Worrying about 14 month old in lockdown

[GAL8]

I'm sure there are lots of parents in the same boat but I am becoming increasingly worried about the effects of lockdown on my 14 month old DD.

I have always taken her everywhere, she's a happy little soul & has always been very well socialised. I hated baby groups but she's always been around people in general such as my friends & family. She was going to nursery twice a week starting in Jan but of course by the time Covid kicked off & she had just about settled, she was out of there again.

We live very rurally so in the 3 weeks of 'proper' lockdown she saw no one except me, her Dad, & his parents. Now I'm trying to combine working from home with trying to get her out as much as I can, even if it's just to the park, just so she can see people & cars & dogs! Just normal stuff!

She gets so excited when she sees other kids in passing & it breaks me a little bit that she has no one of her age to play with. A couple of my friends have children who are 2, & at the moment the difference between her & them is a lot. She would love them but she's not 'interesting' enough for them to be entertained by, plus the fact she can't go near them anyway.

I'm worried I suppose that when she does have to interact with another person her age, she won't know how. I worry what impact this whole thing is having on her, I wonder if she wonders 'where are all the people my age?' Why is it even in a pandemic as a parent you never feel
You're doing enough?!

Sorry to blabber on

She will be fine.
Stay happy she will pick up on your feelings

Too young to play with others

Solitary Play (Birth-2 Years)
This is the stage when a child plays alone. They are not interested in playing with others quite yet.

Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years)
During this stage a child begins to watch other children playing but does not play with them.

Parallel Play (2+ Years)

Plays alongside

This is how I have been feeling too, im also rural so have seen pretty much nobody for ages now. The five mile rule in Scotland absolutely did me in too, as barely anything five miles from me. I just feel heartbroken when I see her get excited when she sees another lo from the car window when I let her people watch while my husband does the shopping. She was also sooooo social before this, used to babble away at other children in the swimming pool until they paid attention to her and try to chat at them. But, someone sent me a message much like embracelifes and it really helped. They really just need us at the mo and will pick up if we are unhappy. So I try and do as much as I can to make her interested, and to be honest Ive been asking myself is it such a bad thing if seeing a robin that comes to our window every lunchtime, blowing a recorder, bashing on the piano and me and DH chasing each other up and down stairs is the highlight of her day- it won't be like this forever and maybe she'll appreciate simpler things in life if she can even remember this time. I totally get you though and can write this calm message today but will prob be a crying mess in a couple or days! Try not to feel guilty, this is not your fault and you just do the best you can xx