I’ve never been to prison. I’ve only seen it on television and in the movies. However, I’m beginning to understand what it may feel like for someone who is confined to a space and their only interaction with the outside world is coming through mediated sources.
We are constantly bombarded with messages that seem to perpetuate fear. As I travel to the supermarket, craft store, and etc… I feel a heightened awareness of what’s going on around me. There are signs telling me which way to walk in the aisle, where to stand in line, and what to wear on my face. It’s an odd feeling that I have gradually become more accustomed to as we work through this pandemic. And, I’ve been out on the front lines from the beginning.
(May 13, 2020)
Getting groceries is a whole process for us. We spray down everything with our special solution. We wear masks, and gloves, go with a list – and don’t linger in the store at all. We are in and out, however, throughout that time… we have seen the gradual changes, with people, with signage, with everything… Our children on the other hand–have not. They have been sheltered from this ever changing landscape of personal space, order, and all that comes with it.
(May 13, 2020)
So we question ourselves. How long do we keep our children sheltered from the dynamics of the outside world? Should we take them out so they can be exposed to what is going on? Or do we just keep them away from it all forever?