What is your hardest sacrifice during the pandemic?

[Lockdowner35]

Apart from seeing family I would say going to the cafe and going to the football

Not me but a lovely colleague quit today because she couldn’t hack work, homelearning and looking after her toddler. We work for a v supportive flexible employer, she said she was feeling constantly guilty on all fronts and her mental health was deteriorating so it must have been pretty hard. Her DP works from home full time and he wasn’t able to help apparently.

The impact on my son as he's an only an not been in nursery for a while (I'm unofficially vulnerable as is my husband). I also miss my mum and dad and best friends because I've not been able to go to my home country or have anyone visit since Jan 2020.

Other than that I feel very lucky as we have coped quite well so far, but I would love to go camping or see family or go to an actual gig!

Home educating and waving goodbye to my sanity.
Not seeing my family.

Impact on DC. Social and academic.

I feel like I've sacrificed feeling relatively safe at work. I work mainly in a&e and while there is an element of risk- catching the odd tummy bug, abuse from patients, needlestick, my poor knackered back I never, ever thought I would feel as vulnerable as I do now.

The day to day unending loneliness of being on maternity leave with no where to go or family and friends to see

Can't hug my friends (not in my bubble)
Miss the museums and galleries I used to visit.
Miss the pub.
Miss shopping for gifts. (Online is fine but I like to look at things IRL)
Miss sitting in Nando's.

@Funkypolar wins the thread

Not being able to see my mum. Shes gone now 💔

Not being allowed to hug my school age DC for best part of 3 months.

Any kind of socialising, my friends are my family and I miss them every day, I miss all my godchildren too, they are changing so much and I'm missing it. My DD2 misses people as well (mostly the ones who give her chocolate but still )

My dream holiday id planned for over 18months. We've rebooked for this year but doesn't look likely. Can't put off TTC much longer and holiday wouldn't suit pregnancy or young child so it will be off the cards. Gutted. I know it's not much in the scheme of people dying etc but I was / am so disappointed.

Not being able to let my children have the regular sleepovers they used to have - not even for their birthdays. Or visits to the bowling alley, or paintball, or holidays. All the fun stuff that they probably didn't miss straight away is now a memory from a long time ago 😕

Child hardly had any cricket fixtures in 2020 after training so hard over winter 2019.

No summer holidays in 2020.

Kids activities. It is so hard for them to not be able to do their sports. For most activities, zoom, bike rides and running in the park just isn't a substitute.

Kids social life. No play dates, birthdays, or interaction

Not seeeing family, friends and swimming

The impact on our children and their future

Losing a job I’d worked hard for years to get (in classical music).

Not seeing my grandparents/dad/siblings in over a year and only seeing my mum and stepdad once in a year.

General stress and some struggles with mental health but nothing too major and I’m definitely pretty lucky in the grand scheme of things.

Not being able to go to work! I miss my job!

Oh and live music/theatre/art of course. Not just in terms of going to concerts and events myself, but in terms of my favourite venues potentially ceasing to exist and artists potentially no longer producing their arts because they’re driven to financial desperation...

Sleep

Fundamentally missing live performance of every sort - gigs and ballet most.
Eating out. With friends.
Travel.
Spontaneity.
Work colleagues.
Human touch - hugging kissing friends hello even just shaking hands ffs (which I did a lot at work.
The many daily small interactions with strangers/neighbours.

Because these are not sacrifices (hasn’t been an element of personal choice) it feels more like they have suddenly been ripped away or been banned which has been tough.

Support all.

Undoubtedly not seeing my DS in his care home. In 2020 we had at least 20 weeks when we couldn't see him-usually see him twice a week.(I know you said no family but...)

Also DH and I not taking part in our hobby.

Concerts.
Restaurants with friends.
Parties.

Now being suicidal everyday because the government mandates I basically live in solitary confinement

Really eye-opening that the biggest thing some people have sacrificed is a ski holiday... Give me a break. No wonder people were bleating for another lockdown, clearly it has no impact on some

Park run.

Having to book and plan EVERYTHING.

Kids swimming lessons.