Stumbling Upon Life

In this last week alone, every day I have received news that confirmed at least one death by the covid 19 virus. A friend’s mother, another friend’s uncle, an acquaintance, an ex-colleague, two of my husband’s colleagues, it goes on and on. Every day one death news. By now each one of us knows someone who died or is right now battling for their lives. We all know a lot by now. I’m so sorry for all the losses. So sorry.

Within a week or a day, lives are getting altered. I know, “stay home, be safe” is a slogan that feels like a slap on the face. Mental health is deteriorating by the news and the anxiety levels are hitting an all-time high. Staying home is the last thing on your mind, yet if you are privileged enough to make a decent meal for your family without having to worry about what you will eat tomorrow then please follow protocols and stay put. At least for the next two-three weeks.

What value addition is this big rant adding to your life?

As a parent of a 6-year-old who has been immune compromised for most of his life and now that he is healthy, covid still keeps him quarantined, I have some experience to share.

Along with us our kids are staying home with us. Surprisingly enough they are handling this prison environment much better than us adults but two things that are happening with the kids need to be highlighted.

1. They are now afraid to go out.
2. If they go out, they are afraid of the human touch.

1. They are simply afraid or not interested in stepping out. Even if you want to take them for a walk in your backyard or the local garden with protocols in place they hesitate. They prefer staying home. They have heard the news, parents talking, teachers warning and now they are scared to step out. Most parents were anyways struggling with maintaining a healthy screen time and now it’s just not possible with schools online and no outdoors.

2. Before the second wave hit we went to a public garden with necessary precautions and there were few kids with their parents. My kid wanted to play on the seesaw so he asked another kid ages around 7-8 years to join. He happily joined but as he began to sit on the seesaw he tumbled and out of instinct I went to hold him to save him from the drop but he shouted in the most screeching voice I ever heard from a kid.

“Do not touch me. Coronavirus. Do touch me.” he kept repeating till I stepped back. I froze with my hands up in the air saying, ” I am not touching you kid sorry. You were about to fall so I leaned in to help.”

His father was nearby who eventually was able to soothe him who was equally shocked by the kid’s reaction.

With the second wave hitting India with such vengeance parents of small kids be calm and very careful with the choice of words and information you are letting on to these sponge bobs. They are absorbing the grittiest details and it is affecting them. They are putting on a brave face but it is affecting them.

Not now but in the long run imagine our kids, not at all wanting to step out at all and being afraid of another human. We all know the world is not going to be the same again but with whatever we have make sure these new buds are left with enough hope that yes, everything is going to be okay.

Suggestion

• Don’t lie to them but don’t scare them. Tell them the facts yes Corona Virus is out there and is attacking a lot of people. But our doctors and nurses are doing the best they can but we need to help them by staying home for few days.
• Teach them about protocols but also teach them to ask for help or to let people help when they need.
• Talk to them every night. Tell them things are going to be okay we will go out soon to the beach or the garden but for few weeks we need to be home and it’s not a bad thing.