Lockdown: Youngsters give their verdicts
LOST ROUTINES, CANCELLED EXAMS AND MISSING FRIENDS – BUT NOW THE HOPE THAT LIFE IS SLOWLY RETURNING TO NORMAL
IT’S been a long, sunny three months of lockdown in Wales and back at the start we, perhaps naively, thought it would never last this long.
Adults will have their own perspective on the pandemic and the measures in place to control it – but how are the kids doing?
Two months ago, we spoke to three youngsters about their time in lockdown – Jac Simmonds, Gwen Warren and Isaac Norton.
Now, almost nine weeks on, we revisited them to find out how they were doing in lockdown.
On a positive note, family time – which is unavoidable – was something they all valued getting more of during the period, swapping the busy schedules of school, homework and playing with friends for long walks and discovering the beauty on their doorstep.
But in other areas the lockdown has hit the trio – and thousands of other children like them across Wales – hard.
Jac, from Treorchy, is aged 16 and was due to sit his GCSEs, which were cancelled.
“I’ve just got used to it to be honest,” said Jac, who last time we spoke was anxious to find a job and maintain a daily schedule of school work.
He also splits his time between his dad’s house in nearby Ynyswen and his mother’s in Treorchy.
“It is what it is, it’s not a problem but it’s boring,” he said.
“I just have results day in August to look forward to and that’s that. And now I’m just starting to prepare for my first year of sixth form, so I’m not stressed then.”
Despite missing his friends and the uncertainty of their plans to camp over the summer, Jac is certain of one thing, that lockdown shouldn’t end yet.
“I don’t think they should be lifting measures at the moment,” said the Treorchy Comprehensive School pupil.
“I think they messed up at the start
[in implementing lockdown] and we’re still here,”.
He added: “I think today’s [May 29] announcement is great for individuals, but I’m not sure if it’s too early because there’s still a high number of people infected, which is fairly concerning.
“I don’t want to be given false hope of being freed then face more time without it. That would be worse for me than waiting a few weeks more and being sure the virus won’t come back.
“I think it’s also fairly vague giving people a lot of leeway to do whatever and the confusion with the different rules of other nations only makes it worse.
“But I’m really happy I can see one friend a day at least.”
A death from coronavirus in the family was also made more difficult by the lockdown rules.
Jac’s stepmother, Linsey, lost her father to Covid-19 and the family had to adapt to the funeral rules, which saw Jac have to stay at home with younger brothers Toby and Evan at an upsetting time.
“I felt bad for Linsey more than I was
I still really love rugby and I am missing it a lot. It’s one of the things I am missing. I haven’t been going out as much
Isaac Norton
angry myself.
“It was harder for her than for me. It is very frustrating that y o u can’t give people the send-off they deserve.
“I’ve never been to a funeral before, so it was difficult that day to look after Toby.
“We were all right, though.”
With a view to studying maths, physics and economics in sixth form, Jac is banking on being able to get back to normal by September.
“I’m just hoping school starts back in September.
“If that doesn’t happen it will be a bit of a hit,” he said.
“I’d love to be able to go camping with my friends and stuff, which we had plans to do. I
hope we get to do that.
“This lockdown has made me appreciate time with my friends more, mostly.”
That view is echoed by 11-year-old Isaac, who is missing his friends and rugby team-mates desperately.
Isaac lives in Ton Pentre, Rhondda, with his parents Rebekah and Darren and siblings Caleb and Ava.
He is a dedicated fundraiser and is in his element when playing for his team, Treorchy RFC.
Isaac can’t wait to get back to normality.
“I’m really bored and I’m missing my friends,” he said.
“I still really love rugby and I am missing it a lot. It’s one of the things I am missing. I haven’t been going out as much.
“When we’re not in lockdown I’d be out. But now I just feel like staying in. I think I’m a little bit concerned about coronavirus… but I think I just feel a bit miserable.
“Dad has been taking me out up the field to do fitness and mam has been helping me practise passes around the garden.”
Isaac’s mother Rebekah said: “I felt really upset. That was the alarm bell that it is affecting them. To not do the thing that he loves the most.
“When lockdown started he wanted to be out the garden with his ball all the time, it was a bit of a novelty and I can see that’s gradually worn away.
“Even Ava, at her age, she’s a bit teary and asking me when lockdown is going to end. Because they are all active, it’s hard. They’ve lost all of their routine.
“As adults, a lot of us have been able to maintain normality, a little bit of a routine.
“For children it’s all gone. Isaac is never without a friend, that impacts and their hobbies are team sport.
“They don’t have the maturity to deal with things the way we do as well, sometimes. I think it’s hard.
“All those weeks ago, we all said they won’t be back at school, deep down we probably thought ‘ahh, they will.’
“I don’t think I really thought they’d be off this long.
“A lot of adults say ‘it’s only rugby’ but when you’re an adult and you have your own home and stresses and strains, you can put things like rugby in perspective, but as a child it is their be all and end all and feels like the end of the world and it is hard for them to rationalise.”
The day after we initially spoke to Isaac, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the easing in meeting other households outdoors – something which made Isaac “really happy”.
Now, he “can’t wait to see friends” – one at a time.
And the family hikes are something Rebekah hopes the family continues after lockdown.
“We’re a very busy family, me working shifts, Ava doing swimming and rugby, Caleb swims and Isaac’s rugby.
“There’s rarely an evening we are all in the house together – so we have been enjoying that side of it,” she said.
“We’ve said it’s an aspect that we would like to carry on.”
Family time and fresh air have also been a brilliant positive for Gwen and her mother Gemma, stepdad Paul and four-year-old brother Frankie.
The Pontypridd family have been making the most of cycling on the Taff Trail, playing board games and family film and barbecue nights.
Gemma and Paul work on the frontline at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil.
As someone who is careful about germs and getting sick, 11-year-old Gwen said she isn’t fazed by social distancing and lockdown.
“At the start it was really scary because the virus is a big deal,” she said.
“But as time went on I got used to not being able to go to people. I don’t mind the social distancing at shops, I’d rather it be done.
“I don’t think I’ll miss it, but it will be weird when it all stops.
“We’ve got used to being in lockdown, so going outside again will be weird.
“And being close to people sitting next to each other at school.”
Gemma added: “I think she likes being home, and having me and Paul home, even though she’s missing her grandparents, is comforting. She likes being at home.
“Like any normal kid she has struggled with school.
“And work has been very strenuous, too, so we do like to relax when we are at home.
“But we’ve never exercised so much together, played board games, gone on bike rides – so it has been really nice in some ways.
“We’ve had barbecues and cwtched out by the fire till late.
“We’ve done so many walks in different areas I’ll feel bad if we don’t keep doing it.
“I don’t want to think ‘Gem, you’ve been the parent you want to be in lockdown and now you’re too busy to do all that.’”