Sister tested positive. Can she put her DC in the garden for me to watch?

[PourOutTheTea]

My sister sounds v. poorly :( Her DC are 5 and 3 so not old enough to do much unsupervised.

Could she put them in the garden for me to watch? I would come in through the back gate and try my best to distance from them but again they're 5 and 3.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

If she isn't well enough to supervise them from the sofa with the telly on, and there is no other adult in her house, then a proper solution needs to be found.

That means either someone moves in to care for the dc until Mum can, or the dc move in with another adult until Mum is well enough to have them back.

This!

Just do it and isolate for 2 weeks after

Or just do it, catch COVID, get sick as a dog and miss 3 weeks of work?

What are the options? This is her sister and nieces/nephews. I assume the father isn't an option.

I'm certain that if she's too ill to watch them you are allowed to look after them. However, you really should then be isolating yourself or getting a test once you have stopped caring for them to avoid transmitting it to others.

So many people must be in this situation, it must be very difficult. Talk to your sister and come up with a plan. Could you move in and your sister stay in her bedroom away from you and her children, you could mask up and clean everywhere and air her house to try and minimise the risk?

Or just do it, catch COVID, get sick as a dog and miss 3 weeks of work

That's her decision, as long as she isolates for 14 days!!

Of course it's her choice - but it's not a choice that is just about whether she doesnt mind isolating, is it?

Yes if the sister is too ill to look after them then the children need looking after, at their age. Amazed this needs to be explained.

She's not so ill (well, I really hope so), but she sounds as though she just needs a few hours uninterrupted sleep.

Do the children have a father on the scene?

If not then do what you have to do to keep her/ the children safe.

Ah OK. In that case I suggest a film marathon for them sorry. Also could you read some stories to them virtually

I do agree with pp- you'd need to isolate afterwards if you do care for them.

@StealthPolarBear

Yes if the sister is too ill to look after them then the children need looking after, at their age. Amazed this needs to be explained.

this,. 100 times this.

and not in the fucking garden ffs on an ad hoc basis.

You need to move in with her, or have the kids move in with you.

Find a friend who recovered fromCovid to watch them

Personally I'd move in for a relative on the understanding that they'd stay in their room as much as possible and have separate towels. Take her vitamin D pills and hope that helps her improve. You take pills too, wear a mask and your sister wears one when out of her room for any reason. Both adults gargle with alcohol based mouthwash or chlorhexidrine mouthwash, it may reduce viral spread.

If you arent up for that then garden and mask while you are with them.

My children are the same age (well not long turned 3 and 5 in a few months) can't she put some films on and curl up on the sofa? You could make their meals and take them round, leave them outside. That's what I'd do. If I've ever been ill and had to look after my children it's films and me downstairs watching them from the sofa as much as I can.

If she really can't manage can you afford 2 weeks off work isolating and move in with them (assuming you aren't concerned about catching it)?

@HalloweenGhostlyHare how casually you say that based on so little information.

Oh yes, like its that easy, find a friend who has recovered to watch them, ................some people live in cloud cuckoo land

because they are young children who need care.

Not sure how that is particularly controversial. Lone parent. 2 young chidlren. Family member who works from home. Doesn't seem that complicated. Inconvenient perhaps. But not complicated.

@PourOutTheTea

She's not so ill (well, I really hope so), but she sounds as though she just needs a few hours uninterrupted sleep.

I would absolutely arrange to watch them in the garden so she can get some rest. Take your handgel, tell her to send them out into the garden as you arrive. The 2 year old could have a potty downstairs if needed and the older one could go to the toilet themselves. It of course isn't ideal but she clearly needs a break.

I suspect Dominic Cummings is free...
Actually just let them run feral. Better that way. He might put ideas in their heads about growing up to be a special advisor

and as for the garden- well, it's cold and wet. All day in the garden? at those ages? Not practical.

@ApplePenPineapplePen

Childcare is exempt from distancing I believe. If she can't look after them then you must. Indoors.

I believe this to be correct. If it's not, then it should be and you should look after them regardless.

'You need to move in with her, or have the kids move in with you.'

She really doesn't unless the sister gets worse. The op has said her sister isn't too bad just needs rest. No need to go moving in just yet.

You could ring your surgery/nhs direct for advice

Please don't waste the NHS' time, asking something you can find for yourself in 2 minutes on Google.