I think everyone has at least some benefits from this time. You will be reminded of them when we all get back to normal. Just think of all the rushing around, the stress, the traffic, the less sleep, the feeling you always have to go do things you are invited to, etc.

Count your blessings. I haven't been able to see my parents or siblings since they live a plane ride away. Your life is probably not that bad but you are feeling sorry for yourself because socializing is no longer "convenient".

Anonymous wrote:People are so terrible and this site continues to reaffirm that.

I understand, op. I love my family and my home. I have seen real tragedy in my life. But this is still awful, on so many levels, and those who don’t see that are the spoiled and privileged ones. Not you. Hang in there.

Agree 100%

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you to the words of support.

I miss the ease of seeing friends. To do it now feels like you have to make a big “plan”, the weather must be nice, etc. I miss all the incidental contact of school pickups and extra curricular activities and school events, etc. I miss real travel, and I miss seeing the extended family beyond just parents and siblings after quarantining extensively. I miss my kids loving school. I had having to run a risk assessment on everything they ask to participate in. I don’t sleep well. I hate winter on a good year.

That’s most of us babe. You’re not alone. It prob does not help, but this is a nearly universal experience.

Focus on the happiness of others not on yourself. Make their joy your joy.

OP here. Thank you to the words of support.

I miss the ease of seeing friends. To do it now feels like you have to make a big “plan”, the weather must be nice, etc. I miss all the incidental contact of school pickups and extra curricular activities and school events, etc. I miss real travel, and I miss seeing the extended family beyond just parents and siblings after quarantining extensively. I miss my kids loving school. I had having to run a risk assessment on everything they ask to participate in. I don’t sleep well. I hate winter on a good year.

I understand, OP. I have had to work hard to drop my guilt for days I don’t get things done or if I seem grumpy at my family. I love them and am so lucky to have them but we are together too much. I have to just be satisfied if one small part of my day felt happy/comforting. If I cozy up on the couch with my daughter for twenty nice minutes and we laugh together then I count that day as a win. I force myself not to think about how much DL has taken away from my high school-aged kids who are lonely and bored. Take one day at a time!

I think having a down day or three to feel it all not being ok is pretty healthy. Pretending all is well when things are disordered can be damaging. Leaning into the funk can help you reset.

^news

Turning off the new and only checking the "latest updates" for a few minutes each day has really helped me.

Anonymous wrote:People are so terrible and this site continues to reaffirm that.

I understand, op. I love my family and my home. I have seen real tragedy in my life. But this is still awful, on so many levels, and those who don’t see that are the spoiled and privileged ones. Not you. Hang in there.

+1

This, OP. While I’m grateful for what I have, this whole thing is absolutely awful. Many on this site are extremely privileged. Hang in there and stay strong. Most of us are in the same boat.

OP can you tell us what you miss the most and we can brainstorm some solutions?

Anonymous wrote:I’m fine. Family is fine.

But staring down 3-6-9 more months of this makes me want to cry or have a nervous breakdown. I hate everyone who is happy or thinks this is awesome. Even my husband seems to mind it way less.

I feel like Tom Hanks with the volleyball and the hash marks counting the days.

I know what you mean.
I try to put on a brave face for my kids, and I know we are lucky that our jobs aren’t effected, DL isn’t horrific in our house, and no one in our family or friends has been truly ill (One 21 year old who works in service industry had covid mildly over the summer and her house full of family all tested negative).

It is still awful to be kept from my family. It is still awful that my grandmother died and my mother couldn’t see her before she passed and had to mourn alone because no one can travel. It’s depressing to not be able to see friends. It’s depressing to have to fret over every decision regarding risks of contact-can my 9 year old play with a friend outside, can she play at the playground if no one is there, can we hike here or will it be too crowded and too many massless people...

I can both be thankful for what we have but also be deeply sad and angry at wha we are missing. The sadness and anger are mostly hidden, but they are here.

People are so terrible and this site continues to reaffirm that.

I understand, op. I love my family and my home. I have seen real tragedy in my life. But this is still awful, on so many levels, and those who don’t see that are the spoiled and privileged ones. Not you. Hang in there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vaccines are on the horizon. Stay strong and be hopeful OP!!

This is not a “for sure” thing as of yet.

Hate to be Debbie Downer, but these vaccines are brand-new & some volunteers who took them complain of the side effects.

Also none of the vaccines 💉 have been administered to the general public so no one knows how so many different people will react.

So let’s be cautiously optimistic. 🤞🏼

Please stop raising questions marks about vaccines in people's minds. These vaccines will be tested in large-scale clinical trials before offered to the general public. It doesn't matter what side effects people "complain" about it matters what shows up in the trials versus the placebo arm.