I get it. This Coronavirus is taking over conversation in every corner of the world right now. It's hot news. It's non-stop. I'm sick of talking about it, yet I find myself needing to talk about it more and more.
And it is bothering our kiddos.
As my students walked into my classroom this morning, their conversations were consumed with telling me the worse nightmares they've ever woken up from. None of the nightmares had anything to do with this virus, but they all were surrounded by a spirit of fear. Three of 7 had crippling nightmares last night.. yet none of them confided in parents. My students are ages 9-11. They admitted to feeling silly for being so afraid of a dream.. because they are "too old" for that little kid stuff. Yet they were so fearful.
After this casual discussion of nightmares, I had to address the entire class on being prepared for this virus. Parents, they listen. They were itching to share the opinions they've heard, but I could not allow them all to speak of what they have heard... for it would have created more fear. I shared viewpoints and facts to help them think through what is happening. We discussed how we keep ourselves healthy the same way we fought through flu season together. We discussed that our leaders think it is best to get a grip while we are ahead so there aren't as many people getting sick as they did with the flu this year. We discussed every viewpoint possible in a calm and logical way. A calmness came over them... until they realized a truth about the worse-case-scenario.
They know that they will most likely not become ill. However, they are fully aware that the adults in their lives could become ill. One student looked at me and said, "I am scared because I am about to go visit my grandpa today and he gets sick easily..." One student asked, "You're not going to die on us, are you?!" At first I thought he was joking... but as I looked in his eyes, there was genuine fear. This student has watched two of his teachers battle cancer, lost one of those very teachers to another illness in the middle of his school year in her class, AND prayed a teacher through a terrible car accident.
Our kiddos think through this more than we realize. As a school, we sent all books and workbooks home with each student today JUST IN CASE our school district follows others and stops for a few weeks. They were understanding, yet apprehensive and sad about possibly saying goodbye to their friends and teachers for a while. Some held back tears as they realized their parents would have limitations in at-home-education and they would therefore have limitations. They did not fully understand everything, but they were the bravest faces I have seen in a long time. I waved goodbye with tears because I sent these precious children from a classroom of safety into a fearful world. They will feel it in every grocery store. They will see it in the eyes of every face mask covered adult. Goodness gracious, they'll even think about it when they have to carefully measure the minimal amount of toilet paper they will use because adults are panicking.
I'm not asking you to lock them away. Use this to teach them. Teach them calmness and positivity. Teach them to help and aid. Teach them to spread kindness and joy. Teach them to think critically and carefully without letting emotions cloud our minds. Teach them to be okay with things that are not in our control. Teach them to have joy in all circumstances. Teach them to be stronger that what the world throws at us. Teach them to talk about it well.
They can handle it.. they are SO INCREDIBLY BRAVE.
After you talk with them? Turn off the TV. Stop talking about it. Talk about their favorite books and movies and activities. Play in the sunshine with them. Play in the rain with them. Just be in the moment. Let them be kids. Help them understand, then let them trust you... because they are just kids. They should not have to carry this weight. But understand, the weight is heavier if you do not verbally take that weight from them. After it is all over, they will remember these few months as either the scariest months of their lives OR as the sweetest memories of their lives. YOU get to choose that one for them.
When they are adults, how will they handle something like this?
It all depends on how we show them right now.
Do not forget our children. They are seeing more and hearing more than we think.