Feel like the country is opening back up but not for people with young kids

[Bookworm36]

I am feeling so so isolated. I had been feeling pretty good until last week. I don't know what happened but a huge wave of sadness just hit me and now I'm waking up each morning feeling miserable.
Im a sahm mum, so in that respect very lucky that I'm not having to juggle work etc. But my life is just completely empty!!
Me and my children have done every activity, game, walk etc that we can think of and we are now all bored out of our minds. I have not spent a single minute alone since 23rd march.
As of tomorrow all shops, town centres etc are opening up. My parents are so happy, theyve been to lovely villages in the countryside, to ironbrige, and are now going to go to Chester, Shrewsbury, Manchester for a lovely day out.
But for me I still feel trapped!! I don't think that taking young kids to these places is a good idea, so we are still just going to be stuck with at home, with bad weather at the moment too
I didn't really have much of a social life before all this, but the problem has been magnified by lockdown. I'm seeing other people having fun nights with family and friends on zoom etc. We have none of that. When this is over I am going to make some positive changes and I'm trying to focus on that but anyone else feeling really isolated?

[okiedokieme]

Parks are open and no issues with siblings playing with balls etc. The beaches here are full of kids building sandcastles. The lock area is always full of families watching the boats and bring picnics. The only thing really that's shut here is the swings - every restaurant is open for takeaway and plenty of people sitting on the grass nearby eating the food.

[Fluffybutter]

[quote Dumbie]@BabyofMine I would equally love the children's centres and parks to open. Noone is saying they don't need to open. They are saying that there are some options starting to come available.

That said, How does social distancing at a theme park even work? Are the rides open? Aren't they going to be touching all the lego and stuff? Makes no sense vs parks, unless they're wiping it all down a dozen times a day.[/quote]
Yes that’s exactly what they’re doing .
Letting less people in a day , spaces on rides between different family groups and increased hygiene around the parks for ride seats/ restraints, tables , toilets , queue line barriers etc..

[Intastellaburst]

The days when it rains I especially struggle. I know people will say to put wellies and a coat on my older child but we have absolutely torrential rain for hours on end in the south west and I have a small baby to think of too. It is no fun being out in hailstones. There used to be play groups, the library and cafes to help.

[AhhCorona]

Have just got back from an RHS garden (bought membership today online, figure we will get our money's worth this year). The place was full of the over 65s. Saw one slightly stressed mum with three under five, reminding them about social distancing - I think this was more to pacify some tutting old people. And two mum's with four young kids between them plus a baby having a great time.
DH & I were the only visitors in the 40 to 60 zone, my kids were the only ones in the six to thirty zone!
The lovely playgrounds & picnic area was closed, no den making stuff out but the cake & coffee wagon was out.
I'm so lucky my kids haven't any known health problems, they were so good wandering round, letting off some energy in the playground would have been brilliant but it really felt like the facilities have opened up for the over 65s today.

[AhhCorona]

But.... Having done RHS today, we need the 'normal' stuff open. Cycle to the library, skate board around the park for an hour. Swimming in the local pool. Get a buzz from meeting a friend and hanging out for an hour by the canal without worrying if it's against the rules/ how other parents feel about their kids, etc

[Fundays12]

I am in Scotland and our area has had very low cases and none now for weeks. We are still locked down. I have young kids and a dh (he is working long hours). I miss catch ups, coffee and 2 minutes peace. My kids are so fed up. My 8 year old is falling apart as he is desperate to go to school now but can’t due to the “risk”. Right now kids are being penalised and as it stands may only get a part time school experience for a year. Yes he will be home educated part time but it’s other kids he needs now. He is now further on that ever academically due to being home educated but he needs his friends now. I am genuinely appalled School’s May stay on a part time learning basis for a year. Kids and parents are being pushed to the brink already, abused and neglected kids are going under the radar and kids with asn needs being failed. Kids are paying the price.

[ishouldtryabiteachdayy]

Are you allowed to not social distance in your bubbles ? I'm confused.

I wanted to arrange a picnic with my 3 year olds friend, but they won't stay apart, but would be outside of course ?!

[Intastellaburst]

@ishouldtryabiteachdayy technically you are not allowed if the kids are not staying 2 metres apart, no. Even outside for a picnic. But 3 year olds at nursery don’t have to socially distance there. Which is why I’m thinking about letting my son meet his best friend outside in the park, as they would normally be at nursery together anyway.

[slothingit]

I sympathise for everyone in this thread and it's really unclear to me why this has had to turn in to a thread eith some either being critical of others or competing to argue that their situation is worse.

I am sick to the back teeth of nature walks and parks without play grounds, and the complete lack of all those things which each one of us take as normal, be it library groups, play parks, and visits to family and friends

[TheMurk]

I really hit a wall today.

I’ve had a lingering migraine for the last 10 days or so. Really felt it on Saturday and DH was great just took over and let me rest. But I got up this morning and it’s still there in the background and he is away to work early and the day is just so long. Went for a walk but every step hurt my head, my older one decided today was going to be naughty day and just pushed every boundary all day. The baby is just relentless. Hates the pram. It’s a demolition derby in the house. I looked in the mirror and I just have this pained expression stuck on my face.

I need a day off.

A full 24 hours off.

Ironically my DH would happily let me disappear to a hotel for 24 hours rest and peace and darkness and even a wee swim and a lovely massage but we’re not fucking allowed.

I’ve really had enough now.

[Megatron]

it really feels like the nation's children and working age adults have been thrown under the bus to support the elderly yet again.. So what do you mean by 'yet again' then @snappycamper?

The vast majority of people who have died from COVID in the UK (89% according to the ONS) were over 65.. Well yes they were. I don't believe anyone has argued that point have they. Again, what's your point? That it doesn't really matter because most of them were over 65?

I'm livid that the government has completely prioritised reopening services which enable people to spend money. Children have been completely forgotten as they have no spending power.

Did you not expect this to happen? I'm sorry that you're so 'livid' about it but there's a bit more to it than just your children.

I think I need to hide this thread now, there are just too many posters who are only considering themselves and their own situation without a thought for the bigger picture, or god forbid, anyone else. Sadly it seems quite common now.

[catsjammies]

I'm so fucked off that playgrounds are still closed.

I am letting DD play with a friend who lives a few doors down now. I don't give a crap that we're not supposed to. Seeing their faces when they were allowed to play again made me (and the friends Mum) cry.

[Cadent]

But OP you say you're choosing not to go out, so getting annoyed that other people choosing to go out is very unreasonable.

[ElleyBear13]

We too are missing playgroups , playgrounds, swimming and anything within walking distance activites - it's very tiring and hard my 5 and 2 year old are climbing the walls - i gave birth on the first week of lockdown and I felt like we were chucked into a parallel universe...its very exhausting without the usual support networks - family and playgroups especially.

We have been considering booking the local zoo as a break from the four walls of the house and a break from wandering the streets - itll be £60. Two hour drive. None of the play areas will be open, rides or indoor attractions and I'm not sure if it will be as nice as I picture...weve found local walks quite stressful as we need to remind the kids to socially distance/ dont touch/ wash your hands / dont run / don't walk too slowly / hold my hand etc.

My mental health has taken a nose dive as has the kids -we recieved a covid mental health guide in the post and I dont think any of the suggestions are possible. Hubby is a key worker (5 days a week longish hours) so theres no rest bite - and trying to take video calls from family or even the HVs with 3 under 5 s / colicky baby is almost impossible . Hoping things will improve for us all soon.

[snappycamper]

So what do you mean by 'yet again' then?
Over a decade of Tory rule. Sustained under investment in schools and public services. Schools are crumbling and overcrowded and have minimal resilience to cope with this. Partly due to banking bailouts, but also to support the triple lock for Tory voters and their pensions.

The vast majority of people who have died from COVID in the UK (89% according to the ONS) were over 65.. Well yes they were. I don't believe anyone has argued that point have they. Again, what's your point? That it doesn't really matter because most of them were over 65?
Not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse. There aren't many over 65s in schools

[likeafishneedsabike]

Are you meaning to be rude @Megatron? Or do you just have an unfortunate writing style?

[Cadent]

@likeafishneedsabike can’t see anything wrong with what @Megatron posted.

Why not just tell her if you find her rude rather than being passive aggressive?

[ilovesooty]

I can't see anything wrong with what @Megatron posted either.

[Useruseruserusee]

My children are 5 and 2 and I don’t feel they have been thrown under the bus. My 2 year old is vulnerable so we have to be more cautious than most and it’s been exhausting worrying about what will happen if he gets it (he is frequently hospitalised for just common colds in the winter).

To be honest I haven’t had the luxury of worrying about playgrounds etc.

[HeyMaCorona]

Why are.people.getting so annoyed about the parks. Can't you kick a football around the park instead if go on the play equipment? Or have little races, or make a den, or take a scooter out, or go for a cycle, or collect sticks, or pick up leaves and make a collage, or play dodgeball, or play tag... If you are so desperate to put the kids on the climbing frame, just do it. There will be no-one stopping you. Just break the rule. If you think it's safe, and are annoyed the government hasn't opened them, then clearly you think it's fine to touch and play on the equipment, so why don't you just do it. Only very few parks actually have barriers up to stop you. Most just have a polite notice.

[geojojo]

All the parks here have barriers around them, padlocks, the swings are tied together and are overgrown now anyway so unusable even if someone was able to climb over the barriers with small children.

[pigeon999]

I completely agree with you op. It is dreadful for children at the moment. Schools shut to most of them, parks closed, soft play ditto on a rainy day, cinemas, hobbies and activities, swimming, it is all closed!

You have every right to feel angry about it when all other parts of society are now reopened, but for children there is nothing!

We don't really want to climb over padlocked gates and teach our children to break the rules if we can help it, and there is only so many times anyone wants to pay 'dodgeball' or cycle or go for the same old walk for over three months (with three more months to go at least!)

We have managed to book a NT garden and a farm visit. We have been to the beach and the lakes, and quite frankly it is exhausting to do anything.

I saw so many children out shopping yesterday, just take them with you op if want to go. They were eating ice cream, trying on shoes and looked very happy to be out. Also time to work out how you can take regular breaks? This not sustainable for most people.

[Wondergirl100]

@ishouldtryabiteachdayy please don't listen to the advice that you 'technically' aren't allowed to meet this is total nonsense.

People are allowed to meet outdoors or in gardens. Children under 5 are almost completely protected from Covid (I work in this field and if you like can link to senior paediatric consultants work on this and writing in the press). Transmission outdoors is vanishingly unlikely - children NEED contact with other kids and time outdoors so just meet outside and make sure adults do social distance.

Wash your kids hands and let them play with friends - really terrible to see people putting parents of small kids off meeting up with others.

[Wondergirl100]

Very worrying that people on here think small children shouldn't play and meet in parks - this is totally wrong.

The rules in England allow people to mix - children under 10 are not advised by Sage to social distance in school - they are very very low risk of even getting Covid and outdoor transmission is almost non existent.

Please let your children play, wash their hands a lot and let them get back with their friends.

[pigeon999]

Please let your children play

It is very weather dependent, and here it is forecast to rain for the next ten days, so are you suggesting we should break the rules and invite friends into the house wondergirl?

Everything we do depends on good weather, and we live in the UK where it rains a lot!