Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
OliveTree75 · 16/02/2021 13:19

Children need fresh air and exercise regardless of if they find it boring. How old are they? My two are happy on walks if they can go on their scooters. We live near the beach so spend alot of time there and usually grab an ice cream. Or we go to the skate park. I have a very bad ear infection atm so we haven't been out yet but we are itching to. Plus the sun is shining here and it is 11°c which makes being outside much more pleasant.

NerrSnerr · 16/02/2021 13:21

I find the parks are quietest before 10am and after 3pm. I have got my children in the habit of going out daily, even if it isn't for long as it makes such a huge difference to everyone's mood. Could you go on bike rides or out of scooters?

OliveTree75 · 16/02/2021 13:22

Sorry just saw their ages in the OP

NerrSnerr · 16/02/2021 13:22

We also go to the skatepark- ours is usually dead before 11am.

PickAChew · 16/02/2021 13:23

You and your parents are taking things to opposite extremes. Neither is great.

ForeverBubblegum · 16/02/2021 13:26

Pushing plastic fish into a bowl of orbiezz, then emptying the bowl into empty bath and chucking them about filled about an hour. Then as we were in the bathroom, I scooped up the orbiezz and they had an excessively long bath. That plus pancakes filled most of the morning, then potter on with toys, lunch, and now we're watching a film.

We only tend to go for walks 2/3 times a week, and once a week we get drive through Macdonald's (not healthy, but about the only treat option). I aim for 1 or 2 activities a day, and let them fill the rest with screens or toys, it won't be forever so a few hours of cartoons won't do any long term harm.

Kottbullar · 16/02/2021 13:27

I agree parks are either best accessed really early or really late.

You say you usually 'hibernate' in the winter though so isn't what your doing now exactly that?

For us this half feb term isn't vastly different to any other year. We'd usually have a day out maybe but other than that we muck about at home, go for walks and to the park!

MrBullinaChinaShop · 16/02/2021 13:31

We’re going out as much as we can. Walks, scooters, bike rides, playgrounds etc. We’re not going to shops as my 7, 5 and 2 year olds don’t see that as fun anyway but we’re certainly not staying at home.

DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 16/02/2021 13:33

We spent way to long watching two men mow a lawn today, that probably sums up our half term

buttheywereonlysatellites · 16/02/2021 13:33

@PickAChew

You and your parents are taking things to opposite extremes. Neither is great.
@JKW36 this! No one is forcing you to stay inside. Yes it's crap that all your usual activities aren't available. Mine would probably spend the ego week doing sport. But we can't right now. The risk of catching covid at the playground is very small. Formite transmission is now known to be very low.
gnushoes · 16/02/2021 13:34

For god's sake, take your children out for exercise daily. The rules specifically allow it. Just do it.

TheMotherMum · 16/02/2021 13:37

My uncle and I happened to be at the same park yesterday with our children (DD aged 6, cousins aged 16, 6 and 4) so DD spend a few hours playing with them.

Today we've been out to buy jam for our pancakes, and have had pancakes for lunch.

Rest of the week isn't planned but I'm sure it'll be equally fun.

HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 16/02/2021 13:38

I didn't think we were allowed to travel to different places unless it was deemed essential such as a hospital appointment. Not just a jolly out somewhere!!

Original poster
JKW36 · 16/02/2021 13:40

We go for a walk two or three times a week. But that includes an hour arguing beforehand that they don't want to etc. Then once we are out they moan constantly that they want to go home.
The kids are absolutely fine and are always finding something to do, they aren't bored. But I just feel guilty that we aren't filling our days like we used to and jealous that my parents are acting like everything is normal when it isn't

OP posts:
itallworkedouthorribly · 16/02/2021 13:43

it was all very safe.

What does this even mean.

tearsandtiaras · 16/02/2021 13:47

I think you are not cruel not taking your kids out. there is so much you can do outside with them without being near people and within the rules and I live in built up london

OliveTree75 · 16/02/2021 13:48

@JKW36

We go for a walk two or three times a week. But that includes an hour arguing beforehand that they don't want to etc. Then once we are out they moan constantly that they want to go home. The kids are absolutely fine and are always finding something to do, they aren't bored. But I just feel guilty that we aren't filling our days like we used to and jealous that my parents are acting like everything is normal when it isn't
You said in your OP though that you are all going stir crazy because you are stuck in the house. There are things to do outside other than walks!
LadyCatStark · 16/02/2021 13:49

Yesterday we went to see my sister as we’re her bubble. We had a walk in the countryside next to her house.

Today we made pancakes, did a PowerPoint for DS’s school about making them, did some French learning about pancake day (also for school) and now DS is going to the skatepark. I feel like we’ve done a full school day 😂. We’ll go for a walk when DH finishes work as the sun is shining and it feels amazing!

BogRollBOGOF · 16/02/2021 13:51

DS1 is 10, has ASD and makes his feelings known when he's in a strop...
I sit on the bench, tell him I am staying there until x o'clock and it's up to him what he does. He'll generally harimph and protest for 5 minutes or so which I ignore and then he'll skulk off. It's not fun. It's not pretty, but needs must.

Getting him and the ditzy 7yo out is not easy in the first place, but if they are not ready, they will be put out as they are and have a 24 hour tech ban. It gets them moving grudgingly.

DS1 is now exercusing with a friend at the park. I walk round, collect friend and let them crack on with it as long as they're in sight.
Being outdoors with another child whose household is also near permanently in the house is as near to zero risk as you'll ever get.

Rates are now decreasing rapidly and typically where they were around October when a lot more of society was open. The headlines are more optomistic this week, but the news agenda has been far more gloomy and pessimistic than the data justifies.

Julianamechange · 16/02/2021 13:54

I am so sick of lock downs now. I dutifully didn’t leave the house in the first lock down. I am always extremely careful and I don’t see any other person that isn’t in my ‘bubble’, but I am done now.

I have taken my 10 month old out daily. In the morning we go out to a shop. Garden centre to choose a new book or Tesco. And in the afternoon we feed the ducks and find a new park to go to, or a forest.

I am absolutely at the end of my teather with these draconian restrictions and yes, I understand why they are there, but I am still bored to tears with it.

If we catch covid, there is very little chance of us giving it to anybody else because we do not see anybody else. I also do lateral Covid testing once a week.

MargosKaftan · 16/02/2021 14:08

Todays highlight, well we loaded up my rucksack with glass bottles and jars, and walked a long route to the bottle bank, put the bottles in to be recycled, then looped back via the butchers and bought mince and pork pies. Look at us living the fucking dream...

They are now on screens. They have an hour each. After that, they have to earn more time. Its 10 minutes each lap of the block they run. Im not expecting more than an hour earned...

We made muffins yesterday. This was messy, but wasn't involving a screen and I got to eat muffins. So a success.

Set up a zoom with their friends?

Lottie4 · 16/02/2021 14:20

Either way, you're entitled to go out for exercise. That could be a local walk, trip to park or even just taking the kids with a football/skipping rope and giving them space to play with them. Maybe you could all make some biscuits. If you've got the money, how about ordering your DC and yourself a book or treat each, so you've all got something to look forward later in the week. If there anywhere locally you could buy yourselves say a takeaway drink and cake each? I know you're trying to be careful, but is there anything you need for the garden and could involve the children with, ie them chosing a plant or bulbs and planting with you.

With regards to your parents, my Mum phones me and tells me she's really pleased as she managed to go into four shops in town between her buses and she's literally buying one item in two of the shops which she could have got in M&S where she does her food shopping. I suspect they just don't get it. When they phone later, I'd ignore it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/02/2021 14:26

I'm out working in a factory, DS's dad is out working as a train driver. DS is at holiday club.

Honestly I feel pretty glad of that right now. Sick of having nothing to do.

Januaryissodull · 16/02/2021 14:28

Sorry but I think you are being a bit over the top.

You should get out with your dc. You are perfectly 'safe' to go outside. Why keep them cooped up. Inside under the guise of being safe.

Yes it's a bit boring, yes we need to try to follow the guidelines, but it is ok to go out when necessary. They might hate walking but exercise is essential.

You would probably think I am disgusting. Yesterday ds met a friend and went to the park, then when he got back we all went on a walk with the dc on their bikes.

Today we've all been to the dentist, then went to the supermarket for lunch supplies, I treated youngest to a toy which they were both promised for doing chores, going to make pancakes later.

Tomorrow will be walking, playground and baking cakes.

Thursday crafts and a movie plus more walking/cycling.

Friday I am going to treat them to a McDonald's.

In amongst all that there will be a fair bit of screen time, exercise videos on YouTube, housework, playing with toys but I don't feel one tiny bit of guilt for going to a shop or park.

MarshaBradyo · 16/02/2021 14:31

Park every day
Baking
Games
Films

Usual
And hard after this constant lock down but holding up ok. I suppose a break from home school although Ds has two projects to do.