Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Anyone not want things to go back to how they were before?

111 replies

UntamedWisteria · 26/03/2021 19:18

We are a family of 4 & will see my parents outside on Easter Sunday which I am really looking forward to.

But I don't want to see anyone else. DH has just texted some neighbours & suggested meeting up with them over Easter as well. I just don't want to, and think he should have checked with me first. I'm not ready for this yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
UntamedWisteria · 26/03/2021 20:01

I'm sorry PickAChew

I am lucky, mine are only an hour away.

OP posts:
SplendidSuns1000 · 26/03/2021 20:06

I'm with you OP. Of course I want things to go back to normal in general for the sake of everyone else but I'm enjoying lockdown living. The only thing I miss is going shopping just to mooch around aimlessly but I'd quite happily spend a while longer doing what I want around the house every day

kittensarecute · 26/03/2021 20:10

I want and need everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) back how it was before. No masks, no restrictions and definitely no social distancing. I have anxiety and I can't cope with the constant uncertainty and not being able to plan anything

Oblomov21 · 26/03/2021 20:13

"Me too. Would rather die than spend another year like this."

Maybe you should get your GP to deal with your chronic anxiety OP.

Ladderclimber · 26/03/2021 20:14

I totally agree with you OP.

I’ve enjoyed not having to see my inlaws at all. Bliss!

Other things I never want to go back to:

  • Fighting to a packed bar
  • Shaking hands (it’s just weird)
  • Having to go in person to the GP
  • Going in to the office
  • Small talk with people I either don’t give a shit about or actively dislike (see above plus school run)
  • Packed public transport
  • It being socially acceptable to mix with other people when ill including when coughing and sneezing and revolting nose blowing.
  • Eating in public rather than having the same nice food delivered to your home.
  • Excess pollution from pointless shopping trips and commutes.
  • Indoor kids’ activities at grotty soft play centres or laser tag, trampoline etc places.

Etc!

Obakarama · 26/03/2021 20:15

I thought you meant we would not go back to rampant capitalism, destruction of nature, work work work etc....but meeting people...hmmmh as you like.

GreenBalaclava · 26/03/2021 20:15

My DH is like you OP. I suggested meeting up with some friends (of both of ours) in the Easter holidays and he said he didn't want to because it's a bit of a drive and we'd have to meet outside. IMO after hardly seeing anyone for so long it's worth all that! But we've arranged to meet them in May instead (when we should be able to go inside). Neither of you are right or wrong here.

Original poster
UntamedWisteria · 26/03/2021 20:18

Well I'm not keen on rampant capitalism or the destruction of nature either, tbf.

I appreciate that we are all different and there's no right or wrong way.

OP posts:
saffysue · 26/03/2021 20:20

I absolutely agree OP. I love not having to constantly field requests to meet up with people and figure out how to politely say no.

I don't want to cut friends out of my life entirely so it isn't as simple as just saying no all the time as they would understandably give up on me.

In an ideal world I would see friends occasionally for an hour or two, which is basically what I'm getting from Zoom calls but with the added advantage that I don't have to worry about the travel or hosting.

I don't want to drive for hours and stay at a friends for the night, that just isn't an enjoyable way for me to spend a weekend and I don't know how to tell my faraway friends without sounding rude.

GiveMeNovocain · 26/03/2021 20:25

Just learn to say no thank you. You don't need an entire country to be stuck inside just a polite way to decline.

museumum · 26/03/2021 20:45

It feels a bit humblebrag to me to be honest when folk go on about how they just have too many friends and too many social invitations. Maybe if you say no sometimes you wouldn’t be so in demand and popular?

99victoria · 26/03/2021 21:21

I guess we're all different. I'm having 5 friends over next weekend - we're putting the gazebo up in the garden, connecting up a couple of heaters and we'll be partaking of a few G&Ts and getting fish and chips. Can't bloody wait!

saffysue · 26/03/2021 21:22

@museumum

It feels a bit humblebrag to me to be honest when folk go on about how they just have too many friends and too many social invitations. Maybe if you say no sometimes you wouldn’t be so in demand and popular?
I understand how it might have come across like that so apologies. If anything I probably have fewer invites than average but I'm just a bit weird and struggle with 'normal' amounts of socialisation so lockdown helps to make me feel less abnormal.

Of course I wouldn't wish lockdown on anyone who didn't want it, my comment was purely about my experience of it.

random9876 · 26/03/2021 21:35

I want a compromise. I miss my family and close friends but I was hyper social before and a bit more time at home with family has been good. I have to say though, work wise me and DH have worked very long hours indeed through the whole thing, and we’ve got young kids. I want professional balance back. I know I am very lucky to have work (so much sympathy for people who have list their work) but my god, this pandemic has stolen my leisure time.

QuidditchQueen · 26/03/2021 21:36

So people who have never wanted to socialise want the law to prevent the rest of us from human interaction?
You don ’t want to -just say no.

poppycat10 · 26/03/2021 21:52

I don't like crowds so that's something I definitely don't want to go back to normal.

And the pp having friends round for a few G&Ts - I suppose this is the start of the rest of us getting no sleep while you all party in the garden squawking more and more loudly as you get more and more drunk. There are definite upsides to lockdown.

99victoria · 26/03/2021 22:09

How rude and presumptious! I, and my friends are in our 60s (all female). 4 of my friends are single and 2 of them have been shielding due to health conditions. One of them is a nurse and has worked throughout. We will be catching up with each other and having some food and drink. They are coming over at 4.30pm.

Would you maybe like to stop being quite so judgemental now?

thunderandrainbows · 26/03/2021 22:23

I’m with you OP. We used to fill our lives with constant social engagements pre-covid, to be honest it was completely exhausting. I love no pressure now and lie-ins at the weekend, lazy days spent just us. I can’t say I miss the majority of our friends, only a few close ones

XenoBitch · 26/03/2021 23:00

@Oblomov21

"Me too. Would rather die than spend another year like this."

Maybe you should get your GP to deal with your chronic anxiety OP.

Please stop this "see your GP" for someone who is struggling with isolation, maybe job and loss of income, not being able to see friends/family. WTF can a GP do about that?
GiveMeNovocain · 26/03/2021 23:06

@thunderandrainbows

I’m with you OP. We used to fill our lives with constant social engagements pre-covid, to be honest it was completely exhausting. I love no pressure now and lie-ins at the weekend, lazy days spent just us. I can’t say I miss the majority of our friends, only a few close ones
Maybe they don't miss you either. I'm sure they'll accept a simple no thank you or just let them know you prefer a lie into their company and you can see them off for good.
Dolciedolly · 26/03/2021 23:11

@Ladderclimber

I totally agree with you OP.

I’ve enjoyed not having to see my inlaws at all. Bliss!

Other things I never want to go back to:

  • Fighting to a packed bar
  • Shaking hands (it’s just weird)
  • Having to go in person to the GP
  • Going in to the office
  • Small talk with people I either don’t give a shit about or actively dislike (see above plus school run)
  • Packed public transport
  • It being socially acceptable to mix with other people when ill including when coughing and sneezing and revolting nose blowing.
  • Eating in public rather than having the same nice food delivered to your home.
  • Excess pollution from pointless shopping trips and commutes.
  • Indoor kids’ activities at grotty soft play centres or laser tag, trampoline etc places.

Etc!

Jeez you sound like a hoot
Kazzyhoward · 27/03/2021 00:26

@IcedPurple

I'd love to have more "personal" space in aircrafts, sports stadiums, theatres, shops, pubs and restaurants rather than being packed in like sardines (and yes, I would be prepared to pay more money for more space!).

You've always had the option to buy 2 seats - or upgrade to a more expensive class - in "aircrafts, sports stadiums, theatres" if the proxmity of your fellow human beings bothers you that much.

No, if you dont "check in" the seat next to you on a plane, they can sell it to someone else, even if youve paid for it.

Football stadium seating and cinema seating is "flexible" anyway with lots of people just sitting where they want ignoring the seat number on their ticket.

AcornAutumn · 27/03/2021 01:18

Some people really need to just grow a pair and say no.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 27/03/2021 03:25

If you aren't ready socialise yet that's fine you don't need too but your DH clearly is maybe he can go solo until you're ready.

@99victoria your evening sounds wonderful enjoy the gin and squawking Wink maybe @poppycat10 is just bitter she doesn't get invited to the party she hears her neighbours squawking at 🤷‍♀️

QuidditchQueen · 27/03/2021 05:57

The clue is in the smug ‘lazy days, just us’ -not all of us have an ‘us’