artificial insemination kit for humans
My daughters have been pleading for playdates all summer long. Facetime and virtual hangouts can only fulfill their social needs to a certain extent. During the summer, I felt comfortable allowing them to interact with kids we know and trust—primarily their cousins and a couple of close friends. However, now that school is back in session, the kids they want to invite over are the same ones whose parents I frequently see at the grocery store without masks. Not only the parents but also their friends.
My girls have grown accustomed to wearing masks whenever we leave the house. So when their school mandated masks after initially stating they were optional, I felt relieved. But that relief was short-lived as I noticed more families from school out and about without masks. These kids aren’t over 12, meaning they’re not vaccinated and may not even be eligible yet. It’s baffling. I seem to be one of the few parents in my daughters’ social circles who is exercising caution, which is leading me to firmly say no to playdates.
I find myself in a peculiar situation. I have known some of these parents for years and believed they shared my commitment to keeping our kids safe, which includes at least wearing a mask. Yes, I understand that the government has politicized Covid when it should just be based on facts. And yes, I know the CDC updates their guidance more frequently than my 6-year-old changes her favorite food. But we cannot ignore the fact that more children are becoming seriously ill with the Delta variant than before. So what will it take for these parents to take Covid seriously?
Why Aren’t We Taking This Seriously?
While waiting for my kids at school pick-up, I notice two distinct groups of parents: those who are spaced out and masked, and the rest, who are shoulder to shoulder without masks. Are they vaccinated? I have no idea. Are they part of the anti-vaccine movement, taking dubious remedies to avoid Covid? Do they work in environments where science is disregarded and unknowingly spread the virus? There are too many uncertainties for me to feel comfortable with my child attending a playdate, especially when parents joke about needing to social distance because the principal is coming outside.
Some of these parents are unbelievable. One of my daughter’s friends invited her for a playdate last summer, before Delta cases surged in our community. I was hesitant but trusted my daughter to keep her mask on indoors. Turns out, trusting my child wasn’t my biggest concern. The mom who organized the playdate messaged me to say her other child had a fever and wouldn’t be joining. She insisted it was fine since they had no other symptoms. Seriously? I don’t care if it’s Covid or just a common cold; sharing is not caring in this case.
She left the door open for rescheduling, but do you really understand? It felt like she was downplaying the situation. Perhaps it’s just me being overly cautious, but I don’t care if you think I’m being dramatic. My children’s health is my top priority, and I’m not willing to gamble with their well-being when I can prevent them from getting sick in the first place.
Judge Me If You Want, but My Kids’ Health Comes First
Both of my daughters are social butterflies, always eager for playdates. As much as I want to let them go, the anxiety and fear I feel prevent me from making that decision with a clear conscience. To the moms I’ve declined, you’re not bad people, and I think your kids are fantastic. But I don’t want either of our children getting sick or ending up in the hospital. I hope you feel the same way. We may have differing views on keeping our kids safe, but please respect my family’s boundaries.
It’s not the kids’ fault—yours or mine—that we’re in this predicament. Covid is terrible, and that’s an understatement, but we all know that it’s here to stay. Whether you’re vaccinated or not, or whether you wear a mask in public, Covid is still a reality we have to deal with. If we all do our part, we can return to normalcy more quickly—more playdates, less anxiety, and more meaningful connections with friends instead of just through screens. It’s up to us as parents to make responsible choices. Honestly, I miss enjoying a drink with another mom in the backyard while watching our kids bounce on the trampoline.
For more insights into home insemination, feel free to check out this post as well.