Around 5 months old, on the way to strolling.
At that time, we came home without speaking to anyone.

　This time, I would like to speak on the child-raising under COVID19.

　I sincerely sympathized with the parents who are raising children, and also who are pregnant and their family under this obscure situation, and truly feel it is a grave situation. As for myself, from this year strolling with my son was gradually progressing, and just when I was thinking of taking him to children’s hall, COVID19 occurred and honestly I greatly felt anxious. Because of Request of self-restraint to go out and Declaration of state of emergency, children related events cancelled, temporary closing of place of people gathering, temporary school closing, and our time to shut ourselves up in the house have increased in order not to catch・not to spread the coronavirus. In such situation, before and after and during the Declaration of state of emergency period, I have spent almost all time staying at home. Of course our baby under 12 months of age stayed at home with me. Even adults feel depressed, as far as I observed, the influence upon the baby was very grave.

　The biggest problem was that there was “no chance of meeting anyone else besides the parents.” Right after self-restraint period began, my son’s afraid-of-strangers has started. It was much earlier timing than the usual afraid-of-strangers. Seeing adults besides the parents (even his beloved grandfather!) he began to cry desperately with all his might. Though afraid-of-strangers is the proof of the baby distinguishing the parents from other people, and very important process of growth. Yet for the parents and the adult who are being the stranger, it is heartbreaking to see the baby crying in tears. And for the baby, it is not good to be dominated by anxiety and fear every time meeting someone. However, in case, there are chances of meeting several adults besides the parents, this afraid-of-strangers could be avoided to minimum or not at all. In short, it is a matter of habit. Actually, after the self-restraint period was over, by taking hygienic measures, I increased the chance for my son to meet men and women of all ages, his afraid-of-strangers immediately disappeared. Though it is difficult during the self-restraint period, I think, we the parents are required to have the courage to make chances for the children to have contact with variety of people in the society. It is fearful for the parents having responsibility for the child’s life to step out to the society with danger. Yet for the very sake of the child, we should step forward.

　By the way, one more thing I was worried was that “as everyone is wearing a mask, it is not possible to read the face expression.” However, as far as watching my son, it was needless worry. Though the person is wearing a mask, he seems to be properly reading the expression above the eyes, and distinguishing by the tone of the voice, and sensing the expression and emotion of the person. I was astonished by the awesome social nature endowed inherently in human.

Also about 5 months old. He is growing up even the world is under COVID19 !