The Start of New Beginnings
My granddaughter, Hannah is now in 2nd grade. She went to school this morning for the first time since her school closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. My grandson, Beau, starts pre-school in a few weeks. It is an exciting time that is also filled with times of anxiety and fear. Not an easy time for their parents either. She was home-schooled last year and thank goodness her mom had the nerve - she is not a school teacher. She is a mother who will go to great lengths to be sure her children are safe and have what they need. Of course, she and my son self-quarantined as most of us did. This morning was the first time Hannah had seen children in a group (all masked of course) in almost 18 months. They sent me a video & she was smiling & excited. She waved from the steps of the school & then she froze. Her teacher knew a lot about her already because Hannah's mom had emailed with her. She is shy and sensitive & "new" is hard for her...really hard.
Her mom & I understand because we are the same. Almost immediately the teacher was at the outer door (parents cannot go to classrooms yet) and she spoke softly to Hannah as she offered her hand. Hannah looked over her shoulder one more time and went into the school. Tears fill my eyes as I type this and remember the video they sent.
Young children have experienced isolation unknown to them, or us, before this time. She is only 7 and Beau is only 4. Their brains won't be fully developed until they are in their 20's and we will have to wait and watch to support the healing of their emotional selves and their mental faculties. Shy, introverted people will be the most challenged I believe. The local senior center where I have attended a discussion group for a number of years re-opened last month. It is pretty close to where I live and I ride my bike to the meetings. The first week I locked my bike up, greeted a few people outside the center that I didn't know, then walked to the front doors. I stopped, took a few deep breathes and felt my heart pounding. What?! I was going to be in a familiar place and room with friends and my heart was pounding. Anxiety and fear were daring me to chicken out. Nope, not my style. I was a military dependent the first 50+ years of my life. I have walked into more strange rooms to begin again than anyone with my temperament should have to! So, a few more slow, soft, deep breaths and I walked in. Every week I am a little calmer and it is a little easier. We requested a larger room for more distancing and we are all required to mask up, which I am grateful for because not everyone is vaccinated AND even if you are, you can still get "it" but we are together again.
I shared my experience with Hannah a few days before school started to support her in learning that nervousness is a normal human reaction to new situations for many people. I am looking forward to her stories about her teacher, her desk, and new friends. I look forward to hearing what she thinks about all-day school. I have a feeling she will be very tired when she gets home today...sweet girl.
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