As an empty-nester, not yet a grandparent, I’m enjoying not having to be faced with tough decisions about kids going back to school or not. I don’t envy those who are going through it. But, that doesn’t prevent me from wondering what I would be thinking and considering as we get closer to the start of schools.
What about the nose pickers?
Seriously, kids like to pick their noses!
More golden thoughts brought to you by the Dubious Minimalist™ in me, about a non-considered pros and cons discussion about masks and children wearing them for 8 hours a day. 5 days a week, virtually or in person. It doesn’t matter, just wear the damn mask.
Ugh … please, no, enough … no more about the damn masks.
Yuck.
Sorry, I just gotta say something more.
I’m still thinking about the swab test I took and how it didn’t find much to reveal, aka, negative (falsely, probably).
But, there are gold-picking thoughts that I hadn’t considered about the science which hasn’t been noticed on the social media outlets by me discussed contrary to the science shared in support of the source control use of masks.
We’re like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what’s inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever. – Good Reads
I remember all those scary germs when my kids were growing up and touching everything including their faces and noses and community bowls of food.
It seems reasonable to think the germs need to be controlled, contained, securely wrapped up in a mask, right?
But … what about any negative effects of wearing masks for prolonged periods of time? There has to be cons to it that we’re not considering. Especially for little people whose bodies are still growing, forming, and waiting to bloom? Is a mask holding on to the droplets, the bacteria, and the snot a good thing or not?
What will our children’s faces look like after all of this is over? I hope to hell it will be over sooner rather than later!
Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden. – Good Reads
Will our future generation noses grow properly?
What if the kids’ normal nose-picking behaviors can con us into believing they need to put their fingers in their nostrils to help make space to breathe?
I can just picture the kiddos sneaking picks of their noses behind their masks when the teachers or Zoom classes aren’t looking.
The article above was written in 2017 well before all of this COVID stuff but is interesting to consider. Our climate influences the shape of the human nose. Hmm … I wonder if the scientists could redo their study with mask coverings involved and what they’d find?
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – pro/con
PS – Did you ever say to your kids, “Stop that digging for gold?” Did you let your kids pick their noses? Did you pick your nose when you were a kid? Do you still? 😉
Loved your quotes. We are indeed undiscovered goldmines.
Thank you, Anita. Yes, we are. Happy Saturday to you – I hope you’re well.
Doing well, feeling very lucky as the storm left us damage free.
Yay, I’m glad the storm didn’t harm you!
Some folk never stop picking their nose, have a look around you while stopped in traffic! Yikes! I never missed an episode of Bewitched, so fun.
I don’t find it realistic that a child is going to keep a mask on their face for eight or more hours, they are children! Back to school is so scary. I wonder if a family can opt-out and do home schooling instead.
So glad my kids are adults in these days, Shelley. Stay safe, guys!
LOL – that’s so funny, John, I think you’re right some folks never stop picking their noses. I love Bewitched too!
I agree, I don’t think it’s realistic that the kids will keep their masks on for 8 + hours. I think many can/have/will opt out for homeschooling. Me too – I’m glad my kids aren’t in school. I so glad my youngest is no longer in Chicago for school too. That city is one hot mess!
You stay safe too!
What’s the difference between broccoli and boogers?
Kids won’t eat broccoli…
My biggest concern about wearing masks that long is hypercapnia (carbon dioxide poisoning). I know the “experts” and “scientists” claim that wearing a mask won’t cause it, but I’m not sure they’ve verified that for children. Or for adults, for that matter.
LOL. I’ve seen kids eat both, not at the same time, though 😉
I’ve wondered that as well – and I’ve heard from friends who have watched people passout from wearing their masks. I think in the right setting for source control at a minimum amount of time, they are effective. It’s the wear them all day long thing that worries me too.
Ummmmm…I too have been grateful that I don’t have to make the decisions parents are trying to make now. I am pretty sure I would not send my kids to school at this point…but then if I was young enough to have kids at home I’d probably have been working and how would I work (we’d be working from home) with the kids at home all the time and how would I make sure they were doing their school stuff and still get my work stuff done. It would be impossible. So if I quit my job (which I never liked anyway, it was very stressful) to keep track of the kids how would we live on one income? The whole thing is just a no win for anyone type of situaiton and the sooner we all buckle down and do what we’re told the sooner we can move forward to whatever the future will look like. For darn sure it won’t ever look like it did before, but that’s not to say it can’t be better than it is right now.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Dawn! I’m thankful too that I’m not in the position to have to make those choices. I sure hope we’ll live through this to make it better. 😉
So happy that we don’t need to deal with the whole kids and school dilemma. I feel so sorry for those parents and grandparents – and teachers and other school employees – who do. It’s hard to imagine that anyone is so adept at magical thinking that they believe 20, 30, or more kids can be made to sit still in a classroom and keep their hands to themselves (or, out of there noses). It’s also hard to imagine that this current worldwide crisis we are going through won’t have a lasting effect on children (let alone the rest of us).
Well said, Janis, thank you for sharing. I agree with you!
I have an idea and wonder if anyone “in charge” has thought of it … seems to me it would solve many problems to have elementary school kids come in 2 shifts .. AM & PM. 1/2 day in the classroom would
give them the happiness and motivation of being with their classmates, while not having to wear a mask for so many hours! It would allow parents 3 hrs off if at home, or if they work p/t, they’d only have pay someone half the amount for childcare.
.
The teacher would give the AM kids a home-schooling assignment for the afternoon to do with parents or caregivers and bring to class next AM. The PM shift kids would have an assignment to do in the morning at home, and bring to school that PM.
Of course, it wouldn’t help everyone, and employers, especially those with low-skill jobs, would have to be flexible. But … it might be a solution for many! Thoughts?
Ellen, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I like your creativity. I haven’t heard of that hybred option. It may work for some families.
Some new guy at the Park asked me how I tolerate the mask? I said “it is not difficult at all” and I wear it at the Park even though it is not a necessity, just because I am concerned about getting COVID-19.” I added that I actually had on two paper surgical masks, layering up for more protection as the bandana mask was too hot. He persisted so I said I had to go … I figured he’d be akin to a rabble-rouser who’d pick a fight as it infringes on his rights. No, I didn’t pick my nose growing up.
Yeah, it’s wise to just move on when the discussion of masks come up.
I can’t say the same, ‘cuz I remember hearing, “Are you digging for gold.” Ew … maybe I should’ve worn a mask as a kid!? 😉
Re: kids and masks. I’m sure you’ve seen the list of comments a funny mom wrote that teachers will be saying to elementary kids? If not, google if interested…it’s pretty funny. I thought of it the other day when I saw a mom with three kids in the grocery store. The biggest kid (a boy, naturally…haha) had gone ahead around the end cap where the mom couldn’t see him, pulled his mask up over his eyes and was trying to walk down the aisle by feeling his way with his hands. I had to laugh…I’m sure teachers will see it all. I can’t imagine. And, like you, I’m glad my kids are grown and I don’t have to make that decision.
LOL – I googled it – SPOT on!!! I can’t imagine trying to monitor masks and teach at the same time. Kids can be quite creative. I love this one from the list: “I’m sorry to tell you, but your child thought her mask made her a superhero. She tried to fly off the jungle gym at recess …” I wonder if any teachers will print the list off and highlight how many of them come true. Thanks for the chuckle this morning!
Hey, when you can’t breath because there’s a big one stuck in there… Bad things are afoot with the mask wearing in school. Bad. Pray.
LOL – yeah, I’m praying, that’s for sure!
A silver lining, if one could be found, would be it might cure a few kids of nose picking. My grandson likes his mask and he is only 4, but leaves it on when asked to do so. Doesn’t have a problem with it. I am forever thankful I don’t have to deal with school age kids and a job during this mess. I really don’t know what I’d do! Ellen’s idea is a good one – we called that “split sessions” when I was in 4th grade and there wasn’t enough room for all of us baby boomers in the too-small neighborhood school. There would be an afternoon session and a morning session. The mask issue is all about weighing risks and so many are unknown. Scary stuff. The risk of wearing one vs. the risk of contracting the virus. It is only in hindsight years from now that we will probably know for sure.
LOL – indeed a silver lining. We’re definitely going to see what plan works best as schools open up this week. I saw one European school where they converted an outside 6×10 wooden shed into a ‘waiting area’ for kids who have symptoms. Scary. Our area schools just between all the cities in our county look slightly different from each other, per the PH directives. I think many schools have already opened up. Even siblings from the same home can’t see their brother or sister during the school day, but they can ride to/from school together? I remember the good old rules when I was growing up of don’t touch your face, wash your hands, sneeze/cough into your elbow and stay home if you’re sick. More and more studies are coming out that contradict and support, so like you said, in hindsight we’ll hopefully know for sure.
Yes, I sure wish everyone could get on the same page so to speak, but there’s so much still unknown. (the riding the bus but not seeing each other in school…that’s odd)
I can say this year will go down in my memory bank as a head-scratcher that’s for sure.
I really like your beautiful blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. I will come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon. 🙂
Thank you, Angelilie, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Your blog is lovely as well – such gorgeous photos!!
Hi S, I am catching up on some posts (and please do not feel obliged to come and visit my blog – that is not why I am here checking in – I am just here to read and chime in)
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and I think with masks for children – they need to make the material thinner – at least that helped me – I had to teach for five hours last week – a workshop kind of thing – and finally chose to use a doctor’s disposable mask because I could breath and talk so well with it – some of the expensive masks I bought seemed to clog the air
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and like you – very glad we did not have to deal with a pandemic when our children were young – especially for their sports – and my heart goes out to those who are coping and adjusting
Thanks for catching up here, Yvette. Once I get done with our project, I’ll have more time for fun with blogging. I hope.
Yes, I just feel for the kiddos with heavy masks on. I’ve made my own out of paper towels and they seem the most breathable. I have also made ones out of old t-shirts, they work well too. I haven’t had to buy one. Mr. uses a bandana, so he’s good to go too. I’m very thankful to not have young kids right now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts – I so enjoy hearing from you!