a great way of convincing people to see the truth.

Good luck TNNurse!

[TNNurse]

8. The people who have kids over 12 have them vaccinated.

Those who are too young, are in a terrible position.

I cannot judge. I will not make them feel guilty. They are in a terrible situation.

With most of my friends, it is grandchildren and they are not the deciders, it is the parents.

Childcare and private schools are out of the budget of so many.

What are they supposed to do??? Many know there are children are behind academically and with social adjustment.

I cannot think of anyone with whom I have real contact who has not had eligible children vaccinated.

[FakeNoose]

9. I see ... it's a difficult spot for you to be in

Hopefully the teachers are keeping the kids socially distanced.
However the parents and grandparents can't count on that.

[Bev54]

10. My son has 6 kids and 4 in one school, only one old enough and is vaccinated

They also have a 6 month old at home. There is no province wide mandate for masks, they are optional, still waiting to see if the city might mandate masks, they have that ability. I found a medical PPE provider that they can buy kids N95 masks from so they are certain they are government certified and they will provide them with 5 hours of protection in a virus contaminated area. They will now be using them. That was the only choice, the kids are all good at wearing masks and using hand sanitizer so fingers crossed.

[Solly Mack]

7. It has to be agonizing for a great many parents.

I am so ashamed of the people fighting against doing what is best for the whole. I'm not surprised by their ignorance and indifference. Not surprised by the cold calculations of republican leaders.

But I am ashamed of all of them.


They don't care that I ashamed of them. I know that.

[kimmylavin]

11. I am very lucky, and I recognize that.

I was working from home for years before the pandemic started, so that did not change.
My 7-year-old has been home since March 2020, when the state shut down.
She has been amazing.

And we are lucky enough to have, and to be able to afford to pay well, a wonderful babysitter who podded up with us, and kept coming through the whole thing.
I would take care of school in the AM, then hand my daughter over and go to work.

Looking around at my area (rural, north of LA, very Trumpy), my husband and I decided that we don't trust our neighbors enough to send our still unvaccinated kid to school with them.
So she's starting another school year at home, and we've been able to discuss the situation with her; she will be okay.
WE ARE SO LUCKY. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT.

For my friends, my sister, even strangers with kids... I can't imagine.
I just can't.

I'm terrified, and my daughter's school is in a state with school mask mandates, with mitigation techniques!
But I still won't be sending her, and I'm lucky enough to be able to make that choice.

I can't imagine what other parents are going through... all of these heartbreaking decisions, and the very real feeling that your children are being thrown to the wolves, just to placate the loudest and least informed among us.
It's madness.

[Mr.Bill]

12. I never had biological children and my step children

were grown before I met my wife. Even before Covid, If I had kids in school I can gaurantee you a number of teachers and administrators would probably have changed careers after dealing with me.

[wnylib]

13. Whatever we can do to help,

even in little ways, we should do for families in this situation. Get good masks for the children. Babysit or even tutor the kids if we can. Help them find alternative schooling and safe child care.

[mcar]

14. I homeschooled one child in 2nd and 5th grades for reasons I won't go into

I was also working as a freelance writer at the time. Sometimes I had loads of work, sometimes not.

The plus was that my son learned so much more in a short period of time - much more than he learned in school. The minus was me balancing his schooling with my working. I met some parents who worked full time and had an in home caregiver, but did most of the schooling on the weekends.

I cannot imagine what parents who are working full time and have to deal with a regimented virtual school day deal with. Schools should be more flexible with lessons - like here's your lessons for the week, turn them in by Monday - so families have weekends to catch up.

At the same time, SO is a public school teacher in FL. Last year, his HS students wore masks with no problem. This year, there is no mandate. If he asks, most of them will put a mask on. But otherwise they don't. Neither do most of the teachers.

[rainin]

15. I homeschooled two children. I highly recommend it

My youngest homeschooled through 8th grade, and my first-born homeschooled through 12th grade. Both my kids are well-adjusted successful adults now.

I'm old enough that I don't associate too much with parents who have school-age children. Recently, though, I had one parent ask for information on secular kits for his 3rd grader. Looking up resources for this dad really brought back wonderful memories. I would definitely do it again.

Given the choice parents are facing now, it's a clear choice (at least for 8th grade and younger). High school is a different deal, assuming they're vaccinated. But for the younger kids, homeschool them, whatever it takes. And I don't mean online public school. Buy a curriculum and do school at home. It's not worth it to risk their lives out there. It really can be fun!

[marble falls]

16. Or their parents being compelled to work service industry jobs in the same places that are ...

... breeding points for Covid.

I can't argue with them because I don't know how I'd handle it myself in their shoes.

[TNNurse]

17. Exactly, I cannot put myself in their shoes.

The idea that many lower income, less educated people can homeschool is just not realistic.