To think it's absolutely fine to treat this as a holiday

[LaurieFairyCake]

If you're observing all government rules

Honestly, whatever it takes to get you through this is FINE

Whether you're skipping down the street on your daily exercise, dressing up like a frog to go on your daily walk, sitting in your garden under a parasol listening to Rachmaninov, cycling in a mankini..

WHATEVER floats your boat within the rules have at it.

We all need just to get through this as no one has had to do this for 3 generations

So yes, if you can tell yourself you're on holiday - fine

We will be paying it off for years, enjoy it while you can!!

It's no holiday for me sadly as I can work from home full time and am in a profession where I have had to deal with umpteen questions every time there is a government announcement..... and DD is back to school today (at home) after 2 weeks holiday, although she did do a bit of work each day.

However, I don't begrudge others who have not much to do. If you want to lie in your garden sunbathing, or get out the paddling pool for the kids then crack on.

Is everyone supposed to sit around po faced and miserable? As long as they stay at home, I don't care what they do.

I can’t see my DD or my little GD so whenever they FaceTime me I pretend they have gone on holiday & makes me less upset 😊

It's a difficult one with children. If you say it's a holiday, it's hard to justify them needing to do the work set by school.
But yes, apart from that, pretty much.

Hi Everyone,

I'm a parent working with Rough sleepers self isolating could you please sign and share my petition to support them during and after this pandemic. Thank you

www.change.org/p/uk-government-the-government-stated-every-rough-sleeper-off-the-street-but-this-hasn-t-happened?recruiter=845777623&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi&utm_term=share_for_starters_page&recruited_by_id=f5ebc290-ecf9-11e7-a693-397a8b32c012

Yes OP! I am looking forward to my teaching finishing at the end of May so I can relax a bit. Working FT with a toddler and baby is so stressful and DH’s job is on the line. I think we’ll still be in lockdown until maybe August but at least if the bulk of my workload is over I will be able to have some quality time with my DCs.

How utterly superficial and really rather callous.

I remember The Staycation.
But I was with the OP right up to cycling in a mankini. There are limits 😆

Absolutely, enjoy it as a holiday. As long as you have consideration for those of us that are working as usual.

Yup no school work or jobs here (disabled/carer), kids have Airism and have never been more.relaxed or anxirty free.

Life is good atm!!

100% have the greatest respect for all those working at home or otherwise.

Schools here are pretty laidback and have said lifeskills are just as importamt as academics so cooking, gardening, baking etc here.

Autism*

Absolutely, enjoy it as a holiday. As long as you have consideration for those of us that are working as usual this! My pissing neighbours are up til all hours now playing music loud etc but literally nothing has changed in our house, both still working out of the house FT and kids having to go to school. I'm not a kill joy by any means but for lots of us this isn't a great time.

Imagine as well if you were actually ill with covid but all you could hear when resting was loud music and bbq clatter?!

Yup. The kids and I are loving the fab weather.

I'm really enjoying it despite the day flying by before I know it- I'm still working in both my jobs (approx 70 hours per week albeit some of that is on call) and when I'm not working I'm running around with the kids. So the house is a tip and the annual leave I booked off to sort the house out has been spent playing with the kids but I've never been at home so much (working from home most of the time) so I'm grateful for all this time with them. Being furloughed would have been nice though 😊

Everyone needs to be kind to themselves.

Definitely stick to the rules and be considerate to neighbours but all and any of the following are totally acceptable in my book:

Lie in as long as you can (children or work permitting)
Wear what you want
Nice bit of baking and / or cooking to treat yourself is great, if you can get the ingredients
Watching loads of films, reading, playing board games are all good for mental health
Playing in the garden outside is great, sitting in the sun alsofab, just remember sun cream if you're a ghost like me
If you feel like washing the car, or painting the walls, or clearing out crap, go for it (if you have a garage or similar tut o store waste)
Be as sociable online and on zoom etc as you like, or just enjoy the quiet
Daily exercise is a good opportunity for fresh air, endorphins, vitamin D etc but doesn't have to be a marathon. 15 min walk also is fine.
Craft activities - wonderful if you want to do them. We spent an hour collaging and it was very therapeutic.
Cuddling pets is good for lowering blood pressure.

Do what works for you!

Yes. Whatever gets you through.
I'm worried about my mum who is in a dementia care home. She's ok but it's awful not being able to see her. I'm fortunate that we have nice walks on our doorstep and I usually work from home, so no major change there, plus we have some savings to fall back on if work dries up completely. I realise we're in a much better position than some people and I'm very thankful for that.
I could get really down about my mum's situation, so I'm trying to stay as positive as possible. I feel for those who are alone or have job security worries. Fretting about mum is enough. Scary times but hopefully society will have a greater appreciation for those in so called 'lowly' jobs who are keeping the wheels turning. I'm just so grateful to the carers who are looking after my mum.

I wish I could.
I’m working nearly double my usual hours - including weekends now which I swapped jobs to avoid (but that’s not important), while shopping for my family, my in laws, my neighbour and a friend who’s husband is in the middle of chemotherapy and I’m knackered.
And I’ll still be paying this back with this rest of you who have enjoyed an extra long holiday for the rest of my life......

We have one life...live it!
Haven’t rtft

We have one life live it.Surely not doing what you normally do,not socializing,not seeing friends,not doing all the things you enjoy cant be described as living.If you live alone getting out seeing people,doing normal things makes life worthwhile especially if retired,i normally sit my friends dog when shes at work,have done for nearly 8 years,love him to bits,miss him so.

Sitting in a garden,playi ng board games etc,one walk a day isnt my idea of living.im afraid.its exsisting,its certainly not a holiday.

Yes, of course as long as you're sticking to the rules, why be unnecessarily miserable?

I'm trying to see this as valuable time spent with my family as I usually work full time. It's hard work and stressful at times as I have a toddler and a terminally ill partner to look after all day every day (and night at times) alone and still have some work to do from home, but why waste time feeling as though you should be miserable because o they people disapprove?

Yes!!!!

I work (mental health) and am working harder than ever. We have wards with COVID patients.
I’d encourage everyone to get the very best from this situation. Embrace time with your family, get out in your garden etc ...have as much fun as you can! I’m envious but my job needs me.
I am concerned about those isolating alone , families that don’t have the privilege of a garden or those in abusive relationships though.

What is a hair shirt, am I missing something.. 😄

It was not only important to wear a hair shirt, but to let everyone know you were wearing a hair shirt.

... a bit like some of the 'essential items only' threads on here then

It’s a bit odd in my house as my DH is still working 6 days a week, and my 16 year old DD is still going to school (She has complex SEN & even went over the Easter holidays), but my 11 year old DD and myself are home all day.

The home school part of this is stressing me out a bit, but I am definitely enjoying spending more time chilling with my dogs, sitting in the garden & catching up with some TV/books..

Some days feel easier than others though and I’m totally with focusing on what makes you feel better (as long as it doesn’t negatively impact others!)