Has Lockdown bought you closer to your family.

I have enjoyed lockdown. I have enjoyed not being expected to do stuff. I have enjoyed nothing being expected from me. I have enjoyed not having to have an excuse for not wanting to do something. I have enjoyed not being at my children's beck and call and being made to feel guilty for not instantly dancing to their tune. Same goes for my parents. I've not missed them in the slightest. I don't wish any of them ill but I do wish they could all get on with their lives without constantly having to be propped up.

I think actually we have less contacts. We used to do childcare three days a week, now we never hear from one family, and wonder if they will still want us to when all schools are back again, it does make us feel a bit as though we are only of interest for child care

Other families we have had less contact with one, the same with another, and ignored by the third, which is nothing unusual. Have had more offers of help from the neighbours to be honest!

No not really. We haven't seen any of our family since Christmas because we started our own lockdown as soon as the virus spread beyond China, we just knew what was going to happen. Our AC and GC know we care about them, and if they needed us they know we'll help if we can. We didn't keep in frequent contact with them before lockdown and that hasn't changed, just texts, emails, WhatsApp and the occasional phone call perhaps once a fortnight. Because we only see our GC every 3 months or so anyway we haven't missed them any more than usual, nor they us. DS who lives nearest has called round twice since lockdown began (keeping a good distance of course) but I think it will be quite a while before we feel comfortable being with a group of people, family or otherwise. DH is more nervous about it than I am, he won't go into any shops and won't allow me to. We probably won't go out to shops etc until there have been no fatalities in our area for 3 weeks. We both feel complete Lockdown should have lasted longer, at least until fatalities (nationwide) were in single figures.

I'm lucky my girls don't live too far, they always let me know when they are going shopping so they try to get what Asda failed to produce. We normally have a chat in the drive. Once managed to have a chat with GS who was in the car. Get constantly messages, whatsapped and facetimed by friends. I do feel very sorry for those who are lonely through no fault of their own.

whywhywhy

No, cos I don't have any.

It has definitely brought us closer. All of our DC insisted that we self isolate two weeks before the country went in to lockdown, as they wanted us to be safe. The one who lives near us calls everyday and has done little bits of shopping for us but we have kept this to a minimum as he is a Key worker and has his own young family. Our DDs have been in touch much more frequently. We have had three birthday parties on Zoom and a weekly family quiz. When DD1 was clearly struggling with working full time from home and Homeschooling three boys under 10, we stepped in and now use FaceTime to do the Homeschooling and each do 2 hours or more a day which means we have daily contact with the boys. I almost don't want it to end.

Both sons phone live about 1/2 hr drive away but phone regularly & last week no 1 son brought children over so we could walk together.
Yesterday was no 2 son's youngest's 6th birthday so we went over & sat well apart in their garden & watched him open his presents.
I am very lucky with my sons & both my DiL to be honest.

My daughters have been in touch on line but my grown grandchildren haven’t really bothered and I am quite upset about that

No.

Only seen my son for 1/2 hr since lockdown though he only lives 15mins away. Does text but that’s not personal. My youngest GS has painted my fence for me, but older GS only texts. I live on my own and have missed my friends very much. Wished I had a daughter but can’t change that now not at my age.

Until lockdown I saw my daughter, son-in-law and grandson every Sunday. Now we FaceTime every evening.
I usually see my sister a couple of times a year, and phone every other week, but now we speak on the phone at least 3 times a week.

Yes, I think my sons contact me slightly more than usual but, very happily, it's casual and not in any anxious way. One sometimes simply texts two kisses. I like that. Says to me that he's pretty busy (I know that) but I'm in there somewhere. That'll do for me every time.

Yes I would think so, I have my third son living with us anyway but he has been working from home and we have made our tea times and weekends more special. My eldest son rubs his own business and has a busy life but he has made more time ringing and checking on us.middles son usually never bothers much Christmas birthdays etc and has rang a couple of time’s and FaceTimed miracles can happen! I’ve checked in my sister more which I think has pleased her.

Already close to our DS, DD, & their families. They are all working, albeit differently from "normal".!

DS brings Saturday paper, plus any extras we need.
DD has organised a fortnightly shopping delivery.
DD does seem more anxious about us, whereas DS is a bit more laid back. !! ( We are mid-70's, not "shielded", but age & a few health issues).

Yes it has we are a close family but the lockdown has shown me how we support each other I feel so grateful and touched by their concern for myself and each other

I live in my DD granny annexe and I have been thoroughly spoilt thro out lockdown. DD has turned into Nigella and has excelled herself in the kitchen, we always eat together every night. Altho I’ve never intruded in their lives, we all need our own space, during this time they’ve insisted I join them more so that I don’t feel isolated. My 2 sons and and all the GC have spoken and messaged me a lot more too, so I can honestly say how loved and lucky I truly feel.

Not really, my sister does me ring more often than she did before, every 2 or 3 days rather than every week, but that's the only change.

no. recently widowed, two grown sons, don`t want to infect me so keep away,, dil with kids is really the only one, she facetimes me etc..

We have been skyping with DS1 and family in California more often than the usual once-a-week, as DiL asked DH to read to DGS. So we have been having a chat and a chapter of the books practically every other day. They are on their fourth book now!

With DS2 and family, we have just had phone calls, so no more contact nor less.

However, I am thinking about them more, I find.

My daughter and her fiancée have been amazing, we have always been close, but my daughter has gone above and beyond.
As I'm shielding, I'm relying on them for my medication. Nothing is too much bother for my future SIL, in fact he has been more supportive than my own two sons, who live ten mins away.
They are all working from home and I know their days are full.
My DIL has also tried to be supportive, but she has a difficult relationship with her mother, my neighbour, so I have suggested she take a step back.

What has been a bonus, is that my two close friends and I have got even closer. We have been friends and then neighbours for over thirty years.
As no-one one is working at the moment, so we have had lots of door step chats and they have been picking up essentials for me, when DD can't.
We have had some good fun, during lockdown. Unfortunately, due to social distancing, all gossip has to be relayed via Whatsapp, just in case the other neighbours are eavesdropping.

Yes; I have been very touched by the way my son and his fiancee and my daughter and her partner have kept in touch, 'just to see if you are all right', via regular phone calls, texts and zoom. I have only seen them physically once each during lockdown, collecting/delivering Easter eggs and/or birthday presents.

It's hard to say, really. As a widow I live alone - I'm just not able to visit sister and her husband who live a few streets away. They're shielding (which I assume will go on until mid June) so they've popped round for a chat at a distance - luckily I have a longish driveway.
The whole family is hoping to stay in a holiday cottage for a long weekend in October - the first time for all of us, even me - but I'm unsure about it really.

Certainly not torn apart. DD lives in Australia, so no difference there really. DS and family live five minutes away, never met up since lockdown, we phone and message now and again.

As long as we are all well, it’s been fine just me and DH.

I realise if I were on my own, might feel different and much lonelier, but I can’t say I have missed the more frequent contact we had before all this.

I would say that DD and I still messaged at our usual rate and only did FaceTime because we were unable to see each other physically.

She and I both agreed that apart from me not being able to go to my ‘things that I do’ my life at home wasn’t any different.