Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am AIBU to think Covid has changed us all?

228 replies

Daleksatemyshed · 31/08/2020 19:12

I'm reading so many posts from people saying they're seeing their DH/DP's in a new light, and not for the better, people who are afraid to meet family, send their DC to school, just struggling with every day life to the point their MH is breaking down. Who would have thought a disease would do this to us?

OP posts:
IHTC · 31/08/2020 19:24

Whilst I personally don't think I've changed, I think this is the case for a huge number of people. The government did such a good job instilling fear at the start. I work with a lady who keeps an emergency hospital bag by her bed just in case she contracts covid. She also cried during general chit chat when I spoke about having gone out to eat the Sunday before work... Absolutely bonkers!

Original poster
Daleksatemyshed · 01/09/2020 06:24

I'm sorry your friends so afraid, I think Covid brought out a lot of peoples fears.

OP posts:
Finerumpus · 01/09/2020 06:27

It’s not the virus that has caused many of those problems. It’s our reaction to it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 01/09/2020 06:37

Hasn't changed me. To me it's just another virus, same as all the others.

It's horrible what it's done to other people though.

yawnsvillex · 01/09/2020 06:43

@Finerumpus perfectly said!!!

In fact when our school closed, our head sent one message home for us as parents.

"Your children will not remember the virus, but they will remember how you reacted"

This has stayed with me. I have seen come children terrified because parents have projected their own fears on to their children.

Bellesavage · 01/09/2020 06:43

I think it has exposed a lack of critical thinking and people's inability to correctly interpret statistics, which I find worrying.

For example, I know people who are avid rock climbers and white water rafters, both hobbies that carry significant risk, but they refuse to go to Tesco Confused

yawnsvillex · 01/09/2020 06:45

And yes it has changed me. It's changed the way I view people, as PP said, all of sudden leaving your front door has become a weapon, yet these same people take enormous risks in their lives!?

mummyof2boys30 · 01/09/2020 06:47

Hasn't changed anything for us though I think that's because we both worked throughout.

Potterpotterpotter · 01/09/2020 06:48

Nope, I don’t think it’s changed me or any of my family at all. Still the same

DOINGOURBIT · 01/09/2020 06:53

Media have a lot to answer to here. Constant scaremongering headlines with the word 'could' in them. Virus 'could' mutate.... Virus 'could' this, that.... etc. Putting the fear of God into people such that they're scared to walk past you in the street... Think back to March.

It isn't the virus at all, yes, it's our reaction to it. Absolutely.

Tumbleweed101 · 01/09/2020 06:54

I’m finding for me the impact is more now than during lockdown. I don’t like the changes such as masks and how different it is to go anywhere.

I worked throughout in a risky environment but found the lockdown weeks quite relaxing.

I don’t know anyone who had the virus so this will also influence things.

It has changed my relationships with work colleagues a bit - especially ones who were furloughed. It’s made me closer to my family.

nosswith · 01/09/2020 06:59

It has changed many things I agree. I almost never wfh beforehand and expect to do so for the majority of the time even once there is a vaccine.

Quartz2208 · 01/09/2020 07:30

It has changed me but not negatively I have learnt to appreciate things and take enjoyment out of them (walking through the woods for example) and spending time with my family

But also I agree seen how people have totally over estimated it

Northernsoullover · 01/09/2020 07:35

Its been a mixed bag for me. I suffered with really poor MH at the height of lockdown brought about my complete terror. I'm doing well now, going back to work helped and I am so grateful to have a job right now. Another plus is spending so much time with my children. I feel really emotional about them returning to school its been lovely having them around. We have become closer as a family.
They are teens though. I think I might have struggled if they had been toddlers.

rwalker · 01/09/2020 07:37

I must admit think I've become judgemental with people and how they deal with covid and what they think should be done.

Original poster
Daleksatemyshed · 01/09/2020 07:37

I agree absolutely that it's not the virus itself but your reaction to it that changes people. I'm back to work a few days here and there and take the bus to the office and it's ok. I've noticed that some people have become bloody rude and others much nicer, I know that's always the way but it's more pronounced now. And how lovely it is to be greeted by someone you barely know like a long lost friend when you meet after 4 months!

OP posts:
Fatted · 01/09/2020 07:41

Not the virus so much as lockdown. It's really made me change my perspective on a lot of things. To the point where I have got a new job because I finally saw how stressed it was making me. I'll also be working from home permanently. I'm also considering going low contact with family members. After spending a lot more time with them lately, there are a lot of things I've suddenly noticed in their behaviour towards me I don't like, but had never really picked up on before. I've really enjoyed the relaxed pace of life, not having to rush here, there and everywhere all of the time. We have really enjoyed our family time together.

I do hate how life is in the outside world though. I went to the shops yesterday and it was a nightmare. Masks, queues, stupid one way systems that don't make sense and every restaurant in town deciding they will put five million tables on the street outside their premises. (Does their license even cover that?!) I'm not really sure how or why only having one person on the checkouts in Boots is down to Coronavirus, but I'm sure that is what they will blame it on.

PurpleFlower1983 · 01/09/2020 07:43

I think I’m changed for the better and so is my DH. We have a new appreciation for what is on our doorstep but have also realised how easy it is to adapt to an much simpler life. We’re stronger as a couple too.

Mywifeandkids1 · 01/09/2020 07:45

It’s made people feel it’s acceptable to comment on every single thing others are doing. And it’s not. Mind your own business people!

I hope life resumes some normality soon.

I feel I have changed for the better 😬 hopefully, I’ve had enough time to lose the weight I wanted, find the style of clothes I like and actually prioritise myself a bit more.

vanillandhoney · 01/09/2020 07:46

I don't like how it's brought out so many busy bodies.

People snitching on or complaining about their friends, family and neighbours for going out with a mask, for standing a metre apart instead of two, for taking up too many delivery slots, for buying too much toilet roll...

Apart from wearing a mask in shops my life has changed very little. We've been out for meals, DH has worked throughout and I've been back at work since June (had to close my business during lockdown), we've seen family, gone on days out, spent time together - same as always, really. We always got shopping online too so that hasn't changed.

For the most part, the world has massively overreacted to this and history will look back on the whole thing with shame.

Mywifeandkids1 · 01/09/2020 07:47

@PurpleFlower1983 this too! Have found a love for where I live

Tomatoesneedtoripen · 01/09/2020 07:49

oh i hate the snitching
and if you were unlucky enough to catch it how would people react? would they blame you or blame your family? call you a covidiot?

PollyPelargonium52 · 01/09/2020 07:49

It hasn't changed me as I am not into socialising anyway.

I was already ordering many things online as i don't go browsing round shops and city/town centres.

TitianaTitsling · 01/09/2020 07:57

@vanillandhoney

I don't like how it's brought out so many busy bodies.

People snitching on or complaining about their friends, family and neighbours for going out with a mask, for standing a metre apart instead of two, for taking up too many delivery slots, for buying too much toilet roll...

Apart from wearing a mask in shops my life has changed very little. We've been out for meals, DH has worked throughout and I've been back at work since June (had to close my business during lockdown), we've seen family, gone on days out, spent time together - same as always, really. We always got shopping online too so that hasn't changed.

For the most part, the world has massively overreacted to this and history will look back on the whole thing with shame.

Basically all of this! The underhanded nastiness and covid 'shaming' of people under the guise of the 'greater good' has been eye-opening! Also worked through lockdown so maybe it's different for us too as there's not been any not going out?
BrutusMcDogface · 01/09/2020 07:59

It’s made me realise how selfish people can be 🤷🏻‍♀️