We need our humanity back

There was a time when 2020 seemed like an eternity away, and as a child, I remember thinking what will the world be like then? As 2020 began to approach, it felt as if it was going to be the year for great things to happen. Things did happen, however, not the great things I had in mind.

Schools closed, parents were working from home, courtrooms shut down, prisoners released, churches closed, grocery stores emptied, people forced to stay in their homes by the government, and all over fear of a deadly virus.

I feel most of us did a great job staying home as we were asked to do and hopefully it did prevent a overwhelming collapse of the hospital systems and safe lives. However, at what cost? What is the quality of our lives now compared to what it once was? Who did we save?

As a mother, I see how my children were lacking sufficient education and social skills by being pulled out of school, and the government is OK with that? Because I’m not.

Where will the world be in the near future when all of our children have only had a computer screen to learn from? So many children already had their faces glued to the screens before the pandemic hit. What good was that doing for anyone? Yes, some of us will do our very best to provide education for our children but not all children have that benefit. So many children rely on schools to provide any form of intellectual and psychological need.

It’s not about my children, it’s about doing what’s right for all children.

I believe every parent has a right to chose what is right for their child. Homeschooling has always been an option if you feel at home is the only safe place for your child at this time.But how can those who believe their child’s’ best interest to attend in-person school, to get their child a sufficient education and social development, be denied? Luckily, I am able to be in a district that decided in-person instruction is reasonable and my daughter was able to attend and after a week the difference in her mental well-being is remarkable. However, masks are required for everyone and I feel that masks will prevent our children from learning proper social skills overall.

If children today become accustomed to always feeling like they need to keep their distance and have to feel as if they are diseased and might harm someone, what kind of world will that be?

Imagine not being able to see the smile on a child’s face or expressions of a loved one. Those are the things thatmake life worth living. Sometimes that’s all that is needed to brighten up someone’s day, and with an extreme increase in mental health issues couldn’t we all use a little more of that?

We all need to do what is right to improve the quality of life for all lives, not just some lives. I’d rather risk dying then never be able to feel the warm hug frommy grandma or seeing a compassionate smile on a friends face.

I have 4 children and I depend on my facial expressions to relay direction to my children, especially in public. It’s how we communicate and learn as humans.

What are we actually risking here? If we were all protected by wearing masks we would have been born with them. Masks won’t save us, God will.

In times of despair and sorrow I was taught to reach out to God but it seems like the world has lost its perspective, since in the middle of this deadly pandemic churches were forced to close.

If God is no longer of value to our lives, how are we to discipline how we treat each one another in the world? To trust in God means we don’t need to walk around fearing for our lives.

We take risks all the time in life. That’s called living. Anyone could die at any time. Just by getting into a car is risky and most of us do that daily without a second thought.

This virus is serious, I get it — but so is any other virus and it hasn’t made everyone go get a flu shot or get every vaccination out there. Quite the contrary, less people are being vaccinated these days then ever. Having my child out in the world with non-vaccinated children seemed equally as dangerous as now, because they all have the capability of being deadly.

I believe all that is happening in the world affected most people in significant ways. Most of them probably not great but, it’s up to us how we want to view these obstacles and move forward because we cannot go back.

I think those of us who believe in humanity will step up and do the right thing. The world is constantly changing and always will be. So all I can do is my very best and assume everyone is also doing their very best.

It’s a wonderful world if we choose to look at it that way and it would help to start seeing smiles again so we can all feel like we have our humanity back.

Ifwewere all protected bywearingmasks wewouldhavebeenbornwith them. Maskswon’t save us, God will.