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So, I just had a scary dad moment that made me realize something important. I& #39;ll share it because it might offer some insight into the & #39;indirect& #39; cost of this pandemic that we, as parents, should take note of.
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With his folks working, the school year canceled, and worldly chaos unfolding around him, my 6 yo has spent many hours & #39;entertaining himself& #39; in front of whatever will do the trick (TV, games, crafts, etc).
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As the parent, I considered & #39;no news, good news,& #39; and while I& #39;m busy adulting in a crazy world, a quiet child has kept himself busy in solitude. As a creature of alone time, I found no harm in it. But, my son is not like me.
He needs people. He loves them.
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He needs people. He loves them.
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So, this afternoon I asked my boy what he wanted for lunch. He was insistent that he already had lunch. He hadn& #39;t, but I played along. I asked what he ate.
He answered, "Macaroni and cheese."
That was yesterday& #39;s lunch.
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He answered, "Macaroni and cheese."
That was yesterday& #39;s lunch.
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When I explained that was yesterday, fear washed over his eyes. He started shaking. He balled his fists and refused to believe it. I continued to gently assure him that it was OK to be confused, but he broke down.
I held him in my arms. My little skinny, little boy.
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I held him in my arms. My little skinny, little boy.
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He didn& #39;t know where he was. What day it was. It was a scary-as-fuck, passing bout of childish dementia.
The more we talked, the more he returned to normal. We fixed him lunch and called it a & #39;snack.& #39;
He ate it all, and asked for seconds.
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The more we talked, the more he returned to normal. We fixed him lunch and called it a & #39;snack.& #39;
He ate it all, and asked for seconds.
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Later today, I& #39;m taking him outside, and we& #39;re going to work on a puzzle together tonight.
He& #39;ll be OK, BUT--
It shined a big old spotlight on my dereliction of duty as a COVID-19 dad. I should have checked in on him sooner.
His life was uprooted...
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He& #39;ll be OK, BUT--
It shined a big old spotlight on my dereliction of duty as a COVID-19 dad. I should have checked in on him sooner.
His life was uprooted...
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And I made the mistake of thinking it would be like a summer break for him. But, removing school structure and friends had a clear psychological impact.
To cope with fear and loneliness, my son went inward and lost himself.
That& #39;s a scary superpower, I& #39;ll tell you what.
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To cope with fear and loneliness, my son went inward and lost himself.
That& #39;s a scary superpower, I& #39;ll tell you what.
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So, I guess, my point is this: check in with your children right now. Quiet doesn& #39;t mean OK. Ask them if they miss their friends. Tell them it& #39;s OK, if they feel sad or scared. If they have to be alone during the day while you work, etc, make sure you check in when you can.
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We cannot let this pandemic harm us any more than it already is. I doubly draw the line at my children.
The collateral damage of distance is not one that I anticipated, nor is it one we can ignore.
If I never see that look in my child& #39;s eyes again, I& #39;ll die happy.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart">
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The collateral damage of distance is not one that I anticipated, nor is it one we can ignore.
If I never see that look in my child& #39;s eyes again, I& #39;ll die happy.
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