A year into the global pandemic, our lives have been dramatically altered. We’ve experienced quarantine, masked faces, social distancing, testing, and vaccinations (for some of us, at least). This year has been filled with fear, frustration, confusion, and significant loss. Yet, here we are, a year later, trying to adapt to a new normal. But how normal is it? Not very. However, it’s what we must do to stay safe and hopefully thrive. A strong assertion, but it’s the reality for adults. What about the children?
My seven-year-old son made a remark that really caught my attention: “Remember when we thought this would all be over in just three weeks? We’ve missed two St. Patrick’s Day parades. I wish adults would just follow the rules.”
Why aren’t adults following the guidelines? That’s a great question. Why are there still people out there without masks, risking others’ safety? Well, kiddo, it often seems that adults can be selfish. They may think their age grants them wisdom, but true wisdom comes from experience. Those who understand this pandemic have felt pain and loss; they harbor a legitimate fear of the unknown. They want to protect themselves and their loved ones, so they take precautions.
Intrigued by his thoughts, I asked him about school. “It’s horrible. I hate masks. You have to wait hours to take them off. It’s really annoying. In the lunchroom, we have assigned spots all week and can’t see our friends. We have dividers that we just want to break, but we can’t.” Hearing him want to break a divider to talk to his friends tugged at my heart.
We continued our conversation. “I know I have to wear a mask because people are getting the virus. You catch it when someone sneezes, and droplets can spread. I don’t want to get sick or make anyone else sick.” I was impressed by his understanding. “That’s also why we use so much sanitizer at school. In case you touch your face when your mask is off or after touching lunch tables.”
How is recess different? “Well, we don’t play tag much ‘cause we aren’t supposed to touch each other. Thankfully, we don’t have to wear our masks outside. I hate indoor recess because you just have your box.” Each child brought a plastic shoe box filled with activities for solo play during indoor recess. No group activities like cards or Play-Doh; just solitary play. It made me sad.
During distance learning, there was one perk: he could work in a t-shirt and boxer briefs. Now, back to uniforms, he readily admits he prefers school over being home. “I missed my friends. Video calls aren’t the same. We couldn’t tell jokes and it was hard to focus when people didn’t mute their mics.” I recalled the struggles of balancing work and children, something countless parents navigate daily. I admire their resilience.
“I’m glad people are getting vaccinated. Maybe that will help this end sooner. I’m relieved that Mom got hers, so she’s less worried about getting sick.” I echoed his sentiments. Our family is fortunate to be vaccinated and able to gather again without fear. While I still wear my mask, I no longer worry about hugging my parents. The vaccine offers a sense of relief.
“You know what I want to do when this is over? I just want to go to Target and not worry about forgetting my mask in the car. Remember when that happened to Sarah?” His younger sister wasn’t wearing a mask the other day in the store, and I panicked when I realized it. “Oh no! You’re not wearing a mask!” Her reaction was pure panic; she broke down crying, covering her mouth as if something dreadful was about to happen. I quickly provided a mask and reassured her that she was safe. Her big brown eyes filled with tears as she thanked me. It struck me how conditioned she is to fear a deadly virus.
This reality pains me for my children. It saddens me that a significant memory from their childhood will be the years spent in masks. Yes, years. This pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon. While things are improving, I believe I will still be sending my kids to school with masks next year. I try to make it enjoyable by letting them choose fun ones that reflect their personalities. That excitement lasts briefly before it becomes just another hassle. They wear their masks while I’m at home, enjoying my freedom. Kids are the true heroes, adapting to these challenges with grace. I am incredibly proud of all children navigating this time.
What can we do? Keep vaccinating, keep masking, and keep washing our hands. That’s the path back to whatever “normal” means. As my sweet boy put it, “I just hope this never happens again. I don’t want my kids to go through this. It sucks.” I feel you, buddy, I feel you.
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Summary
In this heartfelt piece, a mother reflects on the pandemic’s impact through the eyes of her seven-year-old son. Their conversations reveal the challenges kids face—mask-wearing, social distancing, and the longing for connection with friends. Despite the difficulties, children are adapting with resilience, while parents navigate their own stresses. The piece emphasizes the importance of vaccinations and continuing safety measures to return to some form of normalcy.