EBOLA For those of you with children.....

[ginnie6]

how are you talking to them about this? My 9yo told me last night he's scared of ebola... He's 9..he shouldn't have to be scared of a 3rd world disease!

It's on msm now and it's HARD to make sure he doesn't see it as I also have a 13yo who is a newshound..he reads Drudge! That one is fascinated by this and asking for updates constantly. I've told him not to mention in front of his brother though.

So I told him that right now its not in our area but that is why we're washing our hands more and being more careful when we are out. I also told him that if it does come here we will simply stay home because that way we're safer. I told him you have to be around someone who is sick to get it.
Just wondering if anyone else has kids that are scared/concerned?

 

[TexasQF]

I have dc at home at the dinner table from 13mos to 24yrs... we talk. Sometimes I have to clear up a misunderstanding in the 8-12yo crowd... they might not tie the correct bits together right.

None of mine are super scared. Just aware.

Had some interesting discussions last night...

 

[TexasQF]

We don't watch the news though... we read and discuss and my dc are home-schooled so I know what they hear... and only the 12yo+ goes to market with me right now.

 

[moldy]

DD#2 just flew home from SanAntonio - her 'friends' are razzing her about having Ebola. She's 18, and concerned, but not paralyzed with fear. I just keep reassuring her that it would be unlikely for her to catch it, especially since we had the 'wash your hands' discussion quite intensely before she left.

 

[ginnie6]

Mine are also homeschooled and while I could care less about the news my 13yo is a news junkie. He would watch every news show on air if he could. None of the other kids are scared. Just aware. 18yo dd usually does not want to talk about anything like this but she has had a few conversations with me about it and is aware of what's going on.
I may have to rethink the weekly "family" grocery trip though....sad. You can get a lot of hands on math and reasoning skills at the grocery store.
None of my other kids are scared...of anything really but the 9yo is a different story. He is much more sensitive than the girls ever were....at the same time he's 100% boy and every bit as rough as his 13yo brother...

 

[night driver]

Ah try to stop thinking of this as a 3rd World disease. It's not anymore. It IS a disease we have to be AWARE of but not IN FEAR of (hey, you want a disease to be in FEAR of, consider Resistant TB), OK? It's like being in fear of oncoming cars on the road or trains on the RR.
We ALL need to work on our awareness and personal care.

 

[meandk0610]

My DD is 9 also. We homeschool but I work in an after school program at our local elementary school so we are around about 12 other kids in the afternoon in the school building with all its nasties. We talk frequently about not using the water fountains, washing our hands, keeping our hands away from our faces (an ongoing problem).

I listen to talk radio when we are in the car and read here and drudge (mostly). She has instituted the rule that we must say "X" instead of "ebola" so that the discussion, at least, becomes a little funny and seems to help take the edge off. She's worried because my exh flew to China out of Dulles on 9/22. He's scheduled to fly back into Dulles on 10/17 and we are to see him on 10/18. However, she will try to read over my shoulder if I make any indication that I'm reading about "X" so maybe she's not too scared. I'm open that we are getting certain things so that we can stay home for a long time, if needed, and have told her that at least Grandma will be coming to live with us if "X" gets too close to her city. I think that it helps her to know that I'm doing everything I can to protect us and that we could just gate the driveway and lock the property down for several months.

Also, we have talked about not telling people what we have in the house because sometimes people will try to take things in an emergency that they wouldn't otherwise try to take.

 

[LeViolinist]

My heart goes out to the children - and hats off, and blessings to you homeschooling moms!
Your kids will be fine.
There is only ONE person who has been diagnosed with Ebola ((((according to CDC))))))
and of all the MILLIONS of West Africans, in extreme substandard conditions, less than 4000 have passed.
If there aren't at least five positive tests in Texas within the next week, then I think this is a fraud gone bad, due to an experimental vaccine gone bad in West Africa the same time all of this came out.

Hold the kids close.

 

[BassMan]

I've never been one to insulate the kids from the real world. This isn't the 1950s, where the biggest controversy was Elvis's "swivel hips", and the "devil's music" on AM radio. They're in their early 20's now, and turned out fine; they never just "gave up" due to bad news. Remember, this stuff is the "new normal" for them.

I'm a long-term GI, but not a hard-core prepper or NWO alarmist. I feel the kids need to know about the risks out there. In this case, keeping kids ignorant will increase their willingness to be around risky people and environments.

Probably best, though, to hold back on the frantic OMG delivery. "Just the facts, ma'am." No need to make the situation worse by "venting" your own fears.

 

[TexasQF]

yeah some kids needs to process things differently... encourage him to talk, ask questions, write a story, draw pictures... have used that with a couple of mine over the years... LOL usually they do it without me suggesting it.

Yes, I'd honestly not take youngers to the store right now. My 13mo travels everywhere I do, but is mostly carried.

 

[NoDandy]

It's a damn shame that any one in our country need be concerned about these diseases, especially the children.

If our political leaders had their heads screwed on right, we would not have all this going on!

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I am working on getting mine into an online cyber school. PA has a lot of good ones and home schooling will not fly. If they are not exposed to it they can't get it. I can't protect them from everything but I can do what I can.

 

[Bob1313]

It's a damn shame that kids just can't be kids anymore, my 11 and 7 year old have no idea what Ebola is, I'm sure the older one will find out soon enough via school.

Adults in this generation seem to have no problem discussing very adult issues in front of kids, my in laws talk about anything and I mean anything in front of their 15 year old daughter, it drives me insane and I've got in arguments by refusing to discuss some adult issues in front of my niece.

It's not about insulating your kids, its about the fact that there are just certain things in the world that kids don't need to be concerned with and more than likely can't mentally process anyway, they'll get smacked in the face by the real world soon enough, in the meantime let them be kids.

 

[cornanj]

It's a damn shame that kids just can't be kids anymore, my 11 and 7 year old have no idea what Ebola is, I'm sure the older one will find out soon enough via school.

Adults in this generation seem to have no problem discussing very adult issues in front of kids, my in laws talk about anything and I mean anything in front of their 15 year old daughter, it drives me insane and I've got in arguments by refusing to discuss some adult issues in front of my niece.

It's not about insulating your kids, its about the fact that there are just certain things in the world that kids don't need to be concerned with and more than likely can't mentally process anyway, they'll get smacked in the face by the real world soon enough, in the meantime let them be kids.

I agree Bob. In the book "The Hiding Place," Corrie (as a child) asked her dad what sex sin was. He then asked her to carry his suitcase. She said she couldn't because it was too heavy. He replied that so was the topic of sex sin. She's not yet old enough to be concerned with it....(I'm paraphrasing).

 

[mzkitty]

My adult son is currently living with me, and yesterday I didn't get much computer time. When I finally got on last night, I was literally appalled by all the new Ebola threads. My son, in the same room, said, I told you to stop reading all that stuff !! He went so far as to mute the topic on me at Breakingnews.com. (I have to go to a different spot to see it, LOL). He thinks it's making my recovery harder. Well, it IS upsetting, very much so. How do you ignore it and still be aware? I'm just watching and waiting for the first case in my town. Ugh.

 

[NoPlugsNM]

When you take a minute to consider the past history of a few pandemics - the mother of all pandemics in the US was the Spanish Flu in 1918, it killed somewhere between 500K-675K. In the years of 1949-1952 it was Polio, that killed about 6K with an approximate reporting of 99.8K affected, and I recall Polio still being an issue throughout the 50's and early 60's. In 1957 it was the Asian Flu, it killed 70K and there are no numbers about reports of people affected, but I can say that just about everyone in my school got it, they shut down the school system for 2-3 weeks. I remember some empty chairs in my class when we got back to school. It was horrible, sick for a good week, vomiting and diarrhea at the same time, weak, dizzy, high temps, a lot of symptoms at once. The next big flu epidemic was the Hong Kong Flu in the 70's, the death rate was pretty low, but like the Asian Flu, just about everyone got it also.

I certainly would not dismiss just how bad Ebola could get in the US, it will depend on how long it takes to get 'rolling' in the population, until then it's anybody's guess. If you think about the 1918 Spanish Flu, how long before that big death year was it around, spreading slowly, killing a few people here and there? I see no reason to panic, but I do see good reason to work to protect ourselves, and also to be prepared to just lock ourselves down and stay that way for a few weeks to months until it has done it's damage and moved thru the population like all these things do. We don't really know what the true numbers really are in Africa, too many small villages that have little to no public interactions. No one is going to tell the truth about the numbers anyway. We probably have several people who have died from this in the US, but it was probably mis-diagnosed by either the person sick or the local ER. People do get just so sick they cannot go out to get help and are found at later times dead and decomposed.

If I had kids at home, I would be telling them that this does have a high death rate, it's nothing to mess with, taking precautions and getting into the habit of taking those precautions now could make all the difference between life and death.



NP

 

[msswv123]

It was a very similar situation during 9 11 ..so many graphic images and you just couldn't get away from it.

I have always tried to tell my children the truth as applicable to age...they are very aware and pay attention to things that so many others do not.

Personally our faith as a family has held us together and I always tell my children NO MATTER WHAT you are here for a purpose and God will always have your back.

As bad as it may seem or how scary it may look...there is a grander purpose and they are part of it.

Walk with God. PRAY always. Be aware and prepared. Listen to that "inner" guidance system.

 

[njs7877]

For me personally, I have just started working with my kids on better hygiene. My 11 yr old found out about ISIS and beheadings, and it was more than he could handle, even though i sat him down and talked to him he still has nightmares. I think telling him about ebola and what it could do would just send him even further into panic mode.

I'm sure at some point i will have to talk about it, but for now it's all about better hand washing and the like.

 

[Adino]

the Bible is the foundation of pretty much all education in our house

we start there and end there

that said my kids are more awake and aware than 90% of the population, adults included

and they could educate most 'health professionals' better than the cdc about ebola

 

[babysteps]

Most of my children know about it (the ones ages 8-18. The 1 year old is obviously oblivious). The younger ones, 8, 10, and 12, know about it but it's not really on their radar, so they aren't worried... the older ones, 15 and 18, are aware and are watching and waiting to see what it does, just like me.

However I also work at our church's Wednesday night kids program, and last night we had THREE different kids in the 6-12 age group wanting to pray for "the bad virus in Texas", wanting to pray for "all the sick people who are coming here", wanting to pray for "the hospitals full of bleeding people". This from a group of kids who would normally ask to pray for a puppy who hurt his foot or a cat that went missing. Which tells me that there are more worried adults in my area than I had thought... because the kids parrot what their parents are talking about.

 

[Dash]

I'm in a little bit of a different situation because my kids are too young to be aware of Ebola or enterovirus. My DD is 2.5 and DS is 3 months old. I am honestly much more concerned with enterovirus than Ebola at this point.

With DD we are hand washing more frequently and making sure that she sings Happy Birthday while washing so that she washes for at least 30 seconds. We are also reinforcing lessons that we have been teaching for a while... Sneeze into your elbow, don't touch your face, etc... We do tell her that she has to do these things so that she doesn't get sick. She knows what a cold is and she doesn't want to get one.

 

[Rescuedog]

My older children take it all in. They don't say much. My 12 yo DD cries every time it comes on the news. I just told her not to worry about it and it wouldn't effect her at all, and then I go about making sure it won't.

RD

 

[Paladin1]

I haven't told my son about it yet, but my wife and I have already settled on how we're going to deal with it when the time comes, which is to tell him the full truth and hold nothing back. I don't want to scare him, but at the same time I don't want him to believe the lies being told by the CDC that are being used to keep the rest of the population from panicking. He's 13 right now and seems to be fairly clueless in regards to the adult world, so I hope he's ready for this when the time comes.

 

[Broccoli]

To The Kid Wearing a Mask at Wally World
Thank you.

I was doing some last minute prep shopping, uv light so I can better see bodily fluids. Turned around the isle and a couple of women were pushing a cart, the younger was wearing a mask. I thought "poor kid" and gave them a consoling glance and continued on.

The light bulb didn't go on until later.

It is time for me to wear a mask in public.

I have an occasional smoker's cough and hang nail. I now will wear a mask when out and about. (pocket stuffed with bleach wipes and disposable gloves)

Just thought I would share.

 

[Freeholder]

I agree Bob. In the book "The Hiding Place," Corrie (as a child) asked her dad what sex sin was. He then asked her to carry his suitcase. She said she couldn't because it was too heavy. He replied that so was the topic of sex sin. She's not yet old enough to be concerned with it....(I'm paraphrasing).

I love 'The Hiding Place'. I've read it several times, and also have read several of Corrie ten Boom's other books. Theoretically, I agree with what you are saying here. However....

I teach Good News Clubs (Child Evangelism Fellowship) to public school children. Right now I'm teaching one club that meets at school (release-time) and helping with an after-school club that meets at our church's Sunday School rooms. I've taught two other clubs (in Klamath Falls, before we moved out here) that met at the public school, after school was out.

In each of these clubs, some of the children go to church and some don't. But most of them come from broken homes, often from horrible home lives. Many of them are already seeing way too much sexual sin. I agree that ideally, children shouldn't have to know about this stuff. And we tread as lightly as we can when it comes up in class. But at the same time, these kids are seeing things they should never have to see, and may even have things happening to them that shouldn't happen (and yes, if we know of abuse, we are required to report it). When it does come up in class, or in talking to one of the children, we can't pretend that it doesn't exist. These kids need to know what the Bible says, and how God can help them deal with the situation they are in.

Likewise, I would love to be able to say that young children don't need to know about ebola. Maybe right this minute they still don't need to know exactly what is going on, but I would strongly suggest talking to them about contagious diseases, and maybe give them some history of past outbreaks of deadly diseases as part of your school curriculum, adjusted for their level of understanding. I wouldn't make a big deal of it, but I think you need to start giving them some background, so if it does show up in your area, you aren't starting from scratch teaching them how to be safe, and WHY they need to be careful.

Kathleen

 

[LSV]

My 8 and 10 year old know bits and pieces...probably more that they should but I don't like hiding things from them and I figure it will make things easier when I say no to them coming to the store or something like that. They are homeschooled and with me all day.. My older kids in highschool know it from the teachers and from watching the news. My dh has Fox on each morning. I do update them each night, so they know the TRUTH. My college son is semi-interested, but I think he thinks I am overreacting. I sent him the link to TB2K and told him to read when he has time. My daughter in the CNA program and I talk at length about it so she is getting the "CDC side" and my side. My husband and i have had a few disagreements because his sister is the head of the dept of Health in a nearby state. She told him to wash her hands and this is just job security for her.
Lisa

 

[TexasQF]

kids know/pay attention more than we think and they are nosy... and curious... and can create a bigger boogey man in their heads.

I am fine on somethings telling my kids that is not something they need to worry about right now.... on the flip side.... I think that works because they know I will answer questions and talk to them.

 

[MtnGal]

kids know/pay attention more than we think and they are nosy... and curious... and can create a bigger boogey man in their heads.

I am fine on somethings telling my kids that is not something they need to worry about right now.... on the flip side.... I think that works because they know I will answer questions and talk to them.

Found that out last time I babysat the grand kids. Evidently the 7 yr old was listening to the men outside as they talked politics (I'm sure after many drinks under their belt). She had one question after the other, one being why Obama hates white people! Well, that is way too heavy for a 7 year old to even begin to understand and could cause her major problems if repeated, especially at school.

There are many adult conversations children should not hear. I know her parents were not aware she was in a position to hear, yet it happened. They will be more aware in the future.

There are enough conversations that need to be discussed in a manner suitable for the age of the child. Cleanliness and not touching everything is on top of the list right now for all kids.

 

[BertaBurtonLake]

I have four children: 33, 28, 19, and almost 17. All of them know what is going on and lots of their friends do, too. The 16 yo came home from school yesterday telling me there was a big conversation about it at lunch and ost of the kids involved "got it". The ones who did not were listening and learning.