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

My sanity.

As a deaf person with a small fraction of normal hearing and a life-long reliance on lip-reading, it’s simply not being able to hear people because of masks. It’s terribly frustrating but I can’t expect people to take that risk to remove their masks for me. Working, shopping, using public transport - any interaction - is so hard now. I teach too - it’s impossible. I’m glad I’m older because I’m ready to retire early now, even though I love my job and the students I teach. Can’t wait for that day when masks have all but disappeared.

Not receiving the medical treatment and support I need and my loss of freedom

Not seeing my brother face to face for 10 months and counting...

Not going to gigs
No holiday abroad
Having to book outings in advance

Really eye-opening that the biggest thing some people have sacrificed is a ski holiday... Give me a break.

Biggest thing doesn't mean only thing. When there's a big event you look forward to all year, missing it might hit you harder than the other daily changes you've had to get used to. Also, I highly doubt that the people who are missing their skiing holiday are the only people who thought another lockdown was necessary.

parkrun, Rock Choir and SlimmingWorld

All can be done virtually or on Zoom which I am grateful for but it isn’t as good. We need real people.

Time to myself

Last Summer’s booked holiday. This January’s pantomime.

Chatting at the school gates, seeing family.

I miss seeing my friends - didn’t get to meet that much before but at least there was the choice. And I miss live theatre etc. Also really feel for DD12. She had a rotten end to primary school & now a very disrupted start to her secondary life.

Everyone just getting on with their lives instead of judging others.

My son's distress because he doesn't understand what is going on and his mental health getting worse. Having to consider if he is better off with us or in a residential placement long before we wanted it.

Choices. Freedom. Flexibility. I miss being able to say 'oh it's a lovely day let's go to x' and then just being able to do it.

And the impact of watching our son suffering and the constant feeling of being on edge wondering when the next distressed episode is going to happen and how much everyone is going to get hurt.

@Underhisi

My son's distress because he doesn't understand what is going on and his mental health getting worse. Having to consider if he is better off with us or in a residential placement long before we wanted it.

I understand x my DS has SLD and doesn't have a clue what is going on only that he can't see us. It's all so hard on those with LDs and those that love them, so so hard x

My lockdown is over now, but I missed being able to go further than 5K from my house, so no holiday (though I did get it later )

I’d go out for breakfast with my teenage daughter and then we’d have a look round the shops. It was a few hours once a week when my daughter wasn’t glued to her phone and we’d have quality time together.

No cinema or pubs.

Impact on my teens. That’s pretty much it but yes, not seeing friends or being able to go out to a cafe or restaurant is also crap.

Constantly having to disappoint my ds. He’s only 3, so doesn’t really understand. Every few days he asks me to please take him to soft play/ a local children’s museum/ the cafe he likes. In the grand scheme of things it’s nothing, but it’s a heartbreaking seeing him get so upset. He also can’t get his head around why we can’t see family. We’d started meeting family members for walks etc, and he really can’t understand why we’ve stopped again.

Seeing and hugging best friend who is shielding

I got stuck in the U.K. for 6 months separated from my husband and son due to closed borders. Worst 6 months of my life.

Lost my job, separated from stbxh, haven't been able to see my frail parents for over a year, even on Zoom, as they live in a place without good internet.

Not being able to do playdates is also quite annoying but doesn't really compare.

This thread is making me so sad. I’ve been so lucky when I read this thread but mostly I feel sad for the children -their education, sports, social lives. My dc are now at the age of som independence to be able to go out with friends but there is nowhere for them to go. No cinema, bowling, etc etc.

Church. Squashed into pews with friends and family, standing shoulder to shoulder to sing worship songs, taking communion from a shared loaf and a common cup, even sharing the peace (never thought I’d say that!).

Following along on a laptop or masking up to go and sit in silence with thirty where there should be three hundred, where responses are muttered and singing is banned and no one is allowed to stop to say hello, just isn’t remotely the same.

@Funkypolar
Not being able to go dogging.

Can't they leave the windows up and social distance round cars . Put it down as your hours excersie .

Mum died in March and dad in November....we have yet to scatter their ashes where they always said they wanted to be scattered, as it would mean an overnight stay due to distance.