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Covid

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To not know what to do with myself and my DD now everything in our lives has been cancelled indefinitely?

29 replies

WhatdoIdowithmyselfnow · 19/03/2020 07:04

Another CV thread sorry. But DD is Y11 and whilst happy the exam pressure is gone, has no idea what she's going to do for the next few months and neither do I really.

All her extra curricular activities are cancelled, obviously she doesn't have school anymore, she can't really see her friends, her prom is cancelled. I'm the same, I usually go to a couple of groups in the evening which have been cancelled now.

Any ideas for what to do when you're pretty much stuck at home? We aren't even self isolating but it feels that way.

OP posts:
mogloveseggs · 19/03/2020 07:06

I saw that some of the strictly professionals are doing learn salsa etc on Instagram. You could do them together for a laugh? I'm hoping to get dd involved as she normally does dancing.

Youdreamedmydreamforme · 19/03/2020 07:07

I think the idea is to self isolate. Exercise. Read. Work from home. Watch Tv. Be thankful that she’s not a toddler you have to entertain. I hope she gets the exam results she deserves and all her hard work isn’t wasted

Oldfail · 19/03/2020 07:08

Read lots of books. Learn some new crafts (sewing, knitting, crochet)

Mess about in the garden, make a veg plot.

Watch series on Netflix you can get a free trial.

Do crosswords

Do quizzes

Bake and cook

Get some puzzles from the charity shop

elvislives2012 · 19/03/2020 07:10

I saw something that suggest reading your favourite book to your children. Mine are much younger but would she let you do that

crosspelican · 19/03/2020 07:10

My kids are much younger but we’re going to work on French in a big way. It would be amazing if we all had conversational French at the end of this.

Also gardening. Our local allotments are going to be so well tended over the coming months!

Is there anything she has always wanted to do but has been too busy with school? Become super fit? Learn yoga? Draw? Code? All the online courses & qualifications are still available to her.

Magpiefeather · 19/03/2020 07:10

Make a big list together of all the things you’d like to do. There’s loads you can both do.

midgebabe · 19/03/2020 07:14

Make a big list as suggested , but then also to make a day to day plan...exercise time, extra time to contact aquantinences and family , time to skype friends. What games can be played online for playtime , time for learning/ self improvement , etc

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/03/2020 07:14

We are planning many of the things above but also my DD is going to try and do some front loading for the subjects she wants to do for A level...

Millymaud · 19/03/2020 07:16

be thankful she’s not a toddler you have to entertain

How unpleasant. The OP and her DD have missed out on important rotes of passage.

AltheaVestr1t · 19/03/2020 07:18

Card games! We’ve got some good ones - Sushi Go, Exploding Kittens etc. All short enough to fit in half and hour and good for lifting a bored mood.

middleager · 19/03/2020 07:19

I'll be working from home with DH and 2 teens studying.

I wish we weren't, so we could do some hobbies. I think it's a great opportunity (if you get on!) to spend time together.

There will be loads of virtual interactive group stuff going on for teens, but appreciate they get bored.

And phonecalls, catching up.

Do you have any hobbies. Family tree? Cookery? Writing?
Hell i'd even like to declutter, organise photos, box sets, read books.

Learn instrument?

YeahWhatevver · 19/03/2020 07:22

Yabu, in the grand scheme of things you're not doing too badly.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and have some appreciation for the struggle and stresses other people will be facing

millionaireshortie · 19/03/2020 07:22

I feel so sorry for year 11s ripped away from their friends and schools at such a crucial time. I sincerely hope they get to go back to school for the months they missed, to prepare for and sit exams and to experience their prom.

Inmyivorytower · 19/03/2020 07:26

I found toddlers easier than teens. They don’t worry anything like as much, needing the company of peers is not yet a fundamental part of their lives, most of their misery can be solved with a chocolate biscuit...
OP, I second online free learning, there’s a lot out there.
Other than that, what sort of a teen is she? What’s she into, and us there any interest she’d like to develop further?
Try and spend time apart and independently from each other, or you’ll be fed up with each other more quickly!

Foghead · 19/03/2020 07:27

What does she want to do further education and career?
Maybe an online course towards that? Or if she has an interest in anything, look up a course.
There are free one from the OU and coursera.
Or something related to arts and craft?

Have a routine for the day to include exercise, chores, something mentally stimulating and some socialising.

This could last a while so having some structure will be good mentally even if the temptation is to laze around all day.

MetallicPaints · 19/03/2020 07:28

I am planning to put some sort of structure in place for my two DS, if nothing else to stop them being on devices all the time. Me eldest is also Yr 11 and going to do A level maths (hopefully!) so he will do so,e revision each day to keep it fresh in his mind. My youngest is Yr 6 and as far as I know his school are going to set some online work. Then we will build in some exercise (trampoline, biking in the garden) and some free time for gaming. Also hoping to play board games, do baking, dig the garden etc.

MetallicPaints · 19/03/2020 07:28

Cross post Foghead great minds!

StrongMama1989 · 19/03/2020 07:50

Just be happy you are fit and healthy! Fuck everything else! Why do you even care?!

Troels · 19/03/2020 07:52

They were saying something on the news last night about replacing a lot of TV shows that won't be getting filmed with educational shows for all ages up to year 11.
I'll have Dd year 10 home. Our fitness studio has closed and are live streaming the classes we did, so we still get to sign up and do it from home along with everyone else.
We'll also be doing more cooking, it's time she learned to do more than bake cookies and cakes.

endofthelinefinally · 19/03/2020 07:56

This is an opportunity for all teenagers to read the diary of Anne Frank.
Then progress to more reading around history, geography, politics.
It could be a positive educational experience.

Youdreamedmydreamforme · 19/03/2020 07:57

@Millymaud it’s not unpleasant and it wasn’t intended to be. You seemed to ignored all the positive things I said and just concentrated on one little bit. How completely negative and unpleasant of you.

HoppingPavlova · 19/03/2020 08:02

I’m sure she can TikToc her way around the house. Mine does and we are not isolated/locked in.

sashh · 19/03/2020 08:09

I think if she is heading for uni in a couple of years, what you and she do now will probably make up interview questions and/or personal statement.

Even if she isn't then it could be useful for a CV.

So working or volunteering, something like delivering from the corner shop to neighbours. Walking the dog for someone in a vulnerable group.

Study one of the free courses available.

Learn a language. There are people in Spain, Germany and France who are in the same boat so some sort of face time or even email could be a good trade.

Some sort of craft, knitting, sewing, crochet, if she doesn't know how then it's a good time to learn.

Cook / bake things that normally too time consuming eg bake bread.

Take a virtual tour of a museum.

Foghead · 19/03/2020 08:18

Good ideas Sashh.
My ds is doing Spanish. I wonder if there’s a way to link up with spanish kids in the same boat and do a bit of a language exchange?

BuddhaAtSea · 19/03/2020 08:23

I’ve got a teenaged DD too.
The plan is to divide the days into chunks.
Mornings:
We shower and get dressed.
Breakfast for her, exercise for me.
Cleaning for me, homework for her.
We walk the dog for an hour then come home for lunch.
Leisure time after lunch.
Coffee and cake at 4 and call family.
Walk the dog for half an hour.
Come home and cook together.
And we have a list of things we want to do, like she wants me to trim the ends of her hair, face masks, grooming the dog, teach her to iron etc. I want her to try and do mindfulness, she’s listening in when I do it anyway.
Then shower, pyjamas, bed, repeat 😂