Life in Lockdown: Parenting edition

[Fairypop]

Thank you! I hope you are too. We’re really going to appreciate the little things in life when this is all over

Absolutely! I honestly can’t wait to get outside and be able to do things as normal again. I know it hasn’t been that long but I can barely remember how it feels to have that freedom! I feel like I can’t make sense of the fact that I can’t just nip to the shop or my mum’s or go out for lunch, it’s so bizarre isn’t it.
One day at a time

I have a 2 year old. We’ve been home since last Sunday ( we were in Indonesia prior to this) and I got ill on Monday - then on Friday, she got ill. So we’re not going out for the foreseeable. She’s been in the garden but that’s it. I’ve just been trying to get through the week. We’ve done a few crafty bits but she gets very bored quickly. We’ve been having daytime baths as an activity. Disney plus has been a help while we’ve both felt crap. I feel like a terrible parent!!

Day time baths are saving mine and my daughter’s sanity too!!

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Also have a 10 year old and feel like the worst parent going because we don't a garden. Its really getting to me seeing other parents post how they're camping in the garden, playing, bbq and everything else. I feel awful for my child and like I've let them down and they deserve better as they will never have childhood memories of us playing In our garden.

Don’t look at their posts, we’ve not really used our garden at all.
We scrapped home school on day 2. The worksheets get done as and when, having fun and being distracted at home is more important imo.

 

[Wetmyplants]

I have a 3 & 4 year old, they have played outside most of the time and spent a lot of time making things out of Lego.

We’ve done a bit of learning but only until they start to lose interest.

P.S wine is helping!

 

[Londoncailín]

I have a 2 year old. We’ve been home since last Sunday ( we were in Indonesia prior to this) and I got ill on Monday - then on Friday, she got ill. So we’re not going out for the foreseeable. She’s been in the garden but that’s it. I’ve just been trying to get through the week. We’ve done a few crafty bits but she gets very bored quickly. We’ve been having daytime baths as an activity. Disney plus has been a help while we’ve both felt crap. I feel like a terrible parent!!

You are certainly not a terrible parent. You are doing the best you can, and you are getting you and your daughter through a very uncertain time.

 

[Fairypop]

They say it takes a village to raise a child and I’ve really been feeling that the past couple of days. I’m a single parent to a 16 month old, I’m used to doing it alone without any family support so this isn’t new to me. What’s new is not being able to meet friends, not having my usual routines of getting out to playgroups, not being able to look forward to putting her into nursery in the near future (she was due to start part time). They seemed like such small things but now they’ve been taken away I can appreciate how much they were helping

My mental health is bad at the best of times so I’m especially worried about it going downhill in this situation. My daughter is struggling too; I thought she’d be too young to notice much but she’s always at the front door, pointing at her coat, fetching my shoes to go out. She’s regressed with her speech and keeps getting frustrated easily. I’m hoping this is just a normal developmental stage but I still feel guilty as she’s very social but obviously we can’t socialise

Trying to accept what I can’t change though. Sometimes all we can do is get through the day and in this situation, that’s enough

I absolutely sympathise with you luckily I don’t usually suffer too badly with my mental health but I can already feel it deteriorating. My eldest is fed up of being stuck in and, like you, we’re used to seeing friends etc. It’s so hard. I just keep reminding myself that it isn’t forever.

You’re so right though, sometimes it’s enough to just get through another day. Hope you’re doing ok x

 

[LaurieLaurie]

I have a 10 year old only child too in a way I’m glad she has a phone as she has FaceTimed her friends. She’s not moaned either, she’s missing doing her clubs swimming etc. As long as she reads everyday & does her maths I’m quite flexible, it doesn’t help working from home though. Good luck

She’s been on FaceTime to her cousins for the entire afternoon/evening while playing Roblox and it’s the happiest they’ve been all week. Anything to get through it.

 

[Londoncailín]

It’s so hard to be a ‘good’ parent all the time when you get no breaks and you’re worried about everything. I’m trying so hard!

Believe me, I fully understand this. I am certain you are trying hard.

 

[Fairypop]

I’ve been home with my almost 4 year old and 4 month old. My partner is a key worker and it’s been bloody hard entertaining them! My eldest misses nursery so much and asks me “where are we going today?” Every morning, they’re so used to being out and about! I’ve got crafts coming out of my ears

 

[chocolate choux]

The past few days my toddler has just been a typical toddler but the lockdown makes it feel more stressful. She’s a good kid, it’s just annoying how she’s always getting into things and making a mess and it’s worse than usual as we can’t go out anywhere so she can get her energy out

She’s also obsessed with washing her hands. I block off the bathroom with an old heavy radiator (classy, was putting off investing in a gate as it was working) but now she can move it! It’s bloody heavy so I’m impressed/terrified. Then she goes in there and touches the toilet because she knows that means she gets to wash her hands CBeebies are also drilling into kids the importance of handwashing and every time she sees those segments she keeps signing that she wants to wash hers

Cannot wait until everything opens again, we’ll be going to play groups 5 days a week

 

[Boredofthegram]

I’m struggling with juggling work and school work. My son is only 4 so a young reception year and the stuff school is setting he doesn’t want to know (phonics and writing mainly). I don’t want to pressure too much as it’s hard enough as it is not seeing friends and family. Il never take things for granted again after all this.

 

[Jellycat99]

I have a 5 and 1.5 year old and I can't wait till I can send them back to school/nursery, don't get me wrong I am so so grateful that we get to be at home together and stay safe but fuck me, I'm bored of playing dogs and I'm absolutely shattered.
I'm a key worker (early years educator in a nursery) so I went into work one morning last week and my eldest went to school, they then called me and said there's hardly any children so the majority of us are going on the furlough scheme. My eldest was saying this morning how he's going to school tomorrow and was not happy when he found out that he was staying at home with me. My youngest is used to doing 3 full days at nursery and he's really missing it and his little pals.
We're doing some reading, phonics and maths for about 20 mins in the morning and afternoon and that's about it. We did bake cakes, paint fence/shed, made garages for all the cars, used nerf guns at shooting targets last week and I've ran out of ideas now. Plus what the actual fuck do I give them for lunch? My eldest has hot dinners and youngest gets lunch at nursery so I'm not used to it

 

[Sven]

I have a 2 year old. We’ve been home since last Sunday ( we were in Indonesia prior to this) and I got ill on Monday - then on Friday, she got ill. So we’re not going out for the foreseeable. She’s been in the garden but that’s it. I’ve just been trying to get through the week. We’ve done a few crafty bits but she gets very bored quickly. We’ve been having daytime baths as an activity. Disney plus has been a help while we’ve both felt crap. I feel like a terrible parent!!

 

[chocolate choux]

I felt like a rubbish mum today after my 6 year old son said he wanted a new mummy after I tried to get him to do some school work.
I know I'm not a rubbish mum but all I could hear in my head when he said it was my ex saying that to me all those years ago!

Don’t listen to that voice. I’ve been there before (abusive relationship) so I know it’s a struggle but your ex said that to make you feel like shit - you can’t let him succeed years later. You’re doing your best for your son and trying to educate him, you’re obviously not a rubbish mum!

 

[Deepsigh2018]

I have an 11 year old who seems to be doing ok. He still speaks or video calls his friends daily and they play online games together. It varies from Fortnite, Roblox to Cluedo etc.

I wouldnt feel bad about not doing those things as I have a garden and we are not out there doing any of those things. My 11 year old hardly wants to play out there.

Im finding keeping my 3 year old entertained constantly difficult and feel sorry for him as he loved seeing his friends at nursery and talks about them daily.

 

[Sven]

Absolutely! I honestly can’t wait to get outside and be able to do things as normal again. I know it hasn’t been that long but I can barely remember how it feels to have that freedom! I feel like I can’t make sense of the fact that I can’t just nip to the shop or my mum’s or go out for lunch, it’s so bizarre isn’t it.
One day at a time


Day time baths are saving mine and my daughter’s sanity too!!

I’m sure I wouldn’t be clean if I didn’t do it with her Hahahaha. My situation is so weird, i was a SAHM for a year, I had started a new job 1.5 week before we went on holiday for 2 weeks. And when I came back they said not to go in! I’m frightened I’ll lose my job, my daughter had just started to get used to going to preschool everyday and suddenly... she’s stuck at home with me again!! She must be like what the hell are you lot doing? She keeps asking to see her little mates at preschool.. and I got a taste of freedom and a bit of structure and suddenly that’s gone as well!

 

[Sven]

I'm losing the will to fucking live.

Here, have this

 

[BorisBear]

I have an only child and I feel so bad for her. She’s 10 and she hasn’t complained once but I’m worried sick of how she feels being stuck at home. We get out for a daily walk but it’s hard, she’s not interested in crafts or games.

I have a 10 year old only child too in a way I’m glad she has a phone as she has FaceTimed her friends. She’s not moaned either, she’s missing doing her clubs swimming etc. As long as she reads everyday & does her maths I’m quite flexible, it doesn’t help working from home though. Good luck

 

[Sven]

You are certainly not a terrible parent. You are doing the best you can, and you are getting you and your daughter through a very uncertain time.

It’s so hard to be a ‘good’ parent all the time when you get no breaks and you’re worried about everything. I’m trying so hard!

 

[SunshineDreamer]

We are spending a lot of time swimming so much to the point I’m not sure I’ll come out of the lockdown with children or prunes! We’ve also been having virtual tea parties and play dates with the kids friends over the tv/Skype.

we’ve also been doing a lot of virtual ballet and a load of piano lessons

 

[tskiry56]

Don’t listen to that voice. I’ve been there before (abusive relationship) so I know it’s a struggle but your ex said that to make you feel like shit - you can’t let him succeed years later. You’re doing your best for your son and trying to educate him, you’re obviously not a rubbish mum!

Thank you ... I think the added pressure of not being able to leave the house and go to work etc just adds to it plus not seeing family.
I think some times we forget what we have gone through... my sons dad was abusive too! And I dont think I will ever forget what he did to me. I find it hard because my son is too young to understand what happened completely although he did witness alot of it.
It makes it even worse that he still has to see him while all this is going on and ill be stuck inside and there is no distractions to take my mind of it. When he did see him thr other day he told my son he didnt see him for over a year because he was poorly. - its al the lies that get to me.