How do you tell a child they life they knew is over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you do this? A six year old has limited understanding of time. Sounds like you are expecting her to make some mature acceptance which is unfair. This is not forever; we will distance and wear masks as long as the infection continues to be community acquired. They are working on vaccines which will help. Sounds like you want to upset her, to put adult problems on her shoulders. No reason to increase any anxiety she has; you’re her mom, it’s your job to make her life better not worse.

Not OP. I didn't get this from their post at all. It sounds like they care about their child's mental health.

[Anonymous]

Listen, at some point people are just going to start ignoring the “new normal” and just revert back to our “old normal”. Yes, people will get sick and some will die, but eventually we’ll reach herd immunity and things will be back to normal. Many people will not allow this to become a long term way of life, no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen, at some point people are just going to start ignoring the “new normal” and just revert back to our “old normal”. Yes, people will get sick and some will die, but eventually we’ll reach herd immunity and things will be back to normal. Many people will not allow this to become a long term way of life, no way.

Won't happen. Can't happen. To many government restrictions.

[Anonymous]

This is more like how life was for most of human history. So new normal is the oldest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (6) thinks things will go back to normal soon. She obviously can't grasp the full impact of the situation yet, and thinks that one day she'll be able to see her grandparents, not a wear a mask, travel, hug friends, attend school. I've been very non-committal about the future because I don't want to negatively affect her mental health, but at some point she'll need to understand that things are different now and won't ever go back. I'm actually wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by putting it off, but I'm dreading it.

Anyway, how and when do you plan on having this conversation?

Listen - and I'm not being ironic here - you need help. Do you have a therapist you can talk to?
People freaking WILL (and some still do!) hug friends, attend school (some privates will be open as soon as this August), travel, and even ditch masks, eventually. A year from now, everything will be back to normal.
Reading some posts here, you'd think an asteroid hit the Earth and the surviving 50 humans all frequent DCUM. "Things are different now and won't ever go back". Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is more like how life was for most of human history. So new normal is the oldest.

Uh...masks, zero interaction with others, and forced homeschooling? You're crazy.

[Anonymous]

I mean it sucks to lose school and not see grandparents as a kid, but her life is in no way over. My kids and those of my friends are having a totally fine summer. It’s patched together, as the school year will be, but they’ve learned to wear masks at camp and in public and it’s increasingly NBD.

It helps that DH and I don’t have a lot of anxiety of our own about COVID-19, so our kids don’t witness it or have any of their own. They’re 7, 4, 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD (6) thinks things will go back to normal soon. She obviously can't grasp the full impact of the situation yet, and thinks that one day she'll be able to see her grandparents, not a wear a mask, travel, hug friends, attend school. I've been very non-committal about the future because I don't want to negatively affect her mental health, but at some point she'll need to understand that things are different now and won't ever go back. I'm actually wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by putting it off, but I'm dreading it.

Anyway, how and when do you plan on having this conversation?

Listen - and I'm not being ironic here - you need help. Do you have a therapist you can talk to?
People freaking WILL (and some still do!) hug friends, attend school (some privates will be open as soon as this August), travel, and even ditch masks, eventually. A year from now, everything will be back to normal.
Reading some posts here, you'd think an asteroid hit the Earth and the surviving 50 humans all frequent DCUM. "Things are different now and won't ever go back". Geez.

Interesting. You've not heard the term "new normal" either? And you do realize the government never drops restrictions they institute, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (6) thinks things will go back to normal soon. She obviously can't grasp the full impact of the situation yet, and thinks that one day she'll be able to see her grandparents, not a wear a mask, travel, hug friends, attend school. I've been very non-committal about the future because I don't want to negatively affect her mental health, but at some point she'll need to understand that things are different now and won't ever go back. I'm actually wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by putting it off, but I'm dreading it.

Anyway, how and when do you plan on having this conversation?

Um, why on earth do you think your 6 y.o. will never do these things again?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean it sucks to lose school and not see grandparents as a kid, but her life is in no way over. My kids and those of my friends are having a totally fine summer. It’s patched together, as the school year will be, but they’ve learned to wear masks at camp and in public and it’s increasingly NBD.

It helps that DH and I don’t have a lot of anxiety of our own about COVID-19, so our kids don’t witness it or have any of their own. They’re 7, 4, 2.

Exactly. The new normal. Thank you for proving my point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD (6) thinks things will go back to normal soon. She obviously can't grasp the full impact of the situation yet, and thinks that one day she'll be able to see her grandparents, not a wear a mask, travel, hug friends, attend school. I've been very non-committal about the future because I don't want to negatively affect her mental health, but at some point she'll need to understand that things are different now and won't ever go back. I'm actually wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by putting it off, but I'm dreading it.

Anyway, how and when do you plan on having this conversation?

Um, why on earth do you think your 6 y.o. will never do these things again?!

Say it with me now: new normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean it sucks to lose school and not see grandparents as a kid, but her life is in no way over. My kids and those of my friends are having a totally fine summer. It’s patched together, as the school year will be, but they’ve learned to wear masks at camp and in public and it’s increasingly NBD.

It helps that DH and I don’t have a lot of anxiety of our own about COVID-19, so our kids don’t witness it or have any of their own. They’re 7, 4, 2.

Same. Only fewer kids Yes, masks are a pain in the butt (adults included), and my kids' education will somewhat suffer, but I do believe people who declare this to be the end of times are too sheltered -- and privileged - for their own good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen, at some point people are just going to start ignoring the “new normal” and just revert back to our “old normal”. Yes, people will get sick and some will die, but eventually we’ll reach herd immunity and things will be back to normal. Many people will not allow this to become a long term way of life, no way.

Won't happen. Can't happen. To many government restrictions.

If Trump wins this election (lord forbid) he will fight to force everyone back to "normal", whether they want to or not. Gotta keep the workers working and run that hamster wheel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD (6) thinks things will go back to normal soon. She obviously can't grasp the full impact of the situation yet, and thinks that one day she'll be able to see her grandparents, not a wear a mask, travel, hug friends, attend school. I've been very non-committal about the future because I don't want to negatively affect her mental health, but at some point she'll need to understand that things are different now and won't ever go back. I'm actually wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by putting it off, but I'm dreading it.

Anyway, how and when do you plan on having this conversation?

Listen - and I'm not being ironic here - you need help. Do you have a therapist you can talk to?
People freaking WILL (and some still do!) hug friends, attend school (some privates will be open as soon as this August), travel, and even ditch masks, eventually. A year from now, everything will be back to normal.
Reading some posts here, you'd think an asteroid hit the Earth and the surviving 50 humans all frequent DCUM. "Things are different now and won't ever go back". Geez.

Interesting. You've not heard the term "new normal" either? And you do realize the government never drops restrictions they institute, right?

I think you should go back to your social studies class. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen, at some point people are just going to start ignoring the “new normal” and just revert back to our “old normal”. Yes, people will get sick and some will die, but eventually we’ll reach herd immunity and things will be back to normal. Many people will not allow this to become a long term way of life, no way.

Won't happen. Can't happen. To many government restrictions.

If Trump wins this election (lord forbid) he will fight to force everyone back to "normal", whether they want to or not. Gotta keep the workers working and run that hamster wheel.

State and local government will never allow that.