Am i breaking lockdown rules ?

[1ForAllnAllFor1]

Hi all,
I live in a flat with a 2 year old. We previously used to go out everyday to a playgroup where him and another girl got on and played every day. He asks about her every day.

I have been self isolating for almost a month now due to my DH having flu symptoms earlier in the month whixh he recovered from. My son, is absolutely bored at home.

This morning I decided to take him out on his scooter next to our block of flats, towards a Tesco (which I wasn’t going into). It’s a little forest walkway where there is runners and I was respecting all social distancing.


I happened to bump into his friend who he has been asking for everyday, he pointed her out and ran towards her. She was on her scooter too. So me and the mum kept 2 meters apart and we let them run the scooter alongside each other. They didn’t touch or anything.

Part of me felt irresponsible but I was overwhelmed with emotion as this was his normal and it broke my heart to end his happy moment as he has been so lonely and bored at home, but I wonder whether I wasn’t following guidelines?

A man saw us and was loudly swearing and cussing and saying how people like me are behind lockdown not being effective and stricter rules.

It has put me off taking my son out at all. But then I feel confused as this is part of the guidelines.

Am I unreasonable

[PinkFlamingo888]

It’s not scaremongering, it’s fact. And people need facts to stop them being so irresponsible.
I cannot stay 2 metres away from people because I work in the emergency services and the general public continue to bend the rules, putting my family and me at risk everyday. If I could could then I would be staying home and not even risking coming within 2 metres of people.
If you cannot keep your son away from his friend when he’s on his scooter then he should not be in public on his scooter. If you felt pressure from the other Mum then just think how many other families she may have pressured and her child may also have been into contact with. This is why the pandemic will continue.

[1ForAllnAllFor1]

May I note to all you saints out there that I’m not a selfish idiot in real life.

I have actually sent in an application yesterday risking myself, to go back into the work force voluntarily, and cut shot my maternity career break... in order to work for the bloody Nightingale hospital during this crisis.

As I said I’m usually a very sensitively person. No I don’t deserve your name calling and refuse to be the target of people’s anger.

I made a mistake. And I’ve also done a lot of correct things and influenced others positively.

I’m human.

Thanks to the pp that actually gave practical sound advice, and not used me as their virtual punchbag.

[1ForAllnAllFor1]

Usually very sensible*

[Cacaca]

Nah, you’re clearly the exception to the rules. Ffs.

[Josette77]

If you know you made a mistake why are you on here asking?

[Babyroobs]

bert3400 - Completely agree with you. People on here are bloody rude. Everyone makes mistakes, we move on and try to do the best in the future. I had a go at a man the other day who told me to keep my dog from approaching his because his wife was at home with the virus. I asked him what on earth he was doing outside and that he should be isolating for 14 days and when he argued back I called him an idiot but then worried all day that I had been too harsh and should have offered to walk the dog for him whilst he isolated. I've made mistakes whilst thinking I was absolutely minimising my risk and the risk to others - mumsnetters nastily put me straight and I am trying to do better. We all fuck up at times.

[safariboot]

This whole situation really has brought out a lot of nastiness. Not just on Mumsnet, the behaviour of the man in the park is very telling. Seems like a lot of people love an excuse to play at police. I guess that's why dictatorships like east Germany found it so easy to get people to dob in their neighbours.

[Babyroobs]

Op I totally recognise I have messed up last week. I'm also rejoined the registered Nurse register to battle this virus. Good on you for applying to work at the Nightingale, best of luck. Don't dwell on it just move on.

[maddening]

The better thing to do might be to agree with the other mum to face time so the dc can chat and wave etc, still social interaction but safer.

[Babyroobs]

I think people are very anxious but trying to do their best but sometimes we snap at people or don't think straight and mess up. Pulling each other apart further with nastiness isn't going to help people get through this nightmare.

[WforWumbo]

OP, obviously you don’t deserve any of the nasty comments here. I just wanted to point out that the ‘rules’ are neither here nor there in the scheme of things, as in none of this is about a law that you may be breaking and might be able to find a way around. The social distancing is for your health and that of your DC regardless of anybody else we may be helping by following it. If you are worried about DC getting enough social interaction please find a way to socialise with FaceTime or equivalent. You may need to just accept that today was a huge risk and then choose not to take such a risk again in future, it’s not worth it given the potential consequences.

[CrocodilesCry]

Sorry but you're NHS, you're applying to work at the Nightingale and you don't understand the basic rules regarding social distancing? That's not good OP

[wobytide]

Top class virtue signalling to apply to work somewhere you don't abide by the rules in the first place. Gold stars all round

[Prisonbreak]

If the man hasn’t shouted, would you still be questioning your choices? If No1 had called you out, you may have returned home thinking all was well and no harm done

[Italiangreyhound]

OP just wanted to say it's over and done now so just keep him safe and try not to worry. It's over now and I am sure you won't let it happen again. The Julia Donaldson pics are lovely and will help to explain.

My son is a lot older and today we encountered his school chum on a walk. The other family stayed away from us and us from them but I am not sure how quickly I could have separated them if they had run towards each other. Anyway, just wanted to send you some flowers. I know it is not easy.

[IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls]

Its very noble to apply for the Nightingale OP but this really concerns me given your post . You cant afford to make those mistakes in healthcare.

I am a nurse - doctors & nurses are now exasperated with these types of situations, and with the "conversation through open windows" type scenarios.

We cannot social distance. Even when lockdown is lifted it will be a long time before we will be able to see and hug our families.

This virus has bought the best and worst out of people. I just wished people understood how not being strict with social distancing risks so many peoples lives.

Im sorry OP i have no empathy here ... my colleagues and i are at our wits end . There isnt room for mistakes.

[meonekton]

Well, it must be hard for your child missing his friends. But what about all the other children who maybe at even more risk? You get the virus, go to the shop and pass it on to others, and others may have very vulnerable person in the house hold. But obviously, it's hard for you and your child, and many people die.

[WotchaTalkinBoutWillis]

A man saw us and was loudly swearing and cussing and saying how people like me are behind lockdown not being effective and stricter rules

Really? Not seen anyone being so blatant and rude around here but maybe that's all due to where you live.
Cussing? As in American word for swearing?
I take it you're American or in America.
Here, UK, it means you don't let your children stop on scooters and chat or "be next to each other"
So on that basis YABU

[meonekton]

And you can take your child out. And people aren't nasty, it;s either they are genuinely worried about their loved one or themselves. Remember, people are dying, and that someone is not just statistics

[Reginabambina]

While you should have held their s otters to maintain a 2m distancing and gone your separate ways ASAP that doesn’t make it ok for that man to have verbally assaulted you. Vigilantism isn’t ok. You could have easily been members of the same household taking your exercise.

If anyone is out and about and feels the urge to attack someone for a perceived infringement of the guidance please don’t. If you’re that concerned then report it to the police. We really don’t need members of the public taking matters into their own hands. Sorry you got yelled at OP, best to just observe the no meeting in public rule though.

[Reginabambina]

@WforWumbo the purpose of the social distancing isn’t to protect people, it’s to prevent the NHD being overwhelmed. In order to flatten the curve and prevent a future outbreak a certain number of people need to be infected.

[Mohster]

I would say that yes it was a risk that you should never let happen. However, we are all learning that things are different and what's normal doesn't apply. I hope nothing comes of it and you must keep your child away from any elderly person for 2 weeks. That is the risk with children they are capable of carrying the virus and spreading it but never getting ill themselves.

I would like to make a comment tho. I note that many people are saying this was bad, but at the same time a person asked if she was being unreasonable about that fact she thought the many bbq that was being planned this weekend were bad ideas. She was judged as being unreasonable by 75% of the Mumsnet members who voted- that really blew me away.

[Mulanlin]

Its very noble to apply for the Nightingale OP but this really concerns me given your post . You cant afford to make those mistakes in healthcare
100% this!!!!
Listen OP, you shouldn’t have allowed it just because it was a touching moment seeing the children together.
However it’s done now so just focus on not breaking the rules again. You also definitely didn’t deserve to be verbally abused either.