Coronavirus as a single parent ?!

[dollface19]

Hi I think I'm panicking now but I'm alone with weekly help with childcare from grandparents etc but if we are to self isolate for 2 weeks or even more I can cope but are we allowed to visit these grandparents house if no one has symptoms etc
As I may need to go to the shop and don't want to risk taking children with me etc

Or what if as a single parent I get it ?! How on earth depending on severity if we are coping at home do I cope ? Thanks for any advice xx

[champagneandfromage50]

Order your food online. Or have a look and see if anyone has set up a local Facebook group offering help for those isolated. We have started one and folks are offering to go to the shops etc

[grannyshark]

It's next to impossible as a lone parent to self isolate, getting food and medication for example.

[INeedNewShoes]

I think as a single parent it is prudent to ensure now that you have enough food to feed yourself and the children for a fortnight. I've done this and have included three days of absolute convenience food requiring minimal preparation in case I am too unwell to cook (tinned soup, crackers, cheese, tinned tuna, bread, yoghurt).

Also ensure that any prescribed medicines you take that you have a fortnight's worth and that you have a week's worth of paracetamol for you and calpol for the children.

I have taught DD how to call various people using the speed dial on our landline so that if I ended up truly bedridden she could alert someone.

Tomorrow I'm going to get DD to get her own bowl of cereal + milk at breakfast so that she can at least do that on her own if necessary.

I have spoken to family re a rough plan for who would look after DD if I was too unwell to. Its complicated because my DM who would usually be first choice is in a particularly at-risk group for Covid-19 so mustn't be knowingly exposed if at all possible.

I have written some basic important information down re looking after DD in case it ends up being someone who isn't completely familiar with her (she has allergies, and some upcoming hospital appointments for a couple of different conditions).

[tunnocksreturns2019]

How old are your children? I’m a widowed parent so understand your anxiety but mine are 8 and 10 so much easier than if they were tiny. I’m always well stocked with batch cooking, but I’m dreading trying to work from home and look after them at the same time

[Busymum45]

Sorry but more worried over elderly people on their own?

[Prepenultimate]

Excellent advice from @INeedNewShoes. Try and think through the various situations which could arise and make plans/ preparations in advance to continue basic functions such as eating, staying warm and keeping healthy and clean.
There are various threads on my local FaceBook group offering to do shops/ errands/ dog walking for those self isolating and local grocery/ greengrocers shops are offering free local delivery with bank transfer payments. Have conversations with friends and neighbours now about mutual support--most will help out in small practical ways in a crisis.

[grannyshark]

I think as a single parent it is prudent to ensure now that you have enough food to feed yourself and the children for a fortnight

That's all well and good but that's a lot of money to spend if you are reliant on weekly tax credits.

[tunnocksreturns2019]

Yes, I agree that’s more of a concern Busymum

But people are allowed to ask for advice on how best to cope with their own situation and it’s surely sensible to do so.

Single parenting is tough and in situations like this, tougher still.

[Prepenultimate]

@Grannyshark- even if you can still only spend weekly there are still ways to plan ahead. It's not just about buying more things than usual. Think about what you will buy-- which items will keep if necessary, what your children can manage to prepare for themselves if necessary, or what you might be able to prepare if not feeling well, I'd also advise to get registered with an online supermarket if you're not already- Ocado have announced yesterday that they are not taking on ANY new customers as their IT systems can't cope- and there are few delivery slots anyway. Other planning doesn't cost either ie talking with family/ friends/ neighbours about possible ways to help each other.

[SoloMummy]

I'm a lone parent.
I always have sufficient food that we'd manage the apocalypse!
Medication I have just collected.
I will do another food shop today and then anticipate I will try midweek to further top up fresh foods. Anticipating school closures.
I will work from home. Lo will be home.
There will be no need to leave the home. Barring an emergency. That includes social visits to family etc. No popping to the shops...

That's the whole point of isolation and being a lone parent doesn't change this!

[Tennisp]

Hello. Glad I found this thread. I am starting to worry about the situation now. I am a LP, with two DC and no family nearby and I don't even know our neighbours. Good advice from above. I am trying to stock up when I can. At the moment we do not have enough food to last longer than a week though Working from home with two DC would be impossible for me too and as I only get paid for the work I actually do that's another concern. I'm not reading the news today as it's been stressing me out!

[Busymum45]

Sorry I don't know why you.are worried? You have to prepare as we all do!

[Tennisp]

@busymum45 I listed all the reasons above why I am worried. Looking at your other posts you are not a LP so I'm not sure what you're doing on the LP thread as you obviously cannot relate.

[Busymum45]

I can contribute to whatever I want thanks v much. You.are over reacting.

[Wilmalovescake]

Stock up on simple food.
Fill your freezer with cheap sliced bread and your cupboards with jam and squash if money is an issue- it won’t hurt anyone to fill up in jam sandwiches for a week or two at the height of things.

[Doyoumind]

I have enough food and medication in to keep us going for a couple of weeks without leaving the house at all. Once things ramp up, I'm not planning to do visits to grandparents at all.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I was just thinking about this reading on another thread, about how in China one person per household was allowed out every 3 days for groceries. That would be me, the adult in the house. The others are 3 and 4 yrs old.

[PumpkinP]

I’m a lone parent with no help at all. You need to stock up now. And not buying cant afford it as I’m on benefits aswell but I’m buying all the value brands tins of beans for 30p etc.