A Child’s Perspective on the Pandemic

As we mark a year of navigating a global pandemic, our lives have been drastically altered. We’ve experienced quarantines, mask mandates, social distancing, testing, and vaccinations (for some). This past year has been filled with fear, anger, confusion, and immense loss. Now, a year later, we’re trying to adapt to what we call a “new normal.” But how normal is it really? Not very. Yet, we follow these protocols for safety and survival. This is the adult perspective. But what about children?

My seven-year-old son recently expressed something that struck a chord with me: “Remember when we thought this would all be over after just three weeks? We’ve missed two St. Patrick’s Day parades. I wish adults would just do what they need to do.”

This made me wonder: Why aren’t adults following the guidelines? It’s a valid question. Why do some people still roam around without masks, putting others at risk? The truth is, some adults act selfishly, believing they know better simply because they’re older. But wisdom isn’t guaranteed with age; it comes from experience. Those who truly understand the gravity of this pandemic have faced pain and loss. They are aware of the uncertainties and take precautions to protect themselves and those they love.

Intrigued, I asked him how school was going. “Horrible. I hate masks. You have to wait forever to take them off. It’s so annoying. At lunch, you have an assigned seat all week, and you can’t even see your friends. We have dividers, and we just want to break them, but we can’t.” Hearing that made my heart ache.

We continued our conversation. “I know I need to wear a mask because people are getting sick. You can catch it when someone sneezes, and the droplets can go into someone else’s mouth. I don’t want to get sick or make anyone else sick.” I was impressed by his understanding. “That’s why we use so much sanitizer at school, too, in case we touch our faces when our masks are off outside or after using the lunch tables.”

“What’s recess like now?” I asked. “Well, we don’t play tag as much because we can’t touch each other. But thankfully, we can take off our masks. I hate indoor recess because we just have our boxes.” Each child had to bring a plastic container filled with activities for solitary play during indoor recess. No card games or group activities—just solitary fun. It made me sad.

During remote learning, he enjoyed one aspect: “I could work in just a t-shirt and my boxers. That was great! But I’d take being back at school any day. I missed my friends. Talking on Google isn’t the same. We couldn’t tell jokes, and it was hard to focus when people didn’t mute their microphones.” I recalled watching him struggle to concentrate at the kitchen table, which made me think of all the other parents juggling work and their children’s remote schooling. I commend them for their resilience.

“I’m glad people are getting vaccinated now. Maybe that will help things get back to normal faster. I’m relieved my mom got hers so she doesn’t worry as much about getting sick.” I shared his relief; our family is vaccinated, allowing us to gather without fear. I still wear my mask in public, but I no longer worry about hugging my parents. The vaccine has provided some much-needed comfort.

“When this is over, I just want to go to the store and not panic if I forget my mask in the car. Remember when that happened with Lily?” My younger daughter was with me once without a mask, and I suddenly panicked when I realized it. She reacted with sheer terror, crying and covering her mouth as if she had done something terrible. I quickly found a mask, reassured her she was safe, and wiped her tears. But her reaction left an imprint on my heart. She is so conditioned as a preschooler to fear a virus that she is genuinely scared.

It breaks my heart that these years will be a significant memory of their childhood. Masks have become an everyday accessory, and I suspect I’ll be sending my kids to school with masks next year. I try to make it fun by letting them choose masks that reflect their personalities, but that novelty wears off quickly. They’re masked all day while I navigate my own life at home. Kids truly are the unsung heroes of this situation. They’ve faced challenges with grace, and I am incredibly proud of them.

So, what can we do? We need to keep vaccinating, masking, and washing our hands. That’s how we return to some form of normalcy. But as my son wisely stated, “I just hope this never happens again. I don’t want my kids to go through this. It sucks.” I couldn’t agree more.

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Summary:

This article explores a child’s perspective on the pandemic, emphasizing the struggles and adaptations faced by kids. A seven-year-old reflects on the challenges of mask-wearing, school changes, and the longing for normality while displaying surprising insight into the situation. The piece highlights the resilience of children during these difficult times and calls for continued safety measures as we navigate this unprecedented experience.

Keyphrase: child perspective on pandemic

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