Are you okay?
Ms C Martens • August 26, 2020
It seems like a simple enough question, consisting of three simple words. Responses like: ‘Yes, I am fine’ or: ‘No, I am not okay’ might be enough, under normal circumstances, but nothing around us is normal now. Our lives have changed drastically.
When a total lockdown was announced in March of this year, none of us really realized what the implications of that was going to be. Three weeks seemed like a reasonable time to be isolated. The three weeks turned into five and then it turned into Day 100-and something. Things that came so naturally to us, like hugging a friend, visiting family, or going to the movies, are now forbidden. Birthdays and other celebrations now happen via Skype or Zoom, and we all must keep a 1,5-meter distance from each other. This is not normal for any human being.
The entire school environment has changed. Faces of smiling and laughing students are now hidden behind masks. Hands and desks need to be sanitised ever so often and many students prefer to attend classes online, rather than physical classes.
Will we ever be okay again? Is what we are currently experiencing, our ‘new normal’? To the first question I would like to answer: ‘For sure!’ and to the second one: ‘Hopefully not!” - I cannot imagine never seeing the friendly smiles, that are now hidden behind masks, from my students again. We as teachers have certainly learnt to adapt during these challenging times. As adults we need to understand that children and adults do not handle situations like this the same. Children need to know that they are safe – whether they are at school or at home – and we (as parents and teachers) should make sure that they feel safe and, even if we have our own doubts and worries.
Practicing positive thinking in these trying times is not an easy thing to do, but in the end staying positive is going to be our saving grace. We all need to focus on what is still good and beautiful in the world.
“When we take the time to stop, look, observe, we see beauty all around us.” Sr Stan
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