Does anyone have advice on what to do about aged, should-be shielding parents (late 70s, mobile but one with health condition) who have decided the rules don't apply to them?
I'm not close to my parents, speak every few months maybe when I put DD on phone. At the start of the pandemic, they were still shopping, albeit in gloves.
Then my dad got a shielding /very vulnerable letter (he obvs knew he has health problems which mean if he got covid he has a v poor outlook). Seemed to underline it to them, and I helped them access supermarket deliveries, local groups (they live ~4hrs away), via email.
In the meantime, I've had covid symptoms and ongoing issues for >5 weeks, having tests (not virus ones sadly!) etc.. Parents have had little interest in my health, don't ask in emails how I am, haven't contacted us except DD's birthday and in response to an email. We've phoned them a few times, roughly weekly, more than normal to check they are OK, DH gets DD to chat, I tend to sulk in background. They've asked maybe twice how I am. This is "normal" for them but still pissed me off.
Last phone call, mum said something like "have you noticed how quiet the roads are when you go out", they'd had people round for "distant" drinks, been to a bloody veg farm, and dropped veg over to other friends. They are also still insisting they are moving house in June.
I didn't say anything at the time, my mind just boggled. I'm not surprised, but I don't know what to do. I can't imagine they'd listen to me. I guess I'd feel guilty if the worst happens that I didn't repeat the stay at home all the time advice. I'd emailed them a link to the govt "stay at home" site at the start of all this, and I am clear about what we are doing (wfh, only going out for food and exercise).
Has anyone successfully navigated suggesting sticking to the advice in a strained parental relationship context? Or do I just have to accept they are adults and making their own choices?
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Aged parents lockdown fatigue
21 replies
Flippetyflipok · 01/05/2020 23:22
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