Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10

Original poster

To put children in school when I'm not working?

239 replies

hibbledobble · 02/04/2020 18:40

I know that at the moment, school is childcare for key workers only, and that children should only go in when necessary.

I'm a junior doctor, and I have just been sent to covid-19 wards, from previously doing a speciality.

I am happy to help in these extraordinary circumstances, but I am struggling with the current situation. There has been a lot of anxiety regarding the change into an unfamiliar environment, and lack of communication from the hospital. I haven't done general medicine for a very long time.

Emotionally it is harrowing right now, and I find myself crying daily at work. It is really difficult to cope. As doctors, we have been warned that we will all have PTSD by the end of this.

Would IBU to put my children in school some days when I'm not working, to give myself some space to focus on my mental health?

OP posts:

OhCaptain · 02/04/2020 19:36

@Destroyer what is it that you do? If you’re a key worker, I mean.

isittooearlyforgin · 02/04/2020 19:38

@Destroyer
I am a teacher and would welcome ops children at my school. If she burns out from over work/stress that’s one less doctor to care for us and as others have said the risk is minimal if her children are already in school other days.

Chillyegg · 02/04/2020 19:38

Yeah but if the op is wearing proper PPE then quite frankly we could get it picking up a paper or going to the shop.
Hiding away minimises it . But there has to be support for those directly fighting it.
Hence why bojo needs to pull his finger out supply proper PPE for all key workers, testing and get a fucking vaccine in the mix.

peajotter · 02/04/2020 19:39

Yanbu at all. I have a friend who is working directly with cv patients and has seen many die. She’s an experienced doctor but she’s massively shaken by what’s happening. I’ve never seen her like this.

Send your kids in. Look after your mental health as much as possible. Thank you. 🙏

Theworldisfullofgs · 02/04/2020 19:39

No I don't think you are unreasonable.

The level of risk realistically doesn't change for anyone in this situation. I think you need to do what you can to get through it.

We3kingsoforientareandabump · 02/04/2020 19:40

My DC school have asked that children go in everyday or not at all.

littleducks · 02/04/2020 19:42

I think the routine and consistency will be good for your children. I don't think schools actually can refuse when you not on shifts they have no right to find out that info.

In terms of risk, I like you have accepted that our family will all get it eventually. I don't see how else it will be managed, only those most vulnerable are being shielded.

Blossomad · 02/04/2020 19:42

Do what’s best for you and your family. You are sacrificing enough already. You need to rest sufficiently between shifts and stay healthy.

MiniatureRed · 02/04/2020 19:42

100% yes. Do it. I'd be happy if a parent at my school said that to me- more than happy to work to cover that.

Theworldisfullofgs · 02/04/2020 19:43

I've dm-ed you.

Marieo · 02/04/2020 19:43

@IHateCoronavirus your post actually made me cry, what a wonderful teacher you sound, and the rest of you supporting OP.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 02/04/2020 19:44

IHateCoronavirus

I love your post.

Destroyer · 02/04/2020 19:45

In terms of risk, I like you have accepted that our family will all get it eventually. I don't see how else it will be managed, only those most vulnerable are being shielded.

And you’re happy to blithely pass the risk on to other families via the children?

Numbness2020 · 02/04/2020 19:48

Can you stay away from family home at moment if you have a partner?

Or children with other relatives.

That’s the safest thing for your family. It’s what a lot of my friends are doing even though it’s hard.
Thank you for all you are doing.

itsgettingweird · 02/04/2020 19:50

No. School is open for keyworkers. It's to allow them to work. Part of that allowance is the time you need to recharge and manage the next few months.

And I work in a school!

BMW6 · 02/04/2020 19:51

OP - a million Thank You's for what you are doing, and please do whatever you need to keep well physically and mentally.

Only an utter Thundercunt would object to your request, frankly.

Destroyer · 02/04/2020 19:52

No. School is open for keyworkers. It's to allow them to work. Part of that allowance is the time you need to recharge and manage the next few months.

If there’s no one else who can look after them. I can’t believe people have the 'it won’t happen to me' attitude.

The op is putting other people’s children at risk the more they are in when they don’t need to be in.

Bluetrews25 · 02/04/2020 19:52

You do what you need to do to preserve your mental health.
I hope you can pick up some of the support, admiration and thanks through the ether, oh no, poor word to use to a medic! internet.
Keep on keeping on. xx

Original poster

hibbledobble · 02/04/2020 19:53

Dad is a key worker too.

I have thought of staying away from the children, as I feel terribly guilty about the risk of me transmitting to them.

I however don't have anywhere to stay, and wouldn't qualify for accomodation as my children aren't vulnerable.

It would also mean not staying with them for months, and emotionally I don't know how they would cope.

For the teacher who said schools have no PPE: this is because it isn't required, based on current guidelines. I also don't wear PPE if I am seeing a patient who doesn't have a likely or possibly diagnosis of Covid-19.

I am really struggling now, and not afraid to admit that.

OP posts:

PoloMama · 02/04/2020 19:53

Your children are presumably being cared for by exactly the same teachers while you are working day shifts, so those teachers are already at risk of infection. Spending an extra day or so a week with them is not going to make an awful lot of difference. Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself rested and healthy. A lot more people will suffer if you don’t!

thunderthighsohwoe · 02/04/2020 19:54

I’m a teacher, and we’re doing this at school for some families already. Happy to help.

It’s those with a delivery driver parent and a SAHP trying to get free Easter childcare that we object to...

itsgettingweird · 02/04/2020 19:55

But there isn't anyone to look after them.
We have a frontline nhs staff members child still attending. The parent works nights. Yes, technically they are there during day for care. But the parent needs to sleep.

But then again I'm confused why schools can be open daily for keyworker children yet they won't allow a sibling with children to have the children during the day which would provide more flexible childcare.
I don't see how a school with different children and 10 or so households mixing is safer than the same 2 households and same 5/6 people mixing daily.

Devlesko · 02/04/2020 19:56

ffs all those saying no, the OP day off could be Saturday and her child be in school mon - fri anyway.
There is no more risk, the child could spread or catch the virus on any day. I'm sure the virus won't just be there on the day the OP has off.
Such idiotic responses, to somebody working hard to keep us alive.
You should be ashamed.

Tr1skel1on · 02/04/2020 19:57

I work in a school and will be doing so over Easter. Please send your children in for us to look after while you look after yourself.

It's the piss takers we don't like

OxanaVorontsova · 02/04/2020 19:57

of course you should send them in, it's why we're open and it enables you to do your job x

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 9 10