Five Issues To Weigh Before A Future Larimer County Mask Mandate
As Saturday approached and the Larimer County mask mandate ended, and as Poudre School District announced that they would no longer be requiring masks in schools, one could not help but notice the mixed emotions felt in our community.
And despite there being a strong possibility that another mask mandate could come — depending on the county’s COVID numbers — several problems in the parenting community need to be resolved first.
Here’s just a few:
1. Parental Sanity
There is no doubt that parenting is truly one of the rewarding roles anyone could have, but it is also one of the most-difficult. Not only do parents have to keep their own mental health in check, but also those of their children too.
If children are suffering from social anxiety from wearing masks and social distancing, the burden on parents no doubt is heavied all the more.
Ultimately, responsibility falls on elected officials and local leaders to help provide proper resources to assist parents in taking care of their kids’ mental health, as well as their own. And if acted on soon, local parents would be better-equipped and prepared for another potential future mask/social distancing mandate.
2. Tribalism in the Community
In the 2020 election, Larimer County was more evenly split than several other prominent counties across the country. For example, of the ballots casted for the 2020 U.S. presidential race, roughly 55.6% of Larimer County ballots casted went for the Biden/Harris ticket and 40.3% went for Trump/Pence.
There is no doubt that our community is divided when it comes to social-issue based politics. But despite many seeing this as an opportunity to fight, it could be a grander opportunity for a better-understanding of both sides instead.
Now, more than ever, is an even-greater opportunity for groups like the The Northern Colorado Deliberative Journalism Project, which was established in fall of 2021. This project was created to help our politically diverse community talk about the problems raised on both sides of the mask issue (along with other issues).
3. Kids’ Self-Esteem
Whether at masquerade balls or Halloween parties, wearing masks in public used to be primarily used as a way to disguise appearances. Now they have become the social norm.
As kids, we all can remember the overwhelming desire to make friends. We also can remember how difficult it was (and still is for many of us) to remember names — leading to a heavy reliance on facial recognition.
By wearing masks, the younger generation is not be able to rely on facial recognition, which makes it more difficult for them to make new friends. This spawns another opportunity for lawmakers and nonprofit organizations to provide funding toward resources that can help children learn how to make friends in the new “normal.”
4. Social Activity (Or The Lack Thereof) With Social Distancing
There is no doubt that many things have changed with the COVID-19 Pandemic, but the need for children’s social interaction hasn’t.
Some say that for younger children, the pandemic proved to be more beneficial than before. As a young child, who wouldn’t want 24/7 care from their parents? Although for older kids, it strips away their ability to navigate complicated social situations that they might run into when they are older.
Another mask and social distancing mandate could have serious effects on the older youth’s ability to navigate through difficult social situations in the future. This is another issue that needs to be remembered at the forefront of the debate of a potential future mask mandate for Larimer County.
5. Helping Children Deal With Anxiety
Anxiety numbers are through the roof. Insufficient mental health has become contagious. Whether it be social anxiety, the unpredictability of the future or lack of facial recognition due to masks — children in Northern Colorado have several fierce opponents to their mental health.
It doesn’t take much personal observation in a household to find that anxiety is running rampant in the lives of children in the community. Some may argue that another mask mandate does more mental health damage than any preventative measures could be applied for COVID-19. Other parents argue the opposite, in fear of the physical unknowns of the virus.
There is a future of mental health issues brewing, ranging from alcoholism to loneliness, and if not treated correctly in the present, a future mask and social distancing mandate could lead to an explosion of other problems, especially with children.
Many people are wondering why so many conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic have been circulating so rampantly among U.S. citizens, especially among parents. Perhaps it’s because they feel that the issues they face are not given enough consideration.
If local officals heard and acted accordingly on these issues that Northern Colorado families have, currently or will experience, it could be to their own benefit. This could ultimately help establish trust with local families and help unite our community in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
