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Original poster

To ask what the most COVID bonkers thing you did about

794 replies

Jay36 · 13/01/2022 21:42

First off this is not a COVID denier thread.

But I’m wondering what was the weird things you did at the start of the pandemic because you were worried about CV. I’ll go first;

Left my shoes outside the house as was worried about bringing the virus ‘in’ in case someone had coughed on the pavement !

Bleached the door handles daily.

Feel like I was a bit crazy now 😂😭

OP posts:
MorningStarling · 17/01/2022 12:14

At the start of the pandemic, before the restrictions, I went round town and bought up every DIY dust mask I could find. About £5 each. None of them have been used yet. Then when masks were hard to find, I bought myself a motorcycle helmet. Yup. Not used that either.

TheSoapyFrog · 17/01/2022 12:38

I didn't leave the house for weeks and when I finally did, I felt like I was committing a crime. I was constantly spraying zoflora on everything at home - the wheelie bins, front door, light switches, door handles etc... Even though it was just me and the kids and we didn't go out and nobody came in!

Toanewstart22 · 17/01/2022 12:40

@TheSoapyFrog

I didn't leave the house for weeks and when I finally did, I felt like I was committing a crime. I was constantly spraying zoflora on everything at home - the wheelie bins, front door, light switches, door handles etc... Even though it was just me and the kids and we didn't go out and nobody came in!
Did you ever stop and think the impact on your children of not going out for weeks and seeing their parent behave like this?
GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 13:16

Washed and quarantined post and groceries
The stripping off in the garden and showering after going out of the house
Went running at night in the dark with a head torch to avoid people
On the rare occasion I went to a shop I waited outside until it was empty
Opened gates with my feet and arse or just turned back
Didn't get Easter eggs as not essential
Texted thank you for a fresh home baked loaf of bread from my neighbour found on the doorstep then put it straight in the bin outside
Waited two weeks of 5yo not walking before going to a&e
Screamed profanity at a random man who let himself into the back yard

This is quite therapeutic to list. I don't actually regret it or feel silly. It was appropriate for the information we had at the time. And being home and safe in lockdown was the most content I'd ever felt so learned lots about myself.

GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 13:21

Also interesting to write that list while sat next to now 7yo who has covid and slept in my bed with me last night.

peaceanddove · 17/01/2022 14:45

I think I wore a mask when it was required. One of those light blue, papery ones that only actually have a (mild) protective efficacy of about 10 minutes maximum.

headintheproverbial · 17/01/2022 14:50

I didn't just wipe the shopping. The bits of a t which didn't have to be refrigerated or frozen were placed in the boot of the car to quarantine for a few days before being brought in and wiped down with antibacterial wipes!

GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 15:09

@headintheproverbial

I didn't just wipe the shopping. The bits of a t which didn't have to be refrigerated or frozen were placed in the boot of the car to quarantine for a few days before being brought in and wiped down with antibacterial wipes!
Yup same. The non fridge and freezer stuff went in a big barrel like we were pirates. Grin
AarghLessonsMustBeLearnedAGAIN · 17/01/2022 15:25

How is that in any way helpful @Toanewstart22? What a mean uncharitable thing to write.
We all did what we thought was right at the time to protect our families
Think on

DillDanding · 17/01/2022 15:53

This thread is quite shocking. I only know one person that went a bit bonkers about cleaning post and shopping and being nervous to go out.

But from this thread, it’s clear Covid panic really messed with many people’s mental health and its legacy might be felt by their children for their whole lives. It’s really sad.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 17/01/2022 15:57

Screamed profanity at a random man who let himself into the back yard

You really don’t regret abusing strangers?

@Toanewstart22 also makes a perfectly valid point about the effect all these behaviours had on those at the receiving end of them, especially children.

Sheabutterisdelish · 17/01/2022 16:05

It was appropriate for the information we had at the time

It really wasn't you know, my eyebrows are struggling to return to their normal place reading your list.

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:09

@Toanewstart22 also makes a perfectly valid point about the effect all these behaviours had on those at the receiving end of them, especially children.

I agree with this. Why wouldn't we think about the impact on children? Why isn't that important?

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:10

It really wasn't you know, my eyebrows are struggling to return to their normal place reading your list.

I'm similarly gobsmacked

AarghLessonsMustBeLearnedAGAIN · 17/01/2022 16:16

I agree they have a point @BrightYellowDaffodil but we didn't know then what we know now. So let's not cast stones. It not necessary. Parents shoulder enough 'what ifs'
Do you honestly think any parent would knowingly fuck up their child's mental health for the shits & giggles?
We were up against the unknown and reacted accordingly.

GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 16:16

Covid or not I'd probably swear if I found a man in my garden now to be fair and the delayed a&e trip made no difference whatsoever as they couldn't figure it out either.

I avoided people. Is it such a big deal?

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:19

We were up against the unknown and reacted accordingly.

That's not a get out of jail free card in my eyes.

Do you honestly think any parent would knowingly fuck up their child's mental health for the shits & giggles?

I think some people allowed their health anxiety to seriously impair their parenting.

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:19

Waited two weeks of 5yo not walking before going to a&e

This is most definitely a big deal

GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 16:20

Not sure how any of this leads you to assume my children weren't parented well? Care to expand?

Toanewstart22 · 17/01/2022 16:21

Thank you for later posters

My first thought whenever I read post after post after post during lockdown re extreme anxiety, fear, not going out etc

What the fu@k must that have been like for the children in that household. I took mine out every day, without fail, we spoke about the positives of the situation, I limited the news coverage to a minimum and we all emerged unscathed. I see on this thread that it really isn’t any wonder so many children seem to have lingering anxiety and issues

GranolaHolmes · 17/01/2022 16:23

@TheKeatingFive

Waited two weeks of 5yo not walking before going to a&e

This is most definitely a big deal

It's not really if your profession is diagnosing exactly this kind of problem. Eventually I needed a second opinion. Which proved fruitless.
Toanewstart22 · 17/01/2022 16:23

@GranolaHolmes

Not sure how any of this leads you to assume my children weren't parented well? Care to expand?
* I didn't leave the house for weeks and when I finally did, I felt like I was committing a crime. I was constantly spraying zoflora on everything at home - the wheelie bins, front door, light switches, door handles etc... Even though it was just me and the kids and we didn't go out and nobody came in*

A young child. In this environment. Seeing his mother behave like this and not going out once for weeks.

I’ll leave it at that

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:24

Not sure how any of this leads you to assume my children weren't parented well?

Avoiding people to the extent that you clearly did will be extremely detrimental to the mental health of any child. And as for not seeking medical help for a serious issue. You have to ask? Really?

TheKeatingFive · 17/01/2022 16:24

It's not really if your profession is diagnosing exactly this kind of problem.

You didn't think you're child not walking was a big deal?

Toanewstart22 · 17/01/2022 16:26

But most neatly encapsulated in your example

* Waited two weeks of 5yo not walking before going to a&e*