I’ve been trying to stay away from the “C” word lately. It’s burnout I guess. It’s not that I’m in denial, but I’ve been spending the last few months focusing on making myself a better photographer: learning new skills, re-working some edits and selections, and generally thinking forward.

I was reminded this past weekend that this… thing… is having many different effects on people, physically and emotionally, and that we’re just beginning to wrap our heads around. Our oldest, who feels all the big feels, showed us a few drawings he did in his sketchbook that illustrate what the COVID monster looks like to him in his nightmares. His COVID monster is made of paper. In his nightmare he watches all of the COVID-related warnings, placards, signs, etc. physically come together to form a horrible creature that laughs at him and get inside of him.

I can’t begin to express how proud I am of him for being able to express these fears on paper, and also for feeling comfortable enough to show us and start the conversation. I debated asking him if I could make a portrait of him with his drawing and then showing it to the world. It’s almost too personal, and the attention makes him uncomfortable. In the end I did ask and for once he readily agreed. He wants to talk about it. He needs to get these feelings out. His mom and I talked to him about how it’s good for kids to be able to make pictures to show and take control of worries and other feelings. Later, as we were making these photos, he told me, “maybe other kids can draw monsters too.”

So that’s it. That’s the post. If you have kids, pay attention to their art. Talk to them about it. Ask questions. Let them drive the conversation.