Mumsnet users share how they have been reuniting with their family with McCarthy & Stone

[YanaMumsnet]

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For many of us, not spending quality time with our families and loved ones was one of the most difficult things to accept during lockdown. With social distancing measures easing, we can now spend some precious moments with our families, even if a few metres apart. From a barbecue in the garden, to virtual birthday parties for those still shielding, most of us have a story of reconnecting with family and loved ones during these challenging times.

With that in mind, McCarthy & Stone Retirement Homes want to hear more about your story of reuniting with your family and loved ones during lockdown and beyond.

Here’s what they have to say: “A McCarthy & Stone apartment provides much more than a lovely home. It gives access to a vibrant, caring and supportive community of friends and neighbours, and as recent events have shown, nothing is more important.
We couldn’t be prouder of the way our homeowners have stepped up to support each other during this challenging period.
We recently surveyed 95 friends and family of McCarthy & Stone homeowners. Of those who gave an opinion 86% of people felt their friends/family were safe or extremely safe.
The already strong community spirit has flourished. Despite the restrictions, we’ve seen our homeowners adapt to new ways of socialising, with everything from exercise classes to gin nights — as well as innovative ways to celebrate things like anniversaries, birthdays and VE day. Meanwhile 400 of our staff volunteered to help with shopping and other essentials in our Buddy scheme. As a result we’ve been inundated with moving messages of thanks.

So we are asking you how have you reunited, or are planning to reunite with your family? What about reuniting with family members who might live in retirement homes? How have you been taking care of your older loved ones and how are you supporting them through the lockdown? What are your tips for staying connected to your loved ones while apart? Any funny stories of family reunions you want to share?

Whatever your story with your family reunions during lockdown, post on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for a store (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
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We have been FaceTiming a lot during lockdown and now starting to distantly meet family in our local nature reserve

No reuniting yet - except for a short visit from my sister. Will see my mother from a distance in her retirement home soon - but am still very nervous. If we weather is good, we can sit in the garden.

Thank goodness for tech during lockdown! It's enabled us to see our loved ones and keep an eye on those who are vulnerable.
We're now starting to meet up in gardens etc. The good weather is a blessing.
I'm still not feeling ready to socialise in pubs. Restaurants etc, nor be inside other people's homes.

Thank goodness for tech during lockdown! It's enabled us to see our loved ones and keep an eye on those who are vulnerable.
We're now starting to meet up in gardens etc. The good weather is a blessing.
I'm still not feeling ready to socialise in pubs. Restaurants etc, nor be inside other people's homes.

FaceTime was a godsend during the lockdown. Now we are meeting up in the garden and at the beach with family.

Meeting up in the garden or out for a walk.

I've not reunited yet as I'm in England and my family is in Wales, so it's not been possible. Now I've finished teaching for the summer I'll visit in a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

We haven't yet but we are going to visit my in-laws next week. We will spend most of the time in the garden so the children will find it easier to socially distance.

We waited a long time to visit my DGF in his (McCarthy and stone!) apartment. We were so worried about exposing him to covid, especially as I work with covid patients. However, after he lost his wife to C-19 (and we lost our wonderful grandmother) we had a socially distanced meet up in his garden on Father's Day which was so special. We brought his favourite cake and sat there just chatting like we'd never been apart. Throughout everything over the last few months, the hardest thing has been staying apart from him and my DGM

We're just beginning to meet for cups of tea in the garden. It's a 5hr round trip and so dependent on the weather but it's worth it just to feel a bit more 'normal'.

We have been to my mum and dad’s twice and sat in their garden, last time we also went in the house as we are allowed now. They have also been in our garden and house, as have both my sisters and my nieces. Before this was allowed we met in a beautiful water meadow for a socially distanced picnic, but it was hard to have to bellow at them from a distance.

My sister & I surprised our parents for Father’s Day. She lives near them but I’m some way away.

They knew she & her partner were bringing a picnic, but didn’t know they were getting me too until I walked into their back garden. We had a lovely day.

I haven't seen my parents since lock down began (I'm a key worker and dad is extremely vulnerable) but I have seen a lot of my mum's left ear - as she's been learning to video call but hasn't quite grasped the idea yet!

I can't wait to see them in real life again, it's been far to long.

delivering meals,
sending hand drawn cards
lots of phonecalls
getting them on zoom...took hours!

Amazing video calls via WhatsApp and sending pics And voice notes and positive vibes thank goodness we have technology otherwise it be lot worse I can't wait till families can properly be together again stay safe all 💖x

We've done a couple of meet ups in the garden. Just being really careful. My eldest niece had a baby three months ago and I've yet to have a cuddle 😭, but we will get there.

My grandma turned 93 last week and we were able to take her our for a socially distanced picnic at the local conservation area which she really enjoyed. It was only her third trip away from her home since March

My parents live 200+ miles away, and we've been meeting up for picnics at motorway service stations. Not the most exotic location, but at least there's a loo open!

Lots of face timing, phone calls and meeting up in gardens when it was allowed. Haven't been physically close to my parents since February (they live 180+ miles away) but hope to go and visit them next month.

Lots of FaceTime, emails, messages, photos, videos. Makes you think how lucky you are as opposed to war time when keeping in touch was not as easy,

First it was zoom and sending whatsapp vids of the kids doing whatever they were proud of at the time. We've had zoom violin 'concerts', videos of cricket bowling techniques and pics if various paintings! Now we're meeting up in our gardens (we've done it once at my parents and they came to us once so not much yet! Thankful for our garden and the weather.

We've been doing lots of Skype which is often fun (especially with the elders as they aren't great using the tech!).

We've had one brief meet up - outside, socially distancing, no hugs which was tough but it was nice to actually see them in person. We're hoping to do similar again soon.

In the meantime we help out by doing regular phone calls / letter writing, we do their online food shop for them & generally make sure they are ok.

On Father's Day, we had arranged to meet my parents at a National Trust property halfway between us. I got a call from my mum just as we were about to leave to say that dad's car battery was flat and they couldn't make it. She sounded so, so disappointed, we hadn't seen each other since January.

Instead, we drove over to theirs, with picnic, champagne and a flask of tea and had a fabulous few hours in the garden. The trip ended when DD1 fell out of an apple tree and broke her elbow, but it was a lovely reunion before that!

We use zoom to catch up!

After weeks of speaking to my mothers ear, forehead, and ceiling, we finally met up in her garden, before that, I went shopping for some 'posh' tea, clotted cream, scones and jam, and we had an afternoon tea in the sunshine - it was soooo lovely.