How has the last year been for you?

[PembrokeshireDreaming]

I feel we have been very lucky...........no one close to us has died or been seriously ill from covid, we are financially stable and we have been able to have contact, when allowed, with family, we all live locally so garden visits were easy. We even managed a week away in the UK last summer after we cancelled our trip to Spain. There have been ups and downs but it could have been so much worse!

Work / Finances
Dh has been working from home, he has a workspace in our bedroom lost conversion so that has been fine, his work can be done equally well at home as the office, his job is secure and we have saved the cost of his commute.
I'm a SAHM and receive carer's allowance for ds who has severe learning difficulties and autism.

Kids
DD is now in year 11 and should have been doing her GCSEs, it has been a tough year for her but she has worked hard and engaged well with home learning, she is very sporty and has really missed not being able to train and compete with her club. She is delighted to be back in school. DS has coped reasonably well and developed a new routine of being home, his school have been very supportive and we have had contact from outside agencies although clubs he attended are still closed.

Family
My inlaws live 3 miles away, they are in their 80s and I have been doing all of their shopping (mostly online). My parents live a few doors away, they are in their 80s and I have seen a lot of them as I have been helping to support them and they help to support DS..........we act in lockdown as one household........technically against the rules but they need support and DS needs somewhere to go! We have been very careful, only attending medical appointments and shopping online. I'm really looking forward to seeing my niece who lives on the other side of the country and hasn't been able to visit for over a year.

How was your lockdown year?

Mixed really, but overall sad because we are all missing out on so much. Any potential silver linings have long since disappeared

DH and I were discussing this yesterday after a radio presenter stated that life had changed for everyone, beyond recognition. It just hasn't been true for us.

We have been lucky. Some things have been more difficult, such as attempting to study for my degree whilst DS was at home. DH and I have both worked throughout, as have all 3 young adult children. We were unable to see them as often (with DS stuck abroad for 7 months and missing his 18th birthday) but technology means we were always in contact.

Siblings and parents are local so we have seen them as and when allowed.

And we only know a couple of people that have contracted covid and they were fine.

We concluded that all we have missed out on is the fun stuff, going out, sports, holidays and so on. A small sacrifice, especially when looking at how devastated some people and families are.

It's been great

I've worked as normal.

Only person to have covid is adult dd and she had it mild.

I've absolutely loved staying in.

I've saved loads of money.

There is no one I haven't seen as I dont have any other family except elderly parents who I've seen in the garden once a week to drop of shopping.

I'm very lucky.

I think ours have been a mixture of both good and bad. I know the end is coming, but I’m worse than I have been all year. Covid scares, but no covid for us.

Work
I’ve been working from home since last April and I do prefer it. My contract was due to end last April too but they have been extending it every other month so work has been ticking for me. My partner is in trade so he’s managed to stay in work apart from a few weeks isolation etc. However due to him having to have three days off before Christmas due to his son isolating with us - he returned to work in January to find his boss had cut his monthly wage down by a third so we have struggled with that.

Finances

Besides the loss in wage - due to me now driving half as much, and shopping, holidays, going out etc etc we have saved 14k since April. That’s a lockdown win for sure. The whole opportunity has made savers out of us putting every scrap away possible. Due to me being at home and being able to do school runs etc it opens up my partner to work some evenings too. We are half way in to a deposit for our first family home!

Kids
They are bored but adapting. Mines grateful to be back in school, I’ve seen a major difference in her. Due to all the time at home, the kids have been undertaking acro lessons and have done brilliantly over the year. We are also hikers and they have been getting out and willing to get in touch with nature without moaning for a change!

Family
We have lost two grandparents on each side - one in December and one in feb. Two funerals, both under the lockdown and isolation rules. It’s put a huge dark cloud on everyone, our parents especially. My partners dad is depressed and it’s worrysome. Everyone has steered clear of covid thankfully so no illnesses besides the grandparents.

Mental health.

Everyone’s has taken its toll in someway but I think mine has been the biggest impact. I don’t have homeschool to keep me so busy now and I’m the only one who has spent almost every day at home for the past year. The house is too quiet during the week and although I fill it with work, exercise, gardening, housework I still almost every day want to curl up in a ball and hide from the world. I’m constantly tired and I have panic attacks weekly. I’ve been feeling like this since January. I’m looking forward to be able to drive to the mountains - where we usually spend every other weekend - and for the weather to prove so I can work in the garden!

I'm very fortunate - DH and I both able to work from home, both introverts so very happy at home together. Have seen friends online, family phone calls, no-one we know has been seriously ill with covid although have had unrelated bereavements. All in all incredibly lucky.
Very rarely able to say so, because I know how awful its been for others 💕

We too have been very lucky. DH and I both been in work. Kids been a mixture of home school and school (keyworker place). The older two have missed out on their sports and socialising but have been fine.
We live rurally so we've had plenty of outdoor space. Lots of family and friends living locally so we've seen them when allowed. We have a support bubble with a very good friend who is a single parent so we've seen her lots.
I haven't missed all the traveling around and being a taxi service and if I'm honest I'm dreading going back to it all. I've enjoyed the slower pace of life but I know the dc will want to get stuck back in.
Noone I know has had Covid badly so I'm very grateful for that.

Boring

Mixed, some good some bad. Thankfully nothing devastatingly bad, so consider myself and my family lucky.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one to have been OK in this strange year, I would even say I've thrived. I've been so aware of how painful it's been for many people, and aware of my good fortune to be someone who enjoys quiet and solitude, and if course very privileged to have a garden and space to not go stir crazy.

Stressful as a carer I was working in a residential home and 12 residents died of covid and the rest were very ill with it. I sincewft that job and now a support worker which has been nice.
Been nice being at home a lot more tho

Absolutely horrendous as my FIL died of COVID and many family members were very sick with it, I can't think of anything else beyond that really.

It's not been too bad for me really, no complaints. However I am aware of the difficulties other people have with lockdown restrictions, etc.

@Candyfloss99 bigs hugs to you and your family

Horrific tbh. Yesterday last year iyswim, my mum had a huge heart attack almost died. I found her on the floor. She survived but dementia got very very bad as result, had to move her into a care home. She stayed a while there and hated it was so confusing, moved her into care home with my dad. New years eve they both tested positive for Covid (a week after having the vaccine) , my dad was fine but my mum died. I’m finding it hard.
On the other hand, I’ve started working for first time in years, no longer being carer to my mum. I’m enjoying working. We have moved into her house and it’s lovely. But it’s no silver lining really is it?

I’m sorry to hear about your loss @Kenworthington, that must be incredibly hard.

I know what you mean about the no silver lining thing, Its hard to see it in that way. I guess life still chops and changes and opens doors even after loss. Your mum will certainly want for you the little blessings that may follow

Mostly ok really.

I worked all through and there's been plenty of overtime. DH was furloughed initially but the drop in wages was not so obvious as we were unable to go out.

We saved some money which has allowed us to pay off credit card debts. We also seem to have discovered the joy of staying in rather than trotting out to the pub or for dinner several times a week.

DS is almost 17. His gcse results were good and he's thriving at his A -levels and very pleased to be back. He's the one who has lost the most in this but seems stoic and determined to make the best of it.

We haven't seen DM since last summer. We are her only family so I feel guilty, but my slightly tense relationship with her means I am in part slightly relieved.

The only people we know who have been ill are work colleagues of mine who have all got over it and returned to work, albeit a couple have struggled to get back to full health.

My biggest regret is that we had a big holiday booked for this summer, likely the last one we will go on as a family as DS will be off to uni next year. That's been cancelled and he's (understandably) non committal about coming with us next year. However when I consider how much worse it could be I realise I'm very lucky that's all I have to worry about.

Erm, mixed really.

Work, fine. I work in care and although we've been much quieter, we generally have a quiet patch every year so hopefully we're just riding the storm out.

Family, a bit shit. We've missed half of our nephews life because of lockdowns, he's 2. They've obviously bubbled with the grandparents for childcare so we've not seen him besides doorstep drops. He doesn't know who we are and screams when we pop to the door to drop off birthday presents/christmas presents. Then again, his parents didn't bother with cards from him to us on our own birthdays, which is hurtful, so.... We could probably meet up in a park when they take him and chat from afar.

Mental health, shot to shit. We've had failed fertility treatment in lockdowns. I also need an operation that's been put in hold "because covid", which is actually quite vital to improve our fertility and time is ticking age-wise now! Haven't been able to see any family or friends because of lockdown, so work is the only time we see anyone else. Kind of feel lucky we can still do that though to be honest, I'd hate to be shielding.

Mine’s been pretty grim. Grandparents ill, everyone living too far apart for “doorstep visits”, only a few family members have gardens and the rest of us are in tiny flats. Lots of people I know have lost their jobs and are having to rely on food banks. I’ve been lucky enough to keep mine but my usual extra income has been torpedoed and I’m struggling.

I think people should remember as well that mumsnet is very biased towards the middle class, work from home, naice house with garden types. There’s nothing wrong with that but it does mean you’ll get a disproportionate level of “let’s lock down until we’re safe even if it takes 5 years!” responses. For example, we don’t tend to hear these points of view as often on here:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/21/whys-my-life-like-this-leicesters-struggles-with-a-year-of-covid

It’s easy to say lockdown has been lovely when you’ve been in a position to work from a nice big house and enjoy the extra time with your family. For many, many people, it has been incredibly hard.

For many, many people, it has been incredibly hard.

But this thread is specifically asking how it has been for individuals. Just because I've only found it "boring" doesn't mean I don't know others have had a tough time.

I haven't read any comments which deny that it's been incredibly hard for many people.

[quote Themadcatparade]@Candyfloss99 bigs hugs to you and your family [/quote]
Thank you.

Sorry if my comment seemed unnecessarily pointed. I guess I’m touchy after reading a million threads on here about how much people have enjoyed lockdown. Apologies.

Mixed bag really.
I've been furloughed for a year and not due back before may.
Dp has worked throughout but has been waiting to be diagnosed with a life changing illness and due to covid, the hospital appointments are few and far between.
A couple of friends died ( not covid related) and no being able to go to the funerals was hard.
A friend had covid bad but luckily is on the mend now.

@SwansAreEvil

Sorry if my comment seemed unnecessarily pointed. I guess I’m touchy after reading a million threads on here about how much people have enjoyed lockdown. Apologies.

No need to apologise, I've not read many ovid threads on here tbh so I wasn't aware of that, generally I never dare say out loud that lockdown has suited my temperament etc because I know how hard it is for many. So it felt refreshing to hear that has suited some other people too. But I absolutely agree that it's strongly affected by resources,accessto space, middle class type jobs etc.

I thinkif there's one clear thing the pandemic has done it's highlight inequality

Before lockdown I was a year in to my dream job, I’d just received a letter telling me of a good pay rise to start in April. DH was also earning well. We’d never had much money before so this was incredible for us.

It was my 40th in the March but we decided to take our first ever holiday abroad later in the year so we booked a holiday apartment in Bruges for October. Alongside this DS1 had booked his first ever holiday to Majorca with his GF in May, and DS2 was supposed to be going to The Netherlands with his school in April to play in a prestigious football tournament. Neither myself or the DC had been outside of the UK before so we were so excited after having a really tough few years with family illness and death.

After COVID and lockdown the company I worked for closed my store so I lost my dream job and the extra money that came with it. Of course all the holidays were cancelled, luckily DS1 had paid in full for his holiday so it has been moved to next year.
DS2 however is in year 11 so that final school trip was his last opportunity.

I’ve been lucky to get another job but the pay is nowhere near as good so now we’re back to not being able to afford a holiday even when we could go again.

I know in the grand scheme of things holidays are really not important and we’re lucky to have our health but god damn I’m gutted that we’re in our forties, work bloody hard, had shit time after shit time and we still haven’t been able to take our kids on holiday!