I remember the first time I chatted with our son about the Coronavirus. He was still going to school and I wanted him to hear about the virus from me rather than from his peers. I had no idea that it would be the first of many talks.

Since that initial talk, we’ve chatted about the Coronavirus with all 3 of our kids. And we’ve tried hard to keep all of the conversations positive. Talking about the many intelligent and hardworking people figuring out the best way to keep everyone safe. Everyone who stepped up to provide free, interesting and educational resources to kids. And how our weekly video chats have brought our extended family closer together.

It’s hard to stay optimistic and positive when chatting with our kids about the pandemic. They see how different it is to go to the beach, to eat out at a restaurant, to buy toys from their favorite toy store. They miss seeing their friends face to face rather than on a screen. And they are curious about what will happen at school and with their other classes in the fall.

But it’s even harder to stay positive and optimistic when I’m not talking with our kids. When I think they are busy playing, watching TV, or sleeping and I’m chatting with my husband or relatives or reading about the virus on my phone. The conversations that they overhear or the news they view over my shoulder might mean more to them then the conversations I have with them face to face.

I’ve realized that while the pandemic may be on my mind frequently, our kids are still able to spend the majority of their days thinking about Lego, building forts, drawing and watching TV without similar intrusive thoughts. And for that I am very grateful (As Rachel Morrison talks about in her short film, The Lucky Ones).