Quarantine silver linings

[Swearwolf]

Day four of whole-family isolation; DH and I both struck down with what we assume is coronavirus. Feel feeble and Mother's Day is just another day. Kids can't see their friends. Anyone else looking to the silver linings?

• we're saving a lot of money on petrol!
• we're going to come out of it with super new skills - we've been in the garden every day mastering the skateboard and roller boots
• mild panic about running out of food (went into it reasonably well stocked but still, stuff is going to run out and no delivery slots available) means I've managed to shift my eating habits to something more sensible and might finally shift a lb or two
• no swimming lessons!

Anyone else finding small improvements among all the shit?

• lots more family time (good and bad in that).

• I think the children will adapt to a slower pace of life quite quickly and that's probably a good thing, they should be able to entertain themselves and be bored sometimes. I'm not sure the current trend for filling every minute of every day with activities is good a thing.

• less peer pressure for the teens. I think not being judged on what they're wearing/what phone they have/what they did at the weekend etc. will do them the world of good. (There's obviously the downside to them missing their friends etc as well but I think a break from peer pressure is going to be great!).

• it must be doing wonders for the environment/climate change etc.

My DH gets to spend more time with our 6mo DD

I’ve never felt closer to friends and family - we are making an extra effort to stay in touch.

Not worrying about my roots:)

Saving money

I'm spending the afternoon in bed and having a takeaway later. Proper Me Time!

We are a family of introverts. Not having to come up with an excuse to get out of massive social gatherings is great.

My mum has just moved into her home and it’s given her time to get used to the place. Plus the neighbours have offered help so a sense of local community is building.

Cooking is more interesting, we have to plan ahead and use what we have in the cupboard, being creative with ingredients we have got.

I have rediscovered the milkman!

Lie in for the first time in years with no Saturday/Sunday morning crack of dawn kids activities

I have worked 60 to 80 hours a week since DS, now 10, was 4 months old. I am very much looking forward to quality time with him and DD12 for the first time in a decade as I can’t work out of the home at present due to the nature of my job.

Opportunity to do all those annoying jobs at home that you put off- tidying up that random drawer of crap, finally hanging the painting, cleaning the oven.

I'm trying to do just one a day. So tidying up/organising one drawer, or one shelf or one job a day in the morning. So it's a small task that's manageable but gives you a sense of satisfaction. Highly recommend iDesign clear storage/organising boxes - you can get them delivered on Amazon.

By the end of this, all our homes should be perfect!

Environmental benefits. Venice canals clear and animals out and about

www.zmescience.com/science/as-cities-quarantine-animals-take-to-the-streets/

Hi Swearwolf (great name BTW!) 'Feeble' is just how I feel today (we have all got it here, day 6 for me). Hope you recover well and soon.

For me:
Enforced rest
Less pollution
Finally have the chance to WFH when I'm better (and have decided to move on if my employer won't let me do it permanently).

Oh yes, and I am looking forward to getting the house shipshape when I am recovered.

My children have the annoying habit of growing out of their school shoes in the summer term.

Looks like they won't need new school shoes and, if school resumes late June/ July I imagine they will be allowed to wear trainers for a few weeks.

Not having to straighten my frizzy hair or bother with make up. Getting on with jobs around the house and garden that we've been putting off for ever.
Buying and eating locally produced food because we can't get anything from the supermarkets.

I'm loving all of these! I'm feeling the lack of makeup too, and trying for a mini summer glow up while I'm here. I'm very much enjoying my corona wardrobe of leggings and soft bras and no makeup, I've been moisturising every day and trying to look after my nails more.

The environmental impact is going to be immense. If this does go on for 18 months in some form, it is bound to have real environmental benefits.

no school means no ironing of school shirts, mad last minute panic for missing kit.
lots of time to read and relax
take pleasure in the simple things
reconnect with teenagers
garden will be of Chelsea standard this year

DH and I have started to cultivate dystopian looks. He's shaved his head and I've died my hair purple. I'm hoping to be full tank girl by the end.

Oysterbabe YES!!!

No 12 hour working days
Mothers day off😀Gardening and DIY
Seeing dh and DS
Cooking at home
Meals.at mealtime and decent bedtime
Time with my furries
Tv and music.Sitting in the garden.

Love it @Oysterbabe I’ve always wanted pink hair. Now’s the time. DH can grow a beard!

Feel like we all need to take stock now and realise how damaging our way of life has been to wildlife and the environment. Maybe people will think twice about driving or flying so much in future. One can hope anyway...

Also I'm going make up free and hoping my skin will clear up.

All of the above!

I'm also on my own and have never had any help with childcare so haven't done a pub quiz in YEARS! All our local pubs are doing them online so I'm actually going to be able to join in!

Not making lunchboxes.

Saving quite a lot of money on not online shopping! I'm curbing my habit because what's the point in buying things I'm not going to get chance to wear?

Being more sensible and eating what I've got in my kitchen already. Lots of people have a fair amount of food already so I'd rather eat that and avoid the shops whilst they're packed.

Not putting on makeup every day.

Giving my hair a break from colouring.

Hopefully after this has calmed down, doing normal everyday things we couldn't do for a while will seem more exciting and interesting - I know when I am next able to go to a concert, a shopping trip, on a day out or a holiday I will appreciate it far more than I would have done normally

Not having to wear a bra or high heels

Receiving hardly any emails and virtually no junk emails

Growing my hair out and was due a trim but avoiding hairdresser until social distancing relaxed. Feel quite chilled about it.

No getting up at 6.30 am at the weekend to get DS to his sport

No makeup

More cooking and baking

Kids eating everything that’s put in front of them, no longer running a cafe

Almost zero food waste and all leftovers eaten