Those without a garden and children

[Thewheelsonthebus23]

How are you coping?
I literally hate the nice weather at the moment, all over Facebook picture of people enjoying the sunshine with their children, paddling pools, slides etc.
I feel like my 19 month old DS is missing our so much. Not only on seeing other toddlers his own age and other children around, but on having a garden to run around and play in he’s an only child too.

I feel the same for my little girl, we've gone for a few walks together, but its not the same.

We are staying out as long as possible. We went for a picnic and stayed out for 4 hours today. Sunny evenings suck though being stuck in a flat.

Yep same DS is 11 and in a flat and I'm chained to a fucking laptop over 8 hours a day, feel so guilty I am tempted to sell my flat and rent a house incase this ever happens again. So he's stuck in alot and I just want to smash my phone up looking at Facebook plus I hate the heat anyway!

Yeah I’d find this much easier in the winter. We’re lucky to get out for an hour a day. Some days not at all.

It's very hard to get out because of working! Thankfully my two aren't phased by being inside (in fact, one would never go outside if he was allowed!). We go for a walk once a day, most days. I think DD would like to be outside more, but obviously not alone.

Finding it very hard. Feeling very guilty like I'm depriving my two year old. I try to get us out twice a day but it's not the same as just having a lovely big garden to just be free in.

I'm gutted for anyone in this position especially having to work at the same time - it's just too much to have to do. You are all heroes IMO.

It’s horrible and I hate it. Starting to think about unfollowing people on facebook, hoe petty

*how

I feel for all of you without a garden. Genuine question what would you be doing in summer months/great weather days in normal times? How did you cope then? Like I said genuine question I’ve never lived in a flat.

@Thewheelsonthebus23

Not petty: protecting your mental health is necessary. As soon as social media starts leaving you feeling resentful, jealous, etc, make the changes that you need to - either unfollow people or walk away from it for now.

It’s easier to focus on and be grateful for what what you do have (home, work, family) when you aren’t being constantly reminded of what you don’t have.

@CKBJ in the summer we would normally spend a lot of weekends at my mum's house who has a garden. We go to the park and the local splash pad. I work so DS often goes to a holiday club over the 6 weeks holiday and they do a lot of outdoor activities. We live near the peak district so we sometimes get the train there for a day out.

@Waxonwaxoff0 thank you. Here’s hoping at least some of those can resume soon, especially visiting your mum at weekends. Also with the likelihood of schools reopening 1st June (England) surely holiday clubs should be up and running by summer holidays. They may require more recruits (Possibly Furloughed staff, students) but should be acting now to ensure DBS etc are in place.

It must be so tough, I have said this all the way through the crisis, how awful it must be for parents with young children in flats. Total respect to you all for coping, it can’t be easy.

It is shit. We have s 3 year old and both working from home. We have both cried and feel like utter failures at life. I get the jealousy from social media. I came off it for a while when I was particularly bitter about not having a garden.

We have put our place on the market now as we just can't live like this anymore. It means we will have a massive commute but we just feel we have failed our child.

@CKBJ we normally work full time so child is in childcare with access to massive outdoor space. At weekends we spend most of the weekends out and about with family and friends. We have season tickets to various local attractions with big grounds. It has never really been a problem until now.

Totally with you I'm a single mum with an only child in a small flat with no garden and it's hell !! We go for walks or sit out in the porch when it's sunny but it's not enough 😒

My children are older but in the same situation. We would usually go see my mum or Nan and they could play in their gardens but now we get about an hours walk a day as I have work to do. I’m lucky my three have each other but they get on each other’s nerves and miss children of their own age. I’ve also noticed that my youngest who’s 9and usually a ball of energy and very sociable is becoming quite lethargic and putting on weight.

We live in a flat and all we have is a pathetic shed plot at the back. Camt wait to move as we have 4 children and one on the way. Complete surprise before anyone bites my head off for getting pregnant during coronavirus. We are very happy nonetheless. Looking forward to buyi g a bigger house. Don't know what I am more excited about .....more bedrooms or a garden!!!!

I always have a little.nosey outside at our neighbours gardens. They're not huge but everyone on my little road has tried to do up their gardens and I just cant wait to have one for my children to play in and do gardening etc

@Hanamuslim Wow you must be Wonder Woman coping with 4 children and pregnant, in a flat 24/7 I would be pulling my hair out. Good luck with the move.

@CKBJ we only moved to this flat last September. Before that we had a moderate sized garden for a city.
I thought it would be nice for a bit not to have to garden...
Didn't foresee this happening. It would be nice if we even had a balcony, but it's not that type of flat.
There is green space opposite, but it's really too full in this weather to go out there, but also too small to run around properly. There's a park around the corner too, but again- in this weather, it's just been too full, and my eldest is pretty anxious about people passing the virus on.
Thankfully people are mostly being sensible and considerate when walking around the area.

@Hanamuslim I hope you're managing to get out with the children for some fresh air, but do rest too! . (Hana in Japanese is flower(s) )