As the current school year winds down, it’s hard not to feel a sense of anxiety about what lies ahead. This year has been unlike any other, filled with challenges like juggling work Zoom calls while my kids participated in their own online classes and the constant worry about the hybrid learning model. The looming threat of COVID-19 has made everything more stressful, especially for parents of school-aged children.
My kids began this school year with 100% remote learning. However, as our community’s COVID-19 infection rates decreased, we chose to send them back to school for a hybrid model—spending two days in the classroom and three days at home. With fewer students in the classroom due to some families opting to stay remote, my children received more personalized attention from their teachers. Now, they’re attending school four days a week, which has been a relief for both them and me.
As we look forward to next year, I can’t shake the weight of uncertainty surrounding what awaits us. I feel that sending my kids to school four days a week—hopefully five, if it’s safe—is crucial for their development. I can already foresee the usual reminders to my partner about things like “don’t forget their masks” and “make sure they bring their water bottles.” This has become our new normal, as the safety of school water fountains remains questionable. The reality of kids potentially getting sick or transmitting COVID-19 adds another layer of anxiety for parents.
A fellow parent, Kelly Adams, who has a fifth grader, expressed similar concerns, stating, “I’m apprehensive about sending him back full-time. We still don’t know how this virus affects children. It makes me uneasy, but we’ll do what’s best for him.” Ultimately, we all have to prioritize the needs of our families.
Life and school as we knew them are transformed forever. While I believe in our kids’ resilience, it’s clear we all must adapt for the coming school year. My school supply list will look different this year; I’ve started stockpiling extra masks and water bottles to avoid any shortages like we faced last spring. Our worries as parents are valid and ever-present, especially during these unprecedented times.
Five Specific Worries I Have
- I’m concerned about my children’s social and emotional health as they continue to navigate their identities as students.
- I fear that their teachers may struggle to connect with them while managing their own home lives and concerns regarding COVID-19.
- The possibility of my children contracting or spreading COVID-19 weighs heavily on my mind.
- I worry that the experiences of sharing spaces—like lunchrooms and libraries—will remain restricted for a long time.
- Lastly, I am anxious about balancing my mental load, work responsibilities, and supporting my kids’ education without feeling overwhelmed.
The CDC’s guidance doesn’t ease my fears. They indicate that the actual incidence of COVID-19 in children is still unclear due to insufficient testing. They also note that children can carry similar viral loads as adults, which means they can spread the virus. The CDC advises that parents must make decisions that best suit their families, and it’s essential to recognize that these choices may differ from our neighbors.
As we ponder transport options to school, be it the bus or subway, and the possibility of unmasked recesses, we’re faced with endless uncertainties. What remains clear is that our children deserve a safe educational environment.
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