Positives about life in Lockdown ** Title edited by MNHQ**

[Parmavioletmum]

The media and everyone seems to be focused on the terrible and understandably worst case stories about corona so I thought why not start a positive thread so we can all feel a little more upbeat as I dont know about you but I've felt nothing but anxious, scared and vulnerable being in a high risk group.

So what positives have you all found? What are you grateful for? Anyone been through having corona and have now recovered?

I'll start. I'm incredibly grateful for my health and my families health right now and am enjoying spending more time with my partner and the kids than normal.

Realised that I dont have to spend lots of money taking DD 3 to soft play or toy cafes or theme parks- we can entertain her quite easily within a few metres of home for free!

It has given me a new appreciation of family and I'll be making more effort to keep on touch and visit family members once lockdown is over.

I have found out how easy and effective it is to keep in touch via zoom and google duo. I'll be using these more often to speak with friends who live further afield.

Also I realise that it's not so difficult to walk places and I hope to drive less frequently when driving is allowed again!

It's nice being at home. Technically I'm not on the shielding list but work want me to stay home as I'm in the final trimester of my pregnancy and can't work from home. So it's been lovely having time with my older two before the baby arrives.
I'm grateful my parents are finally listening and staying at home.
Must admit I thought this was going to be good news about the coronovirus too.

How do I get mumsnet to change the title??

I live a long way from my home town. Normally I’m rubbish at keeping in touch with people, so have no idea what’s going on in anyone’s life between visits. Now my school friends are having big zoom meetings twice a week, and it’s been really nice catching up and chatting so regularly. I’m hoping we continue once this is over.

@Parmavioletmum - you can report your own post and ask for it to be changed.

opened old dried stew veg pack & found whole dried peas - so - I planted them & they have sprouted we may have some peas this year (if they don't feed the birds or field mice or the slugs earwigs …..) Also found some old veg & salad seeds its adventure to see if any grow (& we have dug up new veg patch (OK so just before shut down we got compost & top soil that was definitely worth it)

Today the farmer near me released his cows into the field. The excitement and joy after being in the sheds all winter was wonderful to see. Literally galloped across the field, back legs kicking out in pure joy. Brought a tear to my eye.

Good I’m glad you’re going to get it changed. Something asking people to share positive stories of life in lockdown....

I'm grateful for time. Money is needed to live but time is precious. I have now become more choosy about my time. I have come off Facebook (but still look on here!)
I have used time in ways I've not done before: workouts, yoga, having a huge house, loft and garage clear out. I'm also taking more time to pray quietly and think rather than respond in a rushed way.

I have a 7yr old dd and am appreciating time with her too. She's been a lot easy going than when I'm at work and she's at school. It's making me rethink life.

Mended a lot of stuff that's been awaiting my attention.

For me:

• Having two lovely, silly teens safe at home (and DH).
• Not need to wear make up/'proper' clothes every day
• Quiet, empty streets for my morning run
• Time to spend in my garden, pottering

• The stress of A level exams completely lifted from DS2. He has some SN and NEVER does well in exams, suffering terrible anxiety. I usually have to get involved helping him to organise and navigate his revision/practice papers/ help test him etc which I wasn't looking forward to at all. I hadn't realised how stressed both he and I were about the May/June period and then suddenly that's all been taken away! I don't think he will come out any worse in this assessed system, and may well do better. It is an absolute joy to see how relaxed he now is.

The garden is looking tidier than it has in a very long time. The paving is clean all over. The azaleas are out, and the tulips; the scarlet rhodo is imminent.

The loose cover on the white sofa has been in a long hot wash and dried in the sun. Most of the cushions are back on; getting the zips done up was like putting on tight jeans, without lycra.

The footpaths across our local National Trust property are open for walk-in, walk-out local residents to use. This is a rare treat: I normally avoid the place because it's so crowded in spring and summer. And all the mud is drying hard after three sunny weeks of lockdown. The bird song is amazing.

I have mastered Zoom and have done extra Pilates online, and have had online catch ups with various groups of friends.

DH is resigned to things being quiet, and isn't stressing... even if he does try to manage my time and productivity.

I've lost weight.

I have an underachieve thyroid, and piled on the pounds. I managed to get down from >12 st to 10st 11lb a couple of years ago, and then stuck, despite low carb/ cutting calories/ exercising like a demon etc - couldn't get any further down.

I am now 10st 2 and 3/4. I thought I would eat more, being stuck inside, but I'm not. I don't get the long walks with the dogs that I did (used to have them out an entire morning or afternoon - 4hrs or so, and am now down to an hour alternate days), but I'm not eating crisps or biscuits, and I'm not drinking (well - very little). I didn't eat many treats of drink a great deal to start with, but this, and the fact thatI am one of Nature's Worrits, has got me down to my current weight. If I don't get any lighter, I will still be happy! but if another half stone comes off (getting me to my fighting weight) I will be bloody ecstatic!

I haven't missed the extra food or drink - though I do miss my long walks - but I really can' believe how the wibbly-wobbly has come off.

Being able to hear the birds in the garden without a plane going overhead or a car coming up the road is lovely.

Enjoying the late afternoon in the garden.

Actively finding something funny to watch on the TV in the evening as an antidote to all the gloom.

Listening to my DS speaking to his friends everyday on the phone and feeling blessed that, so far, he is safe (he has a medical condition).

Having DH WFH having spent weekdays working in another part of the country because his job takes him away from home.

None of our friends or family succumbing so far to the virus. Fingers crossed.

Being able to hear the birds in the garden without a plane going overhead or a car coming up the road is lovely.

Oh, yes! That, too London.

I have realised how stressed and angry and tired I was before. DS’ barbed comment that “you’re always tired and you never have any fun or laugh” hit home. After the frustration of being at home at first, I have learned to adapt to a slower pace of life. Doing more home baking(flapjacks, muffins, pancakes), loving the birds in the garden and listening to the bird song. Walking everywhere as not in a rush so getting fitter and healthier. House was quite honestly neglected and filthy - now cupboards have been emptied, curtains washed, cobwebs removed.
I am starting to uncoil.

Our very busy rat runs road is quiet. Dc can open bedroom windows without fumes.

Not having to process and rush and push and haggle and cajole awkward dc into cars everyday.
Walking to the table to work. Time time time.
Totally greatfull and appreciative of outdoor space and the time to do more in the garden...

I'm grateful I see my daughter 40 hours a week more now I work from home.

I'm hugely enjoying spending time with my kids rather than us being at work/school/nursery.
Now if only I can find a way to make enough money so I don't have to return to work when the time comes, just until my youngest goes to school would be lovely

I'm grateful my nana isn't alive as she would have struggled due to her sons being useless. She once ad an emergency and her son wouldn't give up any bed in his home for her.

I'm grateful to still be alive as I was ambulanced to hospital a few days ago and honestly thought I'd never see my husband and children again.

I'm grateful all my children are at home and my eldest was able to get all their stuff from university.

The only thing I am missing is my daily dog walk and seeing my dogs best doggie friend.

I am looking forward to getting back to full health so I can read a book and restart my hobbies.

I'm secretly grateful that my ds has had to come home as he's been travelling for a year and I missed him so much. (It's very disappointing for him obviously, so that's why I'm secretly grateful.)

Swear there are more bees and butterflies.
Clear night skies and the stars - never seen such stars.
Also bird song and no planes - equidistant between LGW and LHR.
Oh and Sainsburys sans children scooters and family outings.
Glad dc are in their 20s.

I am enjoying:
-eating all meals together as a family
-Seeing how relaxed and fun my children are (although I would never homeschool they are so much happier at home without daily worries)
-being in the garden more
-not having anywhere to be or go to or rush off to
-sourcing food and using up cupboard and freezer food. I feel we are being more efficient and less wasteful.
-I probably shouldn’t say this but drinking wine and eating crisps whilst watching films on the weekend evenings.

Our DC are late teens and off to uni soon. We barely saw them. Even in the holidays they were off staying with mates or doing residential sports /hobbies courses. It's been so lovely to enforced-hang out with them in this gorgeous weather. Daily walks, lazy lunches in the sunshine in the garden, teaching them to cook. DH is finally getting the garden in shape and I'm reading more than I've read in years.