To find storm triggers horrible lockdown memories?

[GrendelsGrandma]

It's only a few hours in with the kids but I've found it really, really difficult.

Aibu to think I have pent-up lockdown rage left over that's been triggered by all this? I'm fine with the kids when we can do something, being shut up indoors with no say about it has made me feel disproportionately gloomy and angry! Anyone else?

@RedCandyApple

I do find it a bit odd that people on MN seem to struggle to stay indoors with their kids even for one day, I’ve noticed it a lot on here irl I don’t know anyone that insists taking their kids out every single day. It’s ok to stay indoors sometimes!

I've been cooped up all week because my oldest has chicken pox, so we've not gone any further than the garden and a local field (so no playground to contaminate)! I've found myself recalling the isolation and stress of lockdown this week and have described myself as 'going stir crazy'!

I think the problem for me is not having the option to go out. I enjoy spending cosy days at home with my children if I want to. I also really appreciate being able to go out, whether it's for me (and them) to socialise with friends or just because the children need to run off some steam and run around somewhere. I find we're all far happier if we can go out and about for a bit of variety (and exercise, crucially).

PTSD? Really? From staying at home?

My brother has PTSD from being shot at by the Taliban.

I think it’s the option and if they want to go out but can’t it’s a throw back to really rough times

I am exactly this! Really anxity as have to stay home. I don't want to go out every day but as soon as we are told to stay home definitely takes me back to lockdown feelings.

We had a nice day planned for today as a treat post this week of the juggle of work and half term.

What worries me more is that the kids have accepted quite easily that plans are canx as it has become the norm with Covid.

I'm the opposite, I' just happy we don't have to go anywhere and still have hearing and electricity. I was dreading a power cut.

Surely there are other days where you have to stay in when you are sick? Toddlers to sick to go out? Torrential rain? I just find people being stressed out or upset for not being able to leave the house for one day very odd!

@ThatsNotMyGolem

PTSD? Really? From staying at home?

My brother has PTSD from being shot at by the Taliban.

So?

It's harder when they're toddlers, I'll grant you that. My DS1 has autism and thankfully is at an age where he can take himself out to pace up and down for hours in the backgarden in his pjs or play roblox.

@RedCandyApple

Surely there are other days where you have to stay in when you are sick? Toddlers to sick to go out? Torrential rain? I just find people being stressed out or upset for not being able to leave the house for one day very odd!

Obviously if they are unwell it’s much easier as they don’t want to

It’s not that odd to be reminded of something stressful, and getting same feelings. It’s pretty common even if not this exactly.

@ThatsNotMyGolem

PTSD? Really? From staying at home?

My brother has PTSD from being shot at by the Taliban.

I’m glad someone beat me to it.

Rookie error, wrong poster referred too- sorry CP, have reported.

@ThatsNotMyGolem my husband hasn't got PTSD, despite also being shot at by the Taliban.

The point being everyone is different, with different tolerances.

Some people will likely have PTSD from the whole pandemic situation, whether you agree that should be the case or not.

[quote BELLAARA]@Cheekypeach my husband hasn't got PTSD, despite also being shot at by the Taliban.
The point being everyone is different, with different tolerances.
Some people will likely have PTSD from the whole pandemic situation, whether you agree that should be the case or not.[/quote]
That’s what I was saying…

Same here. I have to get out every day now even if it’s just a quick walk around the block otherwise I get all panicky.

@RedCandyApple

Surely there are other days where you have to stay in when you are sick? Toddlers to sick to go out? Torrential rain? I just find people being stressed out or upset for not being able to leave the house for one day very odd!

@redcandyapple yes of course there are. And I don't find it hard, but I find this hard. Which I thought was interesting and I wondered if others feel the same.

I think it's a specific combo of

1. Having no choice but to stay in
2. Due to the threat of danger outside
3. This feeling like you can't deliver on what your kids need (eg exercise and socialising

I wouldn't call it PTSD, maybe a bit of residual trauma

I think it's also cos it comes at a time when we're being told everything is safe now

Well we enjoyed it, but I imagine it completely depends on what you and your child enjoy doing. We built a storm shelter in the lounge out of old bedding and played chasing monsters, then had hot chocolate, drawing and stories in it. I'm a terrible parent though as I also allowed my dad to play some games on her dad's tablet and watch Disney, but I figured when there's a storm the normal rules don't apply. If you found lockdown hard I can really understand how another day of being forced indoors may feel a bit stifling.

I need to know I can go out of I want to or I get lockdown flashback/anxiety. I was getting stressed yesterday when school was cancelled. But fortunately the storm didn't come to anything where I am and we had a lovely few hours out at the climbing wall and had lunch at the café there, and I even managed to walk the dog this afternoon.

But then I start to feel crap about feeling negative about spending time with my DD. Lockdown has a lot to answer for

@ThatsNotMyGolem

PTSD? Really? From staying at home?

My brother has PTSD from being shot at by the Taliban.

I’m not sure you’ve understood the OP.

@mumda

I believe strongly that children need to have nice indoor hobbies for rainy days.

The ability to occupy yourself quietly is actually a really essential skill for all of us.

Wish my DC had had this memo

Before the lockdowns, it was really rare for us to have a day at home with absolutely nothing today so it always felt like a treat to have a PJ day. Now it makes me feel slightly panicky.

I think lockdowns made freedom so precious that even a small threat to being able to go about our daily lives feels like ‘the beginning of something again’.

Yep. Last night waiting to find out if their schools were closing made me feel so anxious, just like the start of the lockdowns! I think it's the waiting and not knowing, so being unable to make a plan/ organise time off work (which ended up closing anyway so needn't have worried so much.)

Then today DS's anxiety and resulting aggression through the roof trying to get his school work done. Not fun!

@RedCandyApple

I do find it a bit odd that people on MN seem to struggle to stay indoors with their kids even for one day, I’ve noticed it a lot on here irl I don’t know anyone that insists taking their kids out every single day. It’s ok to stay indoors sometimes!

There’s staying in with your kids for a day because you want to and they can veg out and you can potter about and chuck them in the garden when they are bored.

Then there’s being told to stay In because of over-egged big scary situation outside with kids who are still traumatised from covid scaremongering. Whilst having school breathing down your back to do schoolwork whilst you attempt to work with your partner also attempting to work all in a very small space.

Can you really not see the difference?

(No I’m not a covid denier or anything, just my kid is genuinely terrified after covid and the school obviously made a massive deal of the storm yesterday)

I know what you mean OP.
I think it’s the fact that the storm is affecting the whole country, so it’s not like a local rainy day, or having an ill child. It’s that feeling that the whole country is stuck indoors, having had to cancel anything they planned to do today. It’s a rare situation, and the last time it happened was lockdown. Hence the horrible feeling of being back there.

I fully understand what you mean, OP. Lockdown was the first time for a lot of us we’d experienced such a lack of agency over our own lives and activities, it was awful and stressful and relentless, particularly for people who had to work from home with small children. It’s not surprising that anything that reminds you of that horrible time will engender feelings of anxiety or cabin fever.

Am sure someone will be along to take me to task for suggesting lockdown wasn’t a wonderful opportunity to take a step back and ‘enjoy’ a slower pace of life while getting precious quality time with my DC - but that wasn’t my experience and I hate feeling anything that takes me back to that time.