https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:25:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926662 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 20:18:46 +0000 lady baltimore 2926662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MACSUNSHINE: I hear you about it being harder without the mandate! DD has never complained about masking (she wore a mask to school daily from July of 2020, when she was 4.5), but when we asked her to wear one once she had been told at school that they were no longer going to be required, she struggled. I don't know if she is getting shit from the other kids, or just feeling "different", but I know she doesn't like wearing a mask to school any more (she used to get excited about picking out which one to wear each day). She is still chill about wearing one for errands, but that is the part I feel is less important from personal protection standpoint (I enforce it to demonstrate respect for the workers in places that we visit, and because I don't see a reason not to). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926660 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 20:10:14 +0000 lady baltimore 2926660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our public school system went mask optional in early March. Since we have a newborn in the home, we explained to our kindergartener that we felt it was important that she continue wearing a mask to avoid bringing unnecessary germs (not just COVID) home to her sister. At first, she complained and reported that she was the only one still wearing a mask. A few weeks after the shift, her principal said that she thought about 50% were still masking. I imagine the truth lies somewhere in between.</p> <p>Recently, 6YO has started coming off the bus with her mask in her backpack. She reports wearing it all day and just taking it off for the bus ride, and I haven't probed too deeply, as she knows our wishes and reasoning, and there is really nothing more that I can do from an enforcement standpoint.</p> <p>The school where I work also went mask optional during my maternity leave, so I don't know what it has looked like there. From pictures I have seen, it looks like some (students and staff) are still masking, but most have stopped. I will return for the last five weeks of the school year and plan on masking during that time, as catching any illness would be inconvenient just now (given the need to test for COVID and stay home waiting for results). I'm also concerned with protecting the baby, who will only have had her first dose of vaccinations at that point, from general classroom germs.</p> <p>DH, LO, and I continue to mask when we are indoors in public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926635 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:14:50 +0000 josina 2926635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, crazy reading through all these considering we haven't had a mask mandate at all this school year, other than on the bus. They have been optional and we encouraged our kids to wear them at school but didn't make them. Our 5 year old wore hers daily until they dropped the bus mandate in March. DS (7) didn't wear his as no one else in his class did.</p> <p>They ended up both getting Covid last Thanksgiving thanks to 1 day at daycare (so not from school) and were both fine other than DS's face swelling up.<br /> School did have to close for a couple days in January due to high levels of sickness (my kids included, stomach flu). </p> <p>Otherwise pre-covid protocol here, school and in the community in general. I see very few people wearing masks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926631 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 09:41:24 +0000 Chuckles 2926631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our area dropped the mask mandate in early March. My son's school waited a few extra weeks before dropping theirs to see what happened to cases. He's in 3rd grade and vaccinated. He has still been wearing his mask because I wanted to wait until everyone traveled for spring break. He doesn't seem to mind wearing it and has one that stays in place really well. It sounds like maybe 25% of students are still wearing them. Not sure about staff. If cases are still low this week, he can stop wearing his soon.<br /> At my daughter's daycare, they dropped theirs a few weeks ago. I was shocked that immediately none of the staff continued to wear theirs, especially since none of the kids are old enough to be vaccinated. We had her wear one for a couple more weeks, but it seemed a little silly. We never found one that fit perfectly, plus she sits near other kids for snack, lunch, and obviously doesn't wear it at nap. I let her stop wearing it last week. But, of course, after the first day she went maskless, there was a case of strep in her room.<br /> When we go out in public to places like the grocery store or library, I'd say probably 25%-ish of people are still wearing them. We have a high rate of vaccinations here, and cases are still decently low, but seem to possibly be going up over the last 4-5 days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926604 Sat, 09 Apr 2022 07:50:11 +0000 LemonJack 2926604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our district went mask optional in March. We let our kids drop them then since we’d all had Covid with the Omicron outbreak this winter, so for the time being they still have immunity. At school I’m still wearing one because I have an immunocompromised coworker, and I also think it’s helpful for the kids to see their teachers wearing them. I don’t plan to continue to wear one in the fall though, unless I’m sick with a cold or there’s a big outbreak.</p> <p>My own kids have gotten hit with some nasty colds since the masks dropped, so when they were sick we made them mask up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926602 Sat, 09 Apr 2022 06:54:12 +0000 MrsSCB 2926602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s been optional for us for awhile. My son is in kindergarten and still wears his. I think 75-80% of his classmates do, and all teachers that I’ve seen. He’s fully vaccinated and I’d have no problem if he didn’t want to wear it anymore, but I don’t see him wanting to take it off until it’s more the norm among his classmates. He kind of likes to go with the flow lol. My daughter just turned three last week and no longer wears hers at preschool, which is true for the majority of her classmates. I’m fine with it—they have to take them off for hours of naptime anyway, and it’s pretty clear from daily pictures that they had a tough time wearing them properly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926591 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:29:42 +0000 KT326 2926591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I agree, where a mask if you have symptoms! My 5 year old was sick (fever, cough, runny nose), I kept him home for a week and tested him twice with PCR and twice with rapids. Negative on all. So the next week he still had a runny nose and I told him if he wanted to go back to school he had to wear a mask. He was totally fine with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926589 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:23:46 +0000 erinbaderin 2926589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Ontario, and mask mandates were dropped basically everywhere after March break. I asked my kids to keep wearing theirs for at least two weeks but numbers are going up now, they haven't said anything, and I'm going to keep them masked for the rest of the year if I can. I think it's probably 50/50 masked vs not masked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926588 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:58:20 +0000 Anagram 2926588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should say---except for us still wearing masks, our lives are basically totally back to normal. All indoor events here are totally back on and we go, we just wear masks. I hosted a kiddo gathering in my house last weekend and my daughter and I wore a mask (about 40% wore and 60% didn't), I had a window open and an air purifier running right next to the table where they were meeting the whole time. So we are WAY more loose than we used to be.</p> <p>Sidenote: 3 girls got sick after that meeting (one had just had a stomach bug and came maskless). But my daughter and I haven't gotten sick yet. fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926587 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:55:00 +0000 Anagram 2926587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: our state dropped the mask mandate for schools back in March. Our kids still wear, since I am immuno compromised and frankly, don't want any big illnesses now, not just covid.</p> <p>One thing that surprised me, after the mask mandate was dropped, was that kids now go to school exhibiting symptoms (wet coughs, snotty noses, less than 24 hours after a fever or after a stomach bug) and they still don't wear the mask. It's been pretty disappointing to me when the guidelines clearly say to wear a mask when exhibiting symptoms. I don't even care if it's not covid in particular. I don't want the flu/coxsackie/stomach bug/pneomonia/unidentified virus that is causing the symptoms. Like okay, we have to "go back to normal", but have we learned nothing about germs? That's the only annoying part to me. Go maskless, whatever. But wear one when you are actively sick and still in school.</p> <p>That goes for adults too. I have coworkers who are clearly sick--I know firsthand we don't get the kind of time off to take off for an entire week just because we have a bad cold and a wet cough. But wear a mask. It's just common sense to me......except no one is doing it.</p> <p>My east asian students are by and large the last ones still wearing a mask. I still wear, and my kids still wear. I told my kids I will let them decide on the mask when we drop to 5 or fewer cases a day. We were at that rate last summer. But that hasn't ever happened and this week numbers have been creeping up again. So we may all be wearing masks a few more months.</p> <p>For me, it's fine. I don't have any issues wearing a mask and luckily, my kids are fine with it, too. No issues with their learning or anything. They've continued to thrive the past two years as normal and I've personally appreciated avoiding a lot of the normal winter illnesses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926585 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:48:03 +0000 poppygirl15 2926585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mask mandate ended for us in mid-March but, like @KT326, I would say that 85% of the kids, teachers &amp; parents are still wearing them. I'm really glad about that because its made it easy for me to keep my kids masked. Honestly, they don't mind. My son is 5 and doesn't even remember attending school without a mask. I will probably have them mask throughout the school year because it doesn't bother them and I like our having an extra layer of protection. For summer camp, I will probably let them go sans mask since it's 100% outdoor and they're both vaccinated. But, we'll see what things look like then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926583 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:38:43 +0000 KT326 2926583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: We are in the Bay Area too, at my son's elementary school I would say about 85% of the kids still wear a mask. He said almost everyone in his class, including his teacher, is wearing one. He feels more comfortable wearing one so he does. </p> <p>Our daycare where my youngest does Jr. K is also mask optional. I think it's more 50/50 there. My youngest prefers to not wear a mask so he doesn't. We have been dealing with selective mutism with him and it has actually gotten better since the masks have come off. He hadn't spoken to any of his teachers since school started last August. The first week of no masks he answered a question from his teacher instead of just pointing. It's been slow, just a couple sentences each day. But I really believe not wearing a mask has helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926582 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:27:29 +0000 Jess1483 2926582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mask mandate in my town ended beginning of March. I required my kids to wear them to not mess up spring break travel, but now they're both maskless. I'd say one or two kids in each class continue to wear a mask. The adults at DD3's daycare were still wearing masks for a bit, but have stopped now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926581 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:22:33 +0000 ElbieKay 2926581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My second grader is vaccinated, so when our state mask mandate was lifted on March 7th we let him drop the mask at school. Since I am vaccinated, I don't wear a mask when I go into the office. I see no reason to have a double standard for him, especially while cases are low in our area.</p> <p>I also have 3.5yo twins, and I have always found the mask mandate ridiculous for preschoolers. In general, they don't mask effectively, and I don't think the developmental tradeoffs are worth it at that age given the relatively low impact of COVID. March 7th was their first day of school, ever, without masks, and I was very relieved for them. I hope we don't have to go back to it.</p> <p>Three of my nuclear family members tested positive for COVID over Thanksgiving. Only one was symptomatic. Everyone recovered just fine. Then my elderly dad got COVID in January and also recovered fine.</p> <p>I will admit that I have extreme COVID fatigue, so I really try to make pragmatic choices based on the vaccination status, caseload, and prevailing medical advice and statistics that I read. But I really hate wearing a mask and don't consider it to be "no big deal", so I only wear masks when I think it makes sense (or it's mandated). I always make an effort to respect other people's comfort levels though, for instance I will defer to another parent's preference for a playdate if it is more conservative than mine. But it's been two years and I want my life back. It's been very overwhelming to be a working mom during COVID with three young kids including toddler twins and a full year of first grade on Zoom. I can't be 100% conservative about all things COVID all of the time because I will lose my mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926580 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:57:14 +0000 catgirl 2926580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: thanks! He had some improvement earlier on, mainly with his cough, but not much for awhile, if anything some symptoms have gotten worse. We heard similar things about antihistamines - he tried them for a few weeks in early/mid March but didn't notice anything different. He finally had his appointment with the long covid clinic the last week of March and they didn't want him to continue taking them. His main symptoms are difficulty breathing, getting extremely winded doing basic things and then being unable to catch his breath, chest pain, brain fog, and exhaustion. He is still using two different inhalers, which offer temporary relief with breathing issues but haven't actually improved anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926578 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:15:54 +0000 Anagram 2926578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: awwww.....no improvement for your husband? So this is obviously not medical advice, but something I learned from a Long Covid group that has been working for me is taking antihistamines. People have better success with some types over others, so he may have to try a couple different kinds, but basically you want an H1 inhibitor and an H2 inhibitor.</p> <p>So I take a 24 hour Zyrtec and a Pepcid AC at night. </p> <p>I was dubious, but since it's all over the counter I figured it couldn't hurt. And I have a coworker who was having totally different Long Covid symptoms (stomach issues, brain fog, loss of taste and smell) and antihitamines helped him too.</p> <p>My main things were daily migraines and dizziness for a few months (from end of Dec-March)--I started the antihistamines and within 3 days the headahes were gone. It took more like 3 weeks for the dizziness to decrease, but it did decrease significantly.</p> <p>But maybe he's already tried it? If not, he should give it a go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926577 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:14:07 +0000 Corduroy 2926577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I'm in the Bay Area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926576 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:10:14 +0000 Anagram 2926576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: where do you live? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926574 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 08:57:41 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2926574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our county has never had a mask mandate but we sent our kindergartener to school with a mask every day at the beginning of the school year. It seemed to come off at some point during the day. There were only a few kids that were wearing them regularly. After the holidays we made sure he had a mask with him every day but have not forced the issue.</p> <p>At daycare, our DS (3) was wearing a mask daily but they have relaxed their standards as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926573 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 08:43:55 +0000 ALV91711 2926573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our schools ended the mask mandates at the beginning of March. DS is 9 and we told him he could choose, he is not wearing one. We also talked to him about it is everyone’s choice as a family what they are doing. From doing pick up it seems about 50/50 in kids wearing them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926570 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:52:24 +0000 Lahela017 2926570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our district went mask optional at the end of February. Most people continued to wear them in our school until spring break a few weeks ago. It seems like post spring break, no one wears them. I would prefer my daughter still wear one because I'm pregnant and I don't want to mess up travel plans we have in May, but I don't feel like pushing it at this point. We are often the only people in masks when we go out in public now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926569 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:49:23 +0000 bhbee 2926569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our schools dropped masks at Christmas (although lots of kids never wore them correctly anyway), then had 3 weeks they were required again when Omicron was high in January. I would say there was a gradual reduction from there but everyone except a few dropped them when the CDC risk level went to green. I hope we don’t get another big spike because I can’t see them going back on for most people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926567 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:37:18 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2926567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like it is such a tough time, probably harder in some ways with the mandate lifted. </p> <p>Schools went mask optional in early March, we allowed it to be their choice. We have had covid in the house twice and are low risk. I had multiple discussions normalizing that some children still may need to wear masks for their family and it is a family decision, not to make fun of anyone.</p> <p>Daycare has always been mask free for the kids, so we are use to a mix approach. Looking forward to vaccines for the under 5 and warmer weather. Curious what will happen after Spring Break and if we will see an uptick.</p> <p>@catgirl I hope your husband starts to see some relief and improvement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926566 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 05:43:23 +0000 catgirl 2926566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our district went mask optional on March 10, which was 10 days after February break. They wanted to make sure there were no spikes after the break first. Teachers can not enforce mask wearing for family preference reasons, only for kids coming back after having Covid. We would strongly prefer that DD wears her mask at school. She had it on the first day of mask optional but came home crying because she was the only one in her class wearing one. Since then she has it on when she gets on the bus in the morning, but it is never on when she gets home. I'm not sure when it comes off... but I don't really know what to do? I can argue with her about it until I'm blue in the face but she knows I'm not there during the day and that her teacher won't do anything. </p> <p>Thankfully they still have weekly pooled testing. So she is tested every Monday at school. They are still sitting every other seat at lunch and not really mixing with other classes at school. Our district is no longer doing official contact tracing but we will be told if there is a positive case in her class. </p> <p>Also, I know that our household experience with Covid is different than many others. DH has been dealing with long covid symptoms for 13 weeks now, with only minor improvement. It has impacted our family life in every way possible. So it's hard to listen to people who say "it's just a cold" or "not a big deal." So all three of us still wear masks when in public at indoor places. DD doesn't argue about it when she is with us, in fact she doesn't seem to care at all. She just doesn't want to be the only one in her class at school... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926564 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:22:46 +0000 Corduroy 2926564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What's the mask situation in your kid's daycare/school now? </p> <p>Our mask mandate for schools ended in mid March. The vast majority of the students at my kids' elementary continued to wear them. I asked my kids to wear one they until spring break so we wouldn't mess up travel plans (ours or anyone else's). Post spring break all the students were requested to test for Covid twice: Sunday and Tuesday. Today my kids decided they were done with masks. However my son forgot by the time he got to school and put it on anyway. I guess it will be a day by day decision for a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2926338 Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:09:31 +0000 josina 2926338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coming back to update with what has worked in case others deal with the same issue...</p> <p>Time helped of course, but we also talk about how she's going to get on the bus by herself in the morning, and she gets to pick how many hugs she wants before she goes. Most days 5, some 10. But she's been doing awesome since we started this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2926043 Mon, 10 Jan 2022 09:44:38 +0000 josina 2926043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: Oh man, that sounds awful. Hugs!</p> <p>DD thankfully has been better each day. We had a 2 hour late start Friday and she got on the bus by herself! Today I had to take her on myself again, but thankfully no tears. I'll take the gradual improvement each day vs. the kicking/crying/pretending to be sick!</p> <p>Hope you see some day-by-day improvement also!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2926029 Sat, 08 Jan 2022 22:36:27 +0000 ChitownRo 2926029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can relate. My 3 yo DS has only been to school 3 days in the last 7 weeks. I started working part time again, and he immediately began to refuse school. And then it was thanksgiving + quarantine bc of travel, then only two weeks (he went 2 days with so so so much effort), then 2 weeks winter break.<br /> It’s less than 3 hours long and he will cry for the 2 hours between wake up and drop off. He cries so hard he vomits. Kicks to make it difficult to get dressed, bucks getting in the car seat.<br /> Sooo… yah… I’m talking w a social worker on Tuesday. I know it’s a loving environment with caring teachers (his older siblings went there too).<br /> It’s way easier to just give up and have him stay home with our au pair and my DH who works from home… but I know in the long term he needs to play w other kids his age :/ </p> <p>Anyway, I’m sorry, I can commiserate but have zero advice. I wish I did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2926003 Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:01:14 +0000 josina 2926003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Aww, thats so sad that is was most mornings! DD was actually fine even when school started, she'd race her brother onto the bus, but since she had all that time at home with me it's been awful.</p> <p>I do keep in touch with her teacher too, she says she starts out the day sad but shakes it off pretty quickly which is good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2926002 Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:59:17 +0000 erinbaderin 2926002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have advice, but my son cried basically every morning for junior kindergarten last year - we walked him to school and dropoff ranged from whimpered "I don't want to go" and reluctant walking inside the gate where he held the teacher's hand to full sobbing and me having to peel him off and push him inside the gate. This year, though, has been fine!</p> <p>I used to make myself feel better on the worst mornings by texting his teachers, and he was always fine once he got in and settled and always fine at pick-up, he just didn't like actually leaving me. </p>