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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

who is sending their child back?

131 replies

MamaSapphire · 12/05/2020 23:32

I have twins due 27 June, so I don't want my daughter socialising with others then coming home to the newborns. Is anyone else not sending their child back. Most mums on the class Whatsapp group are sending theirs back, AIBU?

OP posts:
SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 13/05/2020 00:33

Remember I was just looking for that tweet. It's awful, isn't it.

I don't expect mine to have to distance at all, as long as they remain in their own group/small class.

Legoandloldolls · 13/05/2020 00:34

Did I hear that parents wont get fined today? That will be a big factor for some.

When will that end? After a vaccine? I think a lot of vulnerable kids will disappear from view for the foreseeable future.

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 13/05/2020 00:35

That's correct, they've said there won't be fines for those that choose to keep their children at home

gruffalo28 · 13/05/2020 00:37

I will.

LEELULUMPKIN · 13/05/2020 00:38

My Ds 15 will be going back as soon as is possible.

He has severe learning difficulties and as his full time carer, I am really struggling.

He is finding it incredibly hard (as is everyone of course) and doesn't have the mental capacity to understand why his life has changed so drastically.

However, he attends an amazing special school and social distancing is just not an option as he is doubly incontinent and needs help with personal care amongst other support.

I doubt very much that they will be re-opening any time soon. I think at the earliest, September for him, which is going to be so hard, but necessary.

Peppafrig · 13/05/2020 00:38

Not a chance in hell my kids are they going back.

Peppafrig · 13/05/2020 00:39

*wont be

RememberTheSunnierDays · 13/05/2020 05:23

@SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing it really is heartbreaking. Nursery and reception children will naturally want to play and hug their friends, especially as they haven’t seen them in so long.

myself2020 · 13/05/2020 05:53

Frankly, either take them out completely and homeschool, or send them in now.
This virus isn’t going anywhere, and vaccine/treatment are a long time off. Sending them in later the year means contributing to a second wave in autumn, and that IS bad. If they get it, you do not want them to get it in flu season!

lurkingattheback · 13/05/2020 06:12

Just wait and see what they are going back to. Schools will be creative in how they deal with this, many won't go back full time, they may use other empty spaces, church halls, secondary schools. Lots for the schools to plan before I make a decision.

Frustratedsenmummy · 13/05/2020 06:18

My daughter has been in throughout. I'm not worried about her catching it. I will be taking a zero chances approach to her going in whilst unwell to try and help keep the teachers lovely. I'm nervous to know what it will look like though.

Frustratedsenmummy · 13/05/2020 06:19

Healthy not lovely

TiredMummyXYZ · 13/05/2020 06:20

Not sending mine back (yet) and I’m a teacher. As teachers we haven’t been given time to do this safely. Teachers in France have masks and face shields. Schools in Denmark have small groups and outdoor learning. Schools in China have screens,, hand gel and disinfectant! We have nothing. We can’t even split our classes in two because we don’t have enough TAs - I share a TA with the other classes across key stage 1. If they had said September ( assuming it was safe) I would have thought it might be doable in terms of recruiting additional staff, sourcing PPE, outdoor shelters, handwashing stations etc. But to send us back in a few weeks time with no time to organise stuff like that is utterly irresponsible. There is a resin why teaching unions have said no. There is a reason why myself and all the other teachers I know aren’t sending our own kids back yet. It’s not safe to do so yet.

Magicbabywaves · 13/05/2020 06:23

Mine will.

Riojasmoothy · 13/05/2020 06:28

Mine have been in throughout but only a few hours each week. They will definitely be going back more as soon as they can.
The risk of the virus is low to us, no vulnerable family members.
People can make their own choices based on their situation.
If you or your child are vulnerable then of course it might not be the time yet. Many seem to have got a bit hysterical and seem to have blown the risk to healthy children out of all proportion though.

QueenofmyPrinces · 13/05/2020 06:48

I don’t think they’ll be opening in June 1st anyway.

Even if they do, I won’t be sending my Year 1 child.

WeveGottaGetTherouxThis · 13/05/2020 06:55

I don’t think mine will be. They are 5 & 6, so both eligible to return, but whilst I believe the risk to children to be low, we are getting on well with homeschooling and if I can free up space for those whose working parents have no choice / justifiably need the opportunity to work efficiently, I’d rather take a step back for now.

It helps massively that they are best friends and very close in age; if they didn’t have this social interaction I might feel differently.

Raindancer411 · 13/05/2020 07:15

My son is not in the group that will possibly be going back first. Even if his year do go back for the last month, he probably won't be. I am due a baby any day now and a newborn in the mix who probably won't have had any injections yet, is too risky. I will however get a health visitors opinion on it once they are involved.

moveandmove · 13/05/2020 07:18

I'm sending ds back. He's desperate to go back.

unicorngymnastics · 13/05/2020 07:27

I will be sending mine back.

Schools are not going to have all of those year groups in at once (the gov document says it expects smaller class sizes etc).

It is a challenging time for head teachers and I feel for them but they are going to need to be creative in their approach.

When my children do return I will be discussing the distancing with them (as we have been the whole way through) and explaining what it might be like at school so that they are not shocked or scarred by what they see on the first day. I find the comments about it being cruel to make small children distance from their friends a little hysterical. Every age group and citizen has to adapt when a country is in a situation like this.

mrscampbellblackagain · 13/05/2020 07:30

I will be sending my yr 6 child back. Her school has small classes and the school is spacious so I think they will be able to have a reasonable attempt at social distancing.

We are also in an area with low covid rates according to the data I can see.

Most of her year group will be going back if the class WhatsApp is anything to go by.

olivehater · 13/05/2020 07:37

I can’t believe people think it’s necessary to social distance. They are little kids for gods sake. Have people not seen the stats on how low the chance of being seriously ill for kids is ?
If you have a vulnerable family household member don’t send them back. If you don’t send them back and get on with life. Or do we are want to wait till autumn/winter to get it. That will be fun!!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/05/2020 07:41

Mine isn't in the year groups that will be going back initially but I'll be sending him in as soon as I'm able to.

BrutusMcDogface · 13/05/2020 07:42

Parents who are planning on sending Kids back, do you have children in other year groups as well? I can’t imagine schlepping all the way up to school to drop off my year 1, then bringing her three siblings home again. Health risks aside, (though obviously a major factor), it just doesn’t make sense to me.

coronabeer23 · 13/05/2020 07:46

Mine will be going back. The risks to children and teens are minimal and we are not a vulnerable family. I think that the advantages of being in school outweigh the risks of them catching the virus and having serious complications. They will not be using public transport though