Little things that make Corona suck ass

[SleepingStandingUp]

We all know that the real tragedy is the deaths, long term illness, job losses, increase in DV, decrease in MH so I'm not ignoring that but what are the little things that you feel warrant a little pity party?

DS has named every day about not wanting to go to school because there are no activities (help yr1!!) When asked he says there's no bouncing allowed, only hopping. Typical 5 yo conversation eh, bit it's really making him sad. I've tried explaining he's allowed to bounce...
Turns out binding involves holding his 121s hands and jumping up and down, which he can't do because of Corona virus.
I think even though he knows about it, he's internalised it as rejection and that she doesn't want to do it anymore which obv makes him sad.

I might have had a little cry.
First world problems I know but it's such a big thing for him at 5 and is really got me down.

So pity party guests very welcome to have a moan about the little crap everyone else dismisses

Me and my friend go to an event in the autumn. We go on a coach and talk all day. We rarely get that much time together. Of course it’s all cancelled.

Another lockdown baby here, we planned a larger age gap on purpose partly so DD1 would be at preschool/reception when I was on mat leave.

It hasn't been anything like I hoped and this is probably my last baby too.

My ds started reception this week. We met his teacher and saw his classroom for the first time when we dropped him off. We had 5 minutes to settle him then had to leave. It was awful, I felt so unprepared. Then he had a roaring temperature so actually only went one day. Its just so difficult.

As for Christmas, I find it unlikely we will be allowed to celebrate as usual. I doubt the rule of 6 will be lifted by then and anticipate many places will be in increased lockdown as we have been in my area for a while now.

I think the thing I find hardest is that there's no clear end to it. How long will this go on? This false way of living that goes against such basic human instincts, i dont blame people who break the rules when the rules go against the fabric of being human.

I was in a queue in a shop and there was a cute baby in front of me. Normally I would smile at babies or make funny faces. But I had a face mask on

My youngest can’t go to her year 6 outward bound trip that is a rite of passage they get a hoody and everything!
Year 9 DD said bonfire night is her favourite thing and that will be cancelled.
Small things but that’s a year of missed fun they won’t get back.
Sorry for all of you having babies this year that must be so hard

My youngest moved from Infant to Juniors in September. Normally they have a load of leavers activities, a residential overnight (huge thing when you're 6 and 7), goodbye photos and everything else (as well as a well-planned and good induction as it's a completely separate school).

We didn't even get to say goodbye and thank you to her teacher (I did email my heartfelt thanks).

Then no school sibling photo in the new school... indeed no photo day at all because we had to have one off waiting for a test result for a cough from a bad cold.

So much lost - little things but they mount up.

Oh and I'd quite like to know how much actual vision she has since she was losing it quite badly and was due for a review in March which we've not had a sniff of since Covid hit.

I volunteer
I knew I wasn't working this year cos of twins I'm Dec and prob will quit, but had intended to go to training in Oct to show off my babies. It's cancelled, there's been no training since March and we've done no actual volunteer work because all the events we attend are cancelled.

I normally have a day in the city with one of my friends from there, last done quite pregnant so was really looking forward to a day off to get drunk and okay tourists. We live in separate cities, it isn't going to happen this year

Oh and I never got to say goodbye to the lovely little class of nursery people I was doing a placement with. We just vanished without a goodbye.

They'll have forgotten but I'd have liked to say goodbye to them cos they were fab kids and I'm a soft bugger.

Oh it’s all so shit. to everyone.

I've only just realised that we won't be having a big family Boxing Day celebration this year, like we have done practically every year of my whole life, and I've just realised there won't be any carol singing. Probably no nativity play either.

DS hasn't had any speech therapy since February, he's 3.6 , starts school next year and desperately needs help, he's completely unintelligible. Of course I'm doing the exercises at home but if it were that simple we wouldn't need regular speech therapy!

I hadn't given Halloween much thought but that will be shit too.

Going to the playground after school. I can talk to Parent A, and my children and mingle with their kids, but we can't interact with Family B even though they've all been in the same classroom all day?

School drop offs, I now have to walk past the gate, around the entire grounds, in the back gate and through the grounds to drop DD. Adds 10 minutes or more each way to the school run, and 20+ extra minutes twice a day of cajoling DS to keep moving is such a ballache not helped by having to wear a sodding mask.

Its such a bloody joyless way to live isn't it.

@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue

I was in a queue in a shop and there was a cute baby in front of me. Normally I would smile at babies or make funny faces. But I had a face mask on

A lovely lady did some when we were queuing the other day even with her mask on, and he still giggled. I know it isn’t the same but they do take something from them even though they can only see half of it.

I was watching YouTube earlier while making dinner and a few Green Day concert videos came on my playlist. My favourite band and I should’ve seen them in June. That’s now been postponed until next June but unless things change drastically I can’t see that happening. I felt quite emotional watching them and seeing the crowds.

My football team play their first home game of the season tomorrow and I had a text earlier to say that I’ll be refunded for it as obviously my season ticket can’t be used yet.

It’s all so bloody shit, it really is

Corona stole all of DS’s year 6 leavers rites of passage and now it’s stealing all of his high school rotes of passage. No going in to town with his friends after school, no after school clubs, no moving to different classroom, he’s not even supposed to get the bloody bus.

Leaving mask-wearing issues aside...
I'm addicted to the kind of lip balm that comes in a jar. Have had to switch to the more hygienic chapstick kind. I'm yet to find one that suits me.

Ds missed his year 6 outward bound trip, which he was really looking forward to. They’d watched videos about all the activities they’d be able to do.
He missed transition to secondary and he has additional needs so it’s really impacted him.
All the sports he goes to watch with his grandad have stopped too and he loves to go with his grandad especially. Now we are in a position where grandad doesn’t even want to see us because he’s clinically vulnerable.

Dd is extremely excited about trick or treating, she loves it more than any other occasion. She’s also already making birthday party invitations. She’s so excited. I haven’t told her yet it won’t be happening. One disappointment at a time I suppose. Halloween. Then birthday. Then Christmas.

Have barely seen my extended family this year. Not seen many family members since Christmas, and many more for nearly a year. DH has seen one brother once.

The fucking rule of six makes it illegal to meet another family unit. Our family and friends come as family units.

As much as I really love DH and the DCs, I need more than their company. My social life has come on in leaps and bounds just from the school run.

I am dreading Christmas. So much of the special meaningful things, family, carols, school events stripped away. The only nice thing left is the tree. And I struggle with winter anyway. I love the energy of Christmas like an oasis in the winter. Last winter was so long and hard which concerns me.

I miss spontenaity. As one of those terrible evil bastards who struggles with masks, I don't want to be where they are required which kills just about anything not outside. Tolerable through a middling summer. I don't want to have to make my plans for what to do when it showers mid-afternoon a week next Saturday. I miss looking out of the window and deciding to do something like going to a casual splash session at the swimming pool.

I'm tired of petty rules, rules, rules. Especially those of dubious benefit or downright illogical. Some are there for good reason but it all gets draining.

DS2 took his April lockdown birthday well. I was begining to hope that we could do something nice for DS1's Christmas birthday and maybe get DS2's friends along for a belated treat. DS2's was before the fatigue stuck in (when the highlight of the day was a walk) and the fact that DS1's is looking likely to be screwed up 9 months in hurts even more. At 7 & 9 they are at the prime age for enjoying birthdays and Christmas and that stage is surprisingly short.

I know in the big picture, I'm in a fortunate position, but whatever your circumstances, the little, "trivial" things really do matter. For those in more challenging circumstances, it is often the little things that help pull you through. Particular sympathies to those with babies and toddlers as it can be an isolating stage at the best of times.

I have a couple of things to look forwards to in the next month or two, but it's very fragile.

Sorry you're struggling Big. When you say The fucking rule of six makes it illegal to meet another family unit. Our family and friends come as family units. I understand that might apply usually but can you not make other arrangements under the circs? Meet up with the kids without DH so you can meet a friend and her two kids etc?

Ds1s first birthday was spent in hospital. We had day release the week before for his christening and a short party which was amazing and we were with friend and family we hadn't seen properly for months due to hospitalisation but his actual birthday was spent on TPN feeds so literally tired to his bed. DTwins 1st birthday will be a different sort of lockdown where we luckily have 2 healthy babies bit it's mid Dec so we'll be lockdowns down again.

We took DS1 to the Sealife Centre for his first birthday (well around it, again on day release) and every year since except this one. DH can't cope wearing a mask for the whole time and with rates in Birmingham going up we both feel a bit 😟 about DS1 going when he was shielding only a few months ago. There will be no special visit for DTwins and no first Santa visit.
No school play, the first year Ds1 would have done one. No sessions where you go on and so arts and Christmas crafts as part of their learning. No school assembly about Christmas.

Not a complaint as like most we have much bigger things to worry about but for me the little sad things are no playgroups (I guess for a year by the time they reopen and DC will be too old then) and toddler classes completely different. Staying on mats 2m apart just not the same as running into middle to do activities together, dancing together etc

Also no trick or treating, although if people still light pumpkins we'd love to do the pumpkin trail lots of communities are suggesting

This is a great thread idea. It’s good to be able to vent about the smaller things!

My current annoyance is that gym and swim sessions have to be prebooked. Although it’s good in a way if it means I commit to going, it’s trickier to figure out because I have to get buses there and back, so it is difficult to time that especially as you’re only allowed in 5min before the session. Not so great in winter when it’s cold and rainy and I miss the spontaneity of being able to just go there when I’m stressed out.

Also, no steam room, which I really relied on for relieving aches.

Another annoyance is that I don’t feel comfortable going to the local pub alone anymore. That was another thing I’d do when stressed - just to sit with a Pepsi and read or get some work done. I don’t have anywhere to study now as the library is only open for browsing and internet. I want to start some higher level courses but I’m worried I will struggle to focus at home.

It's just shit for the kids.
No music, both mine play in bands, all cancelled, music lessons online but it's not the same playing solo at home.
I was taking dd (12) to her first pop concert, all booked, weekend awat in London, tickets to attractions - all cancelled.
Young voices, school plays/shows/nativity /concerts all gone.
We're in a local lockdown area so no meeting up with friends, no playing out. They don't complain they're just a bit sad, there's no joy vivre anymore.

Camp I feel the same about playgroups. We had a weekly one that was absolutely perfect - it’s SN friendly and as I’m autistic myself I felt so much more comfortable there. It was a highlight of my week TBH as the staff (council) are lovely as well. I miss it so much. Toddler is now in nursery all five mornings as there is no point keeping the playgroup day free anymore.

This isn’t about me bit two things that have struck me as particularly awful lately

Someone in college with claustrophobia feeling distressed with lock down and no windows that open properly (on another thread)

A supermarket worker asking nicely someone if they had a mask and the person rudely walking past with a sharp no

@SingToTheSky I'm sorry. Playgroups were lovely weren't they? I'm not in permanent work at the moment and due DC2 very soon so could only fund nursery for a very short period so not doing it, but luckily DC1 due 15 hours soon which will help

We used to go to playgroups several times a week and DC absolutely loved it

I was due to take my DD 16 to Florida our first holiday abroad together and my first for 20 years, but all was cancelled. I know it's not important in the big scheme of things, but I still get sad whenever I see Disney world or universal on the TV.