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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:
whenyouseemyface · 16/02/2021 16:24

You can go out and do things, just don't crowd people, it's not that busy, just keep out of their faces. Definitely easily done.

My parents are being one word answers with me because I went to the play park and other children were there only 4. Ridiculous attitude, we were in the fresh air and all cleaned our hands before and after.

Iamblossom · 16/02/2021 16:30

DC are 14 and 16 and pretty much totally self sufficient, bar cooking the evening meal which or DH does.

DS1 is in our home gym, at skatepark socially distanced, walking one of our dogs or watching TV. He seems perfectly content, I would go as far as to say happy - although would obviously like to see more than one friend at at time, go to parties etc.

DS2 walks the other dog when I insist, or is otherwise watching tv, on his PS4, or reading. He will do jobs when I ask or walk to shops, and occasionally meets up with a friend. Also seems perfectly content.

We should be skiing but I appreciate that is a first world problem.

I thought about taking some days off work but there seems zero point when I can't take the boys anywhere we would all want to go.

So a normal lockdown week for us minus homeschooling.

picknmix1984 · 16/02/2021 16:34

Well hopefully life can go back to normal soon and we can stop being grumpy with different generations and posting endlessly on Mumsnet about what others are doing blah blah!

Katie517 · 16/02/2021 16:40

Why don’t you take your children somewhere different for a walk get a takeaway but chocolate or go to a playground or something? You have options yet you choose to complain what others are doing then moan that you are bored. You parents are being inventive with ways to stop themselves getting cabin fever which is exactly the same as what I do. It really isn’t healthy to not leave the house!

Springhere · 16/02/2021 16:48

We've been to local playgrounds, taken the dogs out for walks, had takeaway hot chocolate and collected books from our local library. We walk every day, we would all lose our minds if we didn't. Perhaps you're overly focusing on other people's behaviour because you're bored and stir crazy. You should definitely get outside with your children!

LunaHeather · 16/02/2021 17:11

@sashagabadon

Just been up to London, walked around south bank, went to monument pudding lane and borough market and then tube home. It was very nice. Fair few families doing the same with their kids. It was nice to see
I have to use the Tube a couple of times a week and judging by today, this week is much busier, which is good to see.

I have to ask though - did you use any loos?

I am next in for a half day and would love to walk from office to along, the river, but then I'd need a loo en route home and it's too much hassle to go back via the office. If they're open at London Bridge it will be fine but it's a bit risky.

WeeWillyWanky · 16/02/2021 17:24

I had planned to go for daily walks this Half Term (no kids but I'm a Primary teacher). Then on Sunday evening, the Head rang me to say someone in my bubble at school had tested positive so I'm holed up for the week in my small flat. I'm looking forward to putting the bin out later when it gets dark.

sashagabadon · 16/02/2021 17:31

Yes to Lois lunaheather. Do you know Gabriel’s wharf by the itv studios ? At the back there are Loos, also a porta loo outside too. The royal parks have open Loos and I’ve discovered them in places like by the large church in convent garden for example. Also some tube stations have their Loos open. I would say though if you pass a loo, take the opportunity and go as you might not see another one for a while!

sashagabadon · 16/02/2021 17:32

I didn’t go in London Bridge station. There is a public loo right by monument, you have to pay but I saw someone go in. It may have intermittent opening.

LunaHeather · 16/02/2021 17:36

@sashagabadon

I didn’t go in London Bridge station. There is a public loo right by monument, you have to pay but I saw someone go in. It may have intermittent opening.
I think that one is very intermittent.

Thank you. I didn't know about Gabriel's Wharf.

When outdoor meetup weather comes, I am always worried re places like Royal Parks because it probably doesn't take much for them to be closed!

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 16/02/2021 17:36

WeeWillyWanky I feel your pain - our whole staff had to isolate over Christmas. A couple of staff still have lingering symptoms so compared with that, staying home is a small price.

I'm bored I'm ashamed to say. DH works from home but is holed up, the only dc at home is 17 and either studying or on a walk with one friend. The weather's soggy and we're 9 miles away from the nearest town. Everywhere is muddy. I'm having to force myself to stop myself doing planning but I might as well because there's not much else to do all day.

sashagabadon · 16/02/2021 17:39

I have always found the royal park Loos to be reliably open. Good old queen 😁

LunaHeather · 16/02/2021 17:40

@sashagabadon

I have always found the royal park Loos to be reliably open. Good old queen 😁
Thanks, good to know!
herecomesthsun · 16/02/2021 17:43

lockdown loos here Grin

www.lockdownloo.com/

LunaHeather · 16/02/2021 17:46

[quote herecomesthsun]lockdown loos here Grin

www.lockdownloo.com/[/quote]
That's not reliable. I appreciate their efforts but in many cases it only takes one staff member to be off and loos are closed. Hopefully the Queen has higher standards 😂

sashagabadon · 16/02/2021 17:50

The queen obviously doesn’t care for her loyal subjects weeing and pooing in her beautifully manicured flower gardens Grin
Another good thing with the royal parks is that they have lots of coffee, cake and sandwich places open for takeaways.

MumsGoneToIceland · 16/02/2021 18:06

I have to say I was dreading it but so far so good. We are doing: sewing, canvas painting, baking, making models, pancakes, walks and I’ve found a online singing workshop over zoom plus a decent amount of screen time. If I need more ideas, I’ll resort to board games. I always find Feb half term a hard one to fill so didn’t have high expectations in the first place :)

Snowwaiting · 16/02/2021 18:12

We’re trying for less screens - none between 10-3.30 ... today we’ve run and walked , baked a cake and finished a jigsaw ( first one we’ve had since the kids were tiny) ... tomorrow I have a spot booked at a National Trust place which kids will whine about but it’s a change of scene . Eldest went for a walk with a friend yesterday , youngest will meet a friend later in the week while I sit on a park bench and keep an eye . By 3.30 though I’m ready for them to get on Fortnite

borntohula · 16/02/2021 18:24

Because even though we are going stir crazy and are sick of walks anyway, we are staying home to stay safe and protect others.

There's a word for people like this, right?

SirCaughtshort · 17/02/2021 17:48

@LunaHeather hi, co-founder of Lockdown Loo here. We update Lockdown Loo daily. We also get sent regular updates from people who use the map which helps us ensure it's as accurate as can be - always welcome to new tips!

As an aside, I tend to build supermarkets and petrol stations into my walks (we live in London) as they normally have to keep toilets open for staff.

Fembot123 · 17/02/2021 17:56

@DareIask

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

Your parents are pushing those boundaries somewhat.

Christ
Enidblyton1 · 17/02/2021 18:02

One of my DC has been invited on play dates with no less than 4 different children this week. Might just be our school - or maybe lots of parents are now letting their children mix? Have others found this?

Savoretti · 17/02/2021 18:04

How can you say your parents aren’t breaking any rules?? Shock

DrunkenKoala · 17/02/2021 18:49

@Enidblyton1

One of my DC has been invited on play dates with no less than 4 different children this week. Might just be our school - or maybe lots of parents are now letting their children mix? Have others found this?
No I’ve not found this

We’ve been going to our local park most afternoons after homeschooling and we have been bumping into a lot of DD’s friends who’ve had the same idea and I’ve had no problem with letting her have a play and interact for about 20mins. DD is 6 and her brother is six yrs older so they have very different interests and rarely play together. A couple of weeks ago I did arrange to meet up with a friend and her DD in the park (friend’s dad had died from covid a couple of weeks earlier and she was in bits understandably and just wanted to get out of the house with her DD). That’s the only pre arranged meet up we’ve done and tbh I don’t want it to become a thing at the moment but fully understand why others may want to. DS has been arranging to meet one friend in the park for a kick about - which is allowed. The weather has been rubbish this week so we’ve not been out.

I’ve no intention of allowing either DS or DD to go to a friends house or vice versa.

buttheywereonlysatilites · 17/02/2021 19:16

@Enidblyton1

One of my DC has been invited on play dates with no less than 4 different children this week. Might just be our school - or maybe lots of parents are now letting their children mix? Have others found this?
Invited to their houses or to meet in the park?