“Mamma, I used to love the table tennis area in our clubhouse but now I am scared to go there. Do you think that if I get a fever they’ll lock me there?” said my 6-year-old Arav. As a mother I know it is necessary for me to reassure my son in these tough times, but how do I answer his fear-filled questions?” questioned Anushree, a mother and a housewife from Nagpur.
Many societies with large clubhouses of vacant areas have converted them into COVID quarantine facilities for its residents. While, this is a good thing as the hospitals have started running out of beds, but for the households, the mere idea of having infected patients so close to them, in the vicinity is unnerving and creating stress.
Anushree said, “What am I supposed to tell my boy when he asks me - Mamma, why is Keshav uncle locked up inside the clubhouse? Will he never come home now? Keshav is our neighbour who was a source of entertainment for my child during all these months. Arav and Keshav would play badminton in the corridor, they would even take a walk in the morning. Keshav was also teaching Arav yoga so that Arav can become more flexible and calm. When a kid has spent almost 3 months with a man on loop, how am I to tell him that he cannot go near his favourite friend and uncle because he has been quarantined in our own clubhouse?”
The fact that the kids are suddenly asked not to roam around in their own colony has, as is, left them baffled and confused--they were probably allowed to play in their society premises with the masks and safety measures, but all of a sudden this little freedom has also been taken away from them.
“Mamma, I know Keshav uncle is sick, that is why he is staying in the clubhouse. My friends are saying that I too will have to be locked with him because I’ve spent too much time with him. Mamma, I don’t want to stay away from you…” and Arav started crying while saying this after his call with the society friends.
I know it is natural for kids to be scared, and feel traumatized when they see their favourite play area and a place where all the parties happened suddenly turned into such a sterilized hospital-like facility where people are isolated.
It came to me as a shock when Arav said - Mamma, I don’t ever want to go and play in the clubhouse ever again. I don’t think it is a good place anymore. If I go there, everyone will lock me there and won’t let me come home just like Keshav uncle. I am scared.
It is good to have a quarantine place especially for our society members but what about the kids? Arav has so many good memories in the clubhouse but this one incident has completely changed his happiness into fear, confusion and terror. He is scared to even pass in front of the clubhouse anymore.
How do I handle this irrational fear of his...all words and consolations seem to be failing.”