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

[YanaMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part.

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
Insight Terms and Conditions apply

FaceTiming daily with my daughter still in her university student house. Popped down to do a pre-emptive pick of belongings, ordered takeaway & watched a film together.

Just texting my parents more. They don't have a computer, and just a basic mobile phone, so Skype, FaceTime etc just isn't possible.
With my adult daughter, in States, I have been using FaceTime but probably no more than I did before lockdown.

Not been able to physically reconnect yet but have become closer with more distant family during this time as we've done bingo and quizzes and stuff on zoom with cousins I may only see once or twice a year and their families

We have had family skype calls, quiz nights with friends and socially distancing birthday gatherings for my sister and other half who turned 40 during lockdown! So many memories

xx

I have Skype call every morning with a good friend, and just got back from our first actual visit in 9 months. We're hoping to visit again in a month's time - before TSHTF.

My family and I all live 100s of miles apart. I have been FaceTiming my sister a lot, and we took our caravan near to my dad’s house where we managed a garden visit and a socially distanced trip to the beach

Unfortunately Facetime and Zoom has been all a step too far for my old man, but the fact that we put cameras in his home before lockdown has been a godsend. We can see and talk to him, and whilst he can't see us he can talk to us. We've been constantly on the phone and leaving food packages.

At home, we've been having WiFi free evenings and spending quality family times having family game and or film nights. It's been really helpful in getting to know each other better, foibles and all!

I've only met my parents one and that was outdoors in a National Trust garden. I just can't bare the thought of unknowingly taking them something that could make them so ill. My children are hopeless at social distancing so I've kept them well away. It's sad as my parents are elderly and they won't be here forever

We have done a lot of zoom sessions and meeting in parks and gardens. The nice weather has really helped.

My dad travelled 300 miles from an island to collect me. I visited for 3 weeks and he then returned me to where I live. I hadn't been home for 6 months and it was a truly amazing few weeks which meant I got to spend quality time with those who I had been missing, and would have visited a number of times had Covid not been a thing.

Hi guys I’m new to this sight I’m hoping to plug my new business venture. I recently lost my job at Debenhams due to the pandemic and have a 6 year old to look after but also need a wage to pay the monthly bills . So I decided this was a good time to take the plunge . Iv started a business which makes homemade wax melts and candles in various perfume and household cleaning fragrances. Please if you can have a look at my Facebook page which is www.facebook.com/Minx-Melts-Your-Heart-Homemade-Gifts-627566847890663/. I’m also on Etsy under the shop name Minxmeltsyourheartandhomemadegifts. I’m also selling my wax melts on my eBay account ebay.co.uk/usr/martinstott76. I do hope you can all help me get views and shares and maybe purchases from my small business venture Many thanks xx

Meeting up for walks and coffee/lunch using the eat out to help out scheme

We have been video calling and, when possible, meeting up outside to keep everybody safe. I think that the older generation have been hot particularlynhard as their vulnerability (70+) has made them scared and prevented them being as active socially as they maybe could have been. Family contact is very important to them at the moment.

I have been reconnecting with my son by watching some Christian films and have read through some of the bible together! I am pleased to say he has been enjoying our mother-son bonding especially because he hasn’t been watching all of his “animes” since I took them away. Our reconnection has been very successful! I highly recommend these methods any concerned parents. Xx

We did lots of facetiming and once we were able met up in gardens. It's been nice to reconnect as the DC found facetiming very difficult.

Lots of facetiming which involved looking up hairy nostrils at first...

I haven't reunited with mine . My dh was in the shielding group and although it has been ' paused ' we live nearly 300 miles away from them so acquire pop in to see them is not possible. I do not feel comfortable booing into a hotel and staying with them is not an option.
The sad thing is , due to my dh illness we have been unable to visit pre covid as well , again due to the distance and the illness and he was too poorly to be left for a week.

Thank you to everyone who shared on this thread. The winner of the prize draw is @JillionJ - congratulations!

Unfortunately the winner of the prize draw has not got back to us in the time outlined in our T&Cs. Therefore, we are offering the prize to a runner up. Congratulations @NerrSnerr - you're the winner of the £100 voucher

Feels like residents in care homes have the worst deal in all this. We have been visiting relatives in care homes and they are utterly miserable. However much we try they can't seem to understand, days just seem endless to them and with perspex screens between us it is difficult to hear, bearing in mind that they are hard of hearing anyway!

We have spend time in the outdoors! Gardens, walks.. and we did have to be really careful as my Dad was shielding. We have also had barbecues. We wrapped up warm and sat in the garden, chatting with our families round a fire. We even camped in the garden so the cousins could spend time together and made amazing memories frying eggs over a fire in the mornings. We learnt a lot, about valuing family time, actually.

The second meal with friends organised for this week ... just as a second lockdown is looming!

I'm like a very excitable kid in a sweetshop who keeps getting her pocket money taken and then returned and then taken again!

I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry!

I wish Boris and his merry men would sort their act out!

head in hands

We've been coping with "window visits" with granny and grandad where we speak on the phone at the window to see each other. Zoom calls have also been great for longer conversations. But it has been very emotional and hard all round for us all.