Kids: who says they’re stressed?

We are all so stressed about how little kids are taking the confinement. Parents are far more in a knot than the kids. I have four grandkids here in Dubai and two of them had birthdays this week, all under the age of 10, and we Zoomed and they are thriving. This is so much fun, no school, parents being guarded and compensating for what they think has the kids in coils of dread, and they are just having a blast. Mum is making special dishes, never has Dad spent so much quality time playing with the kids, transgressions are overlooked and the kids are strumming our minds with their fingers, giving us the answers they know we want to hear.

All over the world, parents are nervously explaining Covid-19 and kids are listening solemnly. I bet when parents leave the room, the kids look at each other and in baby talk say, it is worth it, makes them feel better if we nod and look serious, back to the iPad.

Yes, that and TV are another bonus. There is so little prohibition over watching Paw Patrol and Curious George and Dora the ‘Explora’ even during mealtimes and no one is screaming to switch it off. Instead, parents encourage electronic surrogates, doing jigsaws together and giving so much allowance to the little ones, all of whom are armed with razor-sharp minds. They know they are on to a good thing, and the trick is not letting Mum and Dad know.

Poor thing, she is missing school.

See, he is lonely, let’s order new video games. Mom, when will this virus go away?

You don’t worry, my pet, it will disappear. Indulgent grandparents making rash promises for after this crisis is over and child experts pontificating in dreary articles on how to avoid scarring the children psychologically and the kids thinking, hey, this is good, no hurry, take your time, no rush to return to normal. Mummy, can I have pancakes for breakfast? Of course, my darling.

Daddy, let’s play soccer on the PlayStation. Of course, why not?

And the plus side includes having as much ketchup as you want, not cleaning your room, sleeping late, getting up even later, no admonishment for leaving food on your plate. Even bad behaviour is getting a pass. What’s not to like about that?