COVID

Children Vaccinations Article 1

/ N.Pearson / 1 Comment

After getting my child vaccinated for the third time, I couldn’t help but notice it was the same vaccines he got his last three visits consecutively, and it made me wonder what is going on here? Have I educated myself enough on vaccinations to be accepting each one the doctor offers me? I realized I needed to do more research, so I took to the internet to see what I could find. 

After listening to a mother who has dealt with consequences and trauma from health defects caused by vaccinating her child, I wanted to dig even deeper and hear what real-life people I know think of getting vaccinated. Google anti-vax, and what you’ll find is many websites debunking anti-vaxxers. The most pro-anti-vax I could find were mediation grounds where both parties discussed their viewpoints. 

I knew that Facebook has a lot of groups and topics on this subject, and I figured this would be an excellent place to find more information and hear from both sides. 

Facebook probably thought I was ridiculous since I had already vaccinated my child, but I wanted answers, and I would do whatever it took to find them. With the information provided for me, I had a lead. It is eye-opening to hear from these passionate parents and people who work closely with children to listen to what they have to say. Both vaxxers and anti-vaxxers contributed their thoughts, and below is a brief look at the research I have conducted. Instead of giving you a two-hour spiel on all my research and studies, I will be conducting interviews over the next few weeks. I will be interviewing both sides of the coin so that moms from all over can have more information on what it means to vaccinate their children. Please stay tuned. 

Vaccines have eliminated some of the deadliest diseases that have ever affected humans, such as polio, smallpox, and a significant decrease in rubella. Even though millions of people’s lives have been saved because of vaccines, children face the dangers of having critical, long-lasting shoulder pain (SIRVA), paralyzation (polio vaccine), and can even cause death. For any parent, this raises the question, is it worth risking my child’s well-being? 

Even though vaccination has cured deadly diseases, the rise of chronic illness in children corresponds to the usage of vaccines. The government has protected pharmaceutical companies by redirecting all injury lawsuits to a government program called, The National Vaccine Program. These programs use this to protect pharmaceutical companies from going bankrupt and no longer being able to provide vaccines to the masses. It may also take off the pressure to reevaluate their products and respond quickly to dangers and tainted vaccines. 

We protect the community from massive outbreaks by forcing children to get vaccines. Yet, this doesn’t mean that vaccinated children cannot carry or spread these diseases. Yet when we push parents to vaccinate their children, we also take away their freedom of choice, and those who will not vaccinate cannot bring their children to school. 

I feel that alternative options should be researched. How to keep an unvaccinated child safe from disease and that there needs to be a community effort in allowing these kids to have an equal opportunity to grow and learn amongst their peers. There should be easily accessible information on the rise of vaccines and chronic illness in children. Numbers should be crunched, and parents who don’t want to vaccinate their children should be heard, especially those who have experience in their child undergoing terminal illnesses due to vaccinations. I don’t think there should be a greater good mindset and that every child’s life should be considered when getting vaccinated. Meaning, when I go to get my child vaccinated, the doctor doesn’t just say, “I think you should get this, this, and this because it has proven to be effective.” Instead, they would follow through with, “but in severe cases, reactions from this and that virus have caused (specific) pain, death, and injury.” The risks are underplayed, and I hope to expose some of this information in my upcoming interviews. 

My baby is so small, and these side effects are so dire. After my research, I am glad I vaccinated my child, but now I am considering waiting a few years (school age) to continue with the remaining vaccinations. I look forward to gaining more knowledge and information in the next few weeks and sharing it with you. 

How to Conquer Homeschooling during COVID

/ N.Pearson / Leave a comment

By Natascha Pearson

Mother working from home with a kid. Quarantine mode.

January 28, 2021: Parents all over California are pulling out their hair as another semester has rolled up and our counties have not opened up their school districts. As a Humboldt, California resident, I felt safe with our low numbers and the promise of a reopening. With the exception that nothing has changed, here are a few quick tips to keep your child focused while going into the next semester.

Write out a schedule and have your child adhere to it. An alarm clock that is scheduled for Zoom appointments will keep your student’s attendance up, such as the Nument 5 Times Alarm. Let’s say your child has an alarm that wakes them up, and then they have an hour or so to do their morning chores. The next alarm will remind them of their first class.  After their first class, they indulge in homework. An alarm goes off for their second class and after attending they check their schedule and are reminded to do an hour of physical activity (perhaps a list of physical activities that they can do around the house or in the yard,) and then they can eat lunch. Afterward, they attend their third class. An hour of homework or art follows the class, and it is almost as if your student attended a full day of school!

Get posters to hang around their room. Not their favorite television show but Educational Posters to help with homework and further understanding. It might seem like a cheat, but your student will learn by searching the posters and memorizing the information on them. Creating a similar environment as their classroom will put them in the headspace that this is study time, not playtime.

Pre-make their lunch. They don’t have to bring their bag lunch to their bedroom desk but having designated snacks and a lunch to eat will keep your child from asking for food and using it as an excuse to distract them from their studies. During this time where we’re stuck indoors for a great portion of the day, healthy snacks, and lunches are vital to have a functioning mind and body. When you think of the amount of time that you are being taken away from your own work at home situation by your kids demanding food you will find your child being more self-sufficient if you prepare ahead.

Check their work. Every child can be at fault for telling a white lie and now is no different. After the day has finished checking their assignments, particularly tests, to see that their grades reflect that they have been studying. It is easy to click through the answers and move on to the next assignment without receiving a passing grade, there is no teacher after all over their shoulder telling them to keep their nose in the books. Take the time to check the assignments and for every wrong answer have them figure out the right answer. They will be less likely to take shortcuts knowing that they will have to revise the wrong answers later.

Playtime is in the afternoons. Just like when the kids are in school, we don’t let our daughter out to play until after 3 pm. Keeping to an isolated group of friends that are in your “COVID” circle is crucial. This is also a good window for videogames. With the restrictions of not being glued to the screen an hour before dinner seems like a good time to allow your children screen time. Video games heighten hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and releases dopamine, the right amount of which is healthy for our children. 

Go to bed early. Just because there’s nowhere to physically go in the morning a scheduled bedtime will help your child wake up in the morning preparing for the next day of work. A book before bedtime will help the creative mind work within the realm of dreams. If your child is having a hard time sleeping, don’t ignore it. Play music for your child, leave the door open, put on a nightlight, whatever it takes to make sure they fall asleep at a decent time. Make sure your child eats dinner and any dessert at least an hour and a half before bedtime. Eating at night will cause the digestive system to be in action which can be a cause of not sleeping.

By making changes to your home to allow proper space for studying and activities you will find that your child no longer has to come to you for help or to look for a distraction but is focused and self-sufficient. Their grades will reflect their new routine and there will be less obstacles with a thorough studying habit along with a healthy amount of play time. School will become a healthy focus that will give you the space you need to excel in your own work.