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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find the early COVID era nostalgic?

549 replies

Acco · 15/10/2023 21:00

I’m mostly talking about the pre-lockdown and lockdown 1 era mostly but just 2020 in general to a lesser extent (but not 2021, I still hate it and it doesn’t seem that long ago). I haven’t thought about COVID for ages but I was taking about the toilet roll hysteria with my in laws tonight and then I saw a TikTok throwback to all the 2020 trends and sounds and it gave me a warm feeling inside. It’s an era I’d never want back but I remember the lovely sunny days in the garden in April and May 2020.
Anybody else feel this?

OP posts:
Bluegreenseasoffoam · 15/10/2023 21:55

Unithorn · 15/10/2023 21:34

People's perceptions about lots of things differ. I for one am glad that some people found it to be a happy time, why should everyone feel obliged to feel miserable and like it was shit just because it was for others? Very selfish and strange attitude.

Show quote history

Because they should have been shocked and disturbed by the human rights abuse.

That so many people were happy to go along with it is a danger that hasn’t gone away.

Scottishskifun · 15/10/2023 21:55

Christ no it almost broke me!
My work wouldn't furlough so trying to work with a toddler about was insane!

I was in a constant state of worry due to high risk family members and had to go through difficult appointments alone when I should have never been denied my husband (which the reviews found as well)

For some it might have been a make the most of it time, for me and many it was extremely challenging and not something I ever want to experience again

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz12 · 15/10/2023 21:56

I get it, there were some real positives of that time for me

I was able to wfh so nothing changed there so no financial issues to contend with, but in early 2020 I was verging on burnout from all the other expectations from friends and family and that all went away.

My husband and I spent quality time together for the first time in ages, pottering around the garden or sitting out there reading and we had some great zoom quiz nights etc

I am clinically vulnerable so there was a load of shit too, but for us summer 2020 was not the hellscape that some others experienced, and I know that we were very very lucky because we were financially secure, have no kids but do have a house and garden (and happy relationship)

Wolfen · 15/10/2023 21:56

No. I remember the sunny days, we had fun in our garden, spent time as a family but there was the underlying pressure of doing it all to make our dcs feel safe and well.
I missed my extended family desperately and hated all the fear mongering and how it made me feel.

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:57

Acco · 15/10/2023 21:54

I’m sorry to hear that many people appear to have had a devastating time in Spring 2020 and I obviously don’t miss the virus or the politics/deaths. I’m mostly talking about the record breaking sunshine and the TikTok trends and the weird feelings it brings back. I would never want to go back to it (I’d love to go back to the 2010s though) but all I’m saying it makes me feel weird inside.

I hated the record breaking sunshine. I'd had a baby and was stuck inside apart from my one daily walk. It was awful then having to go back inside my prison and suffer with my mental health by myself in isolation

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:57

And all I wanted to do was hug my mum

EarringsandLipstick · 15/10/2023 21:58

I’m sorry to hear that many people appear to have had a devastating time in Spring 2020

@Acco

Is that news to you?! Really? 🙄

StolenCookie · 15/10/2023 21:58

I know what you mean OP but I think for anyone who experienced a loss it’s going to be impossible to hear (understandably). I didn’t lose anyone close to me to COVID. I absolutely loved working from home and not feeling pressured to go out. I sometimes wish we could be locked down again!

Bs0u416d · 15/10/2023 21:58

We lived in a lovely flat at the time, in an old victorian hospital complex. We'd go for a walk around the gardens every evening in the lovely warm weather and I loved hearing the clatter of plates and the smell of food as everyone got ready for dinne. Some people were sat on their balconies having a beer or a glass of wine. It was a lovely time as far as I can remember.

XenoBitch · 15/10/2023 21:59

Unithorn · 15/10/2023 21:34

People's perceptions about lots of things differ. I for one am glad that some people found it to be a happy time, why should everyone feel obliged to feel miserable and like it was shit just because it was for others? Very selfish and strange attitude.

Show quote history

All the things that people found joy in during Covid... they could do any time really. It was actually sad to see the many MN posts about avoiding seeing family and using Covid as an excuse. FFS, just don't see them!
The joyful things could happen without Covid. The depressing and harmful stuff... it would not have happened without Covid.

sobeyondthehills · 15/10/2023 21:59

Nop, live in a second floor flat, so no garden.

I will swear till my dying day the ultimate thing that sent me spiralling into a major depression was fractions in my DS' school work, it wasnt the only thing, but it was the straw that broke the camels back

XenoBitch · 15/10/2023 22:00

Bs0u416d · 15/10/2023 21:58

We lived in a lovely flat at the time, in an old victorian hospital complex. We'd go for a walk around the gardens every evening in the lovely warm weather and I loved hearing the clatter of plates and the smell of food as everyone got ready for dinne. Some people were sat on their balconies having a beer or a glass of wine. It was a lovely time as far as I can remember.

Why was it not lovely prior to Covid?

Beezknees · 15/10/2023 22:00

StolenCookie · 15/10/2023 21:58

I know what you mean OP but I think for anyone who experienced a loss it’s going to be impossible to hear (understandably). I didn’t lose anyone close to me to COVID. I absolutely loved working from home and not feeling pressured to go out. I sometimes wish we could be locked down again!

This kind of post is what irritates people. You wish for other people to suffer just because you had a good time?

MaryMcI · 15/10/2023 22:01

No, I got covid in March 2020 and was seriously unwell for several months as were DC.
I do remember sitting on my doorstep in the sun with lemon and ginger tea trying to do breathing exercises without ending up in worse pain, though. Better than being inside in the rain, no doubt.

readbooksdrinktea · 15/10/2023 22:02

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:57

And all I wanted to do was hug my mum

I feel this to my core. Living alone through this shitty period almost killed me. I'm still not the same.

XenoBitch · 15/10/2023 22:02

Beezknees · 15/10/2023 22:00

This kind of post is what irritates people. You wish for other people to suffer just because you had a good time?

Show quote history

Same. @StolenCookie can lock herself down again. Nothing stopping her at all.

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 22:02

readbooksdrinktea · 15/10/2023 22:02

I feel this to my core. Living alone through this shitty period almost killed me. I'm still not the same.

Show quote history

Thank you. It came from my core. I too am not the same.

settleupandgo · 15/10/2023 22:03

Selfishly, I loved lockdown in that I didn't have any pressures to meet up with friends. I love my friends but I have several separate groups of friends, trying to juggle seeing them and spend time with DH and DC and see wider family pushes me to the edge weekly. I currently have my DC saying I'm out too much. And friends saying they don't see me enough. It's all too much

AvengedQuince · 15/10/2023 22:03

StolenCookie · 15/10/2023 21:58

I know what you mean OP but I think for anyone who experienced a loss it’s going to be impossible to hear (understandably). I didn’t lose anyone close to me to COVID. I absolutely loved working from home and not feeling pressured to go out. I sometimes wish we could be locked down again!

Who pressures you to go out? If you don't want to, don't.

userxx · 15/10/2023 22:03

sobeyondthehills · 15/10/2023 21:59

Nop, live in a second floor flat, so no garden.

I will swear till my dying day the ultimate thing that sent me spiralling into a major depression was fractions in my DS' school work, it wasnt the only thing, but it was the straw that broke the camels back

I heard my friend pop open a bottle of Prosecco when she was homeschooling, it was 10am on a Tuesday. No judgement from me, whatever gets you through it.

needtonamechangeagain · 15/10/2023 22:03

Acco · 15/10/2023 21:00

I’m mostly talking about the pre-lockdown and lockdown 1 era mostly but just 2020 in general to a lesser extent (but not 2021, I still hate it and it doesn’t seem that long ago). I haven’t thought about COVID for ages but I was taking about the toilet roll hysteria with my in laws tonight and then I saw a TikTok throwback to all the 2020 trends and sounds and it gave me a warm feeling inside. It’s an era I’d never want back but I remember the lovely sunny days in the garden in April and May 2020.
Anybody else feel this?

That's lovely.. I was dying and hospitalised with a tummy bug, chest infection and UTI because the idiots didn't take covid seriously in the January, my business was falling apart and the twats in government didn't support me as I ran a limited business, clearly evading tax and nothing to do with running a business while have 2 maternity leaves and employing 6 staff for 20+ years.

Oh and Covid flared my hormones and I ended up in 2021 having to pay for major surgery privately..

Add in the fact my dad died, it's been peachy..

User1748953 · 15/10/2023 22:03

We were retired so it was a pain not being able to go on holidays

Gandalfsthong · 15/10/2023 22:03

Homeschooling and navigating home working? Nope that time was horrendous!!

Gnomegnomegnome · 15/10/2023 22:03

Not for me but (genuinely) glad that you had a good time.

EarringsandLipstick · 15/10/2023 22:03

the ultimate thing that sent me spiralling into a major depression was fractions in my DS' school work, it wasnt the only thing, but it was the straw that broke the camels back

I hear you.

My youngest DS became really depressed in that time (he was 8 then). They had to do their own work while I worked, he'd do maths then lie under the dining room table like a zombie

I'd arrive down mid morning & have to spend time persuading him to come out & maybe do some work

I remember the day he had a total meltdown over not being able to do art. Of all things. There was hysteria all round by the end as he couldn't follow the instructions to do the work.