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I think this Reddit comment from a use called TheMagecite on parenting during the pandemic might get to some of it: "No. So lets take my example I have two chi

I think this Reddit comment from a use called TheMagecite on parenting during the pandemic might get to some of it: "No. So lets take my example I have two children one has autism. What my son desperately needs is social interaction, how do you teach social interaction well without peers? He can't see other children and right now he has such limited exposure to other children he is about to start school and it is a nightmare. While my son is brilliant in some ways and could read and write at age 3 however his social skills and general understanding are just so far behind. Due to the pandemic normally there would be spots in a special class but so many kids who would have normally progressed just have gone backwards has meant there are zero spots for my child. It also has meant all of the therapies which make the world of difference (and earlier intervention the better) have either been canceled or moved to remote which is no where near as good. I used to take my son out every weekend and get exposure to kids or take him to water parks and just have fun with them. Now we are sheltered at home with very little to do and we crack out board games but the ipad has probably been his main entertainer. I have work and we have other children but we do make sure it is educational stuff but we still feel tremendous guilt. I work, we have other children and well while everyone says we have managed to do an amazing job during the pandemic as my son has still progressed which is different from what most other children in his situation have done. My partner and I feel horrible and honestly we are just completely burnt out. We could have done more, we should have done more but I think depression and being burnt out has just fucked us. I fucking hate myself for this and I probably will feel guilty the rest of my days. I am sick of being told we have done an amazing job considering. Considering Covid doesn't help my child. This just SUCKS. Also my child's experience with Autism is probably better than most. I feel horrible for the vast majority which have it worse than me and I can't imagine what they are going through." https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/comments/s8wpsz/covid_parenting_has_passed_the_point_of_absurdity/htkyagu https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/comments/s8wpsz/covid_p... Edit: added more context to the comment.

orwin 5y ago
For context, which country do you live in?
- solarmist 5y ago
  Sounds like the US or Canada to me.
- ajmurmann 5y ago
  I only posted the quote and live in the US. Looking are the Reddit history of the author, I think they likely live in Sidney, Australia.
thatfrenchguy 5y ago
This is where the overprotective nature of American parenting comes to bite you: your kid will be fine playing with other kids outside, why not… do it?
- PaulAJ 5y ago
  Not necessarily. Kids with poor social skills get bullied.
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    I'd counter that getting bullied is a critical component of learning social skills. Put rails on it with teacher or parent supervision, so it doesn't get out of hand and the worst excesses can be avoided. But if children can't navigate social situations... they grow up into the adults we are literally talking about. (Said as someone who had a difficult time socially as a child, and put in and continue to put in considerable work to improve myself)
    - DarylZero 5y ago
      Social situations in which you're NOT bullied are critical to learning social skills.
- lazide 5y ago
  Because you’ll be constantly worried about getting Child Protective Services called on you if anything goes wrong or some random neighbor decides stranger danger is real.
  - dlp211 5y ago
    While this does happen, this is not normal and CPS isn't going to do anything to a healthy family that let's their kids go out and play.
    - lazide 5y ago
ianai 5y ago
I think I'd ask that commenter whether that guilt is doing any good for him/her/it. If he's simply unable to do more and it's still not enough, then the problem wasn't going to be solved by anything he could do. He probably still did good. That's unfortunately all anyone can do - good. Can't guarantee success when you "swing that bat", but you can try.

orwin 5y ago

For context, which country do you live in?

solarmist 5y ago
Sounds like the US or Canada to me.
ajmurmann 5y ago
I only posted the quote and live in the US. Looking are the Reddit history of the author, I think they likely live in Sidney, Australia.

thatfrenchguy 5y ago

This is where the overprotective nature of American parenting comes to bite you: your kid will be fine playing with other kids outside, why not… do it?

PaulAJ 5y ago
Not necessarily. Kids with poor social skills get bullied.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  I'd counter that getting bullied is a critical component of learning social skills. Put rails on it with teacher or parent supervision, so it doesn't get out of hand and the worst excesses can be avoided. But if children can't navigate social situations... they grow up into the adults we are literally talking about. (Said as someone who had a difficult time socially as a child, and put in and continue to put in considerable work to improve myself)
  - DarylZero 5y ago
    Social situations in which you're NOT bullied are critical to learning social skills.
lazide 5y ago
Because you’ll be constantly worried about getting Child Protective Services called on you if anything goes wrong or some random neighbor decides stranger danger is real.
- dlp211 5y ago
  While this does happen, this is not normal and CPS isn't going to do anything to a healthy family that let's their kids go out and play.
  - lazide 5y ago

ianai 5y ago

I think I'd ask that commenter whether that guilt is doing any good for him/her/it. If he's simply unable to do more and it's still not enough, then the problem wasn't going to be solved by anything he could do. He probably still did good. That's unfortunately all anyone can do - good. Can't guarantee success when you "swing that bat", but you can try.