How Has Covid Affected You?

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Do you have the ability to offer him a different perspective? Along the lines of what Allberg has mentioned, if you guys are able to go outside during the day, there’s a plethora of things you can do. Not to mention it’s a great bonding opportunity between you and him.

Social interaction is rather important to the majority of us. Spanning most age ranges. Granted the situation might be a bit different, and therefor new, his reaction is quite normal.

I’m not a mom, but I don’t necessarily have to be to at least offer some help, or encouragement, or whatever third thing this would be called. Whenever you do talk to him, try to focus on future events. I call it “hopeful planning”, but essentially it’s speaking in terms of remaining as positive and hopeful towards better future instances than the current one.

Try to understand the “how” part of what he’s feeling. His friends are/were providing a positive stimulus. And don’t get me wrong, I totally DONT view friendship as some sort of scientific/biological process that’s need to be broken down to mere bits and pieces, but there is an ebb and flow, of some sort, to it. This might sound weird, but try to simulate those interactions with him. What did he and his friends talk about? What did they like to do? What didnt they like to do? Ask him that. Then go about doing those things Or at least compensate the best you know how by trying to do those things, and/or talking about those things.

There’s a word that I can’t think of right now, but it’s best described as association. A lot of the times we as individuals, regardless of age, like things not because of the things being the things in and of themselves, but how doing the said things make us feel. Your son enjoyed the good times, the laughs, the connections, etc. that were specific to him being around and with his friends. I do understand the dynamic is different for each individual, but if there’s a way to bring about those same feelings, the methods of doing so don’t particularly matter. At least in my opinion.

So when I speak of the “hopeful planning”, try to use words that imply that he’ll see his friends again, and this is merely temporary. Positive reinforcement, if you will.

And a few folks on here and mentioned some really great ideas as well. This is just what I have to offer. Hopefully it wasn’t confusing.

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Thanks for the advice you guys! I think we had a breakthrough the other day (NO JINXING).
He was at the point where he was barely eating and wouldn’t talk to me , but seems to have perked up after our talk.
I told him he needs to find new ways to meet his socializing needs. He needed to get creative , it wasnt going to be the same, it might not be as good, but it’s not hopeless. I told him I had to get creative meeting my needs in terms of fitness stuff or what have you, and it might be more difficult for him, but it’s far from impossible.
I told him to message his friends more, be proactive, share meme’s with them or videos, play games online together , etc… I told him I IM my coworkers all day , I dont wait for them to message me.
He let me stay in his room for an hour and we talked about video games after that.
He was getting upset when I’d tell him he’d still have a good summer because he didnt believe it. I think talking about it at all is too hard for him. I’m going to try to keep the topics light.
I love the idea of trying to get down to his level. I just have to think like a 13 year old boy. Play video games or figure out what hes interested in on youtube.
Stay safe everyone !!

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That’s awesome.

My kid is younger (7) but similarly, the daily structure he was accustomed to is gone, and he does get punchy at certain times of the day. I’ve had to somewhat replicate that with breakfast, lunch, dinner, outside time, tv/youtube time, bike and physical play time so he has some structured comfort and predictability.

His first grade teacher is pretty awesome and it’s tough to hold a match to her many years of experience, but at least we talked a few times through out the year and she clued me in on how their days flow. I can’t replicate that entirely, but I don’t know that the exact formula is actually that important.

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Just the wage cut for now.

Glad to hear you’re doing alright!

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I have cystic fibrosis. Since November 2017 I had a bad time health wise and had to move back home/give up master program in April 2019. Since November 2019 my health finally improved and I wrote my first applications in February (Bachelor of Arts in politics/sociology). First application=> first interview on the 18. of march. Ey Corona, it was cancelled.
The way the situation looks right now I will spend the time until we have a vaccine in “isolation” with my parents. So they also have to change their behaviour quite a bit. So I am a 30 year old guy living at his parents, with internet only via LTE (75€/month).
I have a horizontal bar (and rings) in my room, 2*2,5-20kg dumbbells and a few hip bands + one band for pull aparts (all ordered in the beginning of march when I could see where this is going). Lets see how far this will get me. When maxed out I will probably invest in a barbell + some boxes to do anderson squats. Luckily my parents dont live in a city so I can still go out running and keep a few meters distance to everyone.
After this ends, if I will survive, my life will have been on “pause” for about 3,5-4 years.
Oh and also my fucking smartphone dies when I am in isolation…

Oh does anyone have experience with gaming over a LTE connection? Maybe I will get a new PC and play some games, I did not plan on going back to gaming at 30 but hey…whatever keeps me from going insane.

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I work security in the province’s government liquor stores. While I’m not out of work, our role has changed from stopping theft and disturbances to screening people and store traffic control.

Yesterday, guy comes up to the doors and I ask him our screening questions; have you travelled recently, or had a worsening cough or fever.

Dude immediately gets super nervous and stammers that he recently got back from Cuba. I ask how recently. He responds, “Today”. Needless to say I lost it on him.

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Perfect! Kids that age don’t do well with boredom, and sensitive kids don’t do well with ANY of this. Sounds like you’ve got it handled, so my only advice is more of that as needed.

The only other thing I would suggest is pushing to spend time together even if you’re engaged in separate activities. “Can I sit in here (his room) for a little bit while I [whatever]?” Will you bring your computer into the living room so you can sit with me while I watch this movie [I know you’ll probably get sucked into]?"

Hard times.

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Yes, thank you! Great suggestion. Just keep him company wherever I can

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We sat in the garden all afternoon, sipping wine, listening to music, playing cards, enjoying the sun and eating snacks. I’m going back to work with a tan and overweight after being off ill😂

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Here in the UK it took about half an hour to get my prescriptions the other day + I’d usually go see my Mum some time around my Birthday in June which is now in question…things could be a lot worse but shit is starting to bite ever so slightly.

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Did anyone else (besides me) think Jen was referring to a Chinese guy?

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No, definitely not alone there.

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You ever hear about the plane crash and the news reporter who was given the wrong names of the Asian crew?

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I did, that was within the last few years or so wasn’t it? I remember seeing a screen shot of a TV news announcer and the names displayed.

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I think it was fairly recent.

I believe the names given were Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Li Fuk, Bang Ding Ow.

Whoever typed those into the screen the reporter read from was fired pretty quickly, haha.

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I remember that. Was straight up hilarious. Wish it didn’t have so many deaths associated with it to make me feel bad every time I laugh about it, but it’s out of my hands.

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I complained about the fact that we are effectively homeschooling our kids – replete with video lectures by teachers, proctored tests, and even a fricking science fair project due. It’s literally (and I am using that word correctly) 5-6 hours of work every day.

BUT there is a method to why Israeli schools do this (and were prepared to do this) due to sadly routine schooling while sitting in bomb shelters.

Specifically, they’ve done studies and kids do much better in stressful times (be they savages targeting elementary schools or a virus due to idiots who eat bats) when there is not only a structured day, but a day structured to as close to which they are familiar.

So, if at all possible, continue your child’s studies Go nag (by text!) the teachers for work, if you need to do so.

Also, outside time is very useful. We went fishing and caught some kind of perch (apparently called St. Peter’s fish) that we threw back because they looked awfully hard to de-bone.

We also make a big deal about meals (Jews, duh!) – which we also keep on a strict schedule.

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I don’t know how you handle this? My daughter spent a month in Israel taking a college class and even though she was a long way from the Syrian border, I was still freaking out every time some piece of shit terrorist launched a scud missile into Israel. Her class was visiting Biblical historic sites and they had to have an armed guard with them every where they went.

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It becomes noise at some point. And it’s not like it is “all the time”. Been months and generally just lasts a couple of days.

She probably was going into the PA-controlled territories (e…g, Bethlehem). If something sketchy happens, it happens there – hence, the guards. But we have guards everywhere and everyone is either in the active military or the reserves. Heck, I’m getting old and still do reserve duty, so I have an M16 at the house. (My eldest four have much cooler Tavors, as do the two sons-in-law.)

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I was glad she got the opportunity but for those of us that don’t live with that like you do, I was nervous the whole time.

If I remember correctly, you have homes in both Israel and the US? Is there a significant change in your home life when you return to the US?

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