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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think your child should stay home

15 replies

Songlyrics · 26/03/2020 10:07

If your employer has sent you to work from home yourself?

My sibling is working from home, as are their all colleagues. Sibling's spouse is a key worker and is still going to work. As a result of key worker status, their DC can still go to school/nursery, so they are still sending them, even though my sibling can provide childcare at home. Sibling has told me that they do not want the hassle of looking after DC if they don't need to.

I haven't said anything as firstly, my opinon would count for nothing, and secondly, I don't feel like now is a helpful time to be raising issues of contention with family, but I just find it very odd.

Would you send your DC to school/nursery is you were at home yourself? Obviously, it's easier to work without the children at home, but everyone is in the same boat and everyone is aware that productivity is likely to drop a little in the current climate.

As a parent, I just can't see why anyone would take the additional risk in continuing to expose their child to the virus? But perhaps with a key worker parent who is still going out to work, the rationale is that the family is already exposed through the parent and so it doesn't matter?

AIBU to think that no parent should send their DC to school/nursery without necessity? My sibling has made clear that their actions have been taken due to preference, alone.

OP posts:
NewYearNewJob123 · 26/03/2020 10:15

I think you already know no-one will disagree with you..

Governoress86 · 26/03/2020 10:15

I think that if there is someone at home to provide child care, then they should not be sending their children to school. Why would anyone want to put their children at risk. I am classed as a key worker, but I have not sent my child to school as her dad is at home and can provide child care.

OhClover · 26/03/2020 10:16

I can appreciate there are some jobs which you simply can’t do while caring for young children - eg I’m a lawyer and you can’t really skype into a court hearing with two pre-schoolers (I’ve taken time off to care for my child even though husband is doctor so we qualify). But generally yes they should be at home.

Codswalloped · 26/03/2020 10:16

How many times can I read the same thread!

LaurieMarlow · 26/03/2020 10:19

I think you already know no-one will disagree with you

You’d think ...

But there have been loads of these threads on here already. Admittedly, they have tailed off the last few days.

YANBU OP, quite why people are exposing themselves and others to unnecessary risk is beyond me.

OhClover · 26/03/2020 10:19

Just don’t open it codswalloped. I’ve seen loads of “can I have a takeaway* ones but I just scroll past.

Codswalloped · 26/03/2020 10:23

I can’t help it oh clover. Think I’ve read every thread on here in the last few days!! Time to stop really 😁

SpoonfulofDragon · 26/03/2020 10:25

I thought both parents had to be Key Workers to be given a child care / school space?

And if that's not the case, it jolly well should be. I know it's tough for people who are WFH and providing child care (and those who aren't as 7am meetings are not fun), but many of us are dealing with it as we understand these are unprecedented times and it is the safest option for everyone.

OhClover · 26/03/2020 10:26

codswalloped I know, I’m dreading my screen time report on Sunday Grin

chocoholico · 26/03/2020 10:29

I thought both parents have to be keyworkers to get childcare?

teaandajammydodger · 26/03/2020 10:32

The problem is that the government put out vague guidance and left it up to individual schools to enforce it. My school is not letting any children in who don’t have two key worker parents. I would be livid if any parents were doing as OP described. This is putting lives of staff and key worker children and beyond at risk!

Songlyrics · 26/03/2020 10:37

I thought both had to be key workers, too (unless a single parent family) but it seems it's either only one, or that some schools/nurseries are allowing only one.

I know it seems like the answer is obvious, but I am asking on here because I work and study from home anyway, so I wondered if my view of things was skewed because of this.

Apologies if there have been other threads like this. I've not been on MN this week (homeschooling) and I only took a quick browse of the thread titles before posting, so I didn't notice that this is a duplicate.

OP posts:
NewYearNewJob123 · 26/03/2020 10:40

No, both parents don't have to be keyworkers by government guidelines. That would likely lead to droves of needed NHS staff having to give up their jobs.

Some schools are ignoring that and doing their own thing.

TheTeenageYears · 26/03/2020 10:46

Wasn’t the first thing said that if children could be at home they should but if being a key worker means that isn’t possible then....

Oldraver · 26/03/2020 10:52

It's selfish. I took the decision to lot work though think my firm may close anyway. OH's work designated key workers would be utterly selfish of me to send him into school

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