To miss the first lockdown?

[TidyOchreReader]

I know it was a tough time for many but I genuinely loved that first lockdown. I think about it all the time. There was something strangely blissful about slowing down, having fewer obligations and just focusing on connecting with people - even though we couldn’t physically see them. And when you did see someone, the gratitude was immense. AIBU to feel nostalgic for that time?

My experience was similar. DH and I suffered a calamitous, life-changing event in 2019 and both of us had breakdowns. I honestly thought we’d never come through it. Then when lockdown happened it was though we’d been taken out of the world and cocooned in a place that gave us the chance to recover.

I can still appreciate that for huge swathes of people, Covid was the worst event of their lives and I take my hat off to all those who worked and struggled through it to keep us safe. But for us, it felt like exactly what we needed, when we needed it. If it hadn’t happened I’m sure I’d be dead now.

There were elements that I loved, that I will try and recreate in the future- seeing more wildlife wandering around (a deer appeared in my suburban next door neighbour's garden!), the quiet, simple pleasures like having my two sons home more and going for the daily walk/run with them. I hope to move to the country in a few years so will look forward to some of that.

But... DP worked throughout, in the police, with insufficient PPE. My mother had a series of falls, then was admitted to hospital where she had a stroke. She went from there to a care home, and she died there. The worst thing about that was that they allowed only one family member to visit as she lay dying- I'm one of six siblings, so we had to decide who got to go and say goodbye. And when my brother sat by her bedside, he was barked at and told not to touch her hand.

I choose, on a personal level, to remember the better bits, because to do otherwise would be too heartbreaking.

Oh, absolutely more awful than positive for the population/world at large, but, subjectively, on an individual basis, that’s not universally true

MIss it like a hole in the head 🙄

There were definitely nice things about it. Our children were teens and often talk about all the family time we had. I think they’ve forgotten the boring bits.

@DissDissOrDiss we work in an industry like that too - so many people we know lost businesses/lifesavings and it was like this for around 18 months too .

Exactly this.

Oh I loved it too, although I worked through the lockdowns I found the first one especially blissful. Walking to work was so weird because of the quietness and no cars. That summer was the best, weather wise too.

To be fair to OP she's entitled to her opinion. Lots of people didn't like it. Lots of people did. That's allowed.

I loved it too op. Our lives have been changed by wfh.

I really enjoyed it too. My children were toddlers at the time and we wouldn't otherwise have both got to spend months with them doing crafts and going for walks in the wood etc

For us it wasn't a traumatic or worrying time.

And those that are super aggressive and sarcastic in response to her who hated lockdown don’t show much empathy when essentially that’s what they’re advocating for

Each to their own but personally, I thought that it was total, unmitigated shite. DD was born and my parents couldn’t visit to see her; when they did, we had to do it outside. All baby groups were cancelled. Couldn’t see my friends, except via video call. I feel completely robbed of my maternity leave. With hindsight, I should’ve just fucked the rules, and let my parents visit.

i have to say YABU, mainly because the slower pace of life you experienced was created out of other peoples’ much more difficult and sometimes traumatic experiences. The two things can’t be separated.

My sister and I often say that we loved the first lock down. For us it was absolutely idyllic. I have a badly compromised immune system and so I was already stocked up with lots of food in case of emergency etc and I knew it was going to be bad from mid January so I was buying extra toilet rolls, medications etc. By the end of Feb I’d bought a printer, school work books, extra board games and the bits to start new hobbies. By accident I’d bought a kiln and potters wheel in January while drunk browsing eBay so we had a total blast. We set the hot tub up and spent all summer bbqing, playing with the kids in the garden and just having a blast. Every week we had a “bob off” where we would get a mini canvas each and a paint palette and spend an hour following along to a bob ross episode. It was fabulous. My DH was furloughed so it was just like an mega extended holiday.

Well you can lock yourself down if you want to. I would never, ever adhere to another lockdown should one be implemented.

I absolutely loved lockdown. Suddenly things that had been completely inaccessible to me became miraculously accessible. The ableds needed it to, so it did.

I could socialise, watch theatre productions, have new foods delivered, attend classes and even work from home. It was amazing. It also meant I had company because my family were at home instead of at school and work.

Now, of course, all of the lovely accessible things have gone again.

I understand, and that’s great to hear you are maintaining slower mornings and more intentional connection. Modern life can be so hectic and frantic, it is absolutely OK to not want to be frantically busy every moment of every day. We are so selective now about the flow of our weekends, how much our children do, and make sure we all have time to relax in our own home.

I also actually feel a bit ashamed that even though I’ve always been outdoorsy, it took lockdown to prompt us to fully discover so many local walks and nature spots on our doorstep that we’d never had time to before. I never want to go back to being that time poor.

The first thing I did was hurriedly write a will, and get it signed at work. I work clinically in a hospital. Due to a combination of medical conditions, my predicted likelihood of death if I caught Covid in the first waves was the same as for an 85 year old. So about 10%. So yes, that was a lovely peaceful relaxing time. Are you insane?

No idea why everyone is saying you are deluded. You point out in your first line that you know it was awful for others. It wasn't awful for you and that is not a crime. I believe many people were given a taste of what life could be like if we slowed down. It was the big push for WFH which has gone on to be valued by many.
I have mixed feelings and mixed experiences but yes there are parts I miss about the first lock down. One of my children often talks about how much they enjoyed it.

At the time I enjoyed it. It was bliss being home with nothing to do but walk bake and read. It was only afterwards that we realised the true impact of it. My MIL being diagnosed with cancer too late due to cancelled appointments through covid. Not spending my nan’s last few months with her for fear of passing on something that may kill her…. She died anyway

I was just thinking this.

People enjoying lockdown did so due to others going through an awful time with it. Their enjoyment came at a cost that they mostly did not see in the comfort of their homes.

I was pregnant, with HG, working from home with a 2 year old and 10 month old.. absolutely do not miss it!! That said.. there were some parts of our lockdown life that worked well for us as a family that we've kept up - less clubs, less rushing about, more chill out time, walking everywhere, cooking better food etc. - we've intentionally slowed things down since then (as much as you can do with 3 kids)

Live alone. It was hell. The isolation was awful. Was not able to see partner too. YBVU

Forced to WFH with a 3yo, what a bliss, what a joy.

No thanks.