People should give young kids a break?

[Hottoddy1]

So I work as a healthcare professional 3 days per week, husband has an office job he is now having to WFH 4 days per week. We have 3 kids age 6, 3 and 1. We’re now trying to work around having no childcare or grandparent help so I’ve switched to working 1 day in the weekend and husband does other day + working early mornings and late evenings. We have little family time due to this. It’s been tough and I had (swab confirmed because of my job) covid early April, quarantine period and straight back and am only just starting to feel energy levels return.
Anyway we live in a city but luckily near a big wood/nature reserve where one of us takes the kids every day. Although many people are nice and smile some people are really difficult and it’s getting me down. Minor examples are tutting at 6 year old sitting on the grass looking at ladybirds and asking my husband to “get your child away” Most of the people tutting are older and presumably in the vulnerable category.
Yesterday Dh was at an area where the path is relatively narrow and the 3 year old was lagging behind so he was waiting. A woman came past the 3 year old and he pulled the buggy into the side as much as he could but she asked him in an angry way to move on because her husband had cancer. She wouldn’t have had to walk right next to him but it would have been about 1.2 m distance I guess, not the full 2m. He politely pointed out he couldn’t leave the 3 year old and she huffed and puffed and then walked by.
I get that the women and other people are terribly stressed by this and it’s a horrible feeling. We have explained to the children and they try and the 6 year old is really very good. But you cannot expect kids to remember and follow all the rules all the time. If you really feel you are in terrible danger if a child comes within 2m of you why come to a nature reserve in the city in the middle of the afternoon? It’s light until 9.30pm around here; if I’ve been working I often pop out for some air at 8pm and it’s quiet, just one or two dog walkers who as adults are fully able to social distance. It’s shit for little kids this, my 3 year old was in tears when I left for work as he’s worried I’ll get “the virus” he picks up on a lot but doesn’t really understand it so it’s tricky to explain stuff, people ostensibly dashing away from him doesn’t help. So if you’re vulnerable, you have my sympathy but AIBU to say in the middle of the day, give the kids some space and cut us a bit of slack.

I can imagine if you went to the play park even if it was open @Hottoddy1 you'd have people berating you for that as the DC wouldnt just march through it and might want to pause!

It's your local green space which means it's everyone else in your areas green space they are your children and it's your redpinsibity to ensure they stay 2m from anyone else. You suggesting older adults walk later in the day to avoid your kids is ridiculous. YOU stick to the rules and everyone can go out.

It is hard. I have a 2.5 year old and the best success I've had is every time someone approaches us I excitedly ask him to stand on a specific stone/ leaf / look at a flower to the side of the path and that tends to get him over to the side and it becomes a game. However I must say frequently on walks I'm noticing an expectation for me and the toddler to tuck in as others walk past, which being a hopefully decent human being I'm happy to do, but I often find myself thinking it would have been so much easier for adults with no children to do the distancing rather than relying on my imagination tactics!

Just tell your DH to keep the kids at least 2 metres away from everyone else, then everyone can enjoy the nature reserve.

I'm with you OP, its bringing out the worst in some people.

But it sounds like the other woman was overtaking so she wasn't maintaining social distancing either? She chose to walk past. Maybe she needs someone to come out with her and hold her hand too

If you can't make sure your child is practising social distancing why are you taking him out to the nature preserve knowing this?

BS if anything it was the lady who did not adhere to social distancing and she overtook then.

Also if SHE has a vulnerable adult then the responsibility is for her to keep herself safe, in which she should also not be visiting her father (assuming she does not live with them) if she does SHE is the one who should be taking precautions every single time she leaves the property as I do with my vulnerable family.

A father outside with his children doing no hard even if 2m apart from his child is breaking any rules or not adhering to social distancing.

People need to take own personal responsibility not an idiot thinking they own the pavements because they did not agree to social distancing in overtaking a child for 1 second it took them to do so!!

@ScarfLadysBag.....Because the husband and the child were both blocking the way. Instead of dad actually being with his child he was up front waiting on the child to teach him. He wasn't even trying to help practice social distancing. He left the kid behind

Kids have probably had it asymptomatically but this hasn’t changed our behaviour.

Well, how lovely.

And also it's nothing to do with the 3yo not being 2m away. If you read the post, she overtook the child fine and presumably at a safe distance. She then asked the husband with buggy to move but he couldn't move onwards as he was waiting for 3yo to catch up, so she then walked past him.

So the 3yo was the only one actually practising social distancing

Is NOT breaking the rules

I think the level of fear that is controlling people is outrageous. The probability of catching Covid 19 walking past a two or three year old in a public place is probably so so very low it probably doesn't exist. I think people are not thinking clearly.

If these people that dive behind hedges or run off up somebody's garden path when others come near them are really that scared then they should be staying inside

They clearly know the risks of coming outside but they still have to do it for some reason. If it was really that much of a concern to them they'd stay inside

Yanbu if she or dh is vulnerable then they should stay at Home! Had enough of these lockdown fascists

Some people have become very hostile since covid 19 struck.

It is scary and worrying, of course it is, but anybody who is vulnerable, or particularly anxious, should take themselves to wider open spaces where they can guarantee not to come into contact with anybody at all, or stay at home. It's not fair to be getting grumpy with people outdoors doing nothing majorly Wrong like just being held back by a child taking their time as children often do.

There's no risk in quickly waking past somebody, especially from a distance, albeit not the full 2 meters recommended.

It really is bringing out the best and the worst in a lot of people.

I got my head bitten off in a supermarket the other day for putting my shopping on the conveyor belt while a customer was at the other end was packing their bags/paying. I was behind the line and was easily able to reach, so I put my items on so I wouldn't delay those behind me.
The cashier snapped at me because she assumed I was going over the line to put my shopping on she really was quite rude and barked at me to stay back. I politely pointed out I hadn't gone past the line and the belt is right beside me, she just huffed and made me feel really uncomfortable.

A father outside with his children doing no hard even if 2m apart from his child is breaking any rules or not adhering to social distancing.

From the OP..... She wouldn’t have had to walk right next to him but it would have been about 1.2 m distance I guess, not the full 2m

The woman did the right thing in asking him to move on. He obviously couldn't because the 3 year old was lagging behind.

What he should have politely done is gone back to the 3 year old so the woman could walk through.

OP these people are being total utter wankers.

It’s been quite shocking to find how many are around.

They are expected to behave in a completely alien way to protect others for no benefit to them.
Yes, that's just being considerate and kind. Are you really saying that unless your children benefit from it they shouldn't have to make the effort to protect others?

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend....The father wasn't even around the kid. He left the kid behind and had to wait for it. Social Distancing isn't just for adults ots for kids too. I find it appalling that instead of doing his job as a dad and walking with his kid to help practice social distancing he left the kid behind,blocked a path and waited for the person to overtake both of them instead of blocking the path waiting for the kid

Children don’t seem to be causing a problem where I live. Cyclist and runners are - going straight at people whether on pavements (cyclists includes) paths in parks or wherever.

Also I’m sorry to say many men - refusing to budge to one side when we go to the other unless specifically asked - all the women seem to automatically move sensibly so that each party is making equal and sensible effort - except women joggers who can be as bad as the men.

I hear you OP, just hate how hysterical some people have become over this. If they are in the vulnerable category they should be going out at less busy times, not haranguing the parents of small children. Fluffybutter is right - I've never seen the level of intolerance to children in real life as I do on a daily basis on this site. 'Making parents' lives easier' - my arse!

I have a 2.5yo and little outdoor space it's not been easy and he's utterly fed up. I will say most people we walk by have smiled and walked well around us and I've really appreciated it. I've only had one woman who told me to "get him away" when we were definitely 2m away but toddler was waddling through path (he was even on reins ) . I could see the panic in her face though so I just left it as I thought she really must have felt anxiety in that moment.
Honestly yanbu but a lot of people are just scared I suppose

Amadeu what I mean by it hasn’t changed our behaviour is that I am still practising social distancing as much as possible although I know it is very unlikely they represent a threat as it is highly likely they have some immunity. I am still social distancing when I go out alone although I know I have cleared the virus so am not a threat. What did you mean by your sarcastic comment?

Vulnerable people should just stay inside because you couldn't possibly be expected to keep your kids from doing exactly as they please?
Do people really think like this??

If your children are too young to keep up or to understand why they need to stay away from others you should probably avoid taking them out on walks at a time when you know others may be around. Try early morning strolls instead.

Having said that, the elderly and vulnerable should be staying at home.