This is so isolating - I don’t have any mom friends anymore

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you're lonely. I would not be comfortable getting together with you while you have a family member in your house working OUT of the house. I just can't take that risk.

No, I'm not happy being home every day. Yes, I miss people and socializing. But I'd never forgive myself if one of my family members (or I) died because I wanted to hang out with a friend for an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd avoid you like the plague. An attitude like this marks you as ignorant, selfish and not at all concerned with other people in society.

They can’t believe so many of my “friends” are content to stay holed up in their houses for the duration of the pandemic.

The PP might have been a bit harsh but I have to agree that there is something about the tone of your post, OP, that feels quite "off". I am guessing that you are not coming across to your friends as you think you are. Maybe use some of your down time to really be honest and look inward.

I’m frustrated. And lonely. And perhaps a bit jealous that others have husbands at home and doting local grandparents so they’re less reliant on friends to get through the long days and months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd avoid you like the plague. An attitude like this marks you as ignorant, selfish and not at all concerned with other people in society.

They can’t believe so many of my “friends” are content to stay holed up in their houses for the duration of the pandemic.

This is OP. What am I missing? I genuinely don’t get it.

Seriously?

The condescending attitude towards those who are taking proper precautions in a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 of our fellow Americans. WTF is hard to get about that?

I am also taking those precautions....

You said you are trying to get people to do picnics and playdates. How is that taking proper precautions?

Agree. Op, I think you aren’t thinking things through. It is isolating. It can be arduous with having that many young kids. Unfortunately, I also suspect that people may be using the pandemic as an excuse not to socialize with you personally.

+1
sounds like there is more going on here

Ugh. This post is not making me feel any better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids ages 5 and under. In my circles - through the local ES, preschool, my exercise group - everyone went into lockdown in March and very few are creeping back out. I’m a sahm as are most of my friends(?)... I’m the only one I know of whose husband can’t work from home. I’m also the only one without local family or a nanny/Au pair. I’m always alone with my kids. All day every day. I’ve asked to do socially distanced bike rides and picnics and so on and it’s always met with concerns of risk. I’m so over it. We have a group text going and nobody is taking their kids trick or treating... or going to pumpkin patches this year. I just can’t believe that so many people are willing to live like this for this long. I am certainly taking precautions. No crowds. We always wear masks. My kids aren’t in school. But I would love to do outdoor play dates. More for ME than anyone else.
My sisters in New England are taking precautions but life doesn’t seem so restricted. They can’t believe so many of my “friends” are content to stay holed up in their houses for the duration of the pandemic.

What does your husband do? If he’s exposed to a lot of people, then meeting up with you and your kids is basically meeting up with all his contacts. The fact that you have three young kids probably means they aren’t great at social distancing — and the more kids, the harder it is to watch out. I don’t think this is personal, honestly.

We are doing play dates only with families who are on strict lockdown and we are only doing them outside and masked. (That means we have done maybe 4-5 since March.) Pumpkin patch only if the place follows strict regulations and is very large and empty. No playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

My sanity hasn't left me hugely because of a couple of families that we see ever so often. We all are taking the pandemic seriously and don't meet anyone indoors, or less than 6 feet, or without masks. There are a lot of places offering outdoor activities for kids, soccer, swimming, dance classes, etc. You might want to get your oldest to join something like that just to get out of the house and meet other parents that are doing things similar to you. Other than that, try going out daily for walks, playgrounds, library book pickups, etc, you might start noticing similar faces and make new friends that aren't completely hunkering down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sanity hasn't left me hugely because of a couple of families that we see ever so often. We all are taking the pandemic seriously and don't meet anyone indoors, or less than 6 feet, or without masks. There are a lot of places offering outdoor activities for kids, soccer, swimming, dance classes, etc. You might want to get your oldest to join something like that just to get out of the house and meet other parents that are doing things similar to you. Other than that, try going out daily for walks, playgrounds, library book pickups, etc, you might start noticing similar faces and make new friends that aren't completely hunkering down.

Thank you. This is good advice.

[Anonymous]

Op, folks are being overly harsh. It sounds like you are being careful and the things you’ve asked folks to do are safe, distanced, outdoors.

Remember this is the same board that says they are letting kids play with friends and are asking questions about birthday parties and fire pit/wine nights. (So many responses to your post are dripping with hypocrisy if by the same crowd.) We all are in different places with risk though. That’s honest and something we all address in our own way. Your circle might have the means to isolate more readily.

It’s pretty lonely for us too. I get it. We haven’t seen friends since March. Our only is struggling as are my partner and I. Trying a distanced visit next week. Cautious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, folks are being overly harsh. It sounds like you are being careful and the things you’ve asked folks to do are safe, distanced, outdoors.

Remember this is the same board that says they are letting kids play with friends and are asking questions about birthday parties and fire pit/wine nights. (So many responses to your post are dripping with hypocrisy if by the same crowd.) We all are in different places with risk though. That’s honest and something we all address in our own way. Your circle might have the means to isolate more readily.

It’s pretty lonely for us too. I get it. We haven’t seen friends since March. Our only is struggling as are my partner and I. Trying a distanced visit next week. Cautious.

Thank you. It’s nice to hear from someone else who gets it.

[Anonymous]

Same here. We moved to a new city earlier this year (after pandemic started) and dont' know a soul here. Just go out to playgrounds if they're open where you are. We do, with masked kids and social distancing followed. You'll meet like-minded people there at least for a chat.

[Anonymous]

We did a playground playdate a few weeks ago. I didn’t feel safe enough to relax. I’d decline another. But we’d hike or have a picnic ....more than 6 feet though, masked for sure. M

We both work out of the house some, but not every day. I’m mostly home.

I don’t think it’s the year for pumpkin patches or Halloween to dos...we might walk around though. Trying to figure that one out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you're lonely. I would not be comfortable getting together with you while you have a family member in your house working OUT of the house. I just can't take that risk.

No, I'm not happy being home every day. Yes, I miss people and socializing. But I'd never forgive myself if one of my family members (or I) died because I wanted to hang out with a friend for an hour.

+1 It’s not worth the risk to your friends and they have their husbands to share the long hours of the day with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd avoid you like the plague. An attitude like this marks you as ignorant, selfish and not at all concerned with other people in society.

They can’t believe so many of my “friends” are content to stay holed up in their houses for the duration of the pandemic.

This is OP. What am I missing? I genuinely don’t get it.

Seriously?

The condescending attitude towards those who are taking proper precautions in a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 of our fellow Americans. WTF is hard to get about that?

I am also taking those precautions....

You said you are trying to get people to do picnics and playdates. How is that taking proper precautions?

Social distancing and masks

What? How do you wear a mask while eating food at a picnic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, folks are being overly harsh. It sounds like you are being careful and the things you’ve asked folks to do are safe, distanced, outdoors.

Remember this is the same board that says they are letting kids play with friends and are asking questions about birthday parties and fire pit/wine nights. (So many responses to your post are dripping with hypocrisy if by the same crowd.) We all are in different places with risk though. That’s honest and something we all address in our own way. Your circle might have the means to isolate more readily.

It’s pretty lonely for us too. I get it. We haven’t seen friends since March. Our only is struggling as are my partner and I. Trying a distanced visit next week. Cautious.

Thank you. It’s nice to hear from someone else who gets it.

LOL. You spelled "someone who agrees with me" wrong.

[Anonymous]

The responses here seem extreme. Op is talking about outdoor activities like biking or a picnic. Everyone I know has been doing these things since about June, including my family. I meet up with friends weekly outdoors and we keep our distance.

I believe in science, I’m
Not a trumper, I think it is strange that OP can’t find any of her friends willing to do this.

Op-have you tried just meeting with a friend one on one, without kids? I find that’s easier since with the littles it can be hard to keep them away from each other and from sharing toys, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your friends probably don’t want to get together because they know you aren’t taking the pandemic seriously.

I don’t know how I could take it any more seriously... other than have my husband quit his job??

Don't listen to that beotch, op! She., probably, have been laid since the pandemic started. Taking it seriously, you know..

Hahaha. Nope, everything is smooth sailing at my place. The whole family is quite happy, unlike op and probably you. Sorry for people who can’t handle their kids or don’t like their families.

Maybe people are using the pandemic as an excuse and just don’t want to hang out with you guys?