I Missed My Old Life

Audie is an eight-year-old boy, and since the pandemic began, his life has changed a lot. Before, he could go out into his neighborhood and greet people who were working in their yards or kids who were playing with each other or with their pets. Stepping outside used to bring Audie joy and happiness. Now, things are different. Kids get off the school bus, and he doesn't see them again until the next school day. Adults refuse to get shots to keep themselves and others safe, and some people are doing mean and violent things in the stores, malls, and streets. Audie is sad and afraid all the time. But he talks to his sister and brother and parents, who have some advice for him about what to do and how to handle his thoughts and feelings. They can all work together as a family to get over their fears. This children's story presents the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy and offers a way to open a conversation with children about their thoughts and feelings.