What losses most affected you?
- Close contact with grandchildren, children, friends, relatives, church community – these were all rated high as losses. Lack of hugs and interacting with grandchildren was rated the greatest loss. One respondent hasn’t seen her grandson born in September 2020 in the USA. Babies/kids aren’t the greatest at Zoom meetings.
- Because of social distancing, we are unable to help out our families even when we know some of them and their children are struggling mentally, emotionally and possibly employment wise. It highlights the need for prayer and makes us realize we have to give things over to God. We are not in control.
- The losses our grandchildren are experiencing throughout the pandemic weigh heavy on us (lack of quality education, social interactions and activities such as arts, sports, etc.). How will this affect their future educational success? A few of the youth are managing okay, but many are struggling.
- Not being able to attend “Life Events” such as funerals, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions, or celebrate Holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. as we are accustomed to.
- Not being able to visit people in need – the sick, the lonely, the elderly, whether they be at home, hospital or in retirement residences or LTC facilities.
- Not being able to attend in-person church services, either because of government restrictions or personal decision based on risk factors.
- Not singing together in church.
- Freedom of movement. No travelling, vacations or day trips. No restaurants, shopping….
- Let’s stop there. Enough said.
In quick strokes:
We came to realize how extremely important our connections to other people, particularly our relationships with immediate family members, are to us.