There is not much doubt that the corona virus pandemic has far reaching implications for today and for the days to come. The whole world has been forced to adjust to new norms and different ways of interacting. When making connections with my adult friends, the topic of conversation inevitably begins and ends with how we are coping with self isolation. But what are our young children thinking and feeling during this changed time?
On a day last spring, I recall the sound of my grandchildren’s laughter echoing through the spring afternoon . School was finished for the day and our crescent was alive with the sounds of some of my grand kids and several of their young buddies enjoying the sunshine and its accompanying warmth. The screeching of bicycles tires, the swooshing of skateboard wheels and the slapping noise of hockey pucks into nets set up on newly dried driveways, created a clamour that signalled spring’s arrival. Kids rode side by side and gave each other high fives to recognize physical accomplishments. The giggles rang out, mingled with a smattering of loud shouts of encouragement and challenges to match each others’ adept performances.
That is a tender remembrance of what many of us have taken for granted – everyday carefree activities that hopefully we can recreate in times to come. It represents a time that we eagerly hope to return to as soon as we are safely able. And it exemplifies an easygoing childhood, free from the pressures of an adult world.
In some ways, my grandchildren seem not to have adjusted their childhood play. Yesterday, my husband and and I were finishing one of our walking routines. As we entered our street we could hear familiar laughter coming from our son and daughter-in-law’s front yard. On their porch, my three grandsons could barely look up as we called to them from a safe distance. So engrossed were they in their family project- tie dying tee shirts – that our attempts to chat fell on deaf ears. I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered when tie dying in 1970s was the fashion. I never expected the practice to resurface as a result of the virus.
What is glaringly different for these young people is the sharing of good times with their friends and family. The older boys, ages 10 and 8, seem to understand the need to social distance and are careful to maintain a safe six feet from others. Our 6 year old little guy tries his best but is exuberant and needs to be reminded that he cannot come close to share his exciting stories. He must be missing this once taken for granted connection.
In the Palm Desert area, my youngest grandchildren are creating their own special response to self isolation. My four year old grandson’s project involves he and dad setting up an aquarium with exotic fish, including to my grandson’s delight, a shark! He and my son visited the pet store that allowed one set of patrons in at a time. How odd it must seem to him to adhere to these restrictive guidelines. As much as he will enjoy his fish friends, I am sure he would love to run and jump with his usual playmates.
And his sister, my only granddaughter, had one of her little girl dreams come true. Her mother, owner of a local jewelry store, fearlessly managed to pierce her daughter’s ears. I viewed a video that recorded the event. What a brave little girl, barely flinching when the piercing instrument made its mark on her tiny earlobes. Yes, she could share her experience remotely but I can only imagine what more delight could have been hers if she could show off her new earrings in person!
