I’ve been grappling with an ongoing sense of frustration lately. It intensifies when I see groups of teens strolling around without masks, or when I scroll through social media and see photos of graduation celebrations with kids tossing their caps joyfully. This anger bubbles up inside me, and all I want to do is shout.
I have teenagers at home who crave social interaction. They frequently tell me they’re the only ones not allowed to hang out with friends. My eldest, Lucas, reminds me weekly that all his pals are gathering for bonfires, beach outings, or pizza parties at someone’s house. He insists they’re out together during the day, roaming the neighborhood.
Whether or not that’s entirely accurate is debatable, but I’m starting to suspect there’s some truth to it—especially when he shows me SnapChat stories to prove he’s missing out, hoping I’ll feel guilty and relent. Unfortunately, it’s not working; instead, it’s fueling my frustration with the irresponsible parents raising these inconsiderate kids. I’m tired of hearing excuses from parents who claim they can’t control their children’s actions.
Really? Last I checked, people’s lives are at stake, and adults can certainly take away car keys and cell phones—devices they pay for—if their kids refuse to adhere to the straightforward guideline of staying home.
These careless parents seem oblivious to the fact that the more freedom we grant our kids, the longer this crisis will persist. Those who flout social distancing rules, dismissing them as trivial or claiming “this isn’t living,” must not grasp the severity of the situation. They don’t appear to take seriously the alarming impact of COVID-19, including Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, which affects children and teenagers. I struggle to understand their mindset otherwise.
I still see daily posts from parents on Facebook inquiring if it’s acceptable to let their kids socialize with friends at this time. Do they really think that the danger of their child contracting a serious illness is some elaborate hoax? How many times must they hear from healthcare professionals that this virus doesn’t only target the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions?
Prioritizing your child’s desires (and let’s be honest, wanting to see friends right now is a desire, not a necessity) is selfish. Some parents are making it significantly tougher for those of us who are doing the right thing by keeping our kids home. Their intentions are crystal clear—they don’t seem to care about the world’s state or consider the potential consequences if their child becomes ill or infects others.
It’s a terrible example to set for our children. Everyone is being advised to maintain distance and take necessary precautions. That doesn’t mean allowing your child to hang out at a skate park or attend a pool party. Justifying letting kids socialize because “you don’t see any harm in it” or “it’s been long enough” is not acceptable.
I wish all parents could pause for a moment to reflect on the message they send to other kids whose parents are adhering to the guidelines. They should consider the challenges they pose to those of us who are following medical advice to stay safe. They need to think about frontline workers and the overburdened hospitals. By allowing their kids to resume normal life, they’re contributing to the problem significantly.
If their child was taking a solo drive for the first time, they would insist on wearing a seatbelt and obeying traffic laws because of the potential for disastrous outcomes, right? They would also worry about other drivers who may not be cautious, fearing their child could be harmed. Parents who permit their kids to roam freely are akin to reckless drivers—ignoring the rules because they believe they’re invincible.
Or perhaps they think their child is too valuable to remain indoors and practice social distancing because they’re missing out on life. Guess what? We’re all missing out—for the sake of saving lives. It’s worth it. And the careless parents are prolonging our collective sacrifice.
They’re like drunk drivers, convinced nothing bad will happen to them or their children. I urge them to consider whether they would let their child drive after drinking. The likely answer is no—they understand the risks are too great.
It’s time for all parents to wake up and recognize that this situation is no different. They must do the right thing, regardless of how challenging it may be, no matter how much their children plead, so we can begin to move forward from this painful chapter. If you want to learn more about home insemination, check out this insightful blog post on Home Insemination Kit. For more authoritative insights, visit Intracervical Insemination and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In conclusion, it’s vital for parents to reflect on their actions and the potential consequences of disregarding social distancing. Each choice can impact the broader community, and we owe it to ourselves and each other to make responsible decisions during this critical time.