Unlike the usual school breaks/holidays, this one is terrible because children are confined in their homes. The guidelines are clear; no shaking hands, no hugs, no visits, no public gathering, social distancing at least two metres away from each other. All this has put a lot of questions around them. My children have endless questions “so dad why are you still working when we, are staying home? We hear people are dying, we will also all die? Who will bury us?………..! These are very sensitive and touching questions. You enter the house, they are ready with sanitizers and literally “force” you to wash your hands.
In one minute children seem to be understanding what’s happening but shortly after, they ask questions depending on what they have watched on a TV. The isolation at home with strict rules has made them resort to indoor games and watching TV for most of their time. This seems that for a longer time, they will not manage what they have not been used to. This is equally the same for adults. Fears of frustration, stress, depression, loneliness, loss of jobs among others cannot be ruled out. Watch out for behavioral changes like irritations among your children and people at home, which could be a result of the state of affairs.
Some people have worked most of their lives without undertaking leave from work like business people, officers, name them. A lot of people’s businesses in crowded places have shut down and they are not sure of how to survive at home with their families. The second term is not far, they have business loans, cost of living is likely to go high. Such people are now home idle with anxiety; not “busy” anymore.
This is likely to create a lot of mental disorders for adults and children. I urge people to become creative. Don’t be a slave in your own home/apartment due to the lock-down. Think of how to control the situation before it stresses you. Do things that will keep you busy. Do a lot of reading – even with children. Start farming instead of sleeping all day. Don’t stay in closed doors all the time. Go for an evening walk with your children because coronavirus isn’t an airborne disease. Play indoor games with children and other family members. Don’t give up giving age-appropriate information to your children when they ask.
An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Don’t allow your mind to be preoccupied with many unanswered questions or sluggishness. Also, avoid taking a lot of unauthentic messages. People are forwarding to us a lot of information on social media without even themselves reading it. This too is creating speculations and anxiety in public. My friend Faith Musinguzi, a counseling psychologist advises that if one develops mental disorders or depression, seek online counseling. In light of this, there are some online therapy options like emails, phone calls, video calls (skype, zoom, Whatsapp, etc) you can use to contact a professional therapist. I suggest also that the government should think about toll-free numbers for psychosocial support and more information on how to cope up with depression than only updates on how to avoid COVID-19.
This situation should teach everyone that we always need to save and invest money in things that can bring income without necessarily requiring your presence especially people whose businesses have shut down. As they say, “don’t put your eggs in one basket”, avoid investing your money in one area. If you have an idle land nearby, plant something there with your family this season than dying of idleness. Don’t use all the little savings now before you get to know the longevity of this condition. But also stock enough foodstuff at home. Learn to always plan for emergency funds in your savings.
Put your trust and hope in the Lord. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Rom. 5:5). Pauls encourages us thus “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”(Rom.12:12). Keep praying and don’t tell God how dangerous coronavirus is but tell coronavirus how big and dangerous your God is. Let us not glorify the devil in this situation.
Dickson Tumuramye is a writer, child advocate, parenting coach, marriage counselor, researcher and a motivational speaker.
tumudickson@gmail.com
