Thursday 16 April 2020

We have started going for daily walks.

We have been following the coronavirus guidance and we had been staying at home. Stu has been the one going out and getting the shopping and the girls and I have been staying at home. The kids were happy just playing and getting their daily exercise in the back garden until it started to effect my youngest, Ellie.


At the beginning of this month my girls had made cards to send to my great Aunt for Easter. She's been home and we thought she could do with a bit of cheering up. They made the cards and there is a postbox about 10 houses down from our house. Ellie went out to post them and I stood at the door and watched her. She was fine walking there but on the way back she ran and came through the front door with a look of fear on her face! I was scared that she was scared of being outside.

We have all heard it on the TV and radio that we should only leave the house for shopping for basic necessities and it must be as infrequent as possible. We can leave for any medical need and travel for work purposes but only when you cannot work from home. I am in no way complaining about this, I am glad that people are mostly being kept at home to stop the spread but it must be confusing for children. All they hear is stay at home, they shouldn't go out or they could catch the virus and pass it on to others. It must be terrifying for little minds.

What Ellie had never heard was about the government’s guidance saying people can leave their homes for exercise once per day. She thought we were staying home to save ourselves from the coronavirus. In her head she thought that if we went out the front door we would catch it. We had a chat and I reassured her that as long as we stayed away from other people we would be OK. I tried to convince myself of this too.

Within an hour of her coming in from the postbox scared we had got our shoes on and went for a walk around our town. We stayed out of the main part of it, where the shops are and just walked. We were all fine and I think it eased Ellie's mind. We have been out for a walk a few times since, exploring parts of our little town we've never been before. I don't want Ellie to be scared of going outside. When we see someone on the same side of the street as us we cross over if they already haven't. 

I read something on Facebook which has stuck in my head:

Everyone is applauding everyone but our kids!! These small heroes have stayed indoors more than they’ve ever known in their lives. Their whole worlds have literally been turned upside down, separated from grandparents, their friends, cousins etc. All these rules they’ve never known. A life they couldn’t have imagined. Adults talking about others becoming unwell, news reporting death after death. Our poor babies minds must be racing. Every day they get up and carry on despite all that’s going on and all they’ve done is paint pictures and put stuff in their windows for the “heroes” out in the world. So here’s to our little heroes, today, tomorrow, forever.

It's true our kids have had their lives been turned upside down. Nine months ago we moved here so my girls could get to know my dad properly, their grandad and they haven't seen him in a month. I've seen him at a distance a few times but the girls are missing him and his partner Sarah. They're missing their friends and Ellie is even missing school.

We are continuing to go for a walk most days, just so the girls don't get scared of being out, out in the big wide world.

How are your kids dealing with the lock down?

3 comments :

  1. This is actually a very good point, and one I hadn't thought about. We've stayed inside all the time too, so my kids may be feeling the same. Even worse, you need a signed (timed and dated) attestation when you go out in France and that can be checked by the police, with fines if you haven't got one, so they feel like they're breaking the law if they go outside ! I'll have a chat with them later - maybe we should head out for a walk too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We've mostly stayed inside and just ventured out into the garden but that's a good point about Ellie being scared to go outside. I'm glad that you're getting out for walks and that this seems to be easing Ellie's mind. I have been out a couple of times for a walk with Sophie and she's been fine so far, thankfully. She's been good at understanding why she can't see her friends or go out places but it must be hard for her, and for all our children.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We've been walking everyday too - we don't have a garden so I'm really mindful of getting the kids out in the fresh air during lockdown #MMBC

    ReplyDelete