How are your 3/4/5 year olds handling this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

I don’t know who needs to hear this— obviously pp — but it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness and acknowledge your emotions, even if they don’t meet your clinical definition of “trauma.” Even if they’re first world problems.
Developing Emotional intelligence starts at birth and I feel sorry for your children if you’re denying them the opportunity to feel sad or lost about their entire world turning upside down because of a disease that’s killing thousands (including possibly their own family or friends) just because it’s not “traumatic.”

[Anonymous]

And if you fail to see that tears over a missed music class are not really about the music class then I think you need a crash course in parenting and emotional intelligence yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

I don’t know who needs to hear this— obviously pp — but it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness and acknowledge your emotions, even if they don’t meet your clinical definition of “trauma.” Even if they’re first world problems.
Developing Emotional intelligence starts at birth and I feel sorry for your children if you’re denying them the opportunity to feel sad or lost about their entire world turning upside down because of a disease that’s killing thousands (including possibly their own family or friends) just because it’s not “traumatic.”

And it’s parent’s responsibility to teach kids to handle such crises as music class being cancelled for a few weeks, without dissolving into tears on a daily basis. This is how pampered snowflakes are born. What about a little empathy for the kids music teacher or studio, who may be permanently out of work? Everything is not me-me-me and my problems, and yes, that skill has to be taught. I feel sorry for your kids if you encourage all this navel gazing and marinating in how we “feel” all day.

[Anonymous]

My kids are all pretty ok - ages 10, 8, and 5. The 5 year old won’t start K until the fall.

The older two have some school work to do during the week, my husband & work, & the hardest part is figuring out what do with the 5 year old while we are working. I finally caved and downloaded ABC Mouse last week which has been helping.

[Anonymous]

My 4 yo is happy to be home. He loved school, his teachers and his friends but also loves being home. He understands why we can't go places but doesn't seem to understand that this will really go on for a while. There's a lot of "when the coronavirus is over maybe we can..." statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

I don’t know who needs to hear this— obviously pp — but it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness and acknowledge your emotions, even if they don’t meet your clinical definition of “trauma.” Even if they’re first world problems.
Developing Emotional intelligence starts at birth and I feel sorry for your children if you’re denying them the opportunity to feel sad or lost about their entire world turning upside down because of a disease that’s killing thousands (including possibly their own family or friends) just because it’s not “traumatic.”

And it’s parent’s responsibility to teach kids to handle such crises as music class being cancelled for a few weeks, without dissolving into tears on a daily basis. This is how pampered snowflakes are born. What about a little empathy for the kids music teacher or studio, who may be permanently out of work? Everything is not me-me-me and my problems, and yes, that skill has to be taught. I feel sorry for your kids if you encourage all this navel gazing and marinating in how we “feel” all day.

You are so far off of my point — like, in another solar system— and this response has revealed yourself as a curmudgeonly old Fox News watcher. it’s people like you that explain why we are in this situation in the first place. And yes I feel sorry for you that you’re so angry at the “snowflakes” and have so little enjoyable and redeeming about your life that you have to go seek fulfillment through being an internet troll. I’ll pray for you!

[Anonymous]

Mine are OK. People seem to be doing better if they have open parks they can go to, but we aren't driving to a park right now and are following the stay at home order. So, my kids have pretty much stayed inside for a month with only a couple walks and a little time in our small backyard. They are losing their will/interest to go anywhere anyways. They enjoy their days OK and live for treats and small gifts. They are happy enough, I suppose, but would really love a nature trail to go too. And they are climbers so desperately miss playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine are OK. People seem to be doing better if they have open parks they can go to, but we aren't driving to a park right now and are following the stay at home order. So, my kids have pretty much stayed inside for a month with only a couple walks and a little time in our small backyard. They are losing their will/interest to go anywhere anyways. They enjoy their days OK and live for treats and small gifts. They are happy enough, I suppose, but would really love a nature trail to go too. And they are climbers so desperately miss playgrounds.

Why can’t you go on a trail or bike ride? At least in Ffx county, “parks are closed, trails are open” is status quo. In Arlington, it’s permissible to transit through parks.

[Anonymous]

My 3.5 old old doesn't care. She is 3!! She stays home in her pjs all day, get a little more time watching PBS kids than she used to, gets tons of mom time, and her siblings are always around to play with. Her world is perfect to her. She asks about a friend every now and then, but moves on to the next thing near immediately.

Even my 8 and 10 yr old seem totally unfazed and adjusted to the new routine and normals for now. Kids are resilient and they don't care about the same things adults do.

[Anonymous]

My three year old is doing pretty well, but she misses things. The other day she announced "I want to go out for dinner!" and was disappointed when we couldn't. She misses her friends, she misses her dance class, she asks when she can show her teachers a dress she really likes, that kind of thing. Her birthday is in a couple months and she's probably going to be disappointed by whatever we can put together. It's usually just pizza with a couple friends and grandparents at the pool, but I can't imagine that happening even in July.

I'm also noticing a lot of this seeping into her imaginative play. Lots of stuffed animals that are sick or that are being told that daycare is closed or mommy has to work, which is a little sad.

She's doing okay overall and I'm really proud of how she's handling it, but it's hard to imagine that there aren't going to be some effects from being basically only with her parents for a couple months. I doubt anything major, but she'll be a different kid than if this hadn't happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

I don’t know who needs to hear this— obviously pp — but it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness and acknowledge your emotions, even if they don’t meet your clinical definition of “trauma.” Even if they’re first world problems.
Developing Emotional intelligence starts at birth and I feel sorry for your children if you’re denying them the opportunity to feel sad or lost about their entire world turning upside down because of a disease that’s killing thousands (including possibly their own family or friends) just because it’s not “traumatic.”

And it’s parent’s responsibility to teach kids to handle such crises as music class being cancelled for a few weeks, without dissolving into tears on a daily basis. This is how pampered snowflakes are born. What about a little empathy for the kids music teacher or studio, who may be permanently out of work? Everything is not me-me-me and my problems, and yes, that skill has to be taught. I feel sorry for your kids if you encourage all this navel gazing and marinating in how we “feel” all day.

You are both mean spirited and misinformed about how things affects kids. It’s not a tragedy to miss music class or play dates, to be sure, but any deviation from “normal” routines can be upsetting to observant and/or sensitive kids even if the parents are handling it just fine and showing no emotions one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Kids are two five and seven. They are pretty unfazed. They miss their friends and want to see them but are fairly content with zoom.

My FIL mentioned that the sun explore in X billion years and my oldest couldn’t sleep for a week, worried we would die out like the dinosaurs. But this has barely made a blip. Kids are weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are two five and seven. They are pretty unfazed. They miss their friends and want to see them but are fairly content with zoom.

My FIL mentioned that the sun explore in X billion years and my oldest couldn’t sleep for a week, worried we would die out like the dinosaurs. But this has barely made a blip. Kids are weird.

Ha! Thanks for the laugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly those used to going to pre-k or k...

My 4 year old is doing suprisingly okay. She seems to get what’s going on and that she can’t see her friends because of the germs. From time to time though I think reality hits her. The first time she realized her beloved music class would be by Zoom she broke down. Whenever she asks to do something and the takes a beat and then says “oh we can’t cause of the germs.” It’s breaking my heart.

Like everyone else I want things to get back to normal soon... but mostly so I don’t have to crush my kid anymore . I’m not religious but I’m praying for a vaccine ASAP so all of this can end.

Op, your kid is not “crushed.” If she behaves as such, it’s because she’s picking up on your neurosis

There will not be a vaccine before we go back to normal.

She won’t even remember this in 5 years.

Go look up trauma response for children who’ve experienced natural disasters... she may not remember, but our children will almost certainly be affected by this. There will be significant variation, but we’re foing to have a generation of children who have even more trauma than before.

Missing music class is not a natural disaster, pp, not is it a trauma, unless op turns it into one. It’s a first world problem if ever there was one. And no, a 4 year old absolutely will not be affected by this. Sorry.

I don’t know who needs to hear this— obviously pp — but it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness and acknowledge your emotions, even if they don’t meet your clinical definition of “trauma.” Even if they’re first world problems.
Developing Emotional intelligence starts at birth and I feel sorry for your children if you’re denying them the opportunity to feel sad or lost about their entire world turning upside down because of a disease that’s killing thousands (including possibly their own family or friends) just because it’s not “traumatic.”

And it’s parent’s responsibility to teach kids to handle such crises as music class being cancelled for a few weeks, without dissolving into tears on a daily basis. This is how pampered snowflakes are born. What about a little empathy for the kids music teacher or studio, who may be permanently out of work? Everything is not me-me-me and my problems, and yes, that skill has to be taught. I feel sorry for your kids if you encourage all this navel gazing and marinating in how we “feel” all day.

I'm a different parent, but my kid is also disappointed about missed activities. You work on learning to deal with that, but she's four. It's also OKAY to be disappointed about things that you like being cancelled. I miss my friends, I miss the things I do with my life that have been cancelled, and it's not "me-me-me" to acknowledge that. Teaching kids a balance that is "I was looking forward to this, and I'm sad about it being cancelled, but it'll be okay" should be the goal, not refusing to acknowledge that little things can make you sad.

I also, for the record, have a ton of empathy for the people who may be out of work. I'm still voluntarily paying for the music classes she can't use, the daycare she can't attend, and performances that were cancelled. You know, actual empathy that costs me something, rather than just letting me be mean to people on the internet.