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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have any positive things in this lock down situation?

131 replies

blubberball · 04/04/2020 13:33

Just thought that it might be nice to think about any positives.
Such as, I don't have to worry about any one dropping round unexpectedly and the house being a mess.

OP posts:
OhNoNoNoNotThatOne · 04/04/2020 17:57

Dh and I are both home to witness all of ds firsts, he started crawling last week and pulling himself upright this week.
I only returned to work at the start of March so my life really hasn't changed too much except dh is here and doing more housework than normal.

Clutterbugsmum · 04/04/2020 19:24

Thank you

screwcovid19 · 04/04/2020 19:25

We found out on Mother's Day I'm pregnant with our second child after 15 long months of trying and starting to think it would never happen Smile

Warsawa31 · 04/04/2020 19:26

I was working 60+ hours a week, only got to see wife and DD for couple of hours in the evening. Now I’m furloughed - we are going to struggle with money but I am so happy to be with my girls all day :) selfishly I wish I could stay like this forever (minus the virus)

Orangeblossom78 · 04/04/2020 19:30

It's nice to hear some happy things

sonjadog · 04/04/2020 19:32

I am enjoying spending weeks at home. Getting lots of little jobs done and just pottering around. I work in a different town than where I live and I commute there two weeks there/two weeks home, so usually I am only home for a short while and planning where I will be next. It is nice with a time out from that for a while.

Redwinestillfine · 04/04/2020 19:43

More time with kids, more time to cook- we've had some fantastic meals, more time with hubby who has really stepped up, speaking to friends I haven't done in ages, more frequent face time with family ( we live away from them anyway so popping in was never really an option anyway.

StCharlotte · 04/04/2020 20:10

Such as, I don't have to worry about any one dropping round unexpectedly and the house being a mess.

Ironically my house has never been more "guest ready"!

BrieAndChilli · 04/04/2020 20:19

There’s not been a single thing on our stairs since lockdown started! People normally dump stuff there when they come in and then never move it! I’m constantly trying to put stuff away normally!

PorpoisefullyObtuse · 04/04/2020 21:05

DHs business is mothballed. Hopefully able to survive but I’d say 3 months and 20 years of work is gone. My job is secure for 4-6 months. When I venture out of my bubble I am deeply worried and scared. My parents will die if they get this. I have a heart condition, but I’m still the fittest person in my family to shop and do. I’m petrified for my loved ones.

And yet, I am generally very content. I love being at home. I love spending time with my family and dog. I love baking and cooking. I love my wfh job which extends my mind with the dog on the sofa in the study behind me. I love getting the myriad jobs I never have time for done. I love living slower. I love using the best stupid bloody china I have which never gets used because you have to hand wash it. I love walking. I love my home. I love listening to the birds. I love the sea and the hills around me and the stillness. I love chatting to my neighbors and being part of a community. I love clapping for carers.

Until the outside world intrudes and you realise the price other people pay for this. My niece who has had to move out of home as she is an icu nurse and her mum is vulnerable. My cousin who is being pressured to volunteer in a nightingale hospital and has not one but two profoundly disabled children. I’m so happy as I am but fuck me I can’t wait to get back to the everyday stresses of the world and hopefully get to hug my mum and dad.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 04/04/2020 21:08

Much more time with my daughter (although this can also be very hard when I'm trying to work and home school her).

Not having to commute for 2 hours per day.

Been doing lots of daft little jobs around the house that have been mounting up.

Not going out spending money on little shopping sprees and buying stuff I don't really need.

Spagbol88 · 04/04/2020 21:13

Came back from maternity leave 2 days before the schools shut (teacher). So although I'm WFH, it's so lovely to still be with my daughter.
DP is working from home too but we are managing to make it work.
I'll be home for my daughters 1st birthday and I've seen her come on tonnes in the last week. I'm so grateful for the family time we are getting.
Also saving a tonne of money not paying nursery fees at all

SueEllenMishke · 04/04/2020 21:18

No rushing around and family time.
Both me and DH are working from home with a 5 year old so we feel frazzled at the end of the day but we're loving the time we're spending together.
We've proper belly laughed a few times today.
I'm also really proud of how resilient DS seems to be.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 04/04/2020 21:26

Sounds silly but as well as family time (my toddler keeps saying - don't go to work mummy/daddy, which is both flattering and heartbreaking) I have found lots of local food producers that I am hoping to be able to patronise post-lockdown. Maybe we will move to one delivery from local butcher/grocer and one from Ocado etc in a fortnight. I can see it being cheaper too (or at least not more expensive) depending on what is ordered, of course. Had been meaning to look at it but had never managed to find the time. Necessity in self isolation helped!!

Acidrain · 04/04/2020 21:29

I've been furloughed so get to spend all my time with DS2 which is challenging but after working full time for the past 18 months it's amazing to spend time with him.

Finally caught up on washing!

Built my Harry Potter lego that I got for Christmas!

Xenia · 04/04/2020 21:35

Usually my student sons have loads of friends round which I don't mind in the day but when they stay very late 3am etc it's not great although I am glad they are so popular. There were 21 here at New Year. This holiday only they are here and no friends so from my point of view a lot easier.

I am however working full time so it is not quite a rest. I have bee living a kind of lock down life for about 3 years since I gave up 50 public lectures a year and client meetings actually and resigned every committee I was on so that actual not going out bit is not a problem - it is as if the world has chosen to follow the path I had already set; although i don't agree we should have closed schools and had the lock down and prefer the Swedish solution.

SueEllenMishke · 04/04/2020 21:48

Oh and my employer has given us two days additional leave over Easter with specific instructions to switch off, relax and look after our mental health and well being

Alsohuman · 04/04/2020 21:51

My niece who has had to move out of home as she is an icu nurse

Same with my stepdaughter, they’re really under the cosh. It’s the only thing that’s taking the shine off this. I’m talking to my son every day, by phone or messenger, it’s brilliant and we’re planning all the things we’ll do on the other side.

Neveranynamesleft · 04/04/2020 21:57

HoldMyLobster ....your post really touched me . I hope your son has now found a way to be more settled and confident in his learning and go on to great things.

PersonaNonGarter · 04/04/2020 22:01

I feel genuinely excited at the prospect of my bosses and my bosses’ bosses learning about home working. Actually being properly productive.

At my work, we were all on planes and trains far too much. Masses of ‘I’ll be there’ kudos for attending meetings.

Now everyone is home, hopefully it will be normal to video conference. Before, no one wanted it to be just them calling in to a room full of colleagues or clients. That would have looked bad. Hopefully now it will look responsible.

And who is going back to shirt and tie five days a week? No one.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 04/04/2020 22:08

Lots to be thankful for personally. I'm off work on 100% wage, dh mostly working from home.

I have time to cook a proper meal every night
We get to all eat together, no rushing out to hobbies/lessons/activities
My sore knee is healing as I'm not rushing about all the time
I've got household cleaning done that I was behind with
We're decorating some rooms we haven't had time to
My kids are becoming really helpful round the house and learning to manage their study time independently
It's reminded me how much I love my husband

dchange · 04/04/2020 22:28

Less laundry
Got to see little ones first step
Cooling fresh and healthy. My big girl just discovered she loves fish!
Hubby and I are finally going to start business
Childcare (saving thousands)
My kids playing and laughing together
List is endless

JKSN · 04/04/2020 22:29

I'm currently on mat leave with a 4 month old DS. DH currently furloughed and I'm loving that we get time to spend time together just the three of us. It's made me realise that after this is all over I am going to start putting my foot down about having some weekends to ourselves as before lockdown I was starting to resent the feeling that we 'had' to visit family etc at weekends so we never really had any quality time to ourselves. DH has admitted that he loves not leaving the house and could quite happily do it forever!