“I’ll Be There!” The words that your child wants to hear.

August 5, 2020

“I’ll Be There!” 

The words that your child wants to hear. 

 by Tasha Pedersen 

         The coronavirus has affected us all, it has shut down schools, work places, and is changing our daily lives as we know it. As of right now the future is filled with uncertainty. With that being said there is a lot of confusion: Will life go back to normal? Will I ever get to see my friends and teachers in school? As I enter my senior year of high school, so many doubts and questions flood my head. I never thought that something like the coronavirus could change something so much, so fast, one day we were in classrooms, the next we were at home with laptops and no one other than our families. Things got out of control so quickly. We all have lost so much, sometimes it is very comforting to hear something as simple as “I’ll be there.” 

         The last time that we were in school was March 18, 2020. We weren’t warned, we got a message saying that we would get a week off and we would be back the next, that week turned into a month, then two, then it was summer, and as of now we still don’t know if we can go back in August. I really struggled with that. Like many other teenagers I enjoy school a lot, so having it taken away so fast really affected me. I was and still am kind of scared about what is going on, I hate not knowing what is going to happen, within the next months. I work in a small grocery store in my hometown and I have seen how people have changed, it really concerns me, it is almost like people forgot how important the simple things are such as being kind and looking out for each other. It all seems like a race who can get the most supplies for themselves.  Throughout quarantine I have made some changes in my daily life.  I started to pay more attention to everything, I started to really notice the impact that people have on my life, and I have really started to appreciate the smaller things, such as a kind word from a customer, or even the small talk with my younger brother. Sometimes the simple things are all we need. 

         One night I was talking to my parents about everything that was going on and how uncertain things look. My parents have always been super supportive towards everything that I have done, as we were talking my mother said something that really took me by surprise, she said, “Tasha I don’t know what will happen in the next weeks and even months, but just remember that I will be there for you.” I have heard her say things like that before, but this time it really meant something. I didn’t realize it but I needed to hear that, I needed to have that reassurance, just knowing that my parents are just as worried about the state of the world and that no matter what happens they will be there for me. I strongly believe that parents should sit down and talk to their children just like mine did. Really talk to them, I promise you we need that in times like these, we might not show it but it is just as scary to us as it is to the adults. Ask your kids how they are really doing, ask about the small things, ask how they feel, and if they need anything. Even though we might not show our gratitude, we appreciate your support and generosity more than you could ever know. It shows us that you care, that you want us to be okay, everyone needs a little reassurance especially in the times like we are living in today. 

         If there is one thing that I want the world to see, it is that we need one another, we need to look out for one another, we need to lift others up, not tear them down. Just remember that it is the simple things that matter, especially the small phrases and conversations that we all have with each other. Something so small as the phrase, “I’ll be there,” can be life changing for your family and friends. We can and will all get through this together, I believe that we will all come out of this stronger, better, and kinder. Don’t be afraid to reach out, there is always someone that is willing to help out. 

 

-Tasha Pedersen