A nine-year-old upset that he cannot see his family or school friends has taken a direct approach to ending lockdown by writing a letter to coronavirus.
Lucas Gurner-Cruickshanks, from Acle, took it upon himself to write the letter, which begins: “Dear Covid-19, you have made me feel bad.”
He goes on to add: “You have made people very upset and worried. They can’t see anybody. So please be kind and stay away.”
Mum Melinda Gurner said: “While cleaning his room, I found this letter under his bed, he had directed it to Covid-19. He’s just turned nine years old, and still seems so young and naive to the scary world, or so I thought.
“I was very surprised when I found it. He isn’t one for sharing his feelings so much, so when I read it it melted my heart.”
In his letter Lucas, who attends Acle St Edmunds Primary, says being unable to attend school has made him sad, adding: “I miss my school and my friends. Please can you go away.”
While in lockdown at home with his mum, brother Joshua, eight, and sister Isobel, five, Lucas has also been unable to see his dad, who lives in London, or family members who live in Lowestoft.
In his letter to coronavirus, he said: “You made it difficult for me to give my Aba [grandmother] hugs and kisses. Why?”
His mum said: “He is missing school, and he is not able to see his dad or my family, it is very stressful for him. We’ve only been able to have contact over the phone. When you’re that age this is a long time to go without seeing people.
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A recent report suggested the pandemic, which has upended family lives, has led to an increase in anxiety among young people.
Ms Gurner said: “I’m a single mother to three beautiful children, but I never realised how much the coronavirus affects the children too.
“I thought the children were thinking this was a long extended summer holiday but just with some school work, they get to spend time with mummy at home, all day every day, go for walks everyday, and have fun in the garden. How wrong was I?
“We have just been taking each day as it comes. I’m not good for planning ahead, so I have been just seeing how things go each day. Luckily we have a garden with a big paddling pool so the kids have been mostly in there.”
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