To the Editor:
I became a mother overnight three years ago when my three nieces ages 9, 7 and 4 and my two nephews ages 5 and 8 entered state custody. Three years later, I am now married and my husband and I are expecting our first child.
My feelings on the playground issue are strong. I feel this pandemic has created so much fear that people have allowed things that otherwise would have been unthinkable if they hadn’t been so terrified and controlled by their fears.
This virus is a risk to all of us. But so are car accidents, murders, suicides and the risk of contracting any other contagious disease. Do we as a family, community or country stop living? Of course not, because what is “safety” if it means your entire life is spent crouched in a closet hiding your eyes. I want to live my life. I want my children to get a chance to live theirs. Complete with risks and everything.
My stand on the playground question is simple — open them. If a parent feels they are a risk to their child, that parent has the right to remain at home. If a parent feels that they are not a risk, their child can happily enjoy the playground.
At the end of the day this should not be a town decision, but a parental one. There are some bad parents out there that are a threat to their children’s lives and safety. But most of us are good decent people who love our children and will choose to do what we think is in our child’s best interest.
If we don’t trust parents to make good choices for their children, then the next step could be medical boards bringing up our kids.
This is America. Let’s let people live like it is. My husband is an Army veteran who volunteered for a tour in Afghanistan to protect the freedoms we all hold dear. Freedom is important to us. We don’t want to see it lost because of people living in fear.
Julianna Smith
East Hodgdon
