AIBU to think lockdown includes rural areas?

[Henbird]

My DCs dad lives in the middle of nowhere - fields, farms, a few houses around. The DCs are going to visit him over Easter and he is planning on going on several walks. He already goes out at least twice a day - once with his other DC (who has asthma and he has said is high risk) for exercise and once for his own exercise. My DCs are up in arms as this breaks the exercise once a day rule but he says it's fine because he lives in the country. AIBU?

Hard to know if YABU, do you agree with your children?

Personally, I think it’s fine for someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and who sees next to no one to go for more than one walk a day. Children often find comfort in sticking to rules and it can be hard for them to see the common sense involved in only sticking to the spirit of the rule. Your dcs are over reacting.

The rules are designed to minimise social contact, if someone lives somewhere rural enough that they wouldn't see another person anyway then the rules aren't particularly relevant.

We live rurally. Literally walk 2 mins from our house into open fields - can walk for miles and not see anyone else. Not going to spread or catch the virus doing that and no one would have the foggiest if we’ve been out once or 100 times a day. The whole point of the rules is to stop the spread of the virus through social distancing. If you live very rurally there isn’t anyone to socially distance from...!

Advantage of living rurally I suppose. The fresh air will do them good.

Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools

If he lives rurally then it's fine. We live with fields behind our house. We go for walks multiple times a day and see absolutely no one. You look like you're trying to pick a fight with your ex.

I live rurally and we have been out for walks and occasional bike rides, more than once a day.
We are keeping a sensible distance from our (few and far between) neighbours, and only food shopping every couple of weeks, but I walked for almost 3 hours today and didn't see a soul.

Absolutely fine.

Aren't you worried your kids could take it to his asthmatic dc or womt they be there ?

Although they could transmit to him and he could transmit to them easily enough

FFS. I live very rurally and I do not think I'm a special case who can make up my own rules. We ALL have to follow the government request to the letter rather than trying to find ways around it, or saying 'yes but...'

Once a day is a guideline which is sensible for many people in many environments (especially urban) but isn't a 'rule'.

Has the 'up in arms' come totally unprompted with no other influence? How old are they?

I think people living in rural areas should abide by the guidelines. One period of exercise a day.

They are 13 and 16. They have been watching a lot of news (probably not a good thing) and have been following the guidelines (as have I)

We're rural, and the time limit/times out each day hasn't even crossed my mind. We're in the middle of (our own) 500 acres though. I think if you live in a village or close to other people it would be different.

We live in the country. We are doing one walk a day. It would probably be fine to do more decided to stick to the rules. Some of the neighbours are curtain twitchers 🤣

The rule is we're allowed out only if we have a 'reasonable excuse' which includes exercise.

The DC with asthma needs someone with him presumably for his safety, but I'm guessing doesn't walk at a pace which constitutes exercise for his dad. So it's arguable the dad has a 'reasonable excuse' to go out once for his DCs benefit and once for himself. The visiting teenagers should be able to go with him on the second walk.

The first walk is the child's exercise, the second is his. He probably goes further and faster alone. That's reasonable enough I think.
I'd be more concerned about the visiting children potentially exposing the asthmatic child to increased risk of infection tbh.

We’re pretty rural and have a small holding. I walk the dogs for an hour, as allowed. But I’m also outside a bit more on the land turning horses out and mucking out. While I’m there I’ve noticed a huge rise in walkers and cyclists. Lots of groups, lots of teens that have obviously met up. My own friends are posting on Facebook that they’ve done long horse rides, or walks. Another posted a pic of herself at a local beauty spot that’s been closed. (she’d cycled there, but it would have taken more than an hour). I find it selfish. They’re the types that would post stay at home memes on Facebook and clap for the nhs.

If you’re not going to see anyone else on your walk, it makes no odds how many times you go out. Maybe think about why the rules exist - and teach your kids to think for themselves.

We go out with the dog several times a day. We understand it’s different for city dwellers. Our several outings create less transmission risk in a month than a single trip to a shop creates for others.
It’s private land mainly so nobody can police it.
It’s not a risk.
Are you cross life might be nicer for them with their father at the moment? At that age they should be perfectly capable of understanding the difference.

The rules are to maintain social distancing.

If you live in a town or village with 100,00 residents using the same 3 sq. miles to exercise chances are you are going to see and pass and be within 2 meters of people multiple times a day.

If you live in an area with 100 people using the same 3 sq. miles to exercise chances are you could be out 4 hours a day and not pass anyone.

Problem with the general population is they can't calculate risk for themselves so there are general rules. Up to you or your ex if you follow them blindly. Or at 13 and 16 up to your dcs.

If there's literally no one there then there's no problem.

One rule for everyone.