There’s a lot of discussion about the risks of COVID-19 for the elderly.
But I worry more about the impact of this pandemic on our just-turned-teenager grandson. He’s at the stage in life when he’s very invested in social connections and in separating from his parents.
Now he’s been stuck at home with his parents – who are fortunately very good people – for three months.
How will he make sense of this time when he looks back on it? Will he grieve the losses? Will he have learned things he otherwise never would have?
And it is only for 3 months so far. I agree that he will learn things he never would have, but we certainly need to learn new things in our society. My concern for him is that socially isolated he will not have the opportunity to learn things that are a natural and important part of the maturing process.
I too worry about my teenage grandchildren isolated because of this pandemic. I mentioned jokingly (or not!) that if this had happened to me at their age, I would have jumped off the balcony. There will be lots of experiences missed and many unhappy moments. At the least, they will have learned the invaluable lesson of coping by themselves; the discipline of learning alone; the beauty of time to think and ponder, and if they have loving and caring parents and siblings, their bond will become stronger. Many decades from now when they look back on 2020, I believe they will remember it with some nostalgia.
Goldie, I LOVE your optimistic take on this. The big “IF” as you say, is whether or not they are surrounded by a loving family. Ours are so fortunate in that regard. Many are not, and my heart goes out to them.
Mine too Marlena. Mine too. ❤️