Grab the Meic – Meeting With Friends During Lockdown

Sophie feels like she’s missing out as her friends meet up during lockdown. She contacted Grab the Meic for help, here’s our advice.

Grab the Meic is your opportunity to ask us about anything that’s worrying you. We’re here to listen and give advice. If you want to #grabthemeic then check out this page, but remember this advice is not instant. If you need advice quickly then please contact the helpline.

This article is also available in Welsh – I ddarllen y cynnwys yma yn Gymraeg – clicia yma.

We have lots of articles with information and advice about Covid-19 – check them out here.

Hi Meic

I know we’re meant to be in lockdown but my friends are still meeting up. They tell their parents that they’re going for a bike ride but then they’re all meeting up and hanging out. I know they’re not meant to do this but I really miss my friends and I feel like I’m missing out. None of us are sick, and no one in our families is sick, so what harm would it do to meet up?

Sophie (*name changed to protect their identity)

Meic’s Advice

Hi Sophie,

This must be really difficult for you. It’s totally understandable that you’re missing your friends and feel like you’re missing out. Here at Meic we know exactly how that must feel. We’re missing our friends too.

You and your parents are doing the right thing though. Your friends are not. You probably know that this virus has made many people very ill and so far, in the UK alone, has caused the deaths of over 18,000 people.

Stopping the spread

You say that none of your friends or family is sick and that’s good to hear. However, did you know that it’s possible to have Covid-19 and not even know it? The symptoms can be so mild you might not even notice. If you go out and socialise with friends or family, you could be passing it on to them without realising.

What if one of your friends had it but didn’t even know? They socialise with a few others and give it to one of them. That person could then go home and pass it on to their mum, who might be a nurse. She then goes to work and passes it on to one of her patients, who was in hospital for something that wasn’t related to Covid-19. It really is very serious. The saying ‘The virus doesn’t move, people move it’ really is true.

The lockdown (as horrible as it is) has been put in place to stop the spread. The more people that are doing the right thing, the less the virus will spread and the quicker the lockdown will be lifted. You are doing the right thing.

Banning the boredom

Yes, it might be boring, and frustrating and you just feel a bit ‘meh’! We get that. So what can you do to make things seem better? Firstly, THIS WILL PASS! In no time you’ll be back in school/college/work, rushing around, stressing about the workload and wishing you had a bit more time in the day. You will probably never have this amount of free time again so try to make the most of it.

• Keep in touch with your mates – texting etc. is okay but proper face time through video calling is always better. You’ll feel more connected
• Set up a watch party on Netflix so you can watch a film together
• Take part in an online YouTube quiz via FB Messenger/Zoom. This movie soundtrack one looks good but there are loads available
• Uno also have an online game that you can get for free to play with friends

There are lots of things you can do to still spend time together, even when you’re not actually in the same place. You just have to think outside of the box.

Remember, you can’t make your friends decisions for them. You can only make the right decision for you and the people you love. However, there’s nothing to stop you from trying to influence your friends. Maybe share this Grab The Meic with them and take the lead on planning some fun things for you all to do together – from a distance.

Take Care

The Meic Team

Call Meic

If you need to talk to someone about anything that’s bothering you, then call Meic to talk to a friendly advisor.

Meic is an information and advocacy helpline for children and young people aged 0-25 in Wales. We are open 8am to midnight, 7 days a week. You can contact us free on the phone (080880 23456), text message (84001) or online chat.