Have you discovered any upsides to the pandemic?

[Blonchette]

I guess I should preface and say I’m being light hearted so I’m not meaning things like better quality of family life etc. Although obviously I hope many have found that.

It’s just that as I was washing my hands earlier for the millionth time today it suddenly occurred to me to wonder if things like incidences of threadworms were down due to increased hygiene. I don’t know if they are or not but it would be a small plus point of the pandemic if they were.

Anything else?

I much prefer how my kids go to school in their pe kit on days they have pe. Means much less stuff gets lost!

DS2 (2020 baby) and DH have a great relationship and he is just as happy with either of us, when DS1 was a baby DH used to be gone from 7.30-6.30 every day and DS1 wanted me to settle him for bed/or whenever he was upset.

Yes I love the outdoor dining
York has gone for it in a big way
Loads of ambience on the streets
There’s a real buzz
It’s great and I think it’s here to stay

I much prefer how my kids go to school in their pe kit on days they have pe. Means much less stuff gets lost!

I prefer this too - PE kit doesnt need ironing! But they're going back to the old way in september and have introduced new school branded leggings - joy.
I hope they keep phone/video GP apts and zoom parents eve
No more hoofing around the school to a different block and not knowing whether to chance waiting for the 3 sets of parents ahead of you and be late for next one 2 miles a 5 min walk away.

Table service in cafes etc where you’d normally go to the counter.

Using less polluting fuel because WFH.

Parents evening via Zoom.

@shewalkslikerihanna

Yes I think a lot of places will have improved their out door spaces and invested in patio heaters etc which will hopefully get more use.

Online parents evenings were fab. DH actually got to attend as it was just 10mins out of the working day rather than a couple of hours.

I've enjoyed not having to see people, I like being on my own. Also not going out unless I absolutely have to.

I've enjoyed television and Netflix more than I did before.

I laughed at the threadworms reference in opening post. Presumably the incidence of infestation has gone down because people are mixing with others less but, honestly, was it ever really a problem? I've never had threadworms and don't know anyone who has.

My team will now be permanently WFH. A godsend.

Catching up with friends over Zoom instead of traipsing all over the country to meet them in person. We've decided to keep it this way from now on.

Discovering local farm shops and independent grocers that will deliver.

Just realising that you don't need constant travel and days out to live a happy life. From now on we're content to just focus on doing things around the house instead of splashing out on multiple holidays a year.

I think a lot of people don't realise just how beneficial the pandemic has been for women in general.

Our house had always been a busy social one. Been lovely not having people constantly calling round or knocking on for the kids, just our own little family. We're moving soon hopefully, might just not tell anyone our new address.
No bloody nits (have they been eradicated yet?)
Ditto online parents evening has been fab!
No birthday parties hurrah
I've gone a whole year without makeup
If you're close enough to see my tache, you're too close
Oh have so not missed hanging around in the school playground trying to avoid small talk!

@De88
No bloody nits (have they been eradicated yet?)
We haven’t had one single case of nits at the school I teach at since the start of the pandemic! 🤣

Not being able to go on holiday even in the uk has been bliss. I love my home - choose it to live in!!

Lockdown meant far far less people & crowds.

It’s highlighted the worth of the NHS & the conditions that the NHS staff work in. This is the single most good thing for me.
The 1% pay rise for nurses, the hours they work, the horrendous situations that they have had to face.
How the NHS has stepped up to the vaccination process on top of everything else that they are doing.
Yes, it’s the NHS for me.

Lack of pressure to attend social occasions. I have anxiety and lockdown meant the pressure was off and I also used that time to get meds sorted as I was worried about side effects when I was really busy - but I thought while I was at home so much it didn't matter. I feel so much better now and I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for lockdown. I'd have still been struggling now.

I like that if I pop to the shop looking a bit of a state no one really knows with my mask on

They have staggered the swimming lesson times so there's not a scrum for the showers with about 50 kids trying to use them at once.

As PP said, school meetings are virtual. I can take a short break from work to log on, no childcare needed.

We have had nits in DDs class (not DD thankfully) and the school now has a norovirus outbreak, so I think the germs will always win unfortunately.

Not having to sit next to strangers on the bus

Completely agree re the use of outside space, there have been some really innovate things done in my nearest city with green spaces opening up like they never been before. Eg tables placed in church yards, wide grass verges etc Some businesses are co-operating in shared spaces so you can buy food in one place, drinks from another and dessert from another. There are plans to close one road to traffic permanently to allow it to continue.

Closer to home, some pubs have made amazing permanent outdoor spaces with verandas, sheds (painted as beach huts), heating, lighting and the like. Should enable them to extend the outdoor dining season further into spring and autumn.

Zoom parents evening - yaaay

Going swimming. I would queue to pay whilst the receptionist arranged birthday parties on the phone. Wasting 20 minutes of swimming time. Now I book online, walk in brushing card on sensor as I go straight in.

Another vote for Zoom parents evenings.

More time with DD, when the schools were off.

I can mouth ‘fuck off’ to annoying people when I wear a mask a no one can see. It’s very therapeutic.

Outdoor dining and table service. Less colds.

Not feeling as much pressure to be going places and doing things that cost££ with the dc.
We do enough imo but DD was always nagging for extra and everything she chooses to do she expects to bring friends and she thinks money is no object.
I was quite happy when theme parks and cinemas were closed.
I'm not actually comfortable enough to go again now they are open so I do fall back on the Covid line.