Reinforced my belief that public schools are a complete no-go.

Single parent trying to work full time with two young elementary aged kids. Ours schools never opened without a virtual component. If they'd been a little older, I could have left them alone once in a while, a little younger and they would have been in daycare.

Gained 45 lbs in spring 2020, right off the bat.

One child fell way, way behind in school after excelling up until this point.

Spent tons of money on childcare for the younger child to try to be able to work.

It was physically, financially, and emotionally devastating.

So much stress and worry about elderly relatives one who nearly died and I felt so helpless being miles away.

For years I was a single mother with no family and not much money to outsource so I can relate to the struggles of those home with smaller kids.

I gained 20 lbs. By March 2020 I had lost all baby #2 weight plus an additional 10 lbs. But summer 2020, I ate and ate and ate... stress ate... and gained it all right back.

I weigh 10 pounds less than when it started and am not happy about it. I developed severe back problems from sitting more and moving less. My anxiety disorder, which was well managed for 10 years came back with a vengeance. I have no confidence in leadership anymore, whatever the party, and I don't know what is safe or not safe when it comes to resuming normal activities. I'm in therapy and have appointments with various doctors and specialists scheduled. I am hoping to climb out of this hole and feel human again.

I feel so fragile now. Like a leaf struggling to hang on before another blast comes. I never felt like this before and our family has been through a lot.

There was a lot of deaths and disease among family and friends. It has been devastating. I also had a close shave and it impacted my health. The pandemic is not over and I worry that there may be other losses that will happen and I may never see my close relatives again. Life is fragile.

Still, I am very grateful that my health is getting better every day. We came together as a family and we are very solid. Love my family and would not have wanted to be stuck 24/7/365 with anyone but my family. Kids did very well academically, they had great friends who were instrumental in helping them maintain their mental health, kids also ate better and became a lot healthier. We all lost weight and exercised. DH took over cooking all of our meals and I suddenly had freedom from the kitchen. We helped a lot of people monetarily and also by doing chores for them so it made us feel really great. We did vaccine hunting for a lot of disadvantaged people and it was really gratifying to know that many people are protected because of a small part we played. We also did a lot of campaigning and ground level volunteer work to remove the cancer of Trump from our nation in 2020. And we poured money into Georgia. Went on BLM marches and it was all very gratifying. We are not a political family and had never funded any campaign before but this was something very positive for us.

We became a greener, consumed a bit less, read more books, kept in touch with family and friends and stopped following the news. We ignored social media and remained mentally saner, learned yoga, planted a pollinator garden, covered our lawn with clover and learned to bake bread. Also learned to attend classes, work, get togethers, therapy, celebrations and funerals over zoom. Prayed a lot. Still praying a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost us an enormous sum of money (small business owners)

2 of our 3 kids feel behind in school, one is also depressed.

DH and I have both gained weight and drink too much.

I had to go back on meds for my anxiety, and DH is depressed (first timer). Marriage not in a great place.

We were all healthy and thriving before.

It has been very unfair, and absolutely no one cares. A few have born the brunt of this, while so many others have “enjoyed the break”.

It is hard not to be bitter.

But, you asked.

I’m really sorry. A certain class of people (work from home with nannies or sahm
) have had the loveliest time of this. They have no self awareness or compassion for people like you. It makes me sick. Everyone’s ok-ness with no school encouraged our family to leave dc. Can’t live around so many thoughtless lemmings.

Umm some SAHMs were screwed just as much. I suspect the PP with husband who was out the door for 10 hours a day is one. With that many young kids.

Anonymous wrote:Cost us an enormous sum of money (small business owners)

2 of our 3 kids feel behind in school, one is also depressed.

DH and I have both gained weight and drink too much.

I had to go back on meds for my anxiety, and DH is depressed (first timer). Marriage not in a great place.

We were all healthy and thriving before.

It has been very unfair, and absolutely no one cares. A few have born the brunt of this, while so many others have “enjoyed the break”.

It is hard not to be bitter.

But, you asked.

I’m really sorry. A certain class of people (work from home with nannies or sahm
) have had the loveliest time of this. They have no self awareness or compassion for people like you. It makes me sick. Everyone’s ok-ness with no school encouraged our family to leave dc. Can’t live around so many thoughtless lemmings.

It has made me question the meaning of life. Any small chance of believing in god has evaporated.

Cost us an enormous sum of money (small business owners)

2 of our 3 kids feel behind in school, one is also depressed.

DH and I have both gained weight and drink too much.

I had to go back on meds for my anxiety, and DH is depressed (first timer). Marriage not in a great place.

We were all healthy and thriving before.

It has been very unfair, and absolutely no one cares. A few have born the brunt of this, while so many others have “enjoyed the break”.

It is hard not to be bitter.

But, you asked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s made me mad. I will never ever forget the feeling of abandonment. The whole world walked out. I was home alone with 3 small children, one with special needs, for 15 months. Our schools didn’t reopen. Therapies were only on zoom. And nobody cared. My parents social distanced from us. My DH can’t work from home and was out of the house from 8-7 every weekday. Soooo many “friends” and neighbors gushed about all the “silver linings” of the pandemic and how they enjoyed the family time and slower pace. Can’t relate. At all.

Sounds like maybe you bit off more than you can chew.

Yes, put those children back in your tummy, lady. What a dumb comment.

Anonymous wrote:Lost my job (airline pilot) and my home. Had a suicide attempt from the forced isolation and will never work again as a pilot. My marriage is hanging on by a thread and I will likely lose that, too.

Ugh so sorry. I really hope things get better for you.

My son + I ended up contracting the virus at the end of last yr., and I got so sick one night that it warranted a trip to the E/R.
I never felt so horrible.

I thought last year was so terrible w/all the Covid events.
I hated not working & staying home all the time.
I hated not seeing my friends on a regular basis.
I also hated how closed up the world felt and how isolated I felt every single day.

I was so looking forward to 2021 which seemed to signify a new beginning = better days ahead.
I remember feeling a tremendous relief as 12:01 hit and the New Year was upon us‼️

But this yr. hasn’t been so great thus far.
I had to put my beloved 18yr. old cat down unexpectedly due to sudden illness.
And my car got totaled two mos. ago and I have no car right now.

But times are feeling better in general. 😀

It made me realize how invisible I am--no one really cares about me.