What was ok about 2020 for you?

[EwwwwDavid]

I got to go on holiday. Massively lucky. We just got to go to Spain when lockdown eased and things were ok. It was the best 2 weeks ever!

I work for the NHS so have not been furloughed at all and my DH has had to cope with the home schooling which has been a nightmare.

I guess my AIBU is was there any part of 2020 that wasn't awful?

• I got to spend far more time home with my last baby, who hasn’t had to go to a child minder at all yet. We stopped having to spend out for child care which makes a massive difference, so we paid off a lot of debt and topped up the savings (depleted after DH was out of work at the beginning)
• I now WFH regularly, with limited days in the office
• my older DC are being home schooled with a tutor and doing well
• our jobs are reasonably safe for now
• we took a scaled down holiday and it was so wonderful, we usually spend our holidays doing very “active “ things and this was such a nice change.
• my grandparents both caught and recovered from COVID, so my anxiety about them has lessened.

Some of this will change when I’m able to get vaccinated and am no longer as at risk, I expect my WFH-hating company to go back to full time on-site and DH will eventually have to go back to the office as well. But the year has had some kindnesses to make up for the things we did miss out on or that did go badly.

We have had some really special family time all together at a slower pace. Yes it was very difficult juggling home schooling two children with our two full time jobs, but got so much quality time together. Rediscovered our local area.

Amazing whether over the summer offering lots of outdoor opportunities

I love working from home. Get better work done, have my husband also wfh for company and between us can do all the school runs

My husband got made redundant but found a new job that he went into without a gap so the redundancy pay was a great bonus

Had a lovely holiday in this country

Didn't have to drive all over the country visiting family &friends at Xmas so feel really relaxed after the break

Obviously downsides too, but lots to be positive about for us

I’ve increased the number of family meals we can all eat. I’ve got 2 pretty fussy kids and lockdown meant I was getting so so bored with cooking the same handful of meals over and over again. Working from home meant I had more time to cook and so we’ve really branched out and the kids have become much more adventurous.

Yesterday was fajitas, which 6 months ago I would never have persuaded them to try.

We moved house in May, managed to exchange just before lockdown

Still had a lovely time with my husband all year

Been working from home full time

I got engaged 💍

•Both Dh and I have safe jobs.
•ds moved to a better school •
• We have spent less money
• We made some changes to how we do Xmas and consequently had the best Xmas we’ve had for years.

I realised I'm just a passenger in my own life.

I need to change that.

Summer. I bought a paddle board for myself and kids and we spent the summer on a lake near my house.

Every day we took a picnic of strawberry, Pringles, popcorn and chicken sandwiches. It was one of the best summers I’ve had.

I was made redundant after 15 years with the same company. Whilst it was rubbish;

1. I've had a lingering fear of redundancy for years. Job searching was dull and annoying but not the catastrophe I'd imagined.
2. I got to spend loads of time with 7yo DD including a full summer holiday. Its not all been idyllic but its something we'd never have had as both DH and I work full time and have since she was 6mo.

I'm working again now in a temporary role. Again the lack of job security has its upsides. If schools do close long term and I have to give up this job there are no long term consequences (tho the money is excellent so obviously I'd rather not).

I'm also enjoying building working relationships with people that I don't anticipate will be permanent. It gives me much more freedom to establish myself with honesty and a focus on the job rather than being too worried about what people think of me all the time.

I know I'll be job hunting again and whilst it's not something I look forward to and expect it to be hard work (again), it doesn't hold the same dread as it used to.

I lost a stone in lockdown #1.

Got my bike back finally and am trying to learn how to climb hills on it. Naturally dd sails up hills.

After 3 miscarriages I got and stayed pregnant - am 18 weeks now.

My 8 yr old learned to ride her bike

I have cycled to work every day since 1st lockdown so even though I’m now lardy and pregnant I am also quite fit.

A glorious summer with lots of lovely countryside walks as DH and I worked from home. I got fitter and leaner and saved a fortune on commuting costs.

2 fabulous UK holidays in stunning countryside.

My mum's vile alcoholic husband went into a care home, to everyone's huge relief and my mum is so much happier and healthier without him. We didn't have to see him at xmas or new year - yay!

There were lots of cons as well, of course - but those were the pros.

My husband got made redundant which sounds negative but he walked into a job that is much better hours, so better for us.

It's been great to just get off the hamster wheel/tragic roundabout for a bit.

Welcomed our first human baby into the world and fell pregnant with our second a few months later 😁

All our family made it through with only a couple catching covid but fought it.

We got a new baby niece and also found out that my cousin is expecting another!

We were able to see our parents (except 1 that lives abroad) due to support bubbles so don't feel we've missed out on too much!

DH had the ability to work for extra pay during both lockdowns which massively helped us financially.

Relationship with partner strengthened.

Saved money.

New-found appreciation for my spacious house.

Fewer social obligations.

Managed a holiday to west Wales which was lovely.

Tried some new restaurants/foods when lockdown eased.

Best friend’s child had a life changing operation in January and his health improved dramatically during 2020.

Friend with long-standing fertility issues finally had a baby in March and got pregnant again unexpectedly in the autumn. She’s delighted.

Working from home works for me, I don't miss the journey to/from work and as long as I am speaking to colleagues don't miss the office.

I discovered a lot of the beautiful nature of my local area, the architectural quirks, saw butterflies, and know the dog breed of choice in the area now.

Zoom calls with other family members as a group call so we have all seen each other every week have been lovely.

I lost weight, I completed a lot of CPD courses for my work and realised I have amazing friends

Unexpected time at home after losing my Mum so I could just have peace without the pressure to go out and do anything (still wfh though)

Spent more time day to day with boyfriend, cemented that he’s the one definitely we enjoyed lockdown as a couple. We love walks etc.

I managed to stick to some YouTube workouts for two months and lost a stone and felt very proud of myself, possibly put some back on over Christmas sadly!

Managed a couple of little breaks during August in the UK, the weather was fab.

Binged some new TV like never before eg line of duty how did I never watch it before?!

Did DIY around the house and made some inexpensive changes.

Of course there were downsides to lockdown and 2020 but staying positive for this post.

Lost weight in the first lockdown (creeping back on, but I did it then so I can do it again).
Husband’s company is hanging on.
Work has been successful and busy for me.
Managed to see family in the gaps when it was ok.

My daughter DID get married....not in June as planned but in September ..it was an amazing day .
Two friends had babies.
I kept my job ..I'm a TA in a school

I lost 18 kg.
I have started to go regularly to the gym.

That even though I was made redundant I did finally get myself a new job. Ok not in the sector I'm qualified and experience and some t over 15 years in but it's a job. I actually love it. There's a great team, I'm not bringing my work home with me, it's left at work. Plus as it's nights I've not needed to put my youngest in childcare so savi g a small fortune to the point we've been able to bring forward putting our house on the market by 12-18 months.

As well as that me and DH managed to go to a gig (before lockdown). Managed to go on a holiday to our favouritest spot in Cornwall for my birthday. And I got an Eggnogg latte this Christmas.😂

Kids only interrupted a handful of zoom calls. Were very happy playing together through lockdown. We paid off our childcare debt and started to build savings. Have loved not sticking kids in breakfast and after school clubs and good family time. Still shitty year we could all have done without.

My partner moved in and it went surprisingly smoothly.

My son mastered walking up and downstairs independently.

Our puppy came home.

I had a lovely week in the forest of dean with my son.

My partner had major surgery, he recovered well and for the first time he has almost normal function in one of his hands, it has genuinely been life changing for him.

My son was discharged from SALT.

We booked our wedding.

I took a demotion which slightly reduces my working hours, but will hugely reduce stress due to less responsibilty.

I bought a rugby tots franchise.

I got to spend more time with my favourite little person.