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?

Well guess it depends! I liked it, my DD had full day online learning so didn’t miss out. My just turned 16 year old son who was just starting his vocational qualification it was a disaster. Personal training level 3 but no gyms were open, he couldn’t make new friends, couldn’t see his girlfriend, couldn’t work out. Awful awful awful. Shattered his confidence and not sure he has yet to get back to what he was before.

I loved it. The quietness was wonderful. Feeling no pressure to mix or see anyone. I know it was a difficult time for some people, but for the true introverts amongst us it was lovely.

Had exact conversation with mates last week. 2 were at home for the entire lockdown and absolutely hated it. Another 2 worked part time and struggled but I worked probably harder than I ever have before or since and can't actually remember it being much different. That said I'd never want another lockdown.

I’m going to take a wild guess and say that those that loved it didn’t have anyone close to them die or suffer horribly with their mental and physical health?

Fucking disgusting using words like 'blissful' and 'nostalgia'

Be careful what you wish for...

The people I know who loved lockdown were wealthy. They had big gardens and no money worries.

I was pregnant and didn’t receive the quality of medical care that I needed, I lived in a little flat with no garden. I’m freelance but received no furlough and my partner had a full on breakdown which involved mostly being furious at me the whole time.

I’m not usually someone who compares myself or my life to others but honestly I just don’t want to hear anyone go on about how lovely lockdown was.

I quite enjoyed the first lockdown. I was furloughed and didn't have to go to the job I hated.

The sense of community, staying home, daily walks, Joe wicks, banana bread, baking, Netflix binges. House was organised. Apart from the anxiety of catching covid it was quite good for me.

Unfortunately my mother really struggled mentally and I felt awful for those people who were lonely or scared. I felt for those with kids.
It would have been hell if I'd had my son back then. He lives for nursery and seeing grandparents, and I'd be worried about his development.

I understand others experiences of lockdown were not the same as mine, as their circumstances were different. However I truly loved lockdown, I loved the time I spent with my 3yo and worked through some big things in my life. I wouldn’t switch it for the world and I know I’ll never get that time again with my DD

It was different for everybody. Quietness was lovely but I'll not forget the oxygen system nearly failing or the temporary morgues due to too much demand. Obviously I miss Boris's daily briefings though.

I am an introvert and it was not healthy for me to sit with overcharged social batteries that I could not drain (if that makes sense!).
People drain me, but I was so lonely.

Well, it’s a split vote, OP.

I’m a self-employed introvert who WFH (round the clock) for the first time from March 2023.

I also loved that time. No nostalgia or rose-tinted glasses for me - I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the experience at the time.

I wouldn’t want to go back to another Lockdown, but on a personal level, I remember that time fondly.

I miss the two meter rule especially in hot weather

I think you’re being unreasonable because surely the mass deaths and unfolding pandemic would have caused you some worry? Surely? You make it sound like you couldn’t care less about the actual context.

I miss it too! For me it was much less stressful and low expectations. I loved having nothing to do on weekends & evenings, except going for walks and baking bread. I loved the video calls and quizzes and actually I felt better connected to society as a whole!

(working while looking after a toddler wasn't quite so easy but we got through it somehow..)

Obviously this isn't taking into account that actual Covid side of things, just the lifestyle changes..!

Try looking after someone with poor mobility and CEV and trying to keep them safe while you're basically imprisoned. It worked until the end part of 2022 when he belatedly got it and has never walked since, as he was left in bed on a Covid ward and lost what walking strength he had. His life wrecked and mine has been too TBH, but it was worse for others.

Horrible ghastly abnormal time.

It was an awful, terrible time. Never, ever again. The effect of lockdown will be felt for many years.

Can I ask why you said the first lockdown and not both op? That stood out to me.

I really enjoyed lockdown. It was like an endless summer holiday for us.

Dc loved it too, practically lived in the garden!

We suddenly lost 45% of our income. Husband and I both work 55% PAYE and 45% self employed.

Not entitled to furlough or anything for the loss of our self employed income. the rule was 50% or more had to come from self employment for it to count.

That was harsh, unfair and really, really tough.

I also found it upsetting how the Johnson government were so fixated on damn Brexit that they didn't see Covid coming. This meant they were unprepared and far more people died than would have been the case had they been more on the ball. Idiotic messaging about it not being airborne! Are there any infectious respiratory diseases that exclusively caught via contaminated surfaces and that aren't airborne? The Tories handing huge contracts eg PPE to their friends.

I did like being in our garden it was a lovely sunny spring. Trouble was too many were suffering horrors that I couldn't truly enjoy the weather.

How lovely for you. My sister will also never get time with her daughter again. My niece would have been 10 this year.

The day to day within the bubble of my house, the great weather and the slower pace, yes.
The stress that went with being senior management in the NHS, in a non-clinical role btw, no. And I can't imagine what it was like on the wards. The public don't know the half of it imo. I vividly remember hiding in my ensuite bawling into a towel I was so totally overwhelmed with the horror of it all.

For us as a family, it was pretty positive and we were lucky. I was immensely grateful we were all able to stay at home safely. Neither DH or I were furloughed but work slowed down and we managed. We saved money, had a lot more time together - all positive. So on an individual level we were fine and there was noone close to us to specifically worry about.

However, there was no way I could have felt happy about that time because covid was hanging over society, knowing what others were going through and how fearful many people were. It was a very dark time for the country, the world, and that detracted from my happiness.

Surely if you miss the quiet, simple life, you can make changes to your life to enable that?

I'm not nostalgic for it, but we were fortunate to have an OK time - larger than average house, kids not too young and needing of attention and not at crucial eductional stages. I don't miss the kind of dizzying uncertainty and wondering when we'd have things to look forward to again.

Horrific. Both Working ft, my son couldn’t cope, poor daughter left in gcse year. Horrendous

Same here. I selfishly enjoyed being at home; no pressure, no school run etc, but I pray that there will never be anything like that again, so many elderly people dying without their loved ones allowed to say goodbye, suicides, mental health issues, abused women and children having no chance of escape from their abusers, Sarah Everard bieng tricked to her death. Horrendous.

The lockdowns have resulted in permanent changes in our house.

We now live at a slower pace, not rushing here, there and everywhere, DH and I have carried on with hobbies we adopted. We were both key workers, so life and school carried on as normal. Everyone at work was sent to WFH, I now work from home 80% of the time, and have a much better work/life balance.

It goes without saying, but it was absolutely horrendous for so many people, and it still is.

I can see why parts of the spring/summer lockdown have a nostalgic feel, the weather was beautiful, there was a sense of "we're in it together"-ness, but it was also equally chaotic and distressing. And once Government Ministers started arsing about...well it was pretty much game over.