What have you learnt from this pandemic?

[pawsies]

For me I am a naturally cautious person and tend to think of worst case scenarios on a daily basis. I am a catastrophiser.

Therefore I'm very reluctant to book things far in advance. I wouldn't book a holiday years in advance. Maybe months but more likely weeks.

This pandemic has reinforced that. I can't see myself booking a holiday for 2022/2023. I want to go away in January but probably won't book anything until December.
Seeing the hassle people have had to go through to get money back/travel insurance etc puts me off booking anything earlier.

What about you?

I love my house, garden and neighbourhood. My dh is a good man.
Wfh is great. I can work pt and homeschool just fine. Homeschooling itself is ok but I would not sign up for it voluntarily.
I am a better cook than I thought.

That people are really bad at risk assessment.

That most of us are armchair scientists!

@ShinyFootball

How totalitarian regimes get support from lots of people

How much I need to be out in the world with people around

I'm a historian by training ( no longer in academia because the workload was insane) and the authoritarian thing is interesting. Historically authoritarian movements appeal to people with the promise of 'safety', so in the 20s and 30s fascism offered to protect people from communism, which could legitimately be perceived as a threat across much of Europe at the time. Basically one of the depressing lessons of history is that people will sign away their civil liberties in a heartbeat if they're scared enough. We saw that to a lesser extent with the post-9/11 panic over terrorism and I think we saw it again with lockdown.

Yes

I never understood how society could turn to demonise groups/ turn on their neighbours etc

It was a really incredibly eye opening experience at the beginning of lockdown. Terrifying really.

That loads of people think others are bad at risk assessing when really they are just using covid as an excuse not to have to go out.

That some people are out and out liars and genuinely really don't care about the health or wellbeing of anyone else. And that other people are wonderful, caring and look at the bigger picture.

That I can cope quite happily without a social life.

The very frightening way many people embrace totalitarianism and jibber with delight at an opportunity to dob someone in.

That my mental health is nowhere near as strong as I would have bet.

That my child is resilient and amazingly calm under duress.

That holidays in the UK are fucking daylight robbery, and the very minute I am reliably able I will never holiday in this country again.

Pandemic does not require "global".

That my years of ocd fear of contamination served me well.
That my children are incredible and have taken it all in their stride (infact understood social distancing far better than some adults!)
That I would have actually really loved being a stay at home mum.
Also that teaching should really be left to the professionals not me and google!

I have a question for people. Has anyone had a cold or known anyone to have a cold the past few months?

It's weirding me out a bit. Don't our immune systems need a poke every now and then?

So I would love it if someone can tell me that they have encounterd a cold in some way of late.

Cheers

And my years of worrying about my Mum living 5 he drive away have finally been Bourne out.
And I'm sick of making every fucking decision for everybody

That people are thick as bricks. Especially when it comes to applying common sense.

Government mandates you can only leave house once a day for exercise? Then you MUST stick to that NO MATTER WHAT. Even if you live in a house 12 miles from any other human being, you CANNOT walk your dog in the private paddock you own and have sole access to twice in one day... BECAUSE THAT'S THE RULES!!

My neighbour thinks that Covid is spread by car exhaust fumes...

That so many of the public are completely stupid and passive and expect the 'Government' to tell them In every small situation exactly what to do.

I've also been surprised at the number of people on here who are keen to 'report' their neighbours.

gamerchick yes, me and DC2 have one at the moment.

That I love home working, spending time alone and with immediate family doing hobbies, going for walks.

That I'm a shit teacher, that my kids really need friends and school and that actually school is rather good.

@dotdashdashdash

gamerchick yes, me and DC2 have one at the moment.

Ah I could kiss you man

May you both feel better soon.

That I will never be bored all the time I have books to read.

That I'm perfectly happy with my own company.

That while I'm lazy, DP is much lazier than me.

That gardening is quite enjoyable.

That I spent loads of money on crap I didn't need.

That I don't do well with uncertainty. When there was no return date for school but the hope that there might be, it drove me insane. As soon as they said, that's it, it's September, I felt much calmer about the whole thing.

Also I can manage with the DC at home all day every day, and only go a little bit mad!

Oh also that the level of entitlement among the general public is incredible. The amount of people who believe they don't have to abide by the rules because they're special really is amazing.

Baby groups were vital to my sanity.
While I much prefer to be alone, I still need some regular human contact.
Babies are very resilient. DD was an antisocial potato going into lockdown. Now she's a crawling, cruising, people loving tour de force.

1. That I was right to do low level prepping. DH used to act like I was a total nut case. Look who's laughing now hehehehehe - me! That's who. Obviously, I wish I could have proven I was right without the fucking pandemic though.

2. Also, that I am capable of enormous and speedy weight gain. Brilliant. At a time when being overweight is a particularly bad idea, I manage to gain a tonne of weight. .

3. I don't want to be a SAHM anymore. I have been for years, and loved it, but this is honestly horrendous. I've hit peak 'walk in the woods', and then some. Since the park opens we have done that to death as well. I'm desperate to get back to work after this is over.

Also that when I always thought "if only I had guilt free time at home I'd have a beautifully clean and tidy house/learn a new language/teach myself a degree in history/learn a new language/to knit/garden/read all the books etc I'd be doing it" is a delusion!

Have kept up the exercise though

That I wish I didn’t live so far away from my parents.
That a lot more than I thought of my job can be done working from home, and I’d like some of this flexibility in the future.
That some of my neighbourhood can be racist.
That DP is a bit lazy and needs motivating.
That I really like walking everywhere and people say hello more when walking past.

That I don't like people.

That people are two faced and friends can show their true colours.
Also that you really get to know what and who is important