Getting back to normal life

[Alcesalces]

l feel like I've forgotten what my life was like before Covid. We're seeing family for the first time in months this half term. Over the last couple of months my kids have started back at various activities. I don't feel I do anything anymore apart from go to work. We have nothing planned at all for this year and I'm thinking I should start.

Does anyone else feel like real life is still paused? I'm not sure now even if it is the situation or me.

Yep! To the point I declined invite to go out yesterday! Got myself in a rut of not going anywhere other than out with my DC!
Like nothing for myself if that makes sense

Yes, it’s very odd. DH & I are the kind of people that are always out on our days off work, we couldn’t wait to be allowed back in to the world.
Now we’re allowed to do things we haven’t done a thing - it’s like we’ve forgotten what to do!

I do wonder if it's habit. I'm in the habit of not having anything on to the point that it is stressful when I do! DH has built himself a great hobby that is home based so he's never bored but I'm beginning to realise I am.

Same. I'm exhausted and happy to do nothing for now

quite the opposite actually, suddenly it's party fever and I had a hard time organising a date when all 5 friends of DD are available for a catch-up birthday party as everyone's diaries are filling up.

kids have already been to 3 different parties, we've had 4 different gatherings in the last 10 days (DS5's birthday party, DS4's friends over for pizza, DS2's friends over, DS3's y11 garden party) and I have something booked for everything weekend until August; including throwing 5 different birthday parties (DD, FIL, DS2, DS6, DS1) at home!
I'm sure August weekends will be filling up soon, so many friends & family to see!

Yes it’s so weird! I guess we’ve just got into the habit of doing nothing.

@Alcesalces

I think it's probably a bit both.
I hate school runs with a vengeance and I was quite happy not having to do it for 6 months last year and another 9 weeks this year.
I'm one of those people who absolutely needs to be alone at times, but also loves seeing people when in the mood.
I think the lockdowns slowed us down, no doubt.
lots of people still carry emotional & mental scars, so taking it easy is the best thing to do if you are not ready to change gears.

We are gonna be busy, but I have no choice but to go from 0-60 in seconds. With 7 kids that's standard anyway (especially in emergencies), but as they've missed out on so much I won't miss an opportunity to help them catch up!
I'm still gonna rest as much as I can in between events.

I'm a bit overloaded by it. In theory I am so happy to be free to do stuff again. In reality lunch with DC in the city and then a day out with an old friend yesterday has been enough for me all weekend. Today I just wanted to sit in the sun quietly.

@Cowbells

I'm a bit overloaded by it. In theory I am so happy to be free to do stuff again. In reality lunch with DC in the city and then a day out with an old friend yesterday has been enough for me all weekend. Today I just wanted to sit in the sun quietly.

@Cowbells

DS5's party last weekend threw me. I forgot how loud excited pre-teens can get!
It was only 5 of them plus DS5, but I actually had to wear earplugs for the 2nd hour and my head was spinning afterwards!🤣

Having 15 teenagers over this weekend was actually much easier in comparison. And they were here until midnight! They were awesome, such lovely kids.

I've realised I'm happy to stay at home, read and potter. I'd like to visit other cities, go to galleries and museums, shop and eat out at some point, but I can't be doing with the hassle of other people's proximity and restrictions so I've written the rest of this year off.

God no. We are doing everything and have arrived for a holiday at Butlins today.

The first normal thing I’d done in a long time was to go to a football match with my son (and 9998 other supporters) two weeks ago and it really gave me a boost, my husband commented when we got home about how much happier I seemed.

Pre-Covid we used to go into the city centre most Sunday afternoons for a coffee, cake and a walk around. Yesterday we went back for the first time since November 2019 (we’d given it a miss over the busy Christmas 2019 and January 2020 sale period and then Covid started to hit).
It was very busy and I thoroughly enjoyed it but I came home and fell asleep on the sofa for two hours.

We’ve definitely got out of the habit of doing things we enjoy.

It's like emerging from hibernation. This weekend I've walked to a pub with a friend, Sat in the garden and listened to other real people laughing around me, and walked home.
Today ds & I went to a bookshop to browse then bought an icecream and strolled along a tow path. Later this week we'll go out for some tapas. It feels very tentative. And really good.

I'm so pleased that the world is slowly opening up.
I now decline things and stay in because I want to and not because I have to 😀

I've started slowly, a bit like post-injury exercise regime!

Emerging from hibernation nails it @Mintjulia

I have plans today with family and for Saturday. Going to make an effort to book some days out for the rest of the year. Kids all want a trip to the zoo and to the beach. I fancy going to watch something at the theatre. We have family up in Scotland who we haven't seen since 2019 and I'm going to arrange to visit them.

Anyone else trying to do anything?

I’m making the effort to get back to normal as far as possible- it does feel like a big effort and tiring but the more I get on with things the easier it gets. If it was just me and DH we probably wouldn’t bother so much but our children are only little once and I want to give them experiences, parties, holidays etc. It’s exhausting though!