A thread of small positives from self isolation!

[shufflestep]

Anyone care to join in? Number 1: I am not wanting to kill my teenagers (after a week!), due to their natural tendency to self isolate in their rooms at all times anyway!

Mine are also self isolating

I’m growing plants at the moment and we chat every morning

We are cooking nicer meals as we have time to experiment

Yes to the cooking, I made flatbread yesterday for the first time, since we are running out of bread, and everyone is demanding more for today!

All those little jobs I've been meaning to do for ages have been done!

Honestly, the house has never looked so neat and tidy, long may it continue!

I have two small dc. 7 and 3 and tbf they are doing ok. We’ve settled in to watching a film on the couch first thing. Then we try and do a bit of learning then potter in the garden.

It’s been nice tbh.

If we were on school holidays every day we would be rushing out to do something or meet some some so this is nice.

Oh and dd (7) has been honing her toast and jam cooking skills

It feels healing. Not having to rush here there and everywhere. Being able to do the jobs that have been piling up and I never seem to have time to do. Reading, gardening, painting. I can feel myself unwinding and resetting. Not normally a "woo" kind of person, but now I have stopped, I realise how stressed I was.

I've lost about 1lb in weight. We are both eating smaller portions and fewer carbs to make the food supplies last longer.

This is good. Our house is a bomb site and I feel constantly stressed by where we are going to get food or toilet roll from.

I am glad of the chance to really appreciate what is actually important in life.

All this family time would never have been available to us. Its a chance to get to know your DC even better and to form closer bonds. Also a good chance to teach them vital life skills and to learn that sometimes we have to wait for things we want.

Being in the garden yesterday and there bing no cars going past and really listened to bird song.

Having 2 hours extra per day not doing school runs means my washing is under control as I have time to wash fold and put away. Family of 6.

Havnt used the car in a week.

My hair is in better condition. Less washing and straightening for work.

I'm working from home for the first time ever, proving that it can be done. Maybe they'll let me carry on.

DS is amazing and taking this ALL in his stride

The dog is thrilled because we are here all day

My laundry basket is no longer over flowing

I have managed to get back into following an exercise video on line ( ... well, Day One, see how long it lasts!).

My DC have very tidy bedrooms

My little 6 year old daughter is loving it x we have planted vegetables,she's enjoying learning from home and she has got us all joining in with the kid's exercises on YouTube x
We are embracing the time we have together before we go back to school runs ,full time work and hectic schedules x

No need for makeup, hair styling or colouring, smart clothes, and of course no rotten commute.

The downside being - juggling a toddler who makes a lot of mess, noise and keeps demanding to go to the park :(

My envy has evaporated.
Which is saving my mental health.

My circumstances took a dip (long long story). And it was tough seeing life pass me by, friends with careers and earning improving, holidays and cars I'd never afford, seemingly perfect kids and perfect lives.

I value what I've got more currently, instead of looking outwardly.

DH never wanted to eat my (or anyones) homemade bread. He now likes making and eating it himself.

My plants are doing much better with the extra care and love. My garden is well maintained now.

We are keeping to a far better routine. I'm self-employed (and thankfully still have work at the moment) and son is working from home. We've made him an office downstairs, I work upstairs.

We have a daily routine - up early, breakfast together, then both at our desks at 9.Lunchtime he goes for a run, just before dinner I go for a bike ride or walk and then we both finish work around 5.30 ish. Evenings we do our own thing in different parts of the house.

Garden looks neater than it normally would at this time of year as I'm popping out a couple of times a day to weed and trim etc. I'm on top of the washing for a change as load has reduced due to just wearing casual around the house, plus the weather means I can peg out on the line. House is spotless as I clean and wipe down everywhere every day with bleach solution

Finally I always used to be throwing out unused food, but I'm using every scrap, so nothing gets wasted. We have had some interesting meals as a result but very tasty too if I do say so myself.

I’m enjoying have a slower pace of life. Bring a single mum, I feel like I never stop. I can’t remember the last time I had a long lie before all of this started. I even had time to go a run.

Also looking forward to saving some money over the next three weeks. With no activities or socialising I think I’ll have a fairly cheap month.

I'd forgotten about how happy the dog is to have us all here 24/7. Also DS1 came back from university earlier than he would have done (as soon as lectures went on line), it's lovely that all he wants to do in a time of crisis is to be with us.

Been trying to self-isolate and social-distance all my life. Except now, others can back the f away from me when queuing! Breathing down my neck like I'm your partner ffs!

I'm getting unplanned, uninterrupted time with my girls- before all of this we had just had an absolutely crazy busy month, I hadn't realised how frazzled we all were until we've pressed the pause button.
We moved house last October- right now I am enjoying the first cup of coffee I have had sat in the sunshine in the garden here. It's quiet, it's bliss.
My dog is loving life - she thinks it's brilliant that we're all here and is enjoying the extra attention she's getting.
I'm worried about money as we all are, but right now I'm counting my blessings.

Explorer Scouts are having a virtual meeting tonight, DS2 is really pleased, despite having told me that he was going to give up. DS1 has taken out a month's free trial of Britbox, so we're going to binge watch old Doctor Who episodes from my childhood!

My DD is sleeping naturally until 7.30 after having to be woken for school at 6.40 every morning because I work FT and have to use breakfast and after school club every day. She has gone from a temperamental grump (she's 6!) to a very happy child indeed! We've spent more time together in the garden especially and have been watching programmes properly together instead of them watching crap on Youtube while I try to zone out and get some peace after work. They still do watch some crap in the mornings though! And Joe Wicks is making me fit! I wish we could always live like this.