I’m feeling unsettled. Earlier today, I visited a gas station located outside my town but still within my county. I wore my mask, yet among the seven others in the store, only one older gentleman shared my precaution. While no one vocalized their opinions, the atmosphere was charged with judgment. The air felt heavy with glances that averted contact, devoid of any acknowledgment or warmth.
As I exited, a boy, approximately ten years old, mocked me with a “Baa Baa” as I walked by. Unsure if I had misheard, I paused and asked, “Excuse me?” He repeated his taunt. I took the opportunity to inform him that such behavior was inappropriate. I explained that even though I’m fully vaccinated, I have a child with serious health issues, including half a heart and breathing through a tracheostomy, who relies on oxygen. I emphasized, “You never know someone’s circumstances, and there’s no reason to ridicule others for their personal choices.”
The boy rolled his eyes and walked away, just as his mother emerged from their car, seemingly oblivious to what had just transpired. I shook my head in disbelief, and although she pretended to search her vehicle, I sensed she felt my frustration from a distance.
If a child is emboldened to speak to me—a stranger—like that, what might he say to his peers? Throughout the day, I received messages from friends, particularly within the special-needs community, reporting similar bullying experiences directed at their medically fragile children who choose to wear masks. One friend shared that her daughter had her mask forcibly removed, trampled, and discarded. This girl’s sister, who is undergoing chemotherapy, felt the impact of this bullying deeply. It’s tragic that it took a brave child to speak up; how many others remain silent?
How many kids will simply hide their masks in their pockets to dodge bullying? My friend’s daughter has opted for virtual schooling for the remainder of the year out of fear, mourning the loss of her final weeks in middle school with her friends. Meanwhile, her sister continues to grapple with feelings of guilt, believing her illness is a burden on others.
With fewer than two weeks left in the school year for many students, the majority remain unvaccinated. My own daughter was set to return to school this week, but after the Iowa Department of Public Health’s recent announcement, our school district lifted its mask mandate just days prior. She received the school notifications and came to me in tears, expressing her fears of bringing home the virus to her brother.
Is that reaction extreme? Perhaps. But she has witnessed the lengths we’ve gone to in caring for her brother during health emergencies. Her fears are valid. She has struggled with virtual learning all year, feeling invisible and uncared for. Despite her talents and potential, she is now facing challenges in her education, and we are paying out of pocket for tutoring to prevent her from falling behind—all because she fears the consequences of exposing her brother to illness.
Just as we were ready to let her step back into a school environment, the lifting of mask requirements forced a heartbreaking choice: risk her education or live with the fear of her brother getting sick. She is only twelve! Why should she have to bear such burdens when all she wants is for others to help protect her brother? “It’s just a mask; it’s not like they’re hard to wear!” she said.
My son, who is medically fragile, repeated preschool this year to focus on social skills. He had just begun attending school during recess before the announcement. As he prepares for procedures in Philadelphia, he cannot afford to get sick, which means no more opportunities for social interaction.
The CDC still recommends mask-wearing in schools, but the IDPH hastily discarded revised guidelines, influenced by a last-minute push from the Republican legislature. This wasn’t about freedom; it was about pandering to extreme political views at the expense of our children’s health. I’m appalled that anyone would misconstrue this as a genuine concern for our children’s wellbeing.
Many are expressing gratitude for prioritizing children’s mental health, yet if that were truly the focus, why didn’t our representatives support existing legislation aimed at enhancing mental health resources and suicide prevention for kids?
Some argue, “Just stay home if you’re that vulnerable.” However, the legislature has also dismantled unemployment support and failed to improve conditions for direct care workers, leaving vulnerable individuals with limited options that jeopardize their mental health and financial stability—all because a mask mandate was deemed too restrictive for a few.
Who were our politicians protecting with the laws passed this session? Clearly not Iowa’s vulnerable population; it seems more like they catered to their most radical supporters.
I typically refrain from discussing politics. But in light of recent events, I must advocate for my family.
November 8, 2022, can’t come soon enough.
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Summary:
This article reflects on the bullying faced by children who wear masks amid the ongoing pandemic. It highlights a personal experience of a mother witnessing her child’s fear and anxiety about returning to school without mask mandates. The piece emphasizes the emotional toll on families with medically fragile members and criticizes political decisions that prioritize ideology over the safety of children. The author calls for a more compassionate approach to public health that safeguards the vulnerable.