Grab some shades because the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and brighter!
It’s been a very long, dark journey and we’ve all been waiting for the light. But, it’s not going to be like flipping a light switch – we aren’t going from pandemic life right back to our pre-Covid lives. Just as the journey through the tunnel has been filled with uncertainty and unknowns - so is what lies ahead in the light. Should we be happy, worried, scared, excited? I’m finding my emotions parallel those I had when expecting a new baby. Joyous anticipation peppered with lots of angst. Not knowing exactly what to expect or how my life would be impacted. Acutely aware that there are no guarantees or certainties about what lies ahead. Perhaps this is a helpful way to think about our exodus from this dark, year-long tunnel. We can slowly prepare for the foreseeable changes in how we gather, work, and socialize. We’ve had a solid year of reflecting on what’s meaningful to us – now we can use that to inform our priorities as we get back to living beyond (or in spite of) Covid.
Be mindful that our children may be struggling with post-Covid uncertainties as well. Will I get to go back to school? What will summer camp look like? What about sports, sleepovers, parties, summer jobs, and family trips? Be curious about their thoughts and concerns. If your child is showing signs of anxiety and/or avoidance as opportunities to re-engage present themselves, try providing some smaller and safer opportunities to increase their comfort and regain their confidence. It's still a marathon, not a race.
Be well. Be safe. Be hopeful.
