We were looking forward to this week. Schools would become mask optional, and our children could begin to return to a sense of normalcy. After two years, COVID was finally no longer dominating our daily lives. You could feel the stress slipping away.
Then Russia invaded Ukraine.
Television sets everywhere were tuned to 24-hour news channels that showed disturbing images of the ravages of war. At first the Russian army’s movements seemed faulty, allowing the Ukrainians to halt their progress. It was encouraging that Russia might not be successful in their attempt to take over the country. Then Vladimir Putin very publicly announced he was putting his nuclear arsenal on high alert.
Our stress levels shot right back up.
As of the writing of this editorial – Wednesday afternoon – it is unclear which direction the largest military action in Europe since World War II is going. We certainly hope that the Ukrainians can repel the invading forces. Judging by Tuesday’s rally at Town Hall, much of our community feels the same way. More than 200 people showed up to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. Ours was one of many rallies held across our state, our country, and the world. It felt good to do something proactive.
There is something we can all do. We can donate to one of the many relief funds that have been set up to help Ukrainians who are fleeing the war regions. It is being reported that this will be one of the largest refugee crises in Europe in 80 years. At the moment, many who fled with only the belongings they could carry are in Poland, Romania, and neighboring countries.
It is heart wrenching to watch the images of mothers carrying young children with nothing more than a small bag and stuffed animal for comfort as they navigate their way across the Ukraine border, with their fear written all over their faces. They have nothing and need everything. What we take for granted on a daily basis, heat, water, food and shelter – they have lost. We encourage you to find a reputable relief fund and donate to it.
When news of the invasion first broke, many schools in town took a proactive step to communicate with parents to offer suggestions on how to discuss, or not, what was happening. They encouraged being mindful when you have the news on and younger children enter the room. They may not understand what is happening and the graphic images can be very disturbing. The schools held age-appropriate assemblies to discuss the history of the region and what was happening.
After two years of COVID, mask mandates, and social distancing, for children to have to witness yet another “once in a century” event without stress or anxiety is too much to ask for. We applaud all the schools for not only recognizing the seriousness of this potential mental health issue for our children, but also being proactive in communicating with parents about it.
We have all been through a very stressful two-year period. We have been tested and tried over and over again, but in our community have always managed to survive and even thrive. We are reminded of what Fred Rogers once said: “In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”
What is happening in the Ukraine is scary and we are witnessing it nearly firsthand thanks to the media on the ground. As of today, we are cautiously – very cautiously – optimistic. Novelist Robertson Davies said: “Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances, and they become more extraordinary because of it.” We believe we are seeing this in the Ukraine as residents valiantly fight and sacrifice for their country.
