Resilience in Dark Times

As I am writing this we are in the midst of uncertainty. I have been following the news for months hearing scary words like pandemic, shut-down, emergency, quarantine, isolation, and virus. I have found myself trying to rationalize with thoughts like, "It can't be that bad" and "Life will go on as usual." However, the tone has changed as almost all public facilities have been shut down indefinitely, and we have been told to isolate ourselves indoors. Coronavirus is on everyone's mind and is causing universal panic.

I don't know about anybody else, but I feel like I am currently in an apocalyptic movie, and it's not a good feeling! I find it especially difficult because I can not be with the people who ground me the most: the children. I work in a toddler room that keeps my mind and body busy on a regular basis. They challenge my thinking, and often remind me of what is truly important in life.

Although I am not with the toddlers at the moment, they are with me in spirit as I spend time at home reflecting on how I am feeling. I feel uncertain, worried, concerned for myself and others. So I ask myself some questions: "If the children were feeling this way and the well-being of the group was in danger, what would I do?" I would work with them to identify their feelings and figure out how to express themselves in a constructive way. I would want them to practice self-care. I would want them to do things that ensure everyone is safe. I would want them to show empathy toward others and lend a helping hand when needed. I would say things like, "You may not feel okay, but it will get better. I am here for you."

Children are watching us right now. They may not know everything that is going on, but they are seeing how we respond. Do we want them to see the people they look up to being panicked and selfish? Or do we want them to see us being resilient and empathetic?

The values we present to children are the ones we too should embody. So if we want children to be resilient, we need to know how to be resilient. If we want children to be kind to other's, even when it is easier to be selfish, we need to do so as well. We will get through this together.

I hope this helps you in your interactions with children in your care. If you enjoyed reading this subscribe to my mailing list to be notified when I share new posts. Thanks for reading!