Children’s indoor birthday party, masks?

[Tianatiers]

DC has been invited to a birthday party tomorrow, indoors, in a village hall. The whole class has been invited and I’m fine for my DC to go as they’ve been in school together all week… but it’s not a drop off so adults are asked to stay and look after their child. I want to wear a mask, at least when moving around, maybe take it off if I’m sat down and socially distanced… but is that soooo last week? Seems little point in wearing one if nobody else is doing it. WWYD? I’m thinking I’ll take one and if I see anyone else wearing one I’ll put it on, but if nobody is wearing them then I just won’t want to be there. But I’ll have to be, as I don’t want my DC to miss out. They’re so excited.

I expect there are a lot of people thinking the same as you OP and too scared to put a mask on in case they feel singled out. Why not be the trailblazer and set the example to others.

That's a lot of people in one room! What are the cases like in your area?
I would wear a mask. How old are the DC?

I think you'll probably find there will be a mix of people who want to wear them and those who don't, and no reason both can't exist happily in the same space. If you are more comfortable wearing one then do it - we are all used to seeing people in masks now so i don't think I would really give it a second thought.

I would be wearing a mask and opening every door and window
The kids may have made it to the end of term without their bubble popping, but adding their parents into the mix in an indoor setting when cases are so high does seem risky to me.

I can see the dilemma. Good luck, with the mask (and with the party)

Majorly overthinking this. If you want to wear one then wear one. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Don’t spoil your kids fun because you feel anxious. It’ll be fine, are you vaccinated?

Wear one if you want to, don't wear one if you don't want to. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

In an ideal world there would be no judgement from either side and everyone would just accept others choices and mind their own business 🤷‍♀️

If you’d feel more comfortable wearing one then wear one, whether others are or not. You’ll have a more relaxed time at the party and it’ll be better for you.

Wear one if you want. I don’t get the angst.

Thanks for the replies. I had my second jab on Wednesday. Cases are really high where we live. I know a couple of fully vaccinated people who have caught COVID recently and both were very ill with it. I don’t particularly want to catch it. I will wear a mask but that will protect everyone else, I won’t be protected if nobody else is wearing them. The children are around 7. I’m hoping every door and window will be open and I’ll hang by the door!

So ~60 people, mostly maskless, cramped together in one room.

I wouldn't be going.

It’s ridiculous to think you won’t be protected, but others will, by you mask wearing………
Do you think the virus can sneak round into the sides of your mask, but not out towards others?
If your question is: ‘AIBU to want everyone at the party to wear masks?’ Then that’s what you should ask.

Why do you need to be there for 7yo children? I would expect a couple of parents to stay to help but not all.

I wouldn't be going.

Well of course you wouldn’t be going Nanny, we all know that 😂

I thought you weren’t going anywhere?

I would wear a mask but if I felt uncomfortable with the set up, sit outside the hall - or in the car. They're 7; it's not like you need to be marking them every minute.

@TheKeatingFive

I wouldn't be going.

Well of course you wouldn’t be going Nanny, we all know that 😂

I thought you weren’t going anywhere?

We're not.

Irresponsible gatherings like this are a big reason why.

We're not.

Super. Enjoy.

Irresponsible gatherings? 🤦‍♀️

Do whatever you feel most comfortable with I don't think anyone will really mind either way. I was in a restaurant last night some people were wearing masks walking around the restaurant some weren't it was no big deal.

@Slimmingstar

It’s ridiculous to think you won’t be protected, but others will, by you mask wearing……… Do you think the virus can sneak round into the sides of your mask, but not out towards others? If your question is: ‘AIBU to want everyone at the party to wear masks?’ Then that’s what you should ask.

I don’t think it’s ridiculous, I’m pretty sure it’s a fact that wearing masks reduces the spread by people wearing them and therefore not projecting droplets into the atmosphere. I’m not very scientific but that, I think, is why masks are effective, not because they stop you breathing in particles that are in the air around you.

@ineedaholidaynow

Why do you need to be there for 7yo children? I would expect a couple of parents to stay to help but not all.

I know, my DC doesn’t want me there, I don’t get it. The mum said she’ll be too busy to look out for all the children so a parent needs to accompany.

I wonder if she has never done a whole class party before and is nervous. This is the reason I never did a whole class one.

DS is a teenager now but my memories of class parties in a village hall usually meant a lot of excited children running around the hall chasing balloons!

I am sure she doesn’t really need all parents there. Is there an outside space, can someone of you lurk out there?

Look at this way OP - would you have not gone pre-covid when your child & you could easily have caught say a stomach bug if one happened to be around. We’ve just had a stomach bug invade our house .. it was hideous. We’ve all been ill & rough as hell for 6-7 days. Absolutely caught from softplay last weekend. Will I go back to softplay? Yes, I’ll be there next week once we are recovered & not infectious anymore.

So yeh, you can feel pretty rough & ill with covid even if your vaccinated but it’s just another illness. You’ll feel shite & then you’ll get better. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I duno, I just don’t get the anxiety when young (ish) & vaccinated. No-one wants to be ill but sadly, illness exists. I’d much rather covid than norovirus if I’m honest 🥴🥴

@Slimmingstar

It’s ridiculous to think you won’t be protected, but others will, by you mask wearing……… Do you think the virus can sneak round into the sides of your mask, but not out towards others? If your question is: ‘AIBU to want everyone at the party to wear masks?’ Then that’s what you should ask.

Yes. That is exactly what happens (unless you have a medical grade, fully sealed and filtered mask like they wear in Covid wards). When you breathe in, the air is pulled from all around and through the mask. If there are Covid virus particles in the air, you'll breathe them in. Wearing a mask minimises the amount of Covid you deposit into the air if you're infectious, as a mask acts as a shield (you'll still breathe it out but it won't project as far as it would if your mouth and nose weren't covered).