If you are upset/frustrated about restrictions, why? anyone else not bothered or become numb to it?

[grette]

I get some restrictions are a bit rubbish. Can’t travel, limited numbers to places etc.

But people saying they can’t cops? They’re upset? I don’t get it and starting to worry maybe I’ve become numb to life?

I suspect it’s because I haven’t really felt the impact of say, not seeing an elderly relative for example (none in close family anymore).

But aside from that, I’ve enjoyed working from home, the quieter roads and traffic, the limited drinking hours and even the restrictions on big groups when at dinner! I say this as an employee of the corporate world and who spent lots of time in bars and restaurants and socialising...and I enjoyed it very much but I don’t yearn for it back. Maybe I’ve forgotten what it was like? I read posts saying people are at breaking point and it just seems like a quieter way of life with small inconveniences? Am I some numb shell of who I was and have forgotten life pre covid?!

Try having a toddler with all of his activities cancelled before you judge! It's really not easy and with so much back on for school age children also it feels totally unfair. I'm not a corporate employee like you, I'm an exhausted mum trying her best with her child.

Agree. I have a toddler too, she's stuck in the house all day with nowhere to go. Makes working from home really difficult

@firstimemamma

Try having a toddler with all of his activities cancelled before you judge! It's really not easy and with so much back on for school age children also it feels totally unfair. I'm not a corporate employee like you, I'm an exhausted mum trying her best with her child.

I'm both, full time worker, with toddler who can't do anything and needs stimulation. It's horrendous trying to run meetings while trying to stack blocks and entertain him.

I'm sorry but what a stupid and insensitive post.

I think you are a bit numb yes, and maybe even another word that rhymes with numb.

You can't understand why people might be fearful about their children losing education? Or about people losing their jobs when industries go under? Why people may be scared because they can't cope again with working from home with young children, or worse, lose their jobs altogether and then maybe their homes.

Or why people would be upset about not being about to see their loved ones? Who may be old and frail already with not much time left.

Or people with other health conditions who might not be able to access healthcare in their usual way?

Wow, I'm can't understand what you don't understand.

I'm in a good place in theory. My kids are older, so more independent (secondary school). I don't have to commute. Most people at my workplace are very careful.

I think I have become just used to this life - I see one friend at a time for a walk, no bigger parties, face masks. I find birthdays difficult - DS is turning 15 soon and I just don't know how to make it special for him. His friends are so important to him, and he won't be able to have a special party or anything. I might book a restaurant for 6 of them but who knows.

It's all a bit depressing.

@firstimemamma

Try having a toddler with all of his activities cancelled before you judge! It's really not easy and with so much back on for school age children also it feels totally unfair. I'm not a corporate employee like you, I'm an exhausted mum trying her best with her child.

I have to wonder when there will be recognition for children who are not in school. Not all babies or toddlers are in nursery but they still need to be socialised, stimulated and have ways to burn off energy.

I have to wonder when there will be recognition for children who are not in school. Not all babies or toddlers are in nursery but they still need to be socialised, stimulated and have ways to burn off energy

Yes I’m finding it a real struggle with my nearly 2 year old.
All of the groups round here are small, church run groups which haven’t reopened due to not being able to implement the measures required (most run by elderly volunteers). The only franchise type group used our SureStart centre as a venue which has closed indefinitely due to Covid.
We have nothing. He hasn’t seen another child his sort of age since February. We go to parks, walk a lot, feed the ducks... but we have every single day to fill. I’m grateful for the school run twice a day as it’s something to do.

So you have a legal responsibility to get your dc to school and a legal obligation to not leave the house grette. I mean - let is know how that conversation goes with the school.

Sorry, wrong thread.

Sorry to hear about the lack of activities for toddlers. My local facebook groups often have posts from parents in similar positions asking what activities ARE on and there are replies with various activities. Worth trying a post on your local FB group, if you haven't already.

Day to day I am not massively bothered. I still see friends for my baby play dates, I dont mind wearing masks, we see inlaws as it doesnt break rule of 6, DH goes to work, I wfh. We take DD for days out, to the playground, to shops.

I miss my baby groups, and worst of all, my parents live abroad so I have only seen them once since Feb, and I am about to give birth so I am worried about further restrictions. However, its manageable for me as things stand, and I feel mentally ok, especially compared to how I felt during lockdown.

I don't like them and experience some frustration, but I abide by them and don't get massively upset. I was really fed the fuck up when the playgrounds were chained up earlier in the year though. I don't know why but that bothered me more than anything else.

I'm like you, OP. I loved lockdown. Loved having the DC at home. Loved the quieter roads. Loved my daily walks with DH. Earned money WFH and got furlough pay from my part-time job too.

I lost weight, gave up booze, completed a few online courses, learned how to cook new things, kept in touch with F&F writing long letters.

I'm really sorry for people working at the frontline of all this, and of course anyone who's had COVID-19 or knows someone who did. I'm not meaning to belittle anyone else's struggles. But personally, I have enjoyed this year.

@SoUtterlyGroundDown my little boy is nearly 1. When lockdown started he didn’t need so much interaction but now he is so happy when he sees another child. He watches with curiosity at the park and at the one baby group we have been able to attend (franchise one so costly but as we were saving money elsewhere we could just stretch to it). He isn’t near walking yet and with the wet weather there is only so much I can do with him outside. I feel like I am failing him as I don’t know lots of other mums to arrange some form of play date (can you even call it that when they are that young?).

I'm not bothered although I'm aware it is difficult for others. My life was hardly any different in lockdown, I have a 1 year old and I don't drive so all I do on a day to day basis is go to the shops or the park anyway. My husband did lose his job but again he didn't earn alot, we got universal credit for a few months untill he got a new job, our income was basicly the same so no changes there, I think because we don't have much money to begin with our lives just didn't seem very affected. Can't afford to go to the pub or on holidays or daytrips anyway.
Also as an introvert it was quite nice having a break from seeing people in person. Although now we can see people it's lovley for my son who is an extrovert!

Family of 6 - rule of 6. So when together we can not socialise with anybody else, when DH is at work (60+ hours a week) we can meet one person but my friends all have their children with them at this point so we can’t meet them. Once my DH is home I have less than 2 hours until everything is shut so nobody wants to meet that late. It feels like a long never ending stretch ahead of being lonely (yes I am lucky to have my children with me but a sensible conversation with four under 9?)
We are in our first cycle of isolation due to a bubble burst at school; I expect it at least once more in the next month or so, homeschooling again. The original lockdown was ok, this life is not

@squidgebum good luck with the birth. I also feel much better mentally now than during lockdown. I felt a real claustrophobic pressure during it.

I don't feel like I can't cope but I do feel a bit trapped. I travel a lot in non Covid times, I'm not a homebody and I get itchy feet. I feel like I'm missing out on a year of experiences and I won't get the time back.

I think there is a ‘significant minority’ of people who are living reasonably (or very) happily within the restrictions. As @dreamingbohemian says, for some of us at the introverted end of the scale life hasn’t really changed all that much. But while I could quite contentedly continue like this indefinitely, I’m very conscious that for a lot of people it is very difficult indeed, on either a practical or emotional level.

@Bouncycastle12

I’m worried about the arts. A full winter season with no live performance is depressing.

Having an income would be nice

Like you OP, there is very little of the restrictions affecting us hugely . We are in our 50's, I'm WFH, no local lockdown , still able to travel within the UK so have taken holidays as normal, and because of the Covid-safe set ups in pubs / restaurant restaurants are we still eating out .
Still able to see a couple of close family members and friends, even if this has been outside .

We have also had changes in our family life this year non-Covid related but has made things easier for us.

Most difficult not being able to see my mum in care home with dementia. We were allowed visits for a short while but I think my mum is less confused by the video links than the visit in person with the distancing and face masks.

I get that I am lucky though and suspect that people my age who are able to WFH and have adult DC are probably least affected , aside from those in local lockdowns and where contact with their own parents is affected .!

My life at the moment doesn't feel different - I work at home exclusively but have now confirmed that I'll do that pretty much permanently as its much better for me. Still possible to meet up with friends, though I feel the days of that are numbered - but many of my friends have been unwilling to meet up for the last 6 months anyway.

I need my kids to be in school though otherwise everything crumbles. At the moment it looks like that will continue to me so I don't feel any imminent threat of major disruption to my life. I feel relieved that my children are school aged and I no longer rely on playgroups/playdates etc for sanity. Missing out on pre-Christmas socialising is evenly balanced with saving a lot of money I think.

@Snoringferret

Some say they are ok. That doesnt mean they are enjoying this.

I really don't understand this statement. Why would you go out of your way to say that you're ok on a anonymous forum in a thread asking why people are struggling if you secretly weren't ok?

I think there is a difference between being 'ok' and 'enjoying this '. I am OK , as posted above , not massively affected and OK. But that does not mean that I'm actively enjoying all the restrictions, fear of becoming unwell and knowing others are struggling.

I'm in a lockdown area any my children and I can't meet up with anyone.

I miss company