This lockdown is forcing a reset for the planet.

[XingMing]

Where we are, it's rural, beautiful and in fine weather (after six months of rain) this lockdown seems like an opportunity rather than a penance. It's spring, we are gardening. The air is fresher, the sky is clearer, emissions are down across the planet. It's not exciting, but it is an interlude to enjoy family life before DS leaves home for university and starting his career. It's a very special time and I shall treasure the memory of this month. Am I alone in making the most of the moment? (We have aged parents to worry about too but as they are well into their 80s, I know they are not bothered about getting the telegram from the Palace.)

I think I understand, I'm similarly enjoying the last long period of time I will probably get to spend with my eldest son, he too should be off to Uni. We used to HEd and I loved having both boys at home every day. We are all introverts, we are all capable of occupying ourselves, and we don't get bored, we find stuff to do. I'm enjoying having longer meal times, and discussions with them. I don't miss work one little bit. I never defined myself by my work, so I don't feel lost without it.

Its nice outside, and its so quiet. I wonder how long this will go on for, and I worry about money and the effect of the economic situation, and I worry about all those people who are putting themselves at risk (DH is still at risk having to travel/work) but he isn't on the front line. I worry about my father, hes a demented and rather stubborn 89 year old extrovert with no one to talk to, and I worry about how the situation with grading A'levels is likely to effect DS1, but day to day, I'm enjoying the peace and love seeing my DC more.

I've been massively stressed OP over having to furlough our staff, but they've all been such a fucking nightmare to deal with that to be honest, yesterday and today I've taken a deep breath, and noticed the sunshine, less pollution and traffic noise, and thought what a bonus that 3 weeks or so at home is going to be.

We may not have a business at the end of it, but no amount of worry is going to change that and today I've really seen the good. Both of our DDs have to go back to work next week (they're on leave this week as were supposed to be going away) so I'm cherishing some time with them.

Sure, make the most of this moment. But not everyone’s moment looks like yours.

Personally I’m worried and feeling very anxious about DH bringing home the virus and spreading it to me and the kids. He has to work as his work is still open. I’m glad because it’s money (which we need to survive) but also sad because, you know, the rona. I’ve read about fit young adults with you no underlying health issues dying recently and that’s just got me worried. So much so I feel physically sick.

And it’s raining here.

I feel the same way, to be honest, as distasteful as others might find it. And I’m hardly living a privileged life either. The fact is, my husband was made redundant three weeks before all this kicked off and we now have no income at all. We also had an elderly grandparent taken to hospital with sepsis last week who has since had a stroke but we have very little information and no contact. It’s all very worrying and upsetting. But there’s nothing I can do about it. I have also been worrying about environmental destruction a lot for the past year or so and I hope that all of this makes people realise what the truly important things in life are and how fragile our systems are. I think a lot of people in the western world think they’re somehow invincible. Everything will always be alright because it always has been in their lifetimes. I hope this is a wake up call and that things might be different in the future. I think there will be very bad repercussions for a long time, but the world can’t go on the way it has been. I am trying not to think too far into the future at the moment and just take each day as it comes. And today was sunny and I played with my children. I’m sure there will be worse days ahead but that doesn’t need to spoil the good moments today.

@BovaryX
Your sarcasm is immense and probably will go unnoticed.... not by me though, I agree with your post 👍👍

This ain't no holiday for me...this home schooling stuff has left me exhausted. Genuinely. Plus trying to keep the house in some sort of order, keep the kids fed and exercised...I'm a sahm, I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I was wfh. I barely sit down...I'd love to use this time to chill but my eldest is expected to do six hours school work a day and I'm constantly being asked to print stuff, check his work and answer his questions plus help my younger dc. Not to mention prepare food all day including for my dh who is wfh. I'm shattered and I'm well aware I have it easier than most.

It is great that you are able to do that.

It isn't so great for many others though facing financial ruin at this time. It is a very stressful and worrying time.

This is a real ‘let them eat cake’ moment for you OP.

Imagine yourself revelling in your peaceful holiday on top of a pile of desperate, dying, poverty-stricken, terrified people. That’s you, right at the top, enjoying the weather.

Your post has shocked me. I believe in focusing on the positives but the myopic selfishness you’re displaying is shocking.

Whilst it is a scary time, I'm trying to focus on the positives.

I am a f/t sahm and I'm actually feeling less isolated now that my dcs are at home (I have a pre-schooler who naps so I don't always make it to groups etc.) I have lost a fair bit of confidence since being at home and most days I am left to wander home with little dc whilst most people rush off to their places of work and I get a feeling of being left behind. My dc are playing together pretty well and is lovely to watch them interact a bit more. Home schooling is going well too and actually suits one dc better because they don't easily fit into the rigid routines that school presents. Whilst not relaxed about what is going on in general, we are relaxed in our home environment and making the most of the garden. We have a lot of work to do out there and are doing various activities to keep occupied. I am adhering to the guidelines and trying not to panic as Ska said and concentrate on the smaller things. Interestingly, I haven't been taking my anxiety meds either, so I don't know what this says about day to day life. I guess with very little extended family, I am not feeling the affects of missing them and actually because people are finding themselves at home, they are actually taking the time to message more. I can hear children playing in the daytime, many more people are taking walks (whilst maintaining distance), the village no longer feels deserted and there is a lot of goodwill amongst people. It's just a shame it has taken something so devastating for these things to have arisen.
And yes, I've seen loads of butterflies today too and lots of birds visiting the garden.

Thank you all. This is a horrible frightening period for everyone where we understand how precarious all our lives are. If even a few people have stood back and been able to reflect on the beauty and complexity of our universe, even for a few minutes amid all our fears, I think this thread was worthwhile. Please, look after yourselves and those you love, and enjoy the few seconds of beauty and kindness you see everyday.

I get where op is coming from. We are also business owners with uncertainty and yes we are worried BUT i completely get what they're saying it I just can't explain why.

I’ve read about fit young adults with you no underlying health issues dying recently and that’s just got me worried. So much so I feel physically sick.

Yes, this is truly devastating and very frightening. I think that is why I'm trying to focus on smaller things and not look at the bigger picture. Plus there are a lot of people who are working and putting themselves at risk for everyone else.

The planet is fucked. Manufacturing is going crazy to keep up with demand, it will go even more bonkers after the eventual lifting of the lockdown in response to people’s reaction to being freed.

Your tone is wistful/nostalgic, OP, all very well and good, but it’s ill-timed and the contrary of how I imagine many posters are feeling. Lacking in empathy, frankly.

There's nothing wrong with counting your blessings. It's like mother nature has put us all on the naughty step for a couple of years.

It's shit for us. Properly shit but there's bugger all we can do about it for the minute apart from try and keep our sanity and keep us housed and fed.

It's a very special time and I shall treasure the memory of this month

A month when loads of people died and loads more lost jobs. Yeah right.

I agree with Atrocious. The OP is a real smack in the face for the people who have lost their jobs/are trying to survive on £94 SB or £58 UC and are worrying themselves sick. I doubt they're lounging around in their gardens 'treasuring the memory' of this time or thinking of it as a time of 'opportunity'.

AtrociousCircumstances I didn't want to make this about individual situations. I have acknowledged that I am fortunate to be enjoying this period as an interlude to "normality". It will be back to the grindstone for us all in due course, me included, but I was hoping to encourage anyone here to see the quiet pleasure in a pattern of life that disappeared sometime about 35 years ago, when not all life was about earning and consuming.

I get what you mean OP.

I walked the dog along the beach this morning and it was deserted. Blue skies, sunshine - just us and the sea. It was incredibly peaceful.

This afternoon DH and I were sat in the garden with the dog just chatting and relaxing and it was really nice.

Not everything has to be all doom and gloom all the time!

We would all do well in counting our blessings. The situation is not ideal and very complicated for some people, but we don't know what tomorrow may bring, let's be grateful for what we have today

@SilverCatOwner, 11,000 people die every week in the UK from natural and unnatural causes. How does an extra 400 in a month alter that statistical ratio by more than a tiny amount? Crashing the economy is a much bigger event, but I am not Boris Johnson, and I didn't get you laid off either.

Totally inappropriate thread lacking in empathy and tone deaf to the terrible fear and hardship that the majority are facing.

@XingMing

11,000 people die every week in the UK from natural and unnatural causes. How does an extra 400 in a month alter that statistical ratio by more than a tiny amount?

WTAF? Are you kidding right now. You just lost any shred of credibility you had right there!

Mmmm, YANBU to make the best and it sounds like you have plenty to do that with. YABU not to explicitly recognize in your first post that a single mum with two kids and council flat, no garden, youths spitting on the buttons in the lift (someone posted on here about something like this) is in a very different situation than yourself... I don't know if I would have posted this to be honest. I have loved the "is there a silver lining?" threads to keep positive, but yours made me feel a bit sick "I shall treasure this time" ...

OP, perhaps you should re-read your last post and reflect (in your garden) about how you are coming across.

How does an extra 400 in a month alter that statistical ratio by more than a tiny amount?

That has to count as one of the more callous posts I've read on Mumsnet...