AIBU to go back to work?

[outofservice]

I've not been on mumsnet for a while so sorry if this has been covered already.
I am due back to work after 4 weeks off (2 weeks self-isolation and 2 weeks annual leave)
My 4 year old had symptoms of the coronavirus for 12 days and my 8 year old had a cough for 4 days, 6 days after we were told to isolate as a family.
I would like to go back to work and get the kids back to school (I'm a key worker) but I don't know if it's the right thing to do.
I could use up my annual leave for the next 3 weeks and decide after that but I have got a couple of holidays booked (end of July and October break)
My ex lives 40 miles away but is still working, not offered any help.
AIBU to send the kids back to school because they might have already had this virus or should I shield them at home? Really interested in all of your thoughts.

Oops didn't mean to put voting on, guess YABU to send them to school, YANBU to shield them at home.

You need to isolate for 14 days. The advice is clear.

It’s not clear from your post how long ago your DDs were unwell or whether you are past the isolation period? You are not being unreasonable to go back to work and send your children to school once you are all past the 14 day isolation period. Unless they are in one of the vulnerable groups there is no need to shield them at home and schools should have measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission to the children attending.

We've been isolated for 21 days now, I'm thinking about life in the next weeks.

If you've been isolating for 21 days and you're all fit and well then YANBU to go back to work and send them to school

DS is 4, been in hospital many times with viral induced wheeze and croup but not diagnosed with asthma so no letter to say to shield. He went into hospital 3 weeks ago and was treated for croup, took ill with a temperature and cough 3 days later and was poorly for 12 days. Given steroids from an over the phone consultation.

I’m finding it tricky to work out how long everyone has been isolating for and how long you’ve all been symptom free for? So I’m not sure if you should still be isolating or not?

What I’d also point out is that you cannot assume that what you and your children have had is Covid without a test. Keep in mind that the majority of people being tested are displaying the symptoms yet test negative so you can’t really know if you’ve had it or not. Obviously if you could have a test and know you had all had it and we’re past it then it would be good to get back to work, but what if you haven’t had it?
The school won’t be like normal school for your DC so keep that in mind, they will do their best by them.

I don’t know what I’d do if I were in your position-I feel very lucky that for the most part I can work from home, is there any possibility of being able to do that for even part of the time?

We're all symptom free, just happened to be on annual leave as soon as our 14 days isolation finished. Family were shopping for us and have continued to do so, so I don't have to take 2 kids to the shops.

Not being tested is doing my head in. I've asked the doctor if my son can get tested but even the doctor hasn't been tested and he has had patients test positive!

Can't work from home unfortunately.

Bump

I'm not sure what else you want people to tell you OP?

If you've been isolating for 21 days and are all symptom free then why wouldn't you go back to work and put the kids back in school? Yes you could use more annual leave now (presuming your employer allows you to), but if we're still in lockdown once you've used up all your leave, what then?

If you are a key worker I can't see why you wouldn't go to work? Schools around here only have a handful of children each day and some have combined 3 schools into one hub. It's childcare rather than education. You should phone/email so they are expecting kids.

If everyone has been symptom free for 14 days, I think you try and get tested (but I’m assuming you are a non nhs key worker). And then you go back to work. Be aware though in some areas they may not take your kids unless both parents are key workers or in some areas you both need to be cat1 key workers.

Am trying to arm myself with valid reasons for sending the kids back to school. Their dad is adament they shouldn't go and mix with kids of front line workers and my place of work is all over the news for lack of PPE, social distancing failures. School have places for the kids.

Well if their dad is so adamant that they don’t go back to school then he can provide childcare for them can’t he?

Otherwise he should just shut the hell up and let you do what you need to in order to keep working.