The beautiful Fairy godmother Orlando, and her friend Jerry Lament flew over the cities of Europe to see what was happening to the young people. They often flew together, as Jerry was able to define the more difficult or sleazy side of life for Orlando, and together they could discuss and decide what to do about what they saw.
The two of them were a great combination because they listened to each other and appreciated each other’s gifts and abilities. On this particular trip, they hovered over many schools to get the lowdown as to what was happening and as they observed the scenes large tears emanated from Orlanda and fell on the rooftops whilst Jerry began to howl loudly, but no one could hear or see them, for, as far as the young people were concerned they had become blind and deaf.
Finally, they stopped off at a school where a class was in session, and as has become customary the young people were distanced from each other and all wearing masks. Orlanda was very upset and once again large tears fell from her eyes and permeated the roof and ceiling right into the middle of the room.
None of the children could speak except to make a noise that sounded like eh eh eh. ‘Jerry, what is that noise asked Orlanda?’ ‘ It’s the noise of a thing, there are no children here anymore, and sure enough, when they moved around., a bit they could see ‘thing’ written on the back of their blazers. Orlanda also noticed how glum they looked, and Jerry told her they had been zombied to keep them quiet. Once again the tears fell right down from Orlanda’s eyes and into the room.
Jerry and Orlanda hovered for a bit and then turned back to base. ”’Whatever can we do asked Orlanda?’ ‘ They need to get their voices back said, Jerry.’ Jerry and Orlanda then decided that they also needed to unstop the ears of the government and all adults so they could hear the children. They set about their task that very afternoon and as they began the tears of Orlanda came to life and spread around the room washing them all down, and they began, gradually, to come to life. One girl actually danced on the spot. Slowly they found their voices and began to hear and speak…
The teacher who had the director emblazed on the back of his sweater was changed on the spot and began to act like a normal teacher.’What has happened he ask?’ The students told him they felt like a forgotten generation throughout this pandemic they were the last to be vaccinated, yet they knew several of their friends who had been very ill with the virus, and now had long covid, they also said no one listened to them and it seemed like they were losing out on levels, Whilst they appreciated the value of social media and zoom they were currently hearty sick of it and were feeling the need to be close to others.
.Most of all they wanted to be safe, and to be free from anxiety and so the discussion began and continued slowly progressing and opening opportunities for management and recovery.
Meantime Orlanda and Jerry Lament visited all the adults dropping magical tears on their heads which relaxed them and released their stress. The big challenge came in our favorite country when they visited the house on the hill. A double dose was required as their heads were hard, they decided to discuss a booster later.
So let’s return to reality. What do our young people need?
Safety, not to be forced to sit on an infected planet
A voice to reason and to be heard
The promise that lost time re-education can be made up later.
A place of safety to learn how to normalize the traumatic experience of the pandemic,
To be given support to manage continuing traumatic stress
To be part of a country that values and prioritizes their health both mental and physical over and above education and economics.
To have every opportunity possible to use ‘the arts’ to create means of stress release and recovery.
OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS!
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 