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Original poster

What's your half term looking like? Feeling annoyed

144 replies

JKW36 · 16/02/2021 11:33

Morning everyone
How is your week going so far? Have you left the house? We haven't. Because even though we are going stir crazy and are sick of walks anyway, we are staying home to stay safe and protect others. My kids a 6 and 9.
My mum rings me for a chat every day and tells me where they've been that day. My parents are mid 70s, reasonable health. Theyve had their first vaccine but they were doing this before.
They are moaning they are bored yet they go to a different shopping town every day, a different supermarket, banks, visit my grandmother multiple times a week and go for a walk and call round at multiple peoples houses daily for a doorstep chat! They are not technically braking any rules but their lives are still so full!! I suppose I'm jealous.
I cannot take two kids traipsing around towns, supermarkets and banks every day just because I'm bored because its not fair to others and I feel like it is increasing our risk of catching covid!
It's getting to the point where I'm very quiet when she rings and I just give her one word answers!
What are you parents doing this week to stay sane without putting others at risk?

OP posts:
ScrapThatThen · 16/02/2021 11:43

There's a balance, take your kids somewhere.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 16/02/2021 11:45

Park, a lot. Finding friends for child to play with.
Walks - new ones, driving to places to walk.

That's it.

ThursdayLastWeek · 16/02/2021 11:46

We’ve stretched our definition of local area this lockdown and have been visiting different beaches/parks/walks.

Luckily we have a fairly low population density and plenty of space.

DareIask · 16/02/2021 11:47

OP we have been asked to stay at home except essential shopping and daily exercise.

Your parents are pushing those boundaries somewhat.

edwinbear · 16/02/2021 11:49

Screens, DC are on all the screens, apart from a trip to the park yesterday afternoon. They are quiet, I'm managing to work, everyone is fed and healthy, albeit bored. I'll take that.

Globe22 · 16/02/2021 11:50

We're at home, bored out of our brains. I can't face another bloody walk!

ThursdayLastWeek · 16/02/2021 11:50

Oh yeah, screens. A lot of screens.

Rosehip10 · 16/02/2021 11:51

Going to supermarkets and the bank is "full" in your world? Confused

Delatron · 16/02/2021 11:51

You need to take your kids out for fresh air and exercise. How awful for them. We’re all bored of walks but it’s a necessary thing. Stop making up rules that don’t exist.

Babymamamama · 16/02/2021 11:52

We don’t traipse round the shops but we get a fresh air walk every day in nature. We live in the city but I think it’s important not to hibernate too much. And I get depressed without fresh air.

DareIask · 16/02/2021 11:53

@Rosehip10

Going to supermarkets and the bank is "full" in your world? Confused
Right now I'd take it 😂
MsAwesomeDragon · 16/02/2021 11:54

Dd and I are having a no screen craft day today. It hasn't started yet though, and it's almost lunchtime already.

We're staying home other than walks. We've borrowed a dog from a friend (he's busy with work this week, I'm on half term, dog is happier with more attention) so he's arriving tomorrow. Dd is really, really, really looking forward to having the dog with us, and going on long walks with him. She won't go for a walk just us, but once there's a dog involved she'd walk for hours!!!!

Hotcuppatea · 16/02/2021 11:56

You're being ridiculous. Just take them out.

BridgertonBunkUp · 16/02/2021 11:56

We had a long, lovely walk yesterday (me, DH and two teens), and we probably broke lockdown rules by going in to central London and walking by the river, but we have barely been anywhere for months, so we took the decision and it was all very safe.

I predict there will be a lot of screen time and lazing about for the rest of the week for my teens, but that’s fine. They’ve worked really hard with home school and it looks like they’ll be going back to school soon enough, so so happy for them to relax.

I’m meeting a friend for a walk tomorrow. I have lost track of whether that’s ‘allowed’ or not, but we are driving separately to a park not too far from us, wearing masks and walking.

I’ve followed the rules sensibly all along, but I draw the line at staying indoors all day like a troll in a cave.

littlegirlost · 16/02/2021 11:59

OP reading this I would say your parents are breaking a hell of a lot of rules! Travelling to different areas/shops, visiting elderly relatives multiple times....I think I would've pretty pissed at them for reasons other than jealously! One of the main reasons we are failing at sorting this pandemic out is that so many people can't do as they're told! Stay home, only go out locally for exercise and don't mix with people. Ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️

ArtemisBean · 16/02/2021 12:00

Blimey, mid-70s and having doorstep chats in the freezing weather we've been having recently?? They're braver than me!

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 16/02/2021 12:02

Both me and OH WFH all this week.

I am splitting my shift so that I can take DS out for a walk every day. Today he is meeting his friend and I will walk behind at a distance.

One evening this week will go do doorstep visits with my family.

We have promised to play a board game every night as a family.

Other than that...shit loads of screen time.

LittleRen · 16/02/2021 12:07

Have you told them of your disapproval or are you just being sulky with them?

notasillysausage · 16/02/2021 12:08

Stuck in as my 3 year olds nursery bubble burst on Friday so we are in for the whole of half term, with a 7 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old. I’m bored, DH is at work all week the lucky sod. Just eaten a load of bad food when I’m trying to lose weight, which I need to do.
Fed up of this now and struggling to motivate myself. The kids are watching too much tv and I am feeling like a big fat failure Blush

DrunkenKoala · 16/02/2021 12:10

Agree with others about getting out for fresh air. We’re going to the park each afternoon and if we bump into friends I’m happy for DD(6) to play with them. DS(nearly 12) is meeting up with a friend for a kick about.
I’ve got a food click and collect to pick up tomorrow morning and getting fuel, DD will come with me for the ride.
Later in the week I’ve booked to go to NT Gardens about 15 miles away. I’ve stayed local this whole lockdown and I’m looking forward to a change of scenery I think we all need it.

At home we’re baking, reading (school set), doing arts and crafts and just generally playing.

Runnerduck34 · 16/02/2021 12:10

I would do as much as possible and have some kind of routine- supermarket trip for pancake or cake making then cook.
B and M trip for craft and art supplies and get creative.
Play games, have a movie afternoon with popcorn/ treats, go to the park, walk in the woods/nature reserve, walk along the beach, kite flyng, bike rides etc try and have a structure to the day as it can help sanity. Its hard you cant see anyone but hopefully by easter hidays things will be more normal.
I get why you are a bit fed up though!

Ohdoleavemealone · 16/02/2021 12:15

Screens yesterday as I was working - today has been fairly balanced. TV early morning, made pancakes, built lego, played monopoly and now back on screens for an hour before we go on a long walk.

We wrote down loads on things on bits of paper and put them in a tub. When someone says they are board, we pick something to do.

Tomorrow we are breaking the rules and seeing my mum for a walk.

Its give and take now. WE are all suffering mentally so I will minimise risk with precautions but we are seeing my mum for the first time since xmas and DH mum for the first time since October.

napody · 16/02/2021 12:16

Hope your half term improves. You know how the current situation suddenly hits you all over again sometimes? You being jealous of your elderly parents for having the excitement of visiting a bank (you mentioned it twice!) just made it hit me again. Hopefully soon you will be able to laugh about it 'remember when I was jealous of you going to the bank, Mum?' Agree with others... it's at least not nearly so chilly this week so walk and snacks .... this morning we went to buy a can of squirty cream for our pancakes and took a long walk back.... we stretched it out for 3 hours with occasional stops to give the kids squirty cream direct into their mouths. Bit random but they loved it.

DBML · 16/02/2021 12:17

Well, I’m still in bed, with no intention of bothering to get up...sooooo

IloveFebruary · 16/02/2021 12:18

Soooooo bored here too.
We are still under the stay at home instruction and the stay local guidance. We go out once a day for a walk. That’s it.
I’m still getting emails from rhs and nt saying we are open etc but we aren’t ‘local’ to them and I can’t justify a 30 minute car journey.
Plus the weather is shit.
Plus I want my DC to be able to go to school in March so don’t want to see a jump in numbers after half term.
For that reason we aren’t “accidentally bumping into” anyone at the playground etc. Just keeping ourselves to ourselves.

And yes, I’m tired of hearing about the people stretching the rules to the max and (IMO) being selfish arseholes jeopardising my DC’s chances of getting back to school.