Should I be doing more?

[Larsingsong]

We're in isolation together for the first time, and I've noticed we're all just leading separate lives here at home. We're not allowed out the house for 14 days.

I've one in Y7 and one Y10. They're happiest in their rooms, older one is chatting to school friends all day on gaming, once his school work is done. He comes down when he's hungry.

Younger one will watch a film or TV with me, but also either on his Xbox or playing with bits and bobs in his room.

Have tried to encourage a game, cards, baking, cooking, crafting. There's not much enthusiasm and they'd rather be in their rooms. I think it's crept up on me without realising. Is this situation familiar to anyone!? Or do I need to make more effort?

We are the same here, but with one. I generally chill about it, there's a global pandemic and if everyone is chilled and happy in their own rooms then that's fine by me

Thanks, I'll try to chill. Think staying in for so long is making me a bit uneasy.

During the first lockdown me and dh were working shifts and had no isolating periods, so this family situation feels like it's just crept up on us and I feel guilty that I've let it happen.

TV is the glue that holds me and my DS’s together. During the first lockdown DS1 (14) and I watched The Walking Dead. We’d had a really awful 18 months and it genuinely has improved our relationship! DS2 and I watched Raising Dion and rewatched Stranger Things, plus films - he’s happier to do stuff with me generally so not so much of an issue.

Normal. It’s sad for us mums though. Have you seen the new McDonald’s Christmas advert? That touches on this subject and made me cry!

I've the same thing with dd2 13. We never see her really outside of meals and even then it's sometimes a battle to get her to come down. I really miss her and the chats we used to have but I can't force it so I just try to check in with her every hour or so and leave her to it. Dd1 is 14 and spends more time downstairs with me-but obvs she likes her room time too so sometimes is just me and the Dogs downstairs and it does get a bit lonely. Actually dreading Christmas a bit for this reason. I really miss them being little at this time of year.