Lockdown Lite 2020, the hopefulness of Season 2

Corporate to Kids - 26 Nov 20

Welcome folks to lockdown lite. Remember The Poltergeist 2 film of the eighties when the little girl says ‘They’re back’ and the audience feels the dread of the horrors yet to come? (by the way, I was not allowed to watch that film when I was young, just Freddy Kruger and that’s another story). Anyway, for some reason, I find myself saying that phrase about lockdown, although of course, ‘It’s back.’ Because in the UK, we find ourselves back in the haunting and familiar place of lockdown. Except this time, it’s lockdown lite, and it feels less draconian (she says a mere few days smugly in), so why exactly is season 2 more bearable?

Fear has lessened

Maybe it’s because we got through the first lockdown relatively unscathed (excuse the understatement) or because we wonder how accurate the government COVID figures are, but it seems less scary this time. The March lockdown was a massive shock to the system; it was quite sudden and for many, including me, panic set in. Now, however, it feels like we know how to approach it, and we are already experienced with masks, queuing for supermarkets and dousing our hands with copious amounts of sanitizer. I hope that the panic has lessened a bit and toilet rolls can still be purchased…..!

A termination date

This time around, we have an end date for lockdown lite. It gives hope and wow do we need hope. A cut-off date allows us to plan for the finish, to consider when businesses can once again open their doors and when families can meet (and all those cancelled dates can go back in the diary.) It lets us tick off the days if we desire (I do) and mentally prepare for more flexibility.

Schools are open

For many parents and me, this has to be the main savour of lockdown lite 2020. Not only am I not required to homeschool (I cannot express my relief enough) with the schools remaining open, but I can also work. But there’s more to it than that. I know my children have a consistent Monday to Friday routine and they’re spending loads of time with their friends and children their age. They’re receiving discipline from someone other than Mum and Dad, and they’re tired at night, hurrah! What’s more, I don’t have the guilt of them caning the iPad while I’m trying to work. School gives them a sense of normality.

The weather is different

So we’re no longer in a lockdown that comes with sunnier climes and almost zero rain. But, the rules have changed, and we’re not allowed to sit outside with more than one person so having five others to sit in the garden with vino is not an option anyway. So, I’m going to make the most of the one to one rule and go on walks with a friend at a time. Because interaction with friends is invaluable at a time like this, so is moaning about whatever to a friend and gossiping about nothing.

The shops are open

I feel sorry for the businesses that have closed during lockdown lite, but I love the loopholes that have been discovered. It’s incredible what can be classified as essential items! I want more businesses to stay open and fight against this bully of a pandemic. I will be embarking on lots of takeaways this time around because not only does it feel like a sneaky treat to avoid cooking, but it feels right to support the local places that can’t fully open.

Hope is present

While so much of the media is scary, some of the updates are encouraging and even exciting. The vaccine! Wow do we need some hope as 2020 has been a belter of a ratbag. It’s chucked so much grief at us so the thought of a vaccine and the restrictions lifting and the dark fear lessening is exhilarating!

So, let’s ride this out together. Watch more box sets, drink more wine and wear pyjamas for longer, as we have an end date in sight. Who knows, lockdown might even be a bit like childbirth: awful, long and painful at the time but afterwards, years later, you barely remember it.

Corporate to Kids

Who: Sarah - Queen of self-deprecation Job: from corporate HR career to Mum, Writer and Blogger Children: two boys with a 13 month age gap!! Obsessions: writing, Haribos, rainbows, coffee, fizz

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