‘We figured a lot of kids have questions’: Congresswoman Lori Trahan, daughters host kids’ town hall on coronavirus
“We’ve done a fair amount of painting and crafts."
As adults continue to grapple with questions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, kids do, too.And local kids had a variety of insightful questions for Congresswoman Lori Trahan during a virtual children’s town hall she held Tuesday afternoon via Facebook Live. The questions included whether or not animals can get coronavirus — one young resident is concerned for her pet rabbits — to another asking when she’ll be allowed to get closer than 6 feet to her grandmother.Trahan decided to field questions sent in by children after her daughters Grace, 9, and Caroline, 5, asked her many questions over the last few weeks since the pandemic began to ramp up, especially when Trahan had to drive to Washington, D.C., for work recently.“I think Grace, you were nervous, you were worried I was going to get sick, you had a lot of questions, and that prompted us to do this,” Trahan said. “We figured a lot of kids have questions.”Trahan also acknowledged the challenges the last few weeks have brought. Grace was supposed to play lacrosse, and Trahan’s daughters haven’t been able to visit with their grandparents.“We used to get to see them almost on a daily basis,” Trahan said.
Grace read the questions for her mother while Caroline played in the background.
For one young resident, her biggest question to Trahan was when she’ll be able to get closer to her nana.
“We ask that question all the time,” the congresswoman said. “We miss that. I cry about that. … This is the hardest part. We don’t know.”
While Trahan said her family hopes to be able to visit physically with loved ones soon, she said they have called them more recently and have used video calls, as well. The girls have also written notes and drawn pictures for them.
Another young resident asked how long school will be remote; Trahan answered that school will be out at least until May 4.
On whether or not another young resident’s rabbits could get coronavirus, Trahan said there hasn’t been evidence to show that pets can spread it, but noted that if you do become sick with COVID-19, it’s best not to snuggle your pets just as a precaution.
“There’s no evidence of that, so if you’re not sick, keep playing with your bunnies,” she said. “I’m sure they really enjoy the fact that you’re home from school.”
Trahan noted that their dog, Cookie, has been receiving a lot of attention now that everyone is home.
Trahan also took a question from her daughter Grace, who wanted to know what her mother does all day while working from home now that she’s not in Washington, D.C.
Trahan responded that in the past, she would be in the nation’s capital Monday through Thursday. Now, she is on conference calls, noting that she speaks with other members of the committees she’s on, Education and Labor, and House Armed Services.
Trahan and her daughters also described how they’ve been spending time in social distancing after a question of, “What do you do to stay busy and have fun most days?”
Caroline said she swings and rides her bike when she’s outside.
“We’ve done a fair amount of painting and crafts,” Trahan said. “Right now we’re trying to get organized and stay ahead in our classes.”
Watch the full children’s town hall:
https://www.facebook.com/RepLoriTrahan/videos/2470696259908203/
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