Guiding Children Through The COVID19 World

I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm an optimist BUT I do feel that I will always look for a way through a situation, to try and find the light in the dark so to speak.

That is has been really tested this last few days, spending more time with Isla.

For those that haven't met my just-six year old mini-me, she's a force of nature with the sweetest soul, and one of life's natural comedians, wanting to make others smile and laugh.
I am also a realist, and I wanted to explain to her why things have to change at the moment, why everything is different.

She's always had an almost adult grasp on most situations, and this has been no different. She's been patient with my home schooling efforts, uncomplaining about the change of routine to seeing her grandparents and family.
She understands all about the 'at risk' groups, and that we need to help to protect them.

What she doesn't understand is why we are having to do things that other people obviously aren't.
How long this will all last for, when she doesn't really have any grasp over time yet.
Why we maybe can't go and see her family in Corfu this year, when that's aaaaggggggeeeeessss away.
It's so hard to have to see her have to question the world around her and what all these changes mean for her.
Especially when the actions of others not conforming to the government guidelines may mean we're in this situation a lot longer than we should be.

I'm getting through it a day at a time with her, with a mantra of 'just because it's different doesn't mean it's bad" and so far it's working. I've compared it to the song in The Return of Mary Poppins, "Turning Turtle" and that makes her giggle, and that sound alone gets me through another hour.

I'd love to hear from you if you're in a similar situation, let's keep each other sane!