Realising I prefer life in lockdown

[whatisheupto]

I'm wondering if I have some sort of problem. I have felt a huge sense of relief during lockdown... no pressure, no visitors, ability to just please myself (and DH and DC). I mean no disrespect to those who have found the last 10 weeks incredibly hard and stressful for all sorts of reasons.
Since Boris's announcement today, family are immediately messaging with plans to meet up. I suddenly realised I feel a sense of dread, which I feel awful about. They can be pretty annoying and I suppose the past couple of years they have been extra annoying, but they're not awful, compared to the stuff I read on here! I just can't really be bothered with seeing them, but I can't really believe I am saying that out loud. Why aren't I excited, like them and the rest of the country?!

I think what many people are describing is the normal stress of everyday life. As a kid, after school, we went home. Bit of homework, ballet class once a week; my sister had a pony stabled nearby. Now, we’re busy and run off our feet. Work, socialising, home stuff, friends, keeping up appearances, kids, kids club’s/activities, hobbies/extra tuition, shift work. Good grief, we all need a bloody good rest from it all.

Why are recent posters taking it upon themselves to tell people what to do?

I think they’re worried we have boris’ ear and will somehow be able to extend lockdown.

The take responsibility for yourselves comment was particularly political as if those of us who expressed things we enjoyed about lockdown were all being furloughed and expecting that to continue forever.

I’m sure we’re all perfectly used to taking responsibility for ourselves and for others too given we’re mothers, daughters, workers etc. No one has taken responsibility for me during lockdown

"The take responsibility for yourselves comment was particularly political as if those of us who expressed things we enjoyed about lockdown were all being furloughed and expecting that to continue forever. "

This is utter bullshit and purposeful misunderstanding. I mean take responsibility for your own happiness and life. If you know you're happier not going to social events or only going to the occasional one then take responsibility for saying no to any and all events you don't want to go to.

If you're happier wfh then take responsibility for findings ways to continue this going forward.

Im not bothered about the social side. Get on well with family when we do meet up and dont really go out much with friends anyway.
But dear God I am dying to get back to work. Somewhere where I am valued and spoken to like an adult and can do something useful. At home I'm a glorified skivvy and my brain has shrivelled .Can not wait to be back in the office.

It’s just simply nice to have a break from some of the social responsibilities that women especially seem to have with ferrying DC around, school runs etc. Seen as most of this falls to women to keep everyone’s schedule, it is enjoyable to have a break from it. I have no issue with going back to ‘normality’ but I am not going to lie - driving 5 miles in 15 mins or so is much preferable to driving the same 5 miles at rush hour taking 45 bloody minutes. Or entertaining my mother for hours on end then doing all the clearing up

Having an older child - a student, I have long since been past those responsibilities anyway. DH and I led a quiet, ordered sort of life before lockdown, so life hasn't changed much for us, except that I now work from home. Even when DD was at primary school our lives weren't as full on and chaotic as many have posted on here. I made sure that they weren't.

I agree with several pp that, going forward, it is possible to lead a less chaotic life.

@TheLadyAnneNeville I think there is some serious case of ‘thick’ going on here if people truly cannot understand what has been explained over and over again. Please stop explaining and embrace your powers!

@TheHoneyBadger I have discovered as a result of this thread, that inspite of what I’ve thought for years I really do have SUPERPOWERS. I just need to think it and it happens! This includes stumbling across a secret concave of of humans with similar powers. All of us together will change the course of history. There will be no more socialising EVER!, no more going outside. We will all be locked in a time warp with 2 metres of air space between to wave if need be. Naturally, the earth is scared and the ordinary humans are frantically trying to negotiate with us how we can still live in our time freeze whilst the rest of the world returns to normal. But we’re not like them! We must fill the earth with our spawn, EVERYONE and EVERYTHING in slow-mo!

See I've missed friends but not family...and I live 75 miles from mine so 2 hours each way, so I won't be driving to meet them in a garden/ outdoors any time soon.
I've already told mine that if they want to see us they can start doing the leg work of coming here rather than us travelling to them all if the time.
You get to decide who you see, especially as it's only meant to be one household with one other up to 6 people. Just say no and continue to enjoy your little bubble a little longer.

No one has taken responsibility for me during lockdown

What's the problem then?

@Igenixx... you’re saying I’m thick? Do hope not.

at our magic powers igenixx

I got deleted. Would like to clarify to those who didn’t see my post that I wasn’t abusive or rude. I didn’t realise we weren’t allowed to refer to a posters other posts. I see it done all the time so didn’t realise it was rule breaking.

There are certainly positives. Not seen MIL or FIL for months!

@TheLadyAnneNeville No, not you. To the people frothing about OP et al enjoying lockdown. I was telling you to not bother explaining to them any more .

Yes! I thought I was the only one feeling this way. I even feel relieved that our holiday is cancelled. No organisation, no holiday clothes shopping, no stressing about 2 young DCs in a strange place. I feel liberated by lockdown.

It's ironic as I'm in a failing marriage and yet, life is so much easier in lockdown.

Also, dreading having to see the ILs now too!

They are probably dreading seeing you too with that attitude.

@Igenixx ahhh. 😊

I think many introverts have been enjoying it. My other half doesn't like pubs and clubs or any large events really and she has been quite happy to do her usual favourite activities of staying in, going for walks, seeing one friend at a time etc. I am more of an extrovert and am usually out and about several evenings a week and I love a good party so I have not been happy with lockdown. I can WFH fine but it is quite stressful when combined with homeschooling and having the whole family coming in and out of the "office" each day. And was supposed to be on holiday (in U.K.) this week at a place with its own swimming pool which hasn't happened due to covfefe-19.
However I have been making the most of it and there are a lot of good sides to lockdown. It is nice to not have the pressure of attending social events. Especially as money is tight at the moment. There is no FOMO when nothing is happening anywhere!
I have been able to do some of the things I've always wanted to do with the kids but haven't had time due to us all doing other activities. I've slept a lot more due to not having to get up early and commute. No commuting costs. I've reconnected with a lot of old friends via Zoom chats. Taken the time to do a lot of "life admin" which would normally be shunted to one side by other things. In some ways I want lockdown to continue for another few months so I can complete all the tasks on my list and also carry on with various creative projects I've now got time to do in the absence of a social life.
If OH and me both still have jobs at the end of this we could come out of it financially better off than we were before.
But this whole thing is massively damaging to the economy and everyone's prospects of actually having a job. Loads of businesses will go under. We will be paying for this for years to come. Our children are being mentally scarred and their social development is being affected. And probably their education too. When my kids hit the jobs market will the economy have recovered? We can't go and see family who are abroad, some of whom are in ill health and might not survive long enough for us to ever see them again. There are a lot of lonely old folk who aren't receiving any visitors due to this crisis. So I want lockdown to end immediately.
Don't blame you for enjoying it though. Seems quite a reasonable/rational reaction.

Dooglebam Sat 30-May-20 23:26:54
Also, dreading having to see the ILs now too!
.....
Why, what's wrong with them?

Ooh I also love not having to sign for parcels or rush to unpack online shopping from crates. I say hello and thanks from an upstairs window, everything is left outside and then I get it in in peace when they’ve gone.

I’ll miss that.

honeybadger i also love that.

Also love that everyone in my village is having clear outs and leaving things outside with, help yourself signs. I’ve picked up some good books and passed on things I’m done with and even got a ladies bike for free so I can go out cycling with ds.

Not sure if this is happening elsewhere?

Downside is I have orange roots currently

Love being a Greta Garbo. I want to be alone! LOL.

Feck off all the rest of you trying to excavate into my time. OK?

Everyone is different, but going forward it will be so much easier for the self sufficient and resilient people than it will be for the social butterflies.

Hey ho. Such is life.