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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour isn't a key worker

351 replies

TrulyOutrageousJem · 03/04/2020 12:36

Since working from home I have moved my desk into the bay window. It's nice to see cars and occasionally people and to not be staring at a blank wall. I'm new to the street and only moved in two months ago so I'm not on chatting terms with anybody yet just a polite hello.

As I'm in the window I have noticed that my neighbour facing gets up each day, takes her small baby (younger than one) to the nursery and her kids to school then comes back home. She isn't working outside of the home as far as I can see and both her and her partner are there all day. She drops the smallest off at 8am and picks up at 5:30pm Monday - Friday so not even a reduced time. I like to keep to myself but it's driving me insane that she is playing the system while I have my small children, yes driving me insane, while trying to work and homeschool but that is just the way it is.

Today it looks like they are doing a spot of DIY because they are childless for the day/week?!?!!!

I desperately want to say something.

OP posts:
PositiveVibez · 03/04/2020 14:06

My name, is Michael Caine and I, am a nosey neighbour.

willowpatterns · 03/04/2020 14:07

Some childminders, nurseries and other settings are demanding full fees whether you send your kids in or not, so perhaps that's the case. Anyway, you have no idea what their jobs are. Some working-from-home jobs are vital NHS or other essential services admin / IT roles.

GirlYouHaveNoFaithInMedicine · 03/04/2020 14:09

In all seriousness, why are people doing this? This situation could drag on all summer or even beyond. Are people really going to spend the whole time spying on their neighbors and looking for reasons to report them to the police? Is that really the kind of society they want to live in?

This.

And to add to the examples, I am a key worker and am working from home - helping keep the technology running that runs the 999 systems.

evilharpy · 03/04/2020 14:11

You sound like an absolute dick, OP. I would hate to have you as a neighbour. Get a fucking hobby.

ThanosSavedMe · 03/04/2020 14:13

Dh is a key worker and works at home. Kids are older don’t need to be at school.

Maybe you should spend a bit more time working or dealing with your children rather than looking into your neighbours house and guessing what they are doing or bitching about them online.

DemelzaRobins · 03/04/2020 14:13

I should also add that my employer has given all staff who need a key worker letter one. So those with DC have one for school, and those who are travelling to the office still have one in case they're stopped by police.

I think OP's neighbours would struggle to game the system. A lot of my colleagues have reported schools refusing to take their DC, even with the letter as people don't believe Civil Servants are key workers.

brassbrass · 03/04/2020 14:15

You've only been in the street for 5 minutes, you know nothing about their work and you're sat judging them!!!

Mind your own business FFS

ALongHardWinter · 03/04/2020 14:17

How do you know she's not a key worker? You said yourself that you hardly know them. Key workers do sometimes work from home you know.

heartsonacake · 03/04/2020 14:18

YABVU. Jealousy is not a good look and your resentfulness will just keep you bitter.

Work on improving your own situation rather than trying to tear down others’.

StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff · 03/04/2020 14:20

Maybe they are both working all weekend so they are treating this as their day off to do DIY?

Or maybe you should feel sorry for the kids then who are being shipped off to school when they don't need to be (according to you).

Or, maybe, just maybe you should keep your bloody beak out

Mandatorymongoose · 03/04/2020 14:20

I'm a mental health nurse, I count as a keyworker, I'm working from home (mostly, still out now and then) phoning vulnerable clients. It wouldn't be even slightly appropriate for me to do that while looking after a small child.

Fortunately my DH is furloughed so can take care of DS but otherwise I would need the school place I was offered.

Bubblysqueak · 03/04/2020 14:21

Both me and DH are key workers and both working from home.

Daph31 · 03/04/2020 14:22

You sound really nosey. It’s none of your business why this is happening. There lots of reasons why which I’m not going to write down as it will give you more things to gossip about! The government requires certain people to still send heir kids in! This is why people like you make others life hell with your nosey and gossipy attitude.

Daph31 · 03/04/2020 14:22

*their not heir

LotsaDo · 03/04/2020 14:24

Mind your own business FFS

This.

Vinipote · 03/04/2020 14:25

So you're basically sat in the window spying on your neighbours with no inkling if they are working from home in between DIY jobs around their home?

Bit weird that. Get on with your own work and stop investing so much time in fabricating your own ideas on what they do... Nosey

TrudysTerribleFringe · 03/04/2020 14:26

My friend is a key worker working from home, she works in mental health so nit appropriate to have her young child also at home whilst she works.

My other friend is a social worker. Her child is at school while she works as she has to be available for call outs and the school do not offer a drop in service.

Someone I know has a child with additional needs, they are still going to school as the routine is deemed better for them (it took a lot of work to settle them into school). This parent doesn't work.

Then there are the children who sadly have been taken to school to get a few hours respite from their abusive or neglectful parents.

There are probably more reasons too.

ALongHardWinter · 03/04/2020 14:28

PositiveVibez My name,is Michael Caine and I,am a nosy neighbour This made me laugh. The first thing that struck me about the OP's opening post was the fact that she'd moved her desk to the window,all the better to spy on her neighbours add a bit of interest to her day by watching the world go by. I can see that this country is going to be riddled with curtain twitching snitches by the time this is all over. Before long,there'll be a snitch hotline,where you can press a button to report a 'crime'. 'Press one if you wish to report your neighbour taking his dog out for 2 walks,press two if you wish to report her at number 25 returning home from 'essential' shopping with 3 huge Easter eggs......'

NellMangel · 03/04/2020 14:28

I think you need to wind your neck in. I have friends with adopted kids who send them to school cos the children need routine and cant cope with upheaval. There any many reasons why your neighbours are doing this but that is entirely their business.

We're gonna end up with a society of petty informants at this rate.

LGY1 · 03/04/2020 14:28

The list is so large it’s really hard for you to know.
I work “for the council” and my husband in logistics.
We are both on the key worker list but I’m sure to our neighbours (who don’t know what we do in any detail) it looks like we work “in an office” and are not key workers

Cyclebird · 03/04/2020 14:29

I'm also a key worker and working from home. I'm keeping my kids home as we can manage but it is possible your neighbours are key workers.

turnthebiglightoff · 03/04/2020 14:30

I'm a key worker who works from
Home too,

ukgift2016 · 03/04/2020 14:31

I am a social worker and I work from home. I send my child to school as I have lots of conference calls, conversation on phone, emergency visits etc.

Fed up with this busybody attitude the British public have adopted.

Chickenpie9 · 03/04/2020 14:31

You sound like a complete horror of a neighbour . As long as you and yours are adhering to the guidance then mind your own business about other people’s doings.

screwcovid19 · 03/04/2020 14:33

Mind your own business ffs.

This pandemic has really brought out a nasty side to people if Mumsnet is anything to go by.