To ask how your relationship has been affected this year?

[mrsb00]

DH and I have struggled the last few months and I’m sure it’s due to lockdown. I lost my job due to Covid. I’m pregnant and stuck at home with a very naughty toddler. DH is WFH and stressed as he’s super busy and aren’t enough people in his team. I try my best to keep toddler out of his way all day so not to affect his work but honesty I’m completely done in, exhausted and have just offloaded on him about how I feel it’s so unfair that I’ve lost my job and found myself in a position I never wanted to be in (I know thousands of others have too, sorry, allow me my pity party). He came back basically saying I only have to look after one child, why is it so difficult, he helps as much as he can etc etc and I can’t help but think he feels his stress is more valid than mine because he’s currently the only one making money. I feel like he’s saying what I do at home isn’t important, even though I’ve not chosen to be a SAHM. His general attitude towards me has been shit lately too and I said if he can’t be civil towards me then don’t talk to me at all. I know this will blow over but I’m wondering if anyone else’s relationship has been strained over the last few months.

I didn’t see DH or the DC for six months. We were stuck in different countries. I had quite a nice time without DH and it’s difficult having him here full time now.

Ours has definitely strengthened.

I was off during lockdown as I couldn't work, but DH was at work all day so we weren't in each other's pockets. I took care of the house, shopping and all the pet-related care so all he had to do was go to work. When things started re-opening we went and got takeaways most weekends and tried to spend as much time together as possible.

Now we're both back to work as normal but things are still good. It was nice to have a few months where things were a bit calmer and neither of us was feeling too stressed. Luckily we don't have any financial worries although we're both self-employed so fingers crossed we're not forced to self-isolate! No DC either which I imagine is what creates the most stress for lots of people.

to everyone struggling.

I got dumped by my boyfriend of 2 years. I couldn't see him during lockdown (Scotland, too far away) so he got "bored and lonely" and phoned me up to say "Sorry, but I'm seeing someone else now".

Refused to meet up, a month later (I went no contact) dumped my belongings on my doorstep when he knew I'd be at work, and blocked me on his phone, social media, everywhere. Even though I hadn't contacted him.

I would say we have had a pretty good lockdown. No arguments.

Normally life is frantic and h is out most nights/half the weekend. So early lockdown with kids was nice. Kids are back and I made myself a study as his habits of nail biting and eating loudly were starting to irritate me. It is great now. We get pastries on a Wednesday, bacon rolls on a Friday. Catch up during the day if we need water cooler chat.

We are lucky that we live in a sizeable house with gRden so we can escape if we need to.

The bastard does keep nicking my lovely study for all day meetings and then leaving it a mess. The kids creep in as well.

Our relationship was new at the start of all this; we didn't live together when lockdown was announced but made the snap decision that he'd move in with me. I feel very lucky that we've thrived, not a crossed word despite going from dating to living and working from home together literally overnight. We've made a point of communicating well throughout which has helped a lot.

I know at least 2 couples in long relationships that have broken up this year, at least in part due to the stress and enforced close proximity. That just makes me feel even more fortunate that we've come out stronger.

Well I feel a bit bad seeing as you are struggling but you have asked so I'll be honest. We have got on v well. We love being with each other as much as possible in the 'normal' world so this situation has been good for us. We are both WFH, we both have busy (often stressful) jobs and are lucky enough to have separate work areas (he has a study as he always WFH before Covid) and I have a desk in the summer house. We come together for lunch.

In the 'normal' world I love to cook for him, but my working day often means I get home too late, so I only get to do this on average twice in the week. I have cooked from scratch every night since all this started, and we have sat down to dinner every night together since, it's been lovely.

At the end of our working day we take the dogs for a walk over the fields and then come home and relax. We make a real effort to make our weekends completely different to our week days, and ensure we still get that 'Friday' feeling, even in proper lockdown.

We do recognise how fortunate we have been and continue to be during this period.

I didn't think me and DP could get any closer but we have throughout all of this. No arguments and that's with us spending everyday together since late Feb. We don't have babies or toddlers though or money problems which I know makes a big difference.