Actually the worst thing about Lockdown is NEVER BEING ON YOUR OWN

[YippeeKayakOtherBuckets]

I’ve just had a mini meltdown at DH. I’m furloughed but he is still working full time from home. Three kids, two dogs, cat. Chaos at the best of times. Oh, also the boys had CV symptoms right at the start of all this and DHs work did a WFH edict early so we’ve been in this for 5 weeks nearly.

He’s working in the dining room which is off the open plan kitchen so I have to juggle ‘homeschooling’ the 8yo, dealing with the animals in and out the back door, making lunch for everyone, fielding squabbles, keeping everyone quiet while he’s holding meetings every other hour.

He finishes mid afternoon and then wants to DO THINGS so while I’m quite happy to sit in the garden he wants me to get involved with board games and jigsaws.

Tonight tipped me over, he runs a martial arts class on a Wednesday which is now happening over zoom so I have to keep everyone upstairs because any noise from kids and dogs downstairs ruins the ‘chi’ (wanker) of the session. I took a bottle of wine upstairs with me thinking I could settle in and watch crap telly for a bit. He started at 7ish.

The 8yo is as hyper as shit so was in and out of my room talking at me and literally jumping on the bed/me/dogs. The 16yo keeps sending me links to things she wants me to buy for her. The 17yo is on his headset SHOUTING at his friends rather than speaking at normal volume.

Dh finished his class about 9.30 and popped his head in to say he’s done and he’s going to watch the Mandalorian downstairs.

Fuck off you’re not, I said. You get to put 8yo to bed, and be a bit firm because he’s bored and being a dick and will be trouble. Oh, he said, can’t you do it? I’ve had a busy day.



I may or may not have been a bit sweary. The upshot is they’ve all now fucked off to separate rooms from me, nobody is asking for anything from me and I’ve finally poured a glass of wine and fired up Quiz to watch.

I really miss the days when they’d all leave the house.

AIBU I want to be isolated ALONE for half a fucking hour.

[Laiste]

I'm fed up with everyone asking me where everything is.

GOD! They're your shoes you look for them!!

[dyscalculicgal96]

I am going mad with boredom tonight. I live in a small flat. All three children are still tiny. I have tried to entertain the twins with lots of puzzles, games, art projects, baking sessions, exercise, films, lessons, worksheets etc. Nothing however seems to distract them for long. So I have actually asked my husband to take over after dinner now. Anyone got any other ideas for activities? Please tell me. I need new tips and ideas pronto. I am thinking of buying a camera and more art supplies too.

[SuckingDownDarjeeling]

My DP was taken into the hospital again today by ambulance for Covid so I'm by myself with 20mo twins. It's funny because I can relate to what you've written so so much, when I feel like I'm running about like a headless chicken sorting everything out and bickering with DP because I want him to pull his weight. But I feel very lonely now, babies are asleep and I have all night to myself. It's eerily quiet. Obviously don't want to be a downer to anybody I'm sorry, I just thought I'd share. I've got a large bottle of wine and my iPad and my pillows on the sofa. It just feels weird in the empty house not knowing what will happen. I popped on to Mumsnet in the hope I'd find some drama because hollyoaks is finished until next week I'm looking forward to them giving DP the all clear so I can hug him and hopefully bicker with him some more 😂

[fascinated]

I know. No extreme is good.... always alone or never alone...

[TheGinGenie]

I've got the opposite problem- I haven't been within 2 metres of another human for a month and it's very lonely. It's weird how much I miss touching and being touched. I think the best option for lockdown is with your family or housemates but living in a very big house for escape times

[CheddarGorgeous]

Introvert here - I feel your pain.

1. Don't homeschool the 8 year old. He'll be fine. He'll catch up. Just puzzles and games and exercise and if possible some reading.

1. The older kids are old enough to be warned to leave you alone for periods of time, and to muck in looking after their brother/do some chores.

1. Start drinking wine much earlier in the evening.

[afrikat]

Oh my god, so this. I miss having the house to myself sooo much. Driving on my own with my podcasts. Going to the shopping centre on my own.

Thankfully we are good at giving each other time to ourselves - he needs to exercise, I need to nap, but everyone is still ALWAYS THERE

Is there nowhere else your DH could work?

[YippeeKayakOtherBuckets]

@FrenchBoule (and others) you get it.

Anyway. I’m not in dire straits, I’m aware we are very fortunate to be in lockdown together with space to be apart (if they’d all just duck off into separate rooms) and we are all healthy.

But I’ve got specific firey tortures planned out for the next person who needs me for something they could easily do themselves. Except maybe if it’s for a hug.

[fascinated]

I’m afraid screens are in use....yep, I admit it.

Put a different language in if they are small, ticks the education box!

Whatever it takes if you are struggling, honestly x

[BentNeckLady]

I hear you.


Fucking shit, isn’t it!

[CandyLeBonBon]

I'm the same OP. Driving me nuts

[fascinated]

Every time I leave two year old with DH, he gets him out of routine or sth!

[EmpressLangClegInChair]

the worst thing is not never being alone, it is being alone.

For you. Not for everyone.

I’m on my own & I’d love to be able to see family & friends & colleagues. Of course I would. But I’m in constant contact with them one way or another. And I know, that, for me, having anyone else living with me, however much I loved them, would be tough enough under normal circumstances. In lockdown it would be bloody unbearable.

[LochJessMonster]

Well I am truly always on my own.
Live alone and WFH too so no human contact at all.
Trust me I would love someone to scream at!

Grass is always greener!

[Tattiebee]

Hahahahaha! I'm in lockdown on my own and it's not exactly a bed of roses either.

It's a good job it's not a competition then isnt it. People are allowed to find it hard either way!

[YippeeKayakOtherBuckets]

@SuckingDownDarjeeling lots of love and best wishes for your DP and you x

[fascinated]

I think this thread is kinda more the vibe enjoyed by those with clingy, ever present members of their household... no offence .. I wouldn’t want to be isolated completely either!

[peajotter]

Yes! I’m an introvert. I’ve just had 10 years of toddlers around all day, additional needs ds all afternoon and extrovert dh in the evening. At Christmas I finally, finally, got the youngest to playgroup and 2 hours to myself every second day. I was loving finally getting a bit of quiet.... !

I know it’s small compared to what many are going through but I’m so disappointed and tired of people.

[Shinyletsbebadguys]

I hear you OP, I'm incredibly grateful I have still got my job and an easily work from home, I'm unbelievably grateful we are all ok, I'm also incredibly grateful I have a house and garden and study to work from.

However if DP asks me where the nail clippers are once more, or decides to do DIY outside the office door and hammers his damn ass off while I'm on a zoom meeting I will need to build a sodding patio to hide his body. If DC ask me one more time for a snack I will actually snap and tell that they dont need to eat every sodding hour on the hour and go and bloody bother DP .

Disclaimer, DP is actually very good at looking after them and does more than his fair share but I spend all day professionally talking to people and in between I talk to people , even the sodding dog wants to constantly sit on me. I do love them all but I miss school so very very much !!!

[ScrimpshawTheSecond]

I hear you. I had a massive meltdown a sudden keen need for a break last week from my 100% 24 hour a day cook/clean/mother/neveralone/partner-wfh role. I shut myself in my room, timed it, I got 3 minutes and 23 seconds before someone came and tried the door handle.

[HoldMyLobster]

My DP was taken into the hospital again today by ambulance for Covid so I'm by myself with 20mo twins. It's funny because I can relate to what you've written so so much, when I feel like I'm running about like a headless chicken sorting everything out and bickering with DP because I want him to pull his weight. But I feel very lonely now, babies are asleep and I have all night to myself. It's eerily quiet.

I hope he's OK and back soon and bickering with you again

[fascinated]

Yep. It’s not a competition.

I had my second kid late, most of my friends’ kids are at least 8! Only me potty training in lockdown ! Haha!

[Strugglingalone]

My biggest struggle too! I am an independent 20-something who lives alone! I have fallen into the shielding group so moved back in with parents and much younger brother! We haven’t lived like this for 10 years and I can’t cope with the lack of space and independent individual decisions. Nothing can be done alone anymore! I am someone who needs to go out daily normally for my mental health too which is not helping matters!

Can’t wait for normality to resume

[peajotter]

@SuckingDownDarjeeling sorry to hear about your dp, praying he’s better soon

[ScrimpshawTheSecond]

SuckingDownDarjeeling Hope he's back with you very soon. .