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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think there is not much to look forward to?

105 replies

Desperado40 · 17/06/2020 22:27

I detest the 'new normal'. Struggling to WFH with 2 children, not at school. Failing at home schooling. The worst thing is, I just can't see an end to this. This is like a groundhog day and I don't know how we are going to survive the summer. Yes, lucky to still have a job (for now) and food on the table. I am obeying the rules, but the whole social distancing is so depressing, I can't even be bothered to be arranging meet ups in a park 2 meters apart. I don't understand how it is ok for some children to be now mixing in a group of 10-15 every day at school, but for others not be able to socialise with just one friend? I am not going to shops any time soon, apart from groceries, I can buy what I need online without having to stand in a designated spot, constantly run away from people and queue to get in. There is just no joy in life anymore and I am not sure when (if ever?) it will be back.

OP posts:
AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 17/06/2020 22:29

YANBU. I’m feeling very joyless at the moment.

Jingstohang · 17/06/2020 22:30

This is ecactly how I feel right now. I had cancer about 10 years ago and the thing that kept me going was hope and planning for when things (i) got better. This feels worse in a lot of ways because theres no hope and no point in planning!

TheSmallAssassin · 17/06/2020 22:31

Go for a walk with a friend or have some friends round in your garden, both are allowed now and would make you feel loads better. It has really helped me to see other people.

Bargebill19 · 17/06/2020 22:33

The whole (Lockdown) thing is farcical now. The politicians are panicking and there is little logic being applied.

romdowa · 17/06/2020 22:34

Yep I'm shielding and it's just the same 4 walls every day. Cant plan for anything as nobody has any idea how this will all pan out.

Nomorewineever · 17/06/2020 22:39

Same.

Groundhog Day. I’m busy enough but when I’m WFH I fear I’m neglecting my y3 child who is home with me, and has work to do, but it’s not fair to expect him to do 7-8 hours of independent play and school work every day which is what I have to work.

Chores are even more bloody boring and monotonous than they usually are for some reason but none the less they need doing.

My neighbours are driving me up the wall and back down the other side.

I remind myself constantly that others are far worse off. But none the less I fail to find the joy in very much at the moment.

Original poster
Desperado40 · 17/06/2020 23:02

Thanks all. I was prepared to be flamed for this, because I feel like I should be thankful for being healthy and alive (which of course I am). But it doesn't change the fact that this is bloody hard and the longer it goes on, it seems harder (even with some restrictions being slowly lifted). I am not sure what the answer is tbh, but I am just fed up with it all.

OP posts:
LavenderLilacTree · 17/06/2020 23:06

There is hope OP. They have found one drug that helps and they will find more. There has been great progress with vaccines. We will get back to normal when treatments and vaccines are found.

Geometricprince · 17/06/2020 23:12

I agree OP, popping to the shop isn't really a thing anymore because there will probably be a queue. Going for a walk and stopping off at the pub, not going to happen if you have to book. Yeah we can meet people outside but then you're at the mercy of the weather. Yes I'm miserably about it all!

user1496146479 · 17/06/2020 23:14

OP I could have written your post! ThanksWine

BBCONEANDTWO · 17/06/2020 23:14

Life is shit at the moment. I know we're not starving, I know we have t.v., internet, good weather - it's the uncertainty going ahead that's worrying.

Beautifulsunsets · 17/06/2020 23:15

Oh for goodness sake! Yes things are different but it could be so much worse Hmm

blametheparents · 17/06/2020 23:18

Completely agree with everything that’s been said.
DD is 15 and has been amazing, but she wants to go back to school and I can’t see when that will happen.
DS is 18 and is paying £9000 per year for a university education and experience he’s just not getting.
Yep - I’m miserable and hacked off and going to the park to see someone at 2m distance just rams it home that the ‘new normal’ is rubbish!

PumpkinP · 17/06/2020 23:21

I agree with you. I’m finding this so depressing.

TheMurk · 17/06/2020 23:24

It’s miserable.

All the things I enjoy in life have been taken away. Taking my parents to lunch, pub with friends, gigs, cinema, gym and swimming, restaurants, proper shopping, all my DDs little classes (dancing, gymnastics, swimming) holidays, festivals, getting dressed up, beauty treatments, massages. I was an out and abouter. I would get cabin fever if we were still at home at 11am on a Saturday.

I even miss work. That’s how bad it is.

I don’t see a way out either. I’m in Scotland so even deeper down this hole.

wildthingsinthenight · 17/06/2020 23:26

I'm with you OP.
Totally fed up now and can't raise a smile today. Sending Flowers

LaurieFairyCake · 17/06/2020 23:26

I'm a therapist and I'm INUNDATED with people needing therapy because of how hard this is.

It's not easy for anyone. Even me with robust mental health can only do less sessions than before lockdown - I used to be able to do 7 clients a day, now I'm exhausted after 5.

Whynotdance · 17/06/2020 23:27

Completely agree. My kids are miserable and neglected, left to it for most of the day. My DH is about to lose his job but is frantically trying to keep it. I feel like a hamster in a wheel. Working longer as other people can't carry on working, so longer and longer hours. Feel like I'm going to burn out, but need to wait until summer to take hols. It's pretty hard atm.

TokyoSushi · 17/06/2020 23:30

I think the big problem for me is school. Until the DC go back it's not going to feel normal, and well just a bit shit really.

Hopefully over the summer, without the pressure of homeschool things might ease up a little but, but I completely agree, it's pretty miserable right now.

saltycat · 17/06/2020 23:40

As the poet WB Yeats said,

"All is changed, changed utterly, a terribly beauty is born"

We just have to deal with it for better or worse, the one thing keeping me going is that the vast majority are in the same boat as myself and observing the rules.

But this too shall pass eventually. It is a test of our mettle as to how we deal with it on a personal level. But I can see that very soon those who observe the rules will be ridiculed by those who broke them. Was always thus.

Chin up, march on and do what is best for you and your family. It won't last forever, that's for sure.

EnlightenedOwl · 17/06/2020 23:54

I agree . Unbearably shit atm

EnlightenedOwl · 17/06/2020 23:55

@Beautifulsunsets

Oh for goodness sake! Yes things are different but it could be so much worse Hmm
ReallyHmm
AnnaNimmity · 17/06/2020 23:59

@LaurieFairyCake I spoke to my therapist today about the exhaustion. I'm glad it's a Thing and it's not just me (and my children).

it is hard. but mostly today I'm just incredibly bored by it all. I love my job, my house, my kids, my zoom interactions. But I am so bloody bored.

blueshoes · 18/06/2020 00:29

Why won't things get better? We are coming out of lockdown. The children will go back to school in September (fingers crossed). Every day is one day closer to a vaccine or anti-viral drug.

All good.

squeekums · 18/06/2020 00:54

Oh for goodness sake! Yes things are different but it could be so much worse

Want a medal for your oh so 'amazing' coping skills?
cos you sure wont get one for empathy or care