Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
At last there is light at the end of the tunnel
WHEN you’re a child, and you’re scared, worried or frustrated, you look to your parents for reassurance.
You need them to say something comforting, give you a hug, and promise that everything will be alright. The problem is that in 2020, that has been impossible to do.
We’ve all struggled to deal with the restrictions placed on our lives this year, even reasonable, sensible adults, who can see the logic and scientific need, have found it difficult.
For kids, it has been intolerable. So many times I’ve watched as my six-yearold son reacts to news of the latest thing he can’t do – as we all would if we could get away with it. Namely, by bursting into tears, stamping his foot, and shouting: “I HATE CORONAVIRUS!”
But then, without fail, he’s looked up at me with big, wet, puppy dog eyes, imploring me to fix it. And I’ve felt utterly useless because there’s nothing I can do or say that will make any difference. I can’t kiss this one better.
He’s asked many difficult questions throughout, but all along a similar theme, which is when will this be over? When? WHEN?
Not having an answer, trying to placate him with vague, unsatisfactory platitudes, has been frightening for both of us.
Which is why Monday ’s news of a vaccine breakthrough is incredible, and feels just in the nick of time.
Finally, a nation – a world – of parents can look their kids in the eye again. Instead of changing the subject, trying to keep their spirits up with consolation treats, avoiding the issue, we have a solid reply. We aren’t out of the woods yet, but the search party knows we’re there and is on its way to find us at last.
And beyond coronavirus, the tide generally seems to be turning too.
Teaching our children the importance of honesty, integrity, of simply “being good”, has been a somewhat hollow lesson lately – now made credible again by the result of the US election.
And with the Government’s latest (at time of writing) U-turn on free school meals, we can reiterate that you should always care about others without a high-profile example of the exact opposite making a mockery of it.
The shift in mood over the last few days – from gloom and despair to hope and optimism – was crucial for the next generation, but there’s much to take from it for everyone.
This time l ast week, things seemed pretty hopeless, and look at us now. It’s almost enough to make you believe in miracles – like maybe one day Dominic Cummings might get his just deserts.
Of course it is far from an ideal world – we’re still mid global pandemic, t h e r e’s Brexit, climate change and people who think it’s OK to let off fireworks at 11.30pm on a week night.
But now there is light at the end of the tunnel, a path out of the darkness. Maybe that’s the most important lesson of all – as long as we have hope, we can cope.
We aren’t out of the woods but the search party is on its way to find us