Bethany, 16, Secondary School Pupil
“I got to do things I’ve wanted to do for a long time”.
Profitable: “Having a break from school was good for my mental health. I feel like getting back to normality would be good but at the same time I don’t want to go back to the way things were like before quarantine.”
Annoying: “I missed out on big things I was looking forward to like the musical I was supposed to do and even working towards my GCSE’s.”
Gratifying: “I got to do things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I baked a lot, did a lot of art, painted my room. And I was able to resolve some problems with friendships.”
Hannah, 24, Freelance Musician and Support Worker
“You can be a singer in a pub, or go swimming at the gym, but you can’t perform on stage for an audience”.
Frustrating: “I’ve lost out on work and there isn’t as much support available for freelancers. What’s worse is there’s no one answer for everyone. You can be a singer in a pub, or go swimming at the gym, but you can’t perform on stage for an audience. The people we work with in our music therapy groups are struggling with their mental health too.”
Messy: “I don’t think anyone knows how to cope right now. Everyone is being told different things. We’re 5 months into this now. It’s a disgrace that measures haven’t been solidified.”
Creative: “Some of the organisations that I work for have come up with the most creative ideas, like socially distanced orchestras. It’s also opened up a lot of possibilities for online teaching.”
Cheryl, 52, School Cook caring for her Father with Dementia
“I’m having to build a relationship back up with my Dad when I can only see him once every 3 weeks”.
Upsetting: “It’s difficult when you’re used to visiting your Dad 2-3 days a week and then suddenly you’re not able to see him at all. When you loose that daily contact, he looses his memory of us.”
Frustrating: “I’m having to build a relationship back up with my Dad when I can only see him once every 3 weeks. We tried facetiming and phoning but because of the illness we couldn’t really communicate much. Every time you go you have to go over the same things to try and help him recognise/remember you. ”
Thankful: “Without work, I’ve suddenly got time for me. Trying to keep spirits high when 3 of your children are waiting on various exam results, and another one is out of a job which is difficult. Going out on long walks helped me clear my head while I was trying to hold things together.
Mark, 59, Civil Servant
“Going back to the office full-time would be disappointing now. I’ve achieved a better work/life balance”.
Revolutionary: “Not in the sense of rebelliousness but opening your eyes to a new and different way of working remotely.”
Liberating: “It was refreshing to have more time to do things about the house. I had extra time to be with family and to finally complete some forgotten long term projects. Going back to the office full-time would be disappointing now. I’ve achieved a better work/life balance and have been able to get back to growing vegetables and keeping chickens on my lunch break.”
Frustrating: “It wasn’t ideal when the technology you need for work doesn’t always work or when you have to queue up to do your shopping. It was also sad to see a lot of the social activities I look forward to cancelled.”
Alec, 89, Retired
Confusing: “I didn’t know from day to day what was happening and the government kept changing the rules. It was very difficult to keep up. My son had to explain everything and keep me up to date.”
Frustrating: “I was going stir crazy. I was out every night of the week and suddenly I didn’t get out for weeks. Sometimes it felt like the government were making it up as they went along. When my family started visiting me it made things a little bit lighter.”
Worried: “I didn’t know what was going to happen from day to day. I don’t know if I’ll be able to celebrate my 65th wedding anniversary because the rules and regulations are being updated everyday.”
Amy Murray
Image courtesy of Kristina Tripkovic via Unsplash.
This is really great work, Amy. The different perspectives of your family members are so diverse and yet common too.
I wonder what changes will stay with us as we move forward from these crazy days?