My kids & I have (obviously) not been exploring in the way we usually do. We have been avoiding busy trails, our regular state parks, & with the Buffalo River closed we have not been making our way over there. But, we have learned there are a lot of ways to explore in our own “backyard” & we have been making the most of it. It’s not always fun & I wouldn’t say it’s the best time ever, but my children have definitely taught me you can truly find joy in the simplicity of playing tag in an empty parking lot.
I started getting peppered with questions from my kids about Covid-19. We were driving home from a failed attempt at an excursion to a local trail that had way too may people on it & was being monitored by local police. We didn’t even get out of the car, which was why the questions started.
“Coronavirus is so confusing!” -My 8 Year Old
They mostly want a timeline to know when they can see grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins & friends. When can they go to a playground, eat in a restaurant, or revert to any sort of life that resembled the pre-Covid one from February? Then, my oldest asked if he could yell really loud what he was feeling & I told him to go for it.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, “I MISS MY FRIENDS!” My daughter yelled next, “CORONAVIRUS IS SO CONFUSING!” My youngest yelled, “THIS IS ALL SO STUPID!” They each yelled a few more times & then we all erupted into laughter. Why does screaming make you feel so much better??
Every single feeling they have mirror my own & I don’t blame them for wanting to yell it as loud as they’re able. It has required some diligence on my part to not get caught up in my own head space on this issue & assume the kids are just fine. Their worlds have been flipped upside down just as much as mine. So, if screaming at the top of their lungs helped, then by all means, let’s do it.
We ended the night in a new parking lot riding bikes, playing tag, & came home to beat the storm headed our way. We are finding a routine to the new normal, adjusting to every change & looking forward to the moment we get see everyone again.
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