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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder whether it will be difficult to convince people to go back to normal once the restrictions end

120 replies

CruCru · 11/04/2020 10:00

Supposedly more people are complying with the restrictions than anticipated. This, coupled with the massive STAY AT HOME campaign makes me wonder what people will do when the restrictions start to be lifted. On another thread, quite a few people said that, even if schools go back at some point in the summer term, they will refuse to send their children until September.

Do you think it possible that a chunk of the population will carry on acting as though they are in lock down, even once the restrictions start to be lifted?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 11/04/2020 10:02

I think it depends how confident people are in the way it’s being done.

If it’s a case of “right back to normal” (which it won’t be!) then people would probably be resistant. If it’s a gradual thing based on how other countries are getting on and with regular reviews then I think most people will cautiously go with it

ssd · 11/04/2020 10:03

I for one will be terrified to go back to normal too soon.
But I can see workplaces rushing us all back for the economy and another lockdown happening almost immediately. And another tranche of lives lost.
Its just bloody terrifying.

sittingonacornflake · 11/04/2020 10:03

To be honest until the vaccine is out in 2021 I don't want to go back to normal! I work in a huge open plan office normally and will feel very nervous being back there. I want to stay working at home

ilovecakeandwine · 11/04/2020 10:05

Well it won't be back to normal will it overnight. It'll be gradually done details I don't know but some suggestions that they will let small businesses open first then a few days later other businesses and so on . So it won't be back to normal all bars / restaurants/ schools / offices open the next day .

koshkatt · 11/04/2020 10:06

I for one will be terrified to go back to normal too soon.
But I can see workplaces rushing us all back for the economy and another lockdown happening almost immediately. And another tranche of lives lost.
Its just bloody terrifying

This is how I feel too. The economy will be put first eventually.

1066vegan · 11/04/2020 10:07

I don't think we should get back to normal if by normal you mean completely how things used to be. We should learn from the Spanish flu, realise that there will be further peaks and do our best to minimise our chances of becoming victims of those peaks.

I'd like increased handwashing to become the norm and would welcome a certain amount of social distancing to stay in place (although that might be partly selfish personal preference; as an autistic introvert I find supermarkets much more pleasant places to visit now and love that nobody tries to hug or kiss you when they say hello).

Shitsgettingcrazy · 11/04/2020 10:09

I have been told to expect to be working from home for up to a year. Even if restrictions are lifted.

Our bosses dont want everyone packed in a small office even if its deemed ok.

bluebeck · 11/04/2020 10:12

I have been thinking about this.

I am worried that after only three weeks, I am a bit institutionalized and will be reluctant to get back out there.

I have alway been a homebody. My job requires a level of "performance" which comes easily to me as an extrovert, but then I need quiet time to myself to sort of recover. This has been like an extended recovery period which I probably needed.

The thing that bothers me is that I know I will probably get the virus at some point, like most of us, but am actually terrified that I might die from it, which I know is just anxiety.

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 11/04/2020 10:13

Up to a year!? Where's that.we dont know there will be a vaccine in 2021.

I worry that its all the low paid workers that will be expected to cary on working (shop workers, factorys, delivery drivers, care staff) as well as Doctors obviously, while those with financial backing or work from home roles hide away creating a very stark 2 tier dytopian world.

AlunWynsKnee · 11/04/2020 10:14

I am going to struggle I think. I am on the flu jab list rather than the extremely vulnerable list but we have isolated as much as possible as a family. I also have OCD (not the cleaning type) so having everyone at home is a relief to me. Add in a dc with autism who is less stressed by not being in school and we're all quite calm.
Not quite sure how I will feel about going out again.

Umnoway · 11/04/2020 10:14

Schools won’t return until September at the earliest anyway. There’s a reason teachers celebrated with the year 6 pupils on the final day a couple of weeks ago and there’s a reason exams have been cancelled too.

I won’t be rushing around once restrictions end at all but I really do look forward to a visit to a local nature reserve or something normal like that.

wanderings · 11/04/2020 10:15

Although some people will jump at the moment to return to normal, either out of necessity or boredom, I too feel that some people might return to normal slower than we might expect. I expect also that the government is not likely to announce freedoms in advance, because many people will take that to mean they can do it straight away. So when they do announce it, some people will be so much in the habit of staying in, they won't quite believe it.

A week ago, I took on a new job which made me a keyworker, and I found it quite hard to actually go out there and do it: it felt very wrong.

Blackbear19 · 11/04/2020 10:15

While I think restrictions will be lifted slowly I do believe that people will want to be out and doing stuff as soon as it's safe. We'll all have cabin fever and be desperate to meet family and friends.

Sindragosan · 11/04/2020 10:16

I think there will be waves of it. I'll be glad to get back to work, but won't be rushing to the cinema/pub/shopping centre. Will be pleased to take the children to the parks/beaches/woods, but perhaps not the soft play. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

mochojoes · 11/04/2020 10:17

I'm looking forward to going back to work but will likely stay away from any big, crowded events for a while & am reluctant to travel abroad.

There seems to be a lot of people on MNs who don't need to work &/or need childcare so I suppose for them they could do carry on for a long time.

mochojoes · 11/04/2020 10:18

Oh & I really miss my friends & family.

FourTeaFallOut · 11/04/2020 10:19

I'm on the shielded list. I think I'll have to move out of my home to let my children go back to school. I don't think there will be any normal for us whatever happens unless we have access to immunity testing.

Flowersforpowers · 11/04/2020 10:19

I can't imagine being back in a crowded restaurant or shopping centre any time soon. As a family this will push us to spend more time at home or outside, both good things for us.

@SquashedFlyBiscuit I agree. Though I know a fair scattering of very well paid office workers whose bosses will have them back in the split second it's justifiable. I've become very aware of my privilege at the moment, in a supportive (civil service) office role, which I've been doing from home even before the lockdown.

Fatted · 11/04/2020 10:21

There are still people carrying on as normal right now. Like getting up and going to work every day. These are the people who will just go back to normal.

Before we went into lockdown, there were a lot of people who decided to put themselves into self imposed lockdown. I believe this forced the government's hand somewhat. These are the people who won't want to go back to normal.

VivienScott · 11/04/2020 10:22

Working from home has made a massive positive difference to my life so I’ll be looking to do that more often. Many companies will have upgraded IT infrastructure to enable more home working and will recognise the reduction in overheads it brings. I can see there being a new normal for a lot of people.

timeforawine · 11/04/2020 10:26

I will send my daughter back to nursery when it re opens, we're rural and nursery isn't huge so feel fine her going back, i work in a huge open plan office in a city centre so i can't see us returning for quite a while yet, the management expectations were initially to WFH for around 6 months

ilovecakeandwine · 11/04/2020 10:27

I do think they should encourage wfh where possible for quite some time maybe the rest of the year .
If it's possible to wfh the majority of time why not carry on ? Obviously I know it's not doable for everyone but those that have to go to work there will be less people in the office, less traffic etc .
I think it's a wake up call for businesses and it would be a mistake for everything to go back to normal so soon .

TARSCOUT · 11/04/2020 10:32

I can't wait to get back out there. I detest wfh. I believe social distancing will continue to an extent and I wonder if it will be the return of the high street- smaller stores but less people where the masses still go to Tesco. People will I think be more cautious about spending. Obviously devastated for people who lose friends and family but perhaps we.might all be a bit more thankful of what and who we have in our lives?

SeriouslyRetro · 11/04/2020 10:32

I think the day the pubs are open they’ll be filled out.

I’m not sure if it will be the case the week or so after.

Helbelle17 · 11/04/2020 10:32

I'm pregnant, due in May, so my life won't be going back to normal anyway. I'm a teacher, so expect I expect to be going back to school when mat leave ends. DH is currently writing from home, and I can't see that changing fit the next few months.
DD3 will probably go back to preschool in September, but will assess that nearer the time.
I think a lot of people (including me) will still be very wary of going out and being amongst lots of people. I will be very happy to be able to see my family though.