I had the privilege of serving as a hospital
chaplain and my office was located on the pediatric floor. Outside my door, I
had asked the children from St. Boniface School to make pictures to decorate my
door to bring smiles to the children who were patients. I like to share some
suggestions what to say to your children about coronavirus.
Like most parents, the coronavirus situation has thrown you for a big loop. Your
children are suddenly out of school, no organized sports, and activities
cancelled and you can’t take them anywhere you think safe. Meanwhile, we are
trying to answer their difficult questions, keep our kitchen stocked, and juggle
working from home.
A crisis like this one can make both parents and
children fearful, confused, and disoriented. As the coronavirus takes its
course, your children are looking not only for information but for guidance in
how to respond and how worried they should be.Your actions speak even louder than our words. The
message we can pass along is our faith that we trust in a God who cares about
everyone and urges us to do the same. We follow a God who asks us to love our neighbor as
we love ourselves, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.
It is important to reassure children, address
their fears, and communicate what we believe from a faith perspective. Here are
some guidelines for how to approach the
conversation:
• Keep it truthful. Don’t mislead your child,
pass on rumors, or make promises that you can’t keep. Don’t tell them that they
(or you, or grandma) won’t catch COVID-19. Instead, explain that very few kids
get bad symptoms, very few people get seriously sick, and that
there is medical help for those who do.
• Keep it simple. In general, let your child
guide the conversation with their own questions and concerns. Be aware of how
much news you are consuming, it can be easy to talk about it all the time and
throughout family meals, but this can make our children anxious.
We need to
take a break and if we find ourselves constantly dwelling on the latest news
and social media posts, then we may need breaks from them so we won’t be
completely consumed. Walk the dog, play some board games, or better yet invite
your children to draw pictures of Springtime to share with other sick kids on
social media.
An excellent NPR cartoon that you can use to
teach your kids the basics about the coronavirus at their level can be found
at: http://bit.ly/coronavirus-kids.
It is our responsibility as parents to make sure
our children know how to avoid spreading the virus. These steps are essential
to keep not only your child safe, but also family members, friends, and those
most at risk in your community. Even those without symptoms can spread the
virus, including children. Be an example by following these rules yourself, and make sure your
children know the rules are not optional:
• Wash hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds
(suggest that they sing part of a song that they like and not stop until it is
finished). Show them how!
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.
• Stay home if you become ill.
Since Sunday Mass has been suspended the next
two weeks, let me make some practical suggestions. Perhaps this time is a
blessing in disguise, since you can’t go to Mass here are some alternatives:
• Scripts and instructions for leading a service
at home:
http://bit.ly/sunday-liturgy-hours.
• If you have young children, you could begin
and end with the Sign of the Cross and perhaps a song your child knows well.
Read one or more passages from a story Bible, then talk together about what you
read.
• Or, you could ask your children to do
something creative like draw Springtime pictures and we will share their art
work on our Facebook page.
You’re invited to find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HolyFamilyPNCC),
search Facebook for “Holy Family Parish, North Java, NY”
or use the link on our website: http://holyfamilyncchurch.org/. We’re posting
Lenten reflections and other Facebook posts we hope will be inspirational at
this challenging time.
It is natural to ask, “Where is God in all of
this?” As Matthew 25 reminds us, Christ is present in those who are in need
(the hungry, thirsty, stranger, imprisoned, etc.). It is
our job to do God’s will in the world to make
things better. We must always look beyond ourselves to serve our neighbor.
Consider as a family how you can reach out to
those who are most in need. For example:
• Run errands or shop for neighbors who are
staying home because they are most at-risk.
• Call elderly family members, parishioners, or
other friends who are isolated and lonely.
• Support small businesses that are struggling
with lost business. You may be able to buy gift certificates to give them
needed cash now.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends a
prayer that was used at my ordination 43 years ago. “May the Lord bless you and
keep you! May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May
the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”
