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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is just cruel?

53 replies

LadyCatStark · 17/05/2021 10:38

DS is 11 and attends secondary school in Lancashire. He was so relieved that mask wearing in school was ending and he could actually hear what was being said again (he has glue ear). He’s also been getting spots on his chin and round his mouth which I think is exacerbated by wearing a mask for hours on end (we are treating it). This morning, after school started, we received an email to say that Lancashire County Council have issued a directive that all children in Lancashire must continue to wear masks in school for at least a further 5 weeks. That’s nearly the end of term!

Children have to do a lateral flow test twice a week and cases aren’t even high here. I know they are in Bolton and Blackburn but they’re not somewhere anyone I know in north Lancashire would feel the need to go right now!

AIBU to think that this is so cruel to children who have already been in enhanced restrictions for longer than almost everyone else in the country, especially with less than no notice?

OP posts:
Hopdathelf · 17/05/2021 10:41

Cruel is a bit over the top. I suspect masks will be here to stay with short breaks from using them in good periods before they are brought back in to tackle spikes as the year progresses.

Original poster
LadyCatStark · 17/05/2021 10:44

I beg to differ, it’s horrible wearing a mask for hours a day!

OP posts:
alpenguin · 17/05/2021 10:46

It is horrible but it’s going to have to be the new normal for a good while yet. I don’t think a few plukes is reason enough to ditch the masks 😂

Mandsy100 · 17/05/2021 10:47

Fgs op. My ds is 5yo and wears a mask all day. No issues. They have been doing so for a long time now. Funny enough, all kids have adapted perfectly fine. 🙄

TakeYourFinalPosition · 17/05/2021 10:47

I wouldn’t say cruel either - it’s not pleasant wearing them but they may well be part of life for a while longer; and I’d take that over lockdown... nobody likes wearing them, but it does become one of those things. Most people will have to wear them to take flights etc, so getting used to them isn’t a bad thing, but I can appreciate being fed up of them.

I think a lot of places have decided to keep masks until the end of term, I’ve had a few messages from friends that they’ve been dropping masks off this morning too. I’m in the Midlands.

Hopdathelf · 17/05/2021 10:47

I know it’s not pleasant but it’s also horrible to transmit the virus, possibly giving it to a vulnerable person or taking it home to a vulnerable person. Each transmission is an opportunity for mutation. Masks are important.

Onceuponatime1818 · 17/05/2021 10:48

No it’s for their safety and the safety of school staff.

yahyahs22 · 17/05/2021 10:50

Oh no I feel awful for your DS. Masks are awful whatever age, especially being linked to fungal pneumonia! But having hearing problems on top of that must be a lot for him to handle. Must be hard on you too as his motherFlowers

MakeMineALarge1 · 17/05/2021 10:50

@LadyCatStark

I beg to differ, it’s horrible wearing a mask for hours a day!
I have to wear one for 12 hours a day! I don't have a choice.
TorringtonDean · 17/05/2021 10:50

Bolton is in Lancashire/Greater Manchester, isn’t it?! There is a reason for their edict. Better to have a bit of mask-wearing hassle than Covid.

Singalongasong · 17/05/2021 10:52

It is really rubbish that they sent it out after the children got to school. However they could hardly say "oops, our bad, we'd better not bother then."

My kids hate masks too but it's not cruel and they've had to wear them for far less time than many other countries in the world. All you can do is help them take it in their stride.

vodkaredbullgirl · 17/05/2021 10:53

It's only 4 weeks, don't they have half term soon.

MinesAPintOfTea · 17/05/2021 10:53

Yabu

Most of the population of Lancashire are close to Bolton and Blackburn, so cases can be expected to spread. LCC will have a difficult time drawing a boundary within the council area

It’s annoying, but better in school with masks than out of school again!

Bellyups · 17/05/2021 10:54

Yabu.

Prisonbreak · 17/05/2021 10:56

Cruel? No.
Cruel would be more in line with watching him in a hospital bed hooked up to a ventilator unsure whether he is going to survive because he got a few spots from wearing a mask.
Perspective

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 17/05/2021 10:56

It's also horrible suffocating to death 🤷‍♀️ I know which one I would prefer.

Rmka · 17/05/2021 10:56

There may be some changes you can try so he feels more comfortable.
Does he wear the same mask all day? He shouldn't wear one for more than 4 hours and he should change to a clean mask each time after he takes it off for a meal or something. Are the masks made of cotton? If not that may cause skin issues. I also find that masks that have elastic band at the back of the head are more comfortable than the ones that go behind the ears.

slashlover · 17/05/2021 10:57

@yahyahs22

Oh no I feel awful for your DS. Masks are awful whatever age, especially being linked to fungal pneumonia! But having hearing problems on top of that must be a lot for him to handle. Must be hard on you too as his motherFlowers
Can you link to evidence about the fungal pneumonia because everything I've read has said that it's untrue.
NoMLMbots · 17/05/2021 10:57

Cruel is the wrong word imo

SixDegrees · 17/05/2021 10:59

I don’t think I’d go as far as calling it cruel.

But I can see that the continued mask wearing in schools must be very difficult for a child with hearing problems.

MakeMineALarge1 · 17/05/2021 10:59

@yahyahs22

Oh no I feel awful for your DS. Masks are awful whatever age, especially being linked to fungal pneumonia! But having hearing problems on top of that must be a lot for him to handle. Must be hard on you too as his motherFlowers
Link to the evidence please.
Dixiechickonhols · 17/05/2021 11:00

We are Lancs and got email from school yesterday to say LCC guidance was continue with masks. I thought it sensible as did DC. Decent chunk at school come in from Blackburn and it’s just been Eid with mixing so seems sensible to take all precautions they can. You can get silk masks supposed to be better for skin.

whattodo2019 · 17/05/2021 11:01

My children's secondary schools are continuing to wear masks to keep those children in exam years safe. Personally i thought it was very sensible.

TwoAndAnOnion · 17/05/2021 11:04

@Hopdathelf

I know it’s not pleasant but it’s also horrible to transmit the virus, possibly giving it to a vulnerable person or taking it home to a vulnerable person. Each transmission is an opportunity for mutation. Masks are important.
I'll be sure to tell that to the staff in the operating theatre

Codswallop

WorraLiberty · 17/05/2021 11:10

It's not nice but it's not cruel.

As a PP said, masks will be her to stay for a long time and the rules will keep changing according to spikes and figures.

You and the school would do well to help your child understand this.