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Original poster

I did not sign up to this **selfish rant alert**

401 replies

Notthissticky · 01/04/2021 15:52

Warning: this is a selfish rant about the unfairness of COVID. Please don't read it if you've been strongly affected by COVID or its economic impact. I am posting this on an anonymous forum for a reason.

I have a 2.5 yo and a 2 month old baby. The only family who have met the baby are the in-laws who looked after the toddler when I was in hospital. On Tuesday night, the baby spent a rather unnecessary night in hospital. I had both kids alone yesterday. The toddler started coughing so we've done a test. It's been 24 hours but no results yet, meaning another day shut in the house with two small children, when it was supposed to be me and the baby. All because a 2 year old has a cold.

I haven't seen my parents since July, I have a 5 month old niece I've never met and haven't seen my siblings since Christmas 2019, because our freedom-loving government has made it illegal for me to travel abroad to visit them. There isn't a single baby group running or in fact anything to do to make life enjoyable, rather than just an existence that needs to be borne.

I am absolutely not against taking precautions to prevent COVID spreading and am following the rules as much/ little as the next person. Looking at the situation from a distance though, the simple fact is that I only know a handful of people who've had COVID, none of whom have been hospitalised, let alone died. Meanwhile, this pandemic has cost me an awful lot emotionally. I fully realise I am extremely fortunate compared to many, but it just feels unfair and I am so so done with it. When will we reach the point where the impact of the inevitable mental health crisis that is developing begins to outweigh the risks of COVID? Rant over.

OP posts:
doorornottodoor · 03/04/2021 07:56

I really feel so sorry for you. Flowers Mine are all teens now and life is easier. I remember struggling so much when they were little. Getting out and about, seeing people, baby groups, coffees, all kept me going.

I really hope things lift soon and life improves for you. This is the hardest point of your life. Flowers

yoyo1234 · 03/04/2021 08:05

I think it is the timing of the rant that makes it more understandable.soany vaccinated. Some posters have sadly lost a lot of people and been worried for them and others. How many of these losses would now be prevented by those having had vaccine (especially once those in 30s as well are vaccinated)?
Now I think it would be great to plan for normalisation of a disease that we will likely see forever. A post earlier is saying how there are now 50 deaths a day in the UK of Covid compared to 450 of cancer. I really try to stick to rules and see myself continuing. However I think we need to continue the vaccine program, restrict international travel (and use strict quarantine and tracing) but really open up. If all teachers and vulnerable children/young adults etc vaccinated why lateral flow tests (and risk restricting access to education) all children for an illness highly unlikely to make children ill (if they argue it will- or that spread will be so much quicker in schools, than I think arguably children should be higher up priority groups as vaccinating them will allow vast swathes of society get back to normal quicker as parents etc can work and prevent cases). The young adults have been at increased risk of furlough and job loss. Now we need to look into ways to help them.

yoyo1234 · 03/04/2021 08:14

Should start: "I think it is the timing of the rant that makes it more understandable especially as so many vaccinated."

Rachel1874 · 03/04/2021 08:20

I am in Scotland and one of my groups have been meeting once a week since last summer (with the exception of school holidays).
I am by no means saying don't rant though 🙈 I feel exactly the same as I decided we wouldn't join our group until it felt safer to do so.

MessAllOver · 03/04/2021 08:20

A PUDDLE suit although a piddle suit could be a good idea haha

@Dontforgetyourbrolly. I agree completely. Puddle suits have been done to death. When this is over and all restrictions are lifted, I intend to invite all my local mum friends to a ritualistic burning of puddle suits in my back garden. I suspect the event will be so popular I may have to live-stream it on Facebook.

RaeRaeMama · 03/04/2021 08:30

I'm fed up as well OP. I realised the other day it has been literally months since I have been anywhere other than my house, the fields around it or my parents house (we are in a bubble) as even my shopping is delivered. I have a 7 week old who I'm exclusively breastfeeding and my life sometimes feels like I'm just existing.

Last weekend, we packed up the car (me, partner, baby, Labrador) and went to a village 15 minutes from our own which has food shops/cafes/pubs in it (unlike ours which only has a postbox). It was our first time using the pram and we had a stroll around and a little picnic on a bench.

It was really nice.

Dontknowanymore2 · 03/04/2021 08:37

I agree whilst of course it is to be acknowledged the massive impact this has had on some people with the actual illness. I'm sure there are many thousands more for whom it has had a massive impact who have not had the illness. I have struggled with depression before this pandemic and of course this has not helped. Me and people I know have totally had enough of it. We would take whatever the risks really are and get on eith trying to find some joy. It has taken a massive emotional strain and I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel the effect on people with depression, anxiety etc is going to be so huge. I also only know one person who has had it. We need to be careful but we have to get on with our lives now enough is enough

August1980 · 03/04/2021 09:03

Luckily all your kids only had to live through a pandemic and not a war! With bombs falling over their heads and rations.

Fembot123 · 03/04/2021 09:04

@August1980

Luckily all your kids only had to live through a pandemic and not a war! With bombs falling over their heads and rations.
You’re taking the piss, right.
threatmatrix · 03/04/2021 09:09

You have every reason to rant. This is now becoming a dictatorship for something that’s going to be like the flu. I fear their will be more deaths from mental health than a so called pandemic.

Sansaplans · 03/04/2021 09:14

This reply has been deleted

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trappedsincesundaymorn · 03/04/2021 09:16

@August1980

Luckily all your kids only had to live through a pandemic and not a war! With bombs falling over their heads and rations.
They got to hug their grandparents and people were allowed to be together and help each other through the bad times though, instead of being told it was illegal to go in other's houses, hug after a death, socialise down the pub...all of which also happened during the war but it's funny how many people chose to ignore that side of it.
Dontknowanymore2 · 03/04/2021 09:16

Threatmatrix
How true, it will have to be treated as a type of flu. The covid police will not want to relinquish their power but they need to o home. Find another hobby horse.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 03/04/2021 09:16

*choose

Bbq1 · 03/04/2021 09:18

Do you have a partner, Op? Is the children's dad not there supporting you?

TempsPerdu · 03/04/2021 09:20

Luckily all your kids only had to live through a pandemic and not a war! With bombs falling over their heads and rations

Ah, I see we’re still stuck on the trite war analogies. Hmm

yoyo1234 · 03/04/2021 09:20

"You have every reason to rant. This is now becoming a dictatorship for something that’s going to be like the flu. I fear their will be more deaths from mental health than a so called pandemic."

I agree with most of the above I would add in deaths due to delayed treatment of other medical conditions. I also think that lives will be less fulfilling than they might otherwise have been (job prospects, qualification attainment etc, feeling let down by educational establishments). At least the government proped up the ridiculously over inflated housing industry (not for young people's benefit) by removing one of the few taxes on the greatly under-taxed profits from the property market. The young will of course be paying for the cost of coronavirus in their taxes for years to come.

MazDazzle · 03/04/2021 09:29

Rant all you like!

I feel exactly the same as you. I do not know of a single person who has been ill, despite many people I know testing positive.

My friend sadly passed away (he choked in his sleep) and his loved ones weren’t able to be together. His wife was desperate to know how he died. They tested him for COVID first and if it was positive that would have been the cause of death on his birth certificate and there would be no postmortem. How is this logical?

I know many people who’ve lost their jobs and their homes. I know of many young people who have lost touch with friends and are now completely cut off from any sort of social life.

My kids are sick of the sight of me. We’ve reached the point where they have zero enthusiasm for anything I suggest. My eldest has ASD and her mental health is low. She’s slowly lost touch with everyone from school, despite my best efforts. She’s hardly left the house since December. I am so worried for her.

I only hope that hears from now, when we look back, all of the restrictions were worth it because right now it doesn’t feel like it.

yoyo1234 · 03/04/2021 09:34

Flowers so sorry to hear about your friend and daughter.

user1498572889 · 03/04/2021 09:45

I work in a shop. I have to deal with idiots that won’t wear masks but I’m expected not to see my grandchildren. I don’t think so.

August1980 · 03/04/2021 09:59

This reply has been deleted

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Fembot123 · 03/04/2021 10:00

@August1980

Back at you!
I think your 8 year old has got hold of your phone.
Whatafool123 · 03/04/2021 10:54

@daffodilsandprimroses

"I’m a bit fed up of the needs of babies and toddlers being dismissed to be honest.

The first years are absolutely vital."

Exactly. The potential repercussions are huge. My son has had mild to moderate hearing loss for much of his life due to constant congestion. He was tested regularly and given a bone conduction hearing aid.

All the in person testing, support and speech therapy that children need for hearing loss has closed down (at least in our area) for the last year. His first face to face appointment was at the end of March.

Lockdown has actually been good for my son for reasons I won't bore anyone with, but for children with more profound hearing loss, or who hadn't been diagnosed pre-Covid, vital months in their short lives have been lost, months that make a huge difference to the development of their speech, language and social skills.

This is just one small example of the damage lockdown will have done with potential repercussions for some for the rest of their lives.

I am not anti-lockdown as an overwhelmed NHS would also have been a disaster too, but I do think we need to open up society and restart our lives again now so we don't end up creating a worse problem than we have solved.

Sparrowcrane · 03/04/2021 11:25

I'm with you on this. Im in some way lucky my kids are teenagers but I know it would have been unbearable if they were babies right now. I see the absurdity of the lockdowns, mask wearing and all this covid nonsense and I feel helpless. I'm concerning for the future for my children

Sparrowcrane · 03/04/2021 11:26

@Sparrowcrane

I'm with you on this. Im in some way lucky my kids are teenagers but I know it would have been unbearable if they were babies right now. I see the absurdity of the lockdowns, mask wearing and all this covid nonsense and I feel helpless. I'm concerning for the future for my children
* concerned