Gained about 10 lbs which I was able to lose in 2021.

Had to quit my job because we have 4 kids now, didn’t go back after maternity leave because it was impossible with 2 in virtual school, 1 preschooler without a preschool, and a new baby. I liked my job and have had a bit of an identity crisis which I’m working on.

On the bright side -

Financially it was a good year for us despite everything and we are still healthy and managed to avoid COVID - we were very careful.

I have become more openminded about education - private, homeschooling, virtual, pods, whatever works for your family.

My friends and I kept up an ongoing group text and I feel closer to them even though I didn’t see them.

I am adventurous and ready to travel - want to see the world after it was stopped.

Kids seem okay. I’m proud of them.

Mild PTSD (nurse on the front lines)
Regrets I couldn't be with my parents more and my dad unexpectedly died last summer (though thankfully I was visiting when he did)
30 pound weight gain on an already overweight body
More social anxiety than before (but it's getti g better)
Loss of trust in the media, politicians, and a lot of people in general (on all sides of the spectrum)

Now the good stuff:

Made me aware of what an awesome man DH is and how great our marriage is
Made me thankful and appreciative for what we have as a family
Rwalixed how great DS is and how well he adjusted and did what was necessary
Made me realize i have a good group of friends.

Covid took a lot out of me mentally and physically. But it made me so much more appreciative for what I do have.

I have better work boundaries now. I’m in a giving profession and I now know where I need to pull back more to preserve my own personal energy.

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.

I am going to say this as gently as I can — you are alone when it comes down to taking care of your kids. Yes, we all build villages which are very important, however, your kids will be entirely dependent on you during emergencies like a pandemic. That is true for everyone. The therapists our kids depend on? They also have families who they had to protect from a pandemic. Same for the teachers and even your parents — they had to protect themselves. Being mad at people for taking care of themselves and protecting their own families is a waste of precious emotional energy because the outcome will always be the same.

Yeah, one of my neighbors about went insane during this time (and we even live in an area that didn't shut down the schools) and she is so angry. She has four kids under 7 years old with one of the way.

I love her but umm... Five kids? If we have to shut down again this winter, we're going to have a stage an intervention, COVID or no COVID.

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.

I am going to say this as gently as I can — you are alone when it comes down to taking care of your kids. Yes, we all build villages which are very important, however, your kids will be entirely dependent on you during emergencies like a pandemic. That is true for everyone. The therapists our kids depend on? They also have families who they had to protect from a pandemic. Same for the teachers and even your parents — they had to protect themselves. Being mad at people for taking care of themselves and protecting their own families is a waste of precious emotional energy because the outcome will always be the same.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Our family left as well for the Midwest. We are so much happier here.

Ha! Same here.

Riding this out in the Midwest was pretty good.

Because we were lucky enough not to have any family or friends die, we have lots of silver linings.

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.

Our family left as well for the Midwest. We are so much happier here.

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.

I'm really sorry. I lost my job in COVID too (hospitality) and used to be in the airline industry so saw how devastating it was to many former colleagues. I know how hard you have to work to become a pilot and understand the feeling of despair when you lose your job and your industry is decimated. It's really awful and I fell into a spiral of depression too. I hope that things get better for you.

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.

Reading this was terribly sad so I can only imagine living it. Wishing you well and hoping things get back on track.

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

+1000

COVID isolation in college did a number in my son. He is still recovering. I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t think he will require hospitalization but if things do not improve, it may.

I’m a nanny and I don’t think I’ll ever get over the bitterness I feel towards my Boss. She was so selfish and entitled this entire time. Yes, I’m looking for a new job.

I lost all my leftover baby weight (youngest was 6 months old when the shutdowns started) and then some because I was too depressed and also too busy to eat properly. No, SAHM didn’t have it easy. My husband generally worked some in person this whole time, from around May 2020 onward. And was back full time with only very occasional telework in November 2020. You have many neighbors like this if you live in the DC area because of the high numbers of security clearance and military/contractors in the area.

Anonymous wrote:Made me drink more, realize it was too much, make me nervous when I had a hard time cutting back, read The Naked Mind, and then quit altogether.

So the pandemic made me quit drinking.

And introduce me to the awesomeness that is leisurewear.

Oh yeah, and homeschool.

And build a better relationship with DH and kids since they are around all the time. In fact we have all grown closer.

Of course the pandemic was awful and I am not for a second “grateful” for it.

Made me drink more, realize it was too much, make me nervous when I had a hard time cutting back, read The Naked Mind, and then quit altogether.

So the pandemic made me quit drinking.

And introduce me to the awesomeness that is leisurewear.