Current covid rules hosting is hard work

[Orangedaisy]

So just had my parents round in the garden for the day. Was wonderful to see them but was crazy hard work for me. Obviously first world problem but wondered if anyone else found this....??

Cleaned downstairs loo for their sole use (access through garage) so whenever I needed to go I had to go upstairs, also same when kids needed bums wiping.

No help with cooking or washing up or grabbing drinks or salt or whatever as they can’t come inside. And wanted to make a bit of effort with food of course as it’s a special day. So more to cook and more clearing up than normal (albeit I was kind to myself with the menu).

No help with kids up close (shoes and coats fastening, reading stories, playing games etc) as we’re sticking with the social distancing.

Kids not great at socialising or taking turns talking so on edge all day trying to temper their behaviour.

Weather extremes meant we needed everything from woolly hats and blankets to parasols and sun hats.

DM and DF tried their best but would usually be right in there helping. DP did help of course.

I’m wiped out!! Anyone else?

Outside rules. For pubs.

*Hands up here as someone who's not stuck completely to the rules this weekend. By DB and his DP came over this weekend and accessed the garden via the house, as the alternative involved us clearing out the garage for a route through.

They used the same downstairs bathroom as the rest of us. We let them go back in the house to collect drinks and I laid the food out on the table by the patio doors (just inside) rather than outside so everyone went into collect what they wanted, then we went to the park for a while, and dc2 wanted fun uncle to push her on the swings. He didn't refuse.*

I'm not sure why people are saying they haven't stuck to the rules when they have. Everything listed here is allowed, oh apart from the pushing on the swing as it could be deemed to be not socially distanced...however they wouldn't have been facing eachother so risk was probably lowered....

I don't think they are extreme. They are the rules. It's just that everyone else is relaxing them more, not applying them so stringently. Now you get told off for obeying the rules properly?

I think you have made life harder for yourself by enforcing social distancing between adults and kids. We haven't done this. Kids want to play with their grandparents, not sit and chat with them. No wonder they were bored.

But @ChocOrange1, the OP has said that's what her parents wanted. It's about making them feel comfortable surely. I'd hate to have people at my home and to make them feel uncomfortable, that's the last thing I'd want, even if I felt they were being over the top.

@sunflowersandbuttercups

We have seen a noticeable shift in attitude this week and I have an awful feeling that we may see a rise in cases and a pause on restrictions being eased by the end of the month

Based on what, exactly?

Because didn't see additional cases last Easter. Or on VE day. Or when everyone flocked to the beaches. Or when shops re-opened and everyone stormed to Primark. Or after the BLM cases. Or Eat Out to Help Out.

Or are you just here to doom-monger?

It’s doom-mongering.

Just like the people who said the schools going back would raise cases - they didn’t.

Sure, but then the grandparents were surely understanding when the kids were bored and not "taking turns" or whatever was stressing OP out

Because didn't see additional cases last Easter. Or on VE day. Or when everyone flocked to the beaches. Or when shops re-opened and everyone stormed to Primark. Or after the BLM cases. Or Eat Out to Help Out.
In the main i agree with you. Especially the hysteria around beaches which still seems to be ongoing! However I think they found that EOTHO did contribute to the increasing cases in September.

@ChocOrange1

Because didn't see additional cases last Easter. Or on VE day. Or when everyone flocked to the beaches. Or when shops re-opened and everyone stormed to Primark. Or after the BLM cases. Or Eat Out to Help Out. In the main i agree with you. Especially the hysteria around beaches which still seems to be ongoing! However I think they found that EOTHO did contribute to the increasing cases in September.

Some EOTHO was indoors, though.

At the moment, all "legal" meet-ups are outdoors and that will continue when hospitality opens next week.

Absolutely. Plus nobody was vaccinated then, and very few people (in the scheme of things) had natural immunity either. Outdoor meetings are even less likely to cause transmission now.

This is why we had a normal Easter indoors and outdoors with family. We've all been vaccinated as adults and the kids are all under 10. It was the most wonderful day in months and I've missed adult company and seeing my DC so happy. I doubt many have gone to the lengths you have TBH

Work load as per usual is almost always on us, the shopping, organising and cooking - being aware of restrictions/peoples feelings about the matter. I have a very helpful dh that pitches in as much as possible, but I always feel it falls to me.
Exhausted from a long lockdown, it is no wonder you are finding it hard work op. You need a week on the beach with room service, and housekeeping.

I have a very helpful dh that pitches in as much as possible, but I always feel it falls to me.

In which case you don't have a helpful DH.

He does his fair share, but he does not care about things in the same way I do. He would not notice the smaller things. Not deliberately.

Yep first world problem

@Itsalonghaul 👊

In solidarity. Thank you for your kind comments. Not fussed that many don’t get it but it’s nice to know someone does.

Sure, but then the grandparents were surely understanding when the kids were bored and not "taking turns" or whatever was stressing OP out

@ChocOrange1 I would think so, I can't see where the OP says that they weren't?

@orangedaisy

Had we had our parents around we would have had the same arrangement. Mainly because they would choose to stick rigidly to the rules and we would respect this.

However, they wouldn't normally muck in to help and are normally hard work to host pre covid!!

I think I'm a very lazy host!! Food here is either pasta , pizza, hot dogs or burger and chips. It gets put out on a plate and handed to any guests whilst they are seated outside .

We only have one toilet, it's down stairs , separate to bathroom and is accessed through kitchen . I do ask that people use separate towels.

We have a patio heater we put on when cold. We haven't had visitors who have had to travel a distance so we just arrange based on fine weather forecast (no rain). I'll admit that last year when we did get caught with rain we went indoors and opened the windows .

We have only had very close family and friends round in small numbers and have no young DC in our family so perhaps it's easier .

I guess a lot of people are more wary if they haven't been used to seeing people , especially if they are vulnerable due to age or existing health, and vaccines aren't 100% so pays to still be careful .

I don't understand the need for separate towels, surely when hands are washed they're clean when you dry them!

@KurtWilde not when my DS washes his hands ! (He's nearly 20 and lives with his GF)

@Itsalonghaul

Work load as per usual is almost always on us, the shopping, organising and cooking - being aware of restrictions/peoples feelings about the matter. I have a very helpful dh that pitches in as much as possible, but I always feel it falls to me. Exhausted from a long lockdown, it is no wonder you are finding it hard work op. You need a week on the beach with room service, and housekeeping.

Not in my house, DH is the natural cook and host. I just fill drinks up.