We have officially survived one of the worst pandemics that ever hit the United States and the rest of the world. Have we returned to normal? What is normal? Or do we just have a new normal? Either way, we must not assume that our children are okay; many of them were impacted emotionally, socially, and psychologically after going through the pandemic. There are rumors that there is another strain spreading... We can not change what happened in the past, but we can acknowledge the emotions that your child(ren) may have experienced during that process. I have two children who were in adolescence at the time of the pandemic, which are the developmental years. When the pandemic hit, their schools were shut down and they did not get to say bye to many of their friends, and lost contact. When the new year began, they had to go to school wearing masks. My daughter was not able to recognize any of her friends, since she had just entered middle school. My children became shy and withdrawn, which is not the norm for them. I purchased pet birds in an effort to give them a sense of hope and provide an activity that could help them express themselves while caring for the birds. This helped a little, but nothing is like connecting with your peers, something that they are still struggling to do. We later moved to another neighborhood and obtained another pet, our dog Cali, whom we love and adore. Cali has brought so much joy into our lives, however, there is something that is still missing. I have also returned to the routine of going to church in person, which feels more like a return to normalcy for them. In addition, I have kept them involved in sports and dance activities in an effort to help them make connections; this has had little effect. 
As a teacher, I have witnessed children who have fallen behind academically, with no help to assist them. In May of 2023, I purchased a tutoring franchise to help address some of the needs of the children in our community. Club Z! of Lawrenceville will be providing group sessions to build social skills in children and foster healthy relationships with their peers. One thing that remains; I am very proud to be surrounded by such a loving community of people and we are all survivors! Feel free to share your ideas and tips!
