Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If it wasn’t for Coronavirus, what would be different in your life right now?

72 replies

Raella50 · 10/05/2020 14:45

For me:
The garden wouldn’t be done.
My children wouldn’t know how to cook some of the things they do now.
I’d still be blow drying and straightening my hair every day and wouldn’t have rediscovered my natural curls.
I’d still be wearing heavy makeup every day.
I wouldn’t have phoned my parents every day for a chat.

OP posts:
arinah · 10/05/2020 15:11

I'd be in Bangladesh with my 4mo DD to finally bring my 4yo DS back after him having spent a good couple of years with my in laws (personal issues RE childcare). I'd be enjoying my maternity leave in a sunnier climate with all the support I need in the world.
Instead, I am still in the UK, somehow raising DD 98% by myself (DH doesn't count 😂) and missing my DS like crazy. He's lost the hope of me saying 'so and so weeks to go.' 😔
Really can't think of any pros for myself personally!

Original poster
Raella50 · 10/05/2020 15:40

Really sorry to hear that!!! Hope you get there very soon and congratulations on your new baby ❤️

OP posts:
fussychica · 10/05/2020 15:44

I'd be lazing by my pool in Spain or walking along the beachSad. Instead I'm sitting in the conservatory watching the wind getting stronger and the temperature droppingSad

Tulipsinmyvase · 10/05/2020 15:44

We’d have been on 2 family holiday plus a couple of weekend breaks. DP would have travelled more with work.
My kids would be looking forward to summer holidays
We’d have completed work on our house garden which has stalled due to us being unable to get the appropriate workmen in

Nightowl92 · 10/05/2020 15:44

I’d be back home in Greece, working all week welcoming tourists to the airport and then have a lovely evening sitting by the marina with a glass of wine, friends and family and a meze. Trying to keep positive and thinking that day will come again soon!

ParkheadParadise · 10/05/2020 15:46

I'd be a lovely hotel right now with a massive hangover after attending my nephews wedding yesterday, just in time after returning from a 2 week holiday in Cyprus.

timeforawine · 10/05/2020 15:47

I'd be in Tobago right now exploring

Karcheer · 10/05/2020 15:51

We would’ve moved house, just got back from holiday and met a new baby. It sucks!

Murinae · 10/05/2020 15:55

I would be getting stuff ready to go to work tomorrow. As it is I’m looking forward to another day at home.

tabulahrasa · 10/05/2020 15:59

I’d still have a job and I’d be going on holiday next week...

arinah · 10/05/2020 16:10

@Raella50 thank you :) I am enjoying the extra time with DD but it would've been nicer outside on sunny days, that's all.

pinkpanther84 · 10/05/2020 16:25

I would be married, and preparing to go on honeymoon with my husband and our 2 young children

Soph88888 · 10/05/2020 16:37

I’d be a homeowner, and would have been able to have a holiday before my baby arrives, and prepare a nursery for her. As it stands we’re in a tiny 1 bed with black mould and won’t be able to get another mortgage offer as ill be on maternity leave,

PerplexingWords · 10/05/2020 16:38

All three DC would be having exams.

SomewhereEast · 10/05/2020 16:41

We'd be looking forward to a holiday in Portugal at the end of May & seeing all my family in my country in summer. We'd quite possibly be out doing something fun this afternoon, possibly with one of the other families we're friendly with. I wouldn't be contemplating going back on anti-depressants and commiserating with equally sad struggling friends on Facebook.

In fairness though we're 'lucky' in some ways (no financially worries for the moment, kids coping well, we have a garden!!!) and I'm grateful for that.

On the plus side, we finally got round to painting the garden bench. Not sure that compensates me though...

VoyageInTheDark · 10/05/2020 16:43

I'd be trying for ds2, maybe even pregnant. As it is I'm on my period and depressed

EmpressLangClegInChair · 10/05/2020 16:46

I'd be getting excited about spending next weekend visiting a friend in the Lake District, and planning my September holiday in Italy. I'd have spent my mother's birthday with her and be meeting friends physically instead of over Zoom.

Good on you for ditching the heavy makeup & hair straighteners though OP, I hope you don't feel the need to go back to them again when lockdown's over.

Hedgehog44 · 10/05/2020 16:55

I'd still be sat with the dog on my knee thinking hmmm shall I have a glass of wine. Nothing is better or worse and nothing has been cancelled apart from a few weekends away. Have been fortunate.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 10/05/2020 16:58

I'd be finishing my course. I had one term left to go on a post-graduate acting course, and now god knows when - if ever - I'll actually complete it.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 10/05/2020 17:01

I'd be working fewer hours - covering sheilding staff and it's taking it's toll.

Otherwise not much difference. I work with my bestie, mostly shop online and have no interest in pubs.

Sipperskipper · 10/05/2020 17:06

DD would be in preschool 3 mornings a week having just increased her hours. I'd be using that time to get some rest (feeling v pregnant and exhausted!) and prepare for new baby.

We would have moved out last month, ready for our house extension to start (would be well underway now!). Now won't be able to start it until am settled with baby, likely sometime next year.

I'd be doing all the usual day to day nice stuff like being out and about with DD and seeing my parents / friends.

We wouldn't have dug out and planted a veg patch (as its where the extension was going to go!)

DD (probably) wouldn't have got better at playing independently- I think it has helped being home all the time.

DH would still be out at work long hours every day. He is WFH but is so much happier being here all day and seeing more of DD. DD & I love it too.

WhatHaveIFound · 10/05/2020 17:07

I'd be emotionally supporting my DD through A Levels and since she's got a therapist for anxiety it would have been very stressful.

The garden wouldn't look as nice as it does at the moment.

I wouldn't be as fit as i am due to all the cycling/walking i've been doing.

DC/DH wouldn't have helped with quite so much cooking and I wouldn't have got to see my DH so much as he had loads of overseas work booked in.

HerRoyalNotness · 10/05/2020 17:08

I’d probably have a job still, but be exhausted with the commute and long working day, kids and study. I’d be freaking out now about what I’d do with the kids over the summer and if we could afford sleep away camp for the oldest. I’d be full of regret that I had to work over summer too instead of lazy days by the pool and hanging out with friends.

I’d have to listen to everyone telling me their travel plans and saying we can’t afford it when they asked if we were going anywhere. Maybe next year I’d say, if I can get the time off.

Purplequalitystreet · 10/05/2020 17:08

I'd be looking forward to my hen do next weekend and counting the days until my wedding in June.

I'd be taking my DS to baby groups and to see his grandparents.

I'd have just got back from a week in the Lakes in the blazing sunshine.

Oh well. Mustn't grumble. We're all healthy so far which is the main thing.

amusedbush · 10/05/2020 17:12

I would be looking forward to my 30th birthday on Tuesday, as we’d be going on holiday that morning instead of being stuck in the house.

I’d be looking forward to my (now cancelled) graduation.

I’d be excited about starting my PhD on campus in July and becoming part of the university’s research community instead of resigning myself to starting it from home.

I’m trying to keep my perspective on the situation but I also kind of want to have a Kevin and Perry style IT’S SO UNFAIRRR tantrum BlushGrin

Swipe left for the next trending thread