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Original poster

Only children - any other parents on here?

15 replies

Movedtothedge · 05/01/2021 07:54

How did your child find the first lockdown with no school and the social isolation?

I am dreading telling DS(5) when he wakes up that there is no school for a long time. Towards the end of the first lockdown I think he became depressed due to the total social isolation and it was so upsetting to see. Nothing we tried could lift his spirits. At least siblings have interaction with each other even if they can’t stand each other. I just cried when Boris announced schools were shutting - it needed to happen but the cost to many kids’ emotional well-being will be hideous.

DH is a keyworker and wants to see if we can send him to school but there is so much vitriol being said on MN about this that I’ve said no (I’m a SAHM but job-hunting).

OP posts:

Thisischocolate · 05/01/2021 08:15

Yes I do, and it was absolutely awful for DC. The day he saw a friend in the park for the first time when lockdown finished you could visibly see the immediate change in him for the better.
There has been so many threads in the past year about adults feeling isolated and wanting to break the rules to see family & friends for the sake of their MH, but few care about the repercussions for young children who have no voice in this.

LadyCatStark · 05/01/2021 08:17

Awful. He is 11 but at the end of the first lockdown we went to meet his cousins outside and he’d completely forgotten how to interact with them, he just went off on his own which is not like him at all. He’s back to normal now but here we go again...

bookworm14 · 05/01/2021 08:23

Yes. DD is 5 and it was awful last time. Can’t believe we have to do it again.

AlandAnna · 05/01/2021 08:24

I fully support only children going in where needed. I’d ask the school

pollylocketpickedapocket · 05/01/2021 08:24

Put your kid ahead of the vitriol on sm and get him a place if you can.

tootyfruitypickle · 05/01/2021 08:24

Yea lone parent with a teenager here . She’s ok today but suffered so badly last time I was very worried for her . Digging deep this time around to find the mental strength for both of us .

Original poster

Movedtothedge · 05/01/2021 08:25

@LadyCatStark it is awful isn’t it and goes to show even older kids struggle despite many being able to use SM to keep in touch with their friends. School tried weekly Zoom catch-ups with his class but he was not interested, and eventually refused to join. FaceTime with family is the same - it’s not the same and he won’t be persuaded otherwise

@Thisischocolate yes young kids have no voice is exactly that. So many adults on MN break the rules because they are lonely etc yet kids suffer yet again with school closures

OP posts:

OverTheRainbow88 · 05/01/2021 08:25

I ask school about a key worker place and see what they say, no harm is asking

bathorshower · 05/01/2021 08:30

We've formed a childcare bubble (with a family who very much need it) - that wasn't possible during the first lockdown. Maybe worth considering?

OfTheNight · 05/01/2021 08:30

It’s shit. I am a key worker but DS’s dad isn’t so even though we are separated and he has an ECHP for higher functioning autism, he didn’t get a place. Ds needs routine and socialisation. I have to teach live all day. He’s had 4 melt downs already.

Ridiculousradish · 05/01/2021 08:32

I have an 11 year old only child (has siblings but don't live with us). He's thrilled he doesn't have to go to school, but it has just dawned on him that he won't see his friends, and he feels sad.

We'll be going on daily walks to the beach, so hopefully he'll see some friends there and they can make sandcastles 2m apart.

It's the battle to keep him off a screen that I hate.

Billie18 · 05/01/2021 08:35

@Movedtothedge

How did your child find the first lockdown with no school and the social isolation?

DH is a keyworker and wants to see if we can send him to school but there is so much vitriol being said on MN about this that I’ve said no (I’m a SAHM but job-hunting).

Trust your feelings. He's your son. You are incredibly lucky that you may have the option to send him in.

I wonder if being an only child and not having access to any other children for an extended period could be used as an argument that children are more vulnerable? ie could all parents of only children potentially gain a school place using this?

EternalOptimist7 · 05/01/2021 08:38

DD12 is happy as she didn’t want to go back to school anyway, although I think she will miss her friends ( she often says she hasn’t got any but videos, selfies etc tell a different story). We too have a problem with screen time, although DD got Harry Potter books for Christmas & loves reading.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/01/2021 08:53

DS is at school this time. Last time I was furloughed so I couldn't justify it but I'm back at work now (his dad is an essential worker). When school was closed the first time he didn't see another child for months and he turned into a different child, it was awful.

WilsonMilson · 05/01/2021 09:22

My ds is a teen, and honestly he loved the first lockdown and enjoyed working online. He’s a sociable kid but happy enough on his own so he’s been ok about this lockdown too, but the novelty of the first has worn off a bit. Would have been much harder if he was younger. I guess he’s used to being on his own to an extent.
He’s keeping in touch with friends on the Xbox and organising gaming tournaments, so he’s occupied and he’s also coming out for daily walks.

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