Let the kids fidget,
Let them day dream,
Let them eat their favourite cereal in their bed.
Let the kids mess around,
Let them cry and vent.
Let them get their too big emotions out of their little bodies, even if it looks like naughtiness.
Let the little ones laugh,
Let them chat to their friends online sometimes, when they should be doing maths.
Let them talk about their favourite things,
They don’t know how to talk about the way they feel inside, so if they are talking to you at all, this is good.
Tolerate their many crazy questions when you can. It shows them you are listening and nothing makes them feel more loved.
They are struggling.
They don’t understand any of this.
Let the kids fidget my friend,
You cannot get through this lockdown, without something being lost,
but don’t let that something be their self-esteem.
Let it be the school work,
that can be easily recovered.
The former cannot.
Donna Ashworth
Image: Tiziana Barbarenelli
