What’s been good, bad and unexpected for you in lockdown? – Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews says it feels like we’ve been in lockdown for a lifetime, but there have been pleasant aspects of this period of confinement.

This time of Covid has brought some unexpected changes to our lives (Picture: John Devlin)

During the week, I was on BBC Radio Scotland with Kaye Adams talking about the good, the bad and the expected of this very strange lockdown.

The day I was on, marked three months exactly since we were told to “stay in the house” and by God that feels like a lifetime away. Three months? I was asked the good, which I have to say is the benefit of being able to spend time with each other, time with the kids and not rushing about. My afternoon naps also have to be noted as one of the bonuses. Whilst everyone else is going for a run, I’m making big Zzzz’s.

Now we come to the bad, and I have to admit I’m fairly positive about the situation. I mean, with two boys who are constantly eating, pooing and fighting it can be almost impossible to do anything but prepare meals, wipe bottoms and split up a fight but that’s just parenthood so I’d say there isn’t really any bad.

The unexpected, however, is discovering that our eight-year-old is a bit of a “ladies man”. He’s juggling more women than Charlie Sheen from his bedroom whilst gaming on the PS4, chatting on the iPad and texting his pals. It’s been amazing to witness young love all unfolding in real time in front of our very eyes. It’s definitely been one of the benefits of lockdown, especially if you are eight and full of hormones!

We’ve also made new neighbour friends who we’ve bonded with over our cats. I’m still not talking to the neighbour from ‘trampoline gate’ (see a previous column) and someone has been passively aggressively pegging lolly wrappers to my washing line, assuming they’re ours which they’re not as I’m very careful about plastic. However, I know what I’d like to do with that lolly wrapper!

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