A Letter to My Young Children During Covid

To my dearest children,

I am writing to you from our home on March 25, 2020. I had to check my phone for the date because the days have begun to confusingly run together. This time is like nothing your father or I have ever experienced. We are at home unceasingly because there is a sickness, a virus, or tiny"bug" that we are all trying to keep away. It's the same type of bug that we talk about when one of us throws up or sneezes a lot. Some days we have to miss "school" or church because we get sick with those bugs.

This is somewhat like that, little ones. But it is different. All of the Doctor Pennys in the world are still learning about this particular bug. That means that we don't know too much, but the smartest and best Doctor Pennys are learning all that they can as quickly as they can. Until they learn more, it is best for us to stay home. We are eating less Chik fil A and haven't been to the museum in a long time. We are only face-timing your friends and writing letters because we want to keep everyone as safe as can be.

Something so interesting about this little bug is that it makes some people very sick, some people kind of sick and some people not sick at all. I guess the sickness is kind of like a bug again. Bugs scare some people a lot, some people a little, and some people aren't scared at all. But we never know if someone is scared of a bug or not, so we better not pick up a bug and surprise someone. In the same way, we need to be careful with this sickness "bug," because we don't know how sick it might make someone.

I hope these things don't scare you. If they do, I understand. Sometimes they scare me. But we believe that all of this will work out. We believe that God is bigger than sickness and He will conquer this "bug." We really think that the doctors will find medicines and we will get to live like we did before. I hope you talk to me if you get scared. It's always ok to be afraid, but don't live in that fear. Tell me. Tell your dad or tell your brother or sister.

I know it is hard not seeing your friends. I hate to see you so upset when you can't play with our neighbors. I know all you want to do is ride your bike with the kids passing our house. I know you want to join the distant bouts of laughter we hear at the playground. Your hearts are so big and it pains me to see them breaking at each of my "no's." We say not to protect our friends and neighbors who might get very sick or a little sick from this "bug." I try to redirect your attentions, but I know that the saying holds true for you like it does for me and you father,

"A deferred hope makes the heart sick"

Little ones, it sure does. I really understand the feeling of not getting what you want, when you want it. But I hope that we have fun while we are all at home trying to stay safe and keep others safe. I hope we play lots of games. I hope we laugh a lot. I hope we cook something that we love and try something new. I hope that we ride bikes and chalk the whole street in front of our house. I hope we go on scavenger hunts. I hope we enjoy the gift of sunshine and flowers.

I hope you enjoy learning from me and your dad. I hope we enjoy teaching you something new. Everything we are doing is new. Some things are hard for your dad and me just like some thing are hard for you. But we can learn how to be patient and kind and happy. We can learn how to laugh at our mistakes. We can learn to walk to the other room to take deep breaths if we need them. We can learn to be the best of friends so that maybe we won't miss our other friends so much. I hope so.

I am praying a lot more these days. I pray that each morning we will wake up one step closer to seeing our friends and family again. I pray that each new day is met with the doctors being prepared and excited to find a new way to fight this "bug," this sickness. I pray that God keeps everyone safe. He is the best, smartest doctor. Some people call him Jehovah Rapha because He is the God who heals. He knows all the best medicines. We need to ask Him for help. We need to encourage our doctor and nurse and therapist friends. We need to be thankful for the mailman, the garbage man, the grocery store workers - they are all keeping our world turning.

The end of that verse about a sick heart says,

"but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

When we see our friends again. I pray you are all the more thankful. I pray that you are thankful for laughing with friends. I pray that you are thankful for school, for church, for museums, for family birthdays, for going to the grocery store even when you don't want to go. I pray you are filled with thankfulness.

When I tell you all of this, I don't want your little heart to be heavy. I want you to remember the good, the fun, the faith. I want you to remember what this sickness is called. Covid 19. You lived in this big part of history. We have the best doctors and scientists working to find the answer to the problem. We have courageous people keeping our lives as normal as possible. The people who are in charge of our country are learning to take turns and compromise to save the people who are scared. This time will be remembered as a very important time. It will be written about in many books.

I also hope that you remember the fun we are having. I hope we never stop having this kind of fun. I hope you forgive my anger and fear. I hope you get to know me better. And I really hope for laughs.

I love you, children.

From my heart,

Mommy