Small thread. So our girls spent a week at day camp. It was our first foray into the girls being away from us and in contact with other children outside their bubble since the pandemic started. We put into practice all that we had taught and prepped for. Here is what happened.

Our 11yo has internalized all the knowledge and reasons why mask and social distancing was important. So she dutifully wore her mask in, washed her hands regularly and used her hand sanitizer. On first day pick up she wasn’t wearing her mask anymorehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤷🏻‍♀️" title="Achselzuckende Frau (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Achselzuckende Frau (heller Hautton)">. I asked why?

She said : one of her group mates asked why are you even wearing a mask for?
Yup, I forgot about that childhood monster: peer pressurehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤦🏻‍♀️" title="Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)">. So we had to talk about peer pressure and what to do in context w/Covid. 11yo then stated she wasn’t going to wear her mask throughout the day

She said these kids are “my bubble” and She trusts all the parents are doing the screening they are supposed to and she was going to practice social distancing and she would wear her mask in enclosed spaces. She made good points and her last point “you just gotta trust me, mom.”

5yo experience was eye opening. She wore her mask at drop off but at the end of the day she was also not wearing her maskhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤦🏻‍♀️" title="Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)">. As a mom who is a nurse I felt like all the drills, talks and prep was for nothing. I felt like a failure https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😓" title="Gesicht mit kaltem Schweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit kaltem Schweiß">. I asked her why she wasn’t wearing her mask?

5yo said: I noticed no one else was wearing one. And my mask is hard to put on.
Yup folks, I forgot that other childhood monster: the need to fit inhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤦🏻‍♀️" title="Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Frau schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)">. So we talked about why it was more important to practice precautions rather than looking like everyone else.

We also re-evaluated her mask. All this time we always put it on her and had not really practiced her putting it on herself. We found a mask that was cute and easy to put on and she now wears her mask all day and only off for snack and lunch.

So what did I learn as a parent?
1. You have to incorporate Covid screening measures into daily routine. We struggled initially remembering temp checks. But then we started doing them when I did their hair.
2. Reevaluate and be adaptable. Finding out the mask was hard for 5yo

to hard put on was and easy fix
3. I’m gonna have to find a way to trust people. I didn’t realize how distrustful I have become but as parents and people who work w/ children we are going to have to make pact that we all will do what is expected to ensure our children are safe

I will screen my children, ensure they know how to do Covid precautions b/c I care about ur kids and I hope that u will care about mine. I care about my children’s teachers and their families and promise to follow what is required to keep them safe.
4.This is hard,it’s not easy