Parents across four California and Texas regions with low child opportunity express worry about the start of school, uncertainty when children are out of parental care, behavioral issues, and developmental concerns. Ten parents joined a WhatsApp group to share experiences amid heightened political polarization and persistent threats to social services. One parent described fear about the uncertainty the world brings when not present for a five-year-old beginning kindergarten. Another parent worried a child might misbehave or become a bully. A parent reported a four-year-old showing signs of ADHD and delaying TK enrollment due to a late birthday.
My biggest worry, just like many other parents, would be the uncertainty that the world brings when you're not there, said Christopher Cuzul, a sales manager at O'Reilly Auto Parts in Bakersfield, California. His five-year-old, Christopher Jr, is starting kindergarten this year. You know your child more than anyone else. Not everyone understands how they act or what they need, Cuzul said.
Christopher is one of 10 parents who joined a WhatsApp group to chat with Guardian journalists about how it feels to raise kids now at a time of heightened political polarization and when social services are perennially on the chopping block. We sought out parents across four California and Texas regions that Boston University researchers identified as areas with low child opportunity. In these places, young people have less access to resources outside a parent's control, like clean air and quality schools or parks.
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