In common with an awful lot if people, DS1 has had a rotten year.
The first lockdown started the day he was supposed to go to the pub for his 18th birthday.
At that point he was well progressed in the selection process for a job he set his heart on when he was 11yo, his whole school career was based around meeting the criteria and, not being naturally academic, he had to work incredibly hard for it. Then they cancelled all recruitment.
He'd been working at McDonalds as a temporary measure while the other thing went on, then he was furloughed.
Signed up as an NHS volunteer. Did that ever happen, he never heard anything?
Was first to volunteer to go back when McDonalds reopened but has done two periods of isolation since, without complaint or pay!
With most of his friends away at uni, he's had little social life, he'd expected to visit and them to come home. They'd planned a number of festivals through the summer etc, all cancelled. He's hardly seen anyone outside of work.
DH, his Dad, was diagnosed with cancer in the middle of it all.
He's followed all the rules, kept in touch with his grandparents, taking grandma out for a walk when it was allowed.
Kept cheerful throughout and developed quite a repertoire of family meals and baking for us all.
Today he's been given a selection pack as a Christmas present at work and he is chuffed to bits. Genuinely really thrilled to get a small gift from someone who "didn't have to".
I cried 