Anyone else feeling a bit alone in all this?

[Ricepops]

I know no one has it good right now, but it felt like we were all in it together during the first lockdown. This time there are so many exceptions, I feel like we're quite alone in our situation.

We're both working full time. Got DS (6) at home to homeschool, and DD (3) who would normally be at nursery, but at the moment we're all home self isolating as we all tested positive for COVID (DD brought it home from nursery).

It's so stressful and busy trying to fit everything in. Work are sympathetic, but in reality no one else has young primary aged kids, so no one else can relate to the situation (last lockdown was different as many people were advised not to come into work).

Many of my friends and family are still sending kids into school as keyworker children. We live close to DS's primary school and there are a third of children in right now. It's actually a bit upsetting seeing the school run go on as normal, and if we go for a walk during the day we can usually hear kids playing on the school playground.

Several friends are using childcare bubbles this time around to ease the pressure, but we aren't able as GPs are vulnerable.

Yep. Some similarities in my life. I disengaged from the school last time as I didn’t want to hear about what the children in school had been doing. This time I’m more numb and give less shits. Am beginning to go a bit weird as have has so little social contact with anyone!

The feeling will pass once the schools open again. But I do recommend disengaging from school newsletters and zoom assemblies posted on the school website a day later, it just rubs it in how your children are not “the chosen ones” for a hallowed school place and normal existence.