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Covid

Is it ok to see family in the garden social distancing ?

145 replies

starrynight19 · 03/05/2020 21:01

Just that really if we stick to the 2m guidelines.

OP posts:
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Pomegranatepompom · 03/05/2020 21:03

Difficult, we’ve considered this bit felt uncomfortable. People do stop to catch if we are gardening - at a distance.

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Laiste · 03/05/2020 21:12

Well if it's ok for everyone to pile into their front gardens at the same time for VE day i can't see why it's not ok to sit and talk to family at the right distance.

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dementedma · 03/05/2020 21:13

We do this with my elderly mother. She sits out wrapped up in a blanket and we sit across the garden.

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Redolent · 03/05/2020 21:14

Unnecessary outing so no.

A month ago the vast majority on the sub would have agreed. Now it’s probably the other way.

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Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2020 21:16

I go for a walk to my parents' house every now and again. They stand in the garage and I stand at the bottom of the drive and we yell at each other. Bet the neighbours love it. Grin

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Chrisinthemorning · 03/05/2020 21:17

We do this, we visit my parents garden on our walk. Staying much more than 2m away.
My Dad does the same, we have a milkman and we order them milk and eggs. He has a socially distant chat when he collects them.

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Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 03/05/2020 21:36

My next door neighbour is an old lady on her own every day one of her children drop off some shopping for her and sit in the garden for a while while she sits inside her doorway and they chat for a bit. I can't see the harm, she doesn't go out and they don't go with in 5 meters of her. If I see her I will stand in my garden to chat while she sits in her door way about 20feet away. It must be lonely on your own.

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Fishfingersandwichplease · 03/05/2020 21:38

I sometimes take my 75 year old mum some shopping bits....she won't let me in her house but we always have a chat in her front garden.

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Strangerthingshere · 03/05/2020 21:38

I do this. I don't go out specifically to do this, but when dropping off milk (as we are shopping for each other when out) I will stay for a short period of time at the other side of the garden.

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poorbuthappy · 03/05/2020 21:39

Yep. A cuppa in the garden with parents after delivering their shopping.
And a glass of wine with my sister as she's on a lovely 4 mile local walk.
Social distancing rules strictly adhered to.

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Itwasntme1 · 03/05/2020 21:40

We do this when we drop groceries to the parents. I love alone and sometimes my exercise takes me passed my sisters house. I stop to chat. Don’t go inside and maintain social distance.

As long as you are careful and maintain distance, don’t touch or anything I think it’s fine.

Loneliness can be crippling, we all need a bit of human contact.

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BriefDisaster · 03/05/2020 21:41

I've started taking DD a walk past my parents so we can talk at a distance. I avoided it at first as I thought it would upset her that she couldn't go into their house but it was really affecting her not seeing them at all.

The other day she wanted to see how the flowers she planted in their back garden was growing so I took her round and my parents stood at their patio doors while she ran about their garden for a bit.

All properly distanced and not a regular occurrence but she slept well for the first time in weeks.

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ginsparkles · 03/05/2020 21:42

Both of my in-laws (divorces) live in the same village as us so if we are walking the dog that way we will stop to say hi, but we wouldn't go to do the same with my mum as we'd have to drive to see her. My FIL lives over the street so we will pop over and deliver shopping to each other but always stay a good 2m apart whilst having a chat on the driveway!

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BusterTheBulldog · 03/05/2020 21:44

People that say they stay to have a glass of wine / cuppa - Do you take your own with you? How do you get around the them touching something and then you touching it thing?

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dementedma · 03/05/2020 21:47

Buster..hand sanitiser before and after touching

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bethg21 · 03/05/2020 21:47

yes do it

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Lonelykettleshed · 03/05/2020 21:50

I do this with my Dad when I deliver his shopping or do his cleaning (no unnecessary journeys). I don't see the harm if social distancing is maintained and it's not an unnecessary trip. He's recently widowed, suffers from depression and is in his late 80s. I wouldn't be so cruel as to ignore him when he's distressed and he needs help with housework occasionally as he is physically incapable of doing it all himself. When cleaning I send him into a different room or into the garden and ensure frequent hand washing.

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Incrediblytired · 03/05/2020 21:51

Not at first but my mum is shielding and I’m high risk. If I get some shopping delivered, I take some bits to her and sit in her garden for a bit at a distance. I don’t have a drink or go in the house. Neither of us have been out for 8 weeks apart from my occasional walk so my risk assessment says this is fine. It’s really really good for our emotional wellbeing.

It is against the rules though.

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mistermagpie · 03/05/2020 21:51

A lot of my neighbours have been doing this. We've had FIL round to our garden for a chat a few times too, MIL is quite honestly borderline abusive towards him and sometimes he needs a break. They are walking distance away though so he combines it with his exercise.

I honestly don't see the harm in it but it's probably against the 'rules'.

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mynameiscalypso · 03/05/2020 21:54

My dad walked past our building on his walk this morning so we popped out and had a socially distanced chat.

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loopylindazdaughter · 03/05/2020 21:55

Our parents have, every Friday lunch, they are stubborn AF, won't not come. It's nice in a way but I wish they wouldn't.

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Chrisinthemorning · 03/05/2020 22:00

I haven’t been having a cup of tea. I take myself a can of coke and DS a carton of juice if needed and bring the empties home to bin here. Only needed if it’s part of a much longer walk and it’s hot.

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DamnYankee · 03/05/2020 22:03

My older neighbors do that. We have affectionately nicknamed them the "Corona Crew." At first, my nose was a little out of joint, but now I'm not bothered.

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Lifeisabeach09 · 03/05/2020 22:06

This will be the way forward once locked down ends...meeting in open spaces/gardens but maintaining 2m physical distance. Does it really make a difference if it starts now, especially if one has been self-isolating and asymptomatic? No, it doesn't.

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mrsed1987 · 03/05/2020 22:12

My mum and dad are both shielding as mum is on chemo, we are obviously getting bits for them and when i drop it off we stand and chat, they are at the front door and im at the end of the drive, i imagine its about 10m apart.

I dont think thats against the rules? Or do they expect me just to drop at the door and leave without talking to them?

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