Page 5 | "Well, Liam and Alex go to school, but you just let us stay home"

letsgoschool · 2020-06-19T14:53:14+00:00

Is what my 7 year old DS said to me today. I’m one of those parents who chose to keep my children at home even after the school had opened. They speak to the neighbours kids when they are in the garden, some of their parents are key workers and have been at school from day one, others are not and were sent back to school when they opened. DS knows about the coronavirus as he watches the news and we’ve spoken about it. In the beginning he understood, and was ok with it but as time has gone on and he’s seeing the neighbours kids go to school, he says “ well Liam and Alex go to school, and they don’t get sick. Why can’t we? But you just keep us at home” It broke my heart, I didn’t even know what to say. How do I explain this?

Coyoacan · 19/06/2020 17:32

I’m astounded that people let 6/7 year olds watch the government briefings. It’s not appropriate to let small children hear cold hard information about illness and death in a format that is designed to communicate such information to adults

I haven't seen the UK briefings, but the briefings here in Mexico would definitely be ok for a young child to watch, unless you think they should never hear the word death. And I speak as one who sheltered my dd from the news programmes until she was a lot older.

Mummy1232016 · 19/06/2020 17:33

Absolutely, we’re not talking chicken pox outbreak here! I think some responses are terrible, referring to op being ‘hysterical’ my choice is exactly the same, staying off until at least September! My daughter is in the shielding group, but it honestly wouldn’t make a difference. Whether this post is real or not it fails me that people act as though keeping children home is a ridiculous choice during a pandemic.

I don’t consider those who send their children to have made a ridiculous choice, they have weighed up the pros and cons and made their decision....just as those have who have kept them at home.

PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock · 19/06/2020 17:34

Your bubz, your rulz!

Mummy1232016 · 19/06/2020 17:35

Sorry, that was to @Oaktree55

FlamingoAndJohn · 19/06/2020 17:35

Why are there so many people saying to send him back?
That isn’t an option for most year 2s in England.

Original poster

letsgoschool · 19/06/2020 17:35

I won't send him back even if his year group went back on Monday 🙄.

Yes we go the supermarket to get food, and walks but we don't go out like that.

OP posts:

NoMoreDickheads · 19/06/2020 17:37

It's good that he actually wants to go to school at least! I can never imagine saying that as a child.

Do you tend to suffer from anxiety?

Either way, I would just say to him that this is what you've decided is best and your his mum.

imsooverthisdrama · 19/06/2020 17:38

Sorry someone else did a similar thread , I'm not sending dc back but as soon as the others do go back you can't explain a reason why they can't go back .
Why have you come on mumsnet to ask ? , if your reason is because you feel it's not safe then say so .

McCaticusCat · 19/06/2020 17:38

Sorry but it's your decision, so as a parent you're responsible for that which includes explaining your rationale. I really don't think you can it's breaking your heart, when ultimately it's a decision you made, and have control over.

McCaticusCat · 19/06/2020 17:43

Sorry just read your update. As PP have said, you're not very informed especially for someone who appears to be so worried. What a totally batshit post. Don't believe for a second you didn't know.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 19/06/2020 17:44

You have a right to not send your child to school, even if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic that killed a 13-day-old baby yesterday. You can explain that to him in any way you're comfortable. If "it's not open for your year group" is your preferred explanation, go for it. IDK why so many people are struggling on this thread, they must be feeling invalidated by their decisions for some reason but it says more about their anxieties than yours. I think there's a bit of a double standard people saying you shouldn't let him watch the news but that you should explain you're worried about him getting ill and dying. What planet are some people on?
I'm not sending mine to daycare even though I'd love to. No disrespect to anyone who is, but as someone said upthread, my bubz, my rules.

McCaticusCat · 19/06/2020 17:45

And if you're not going to send him back anyway, when schools do open to his year group, you're going to have to explain that to him anyway at that point... which will no doubt confuse him even more..

GreytExpectations · 19/06/2020 17:46

@letsgoschool

I won't send him back even if his year group went back on Monday 🙄.

Yes we go the supermarket to get food, and walks but we don't go out like that.

Why the eye rolling face, OP? Are you judging those who are getting back to normal and not letting anxiety be a detriment to their children's education?

borntohula · 19/06/2020 17:46

You're not vulnerable or shielding and you'd keep him off because you 'don't feel safe?' Just say to him 'I haven't yet managed to get my head around the fact that covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future so even though there will always be a risk that you'll catch it at school, you're staying at home until I'm not scared.' 👍

GreytExpectations · 19/06/2020 17:49

a pandemic that killed a 13-day-old baby yesterday

Not to derail but they haven't yet concluded what caused the 13 day olds baby's death. There is a difference between dying WITH Covid-19 and dying FROM Covid-19. The figures don't seem to be taking this into consideration and instead the media just use it to further scaremonger.

Rainycloudyday · 19/06/2020 17:49

@WhatTiggersDoBest

You have a right to not send your child to school, even if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic that killed a 13-day-old baby yesterday. You can explain that to him in any way you're comfortable. If "it's not open for your year group" is your preferred explanation, go for it. IDK why so many people are struggling on this thread, they must be feeling invalidated by their decisions for some reason but it says more about their anxieties than yours. I think there's a bit of a double standard people saying you shouldn't let him watch the news but that you should explain you're worried about him getting ill and dying. What planet are some people on?

I'm not sending mine to daycare even though I'd love to. No disrespect to anyone who is, but as someone said upthread, my bubz, my rules.

Out of interest @WhatTiggersDoBest do you allow your children to travel in cars?

Tootletum · 19/06/2020 17:50

Send them to school. You've been reading too many scary headlines. Mine are back, it's fine. The risk to children is almost non existent. You cross the road with them, right? Less risky....

TurquoiseDress · 19/06/2020 17:50

You need to explain to him WHY he is being kept at home, it sounds like he doesn't have an adequate explanation at the moment.

If it's a vulnerable family member or if it's simply because you are not satisfied that is safe enough for him to go back to school.

In any case, just be honest with him.

TerrapinStation · 19/06/2020 17:51

@letsgoschool

How did you "only just realise" mid thread, op?

Because I checked my email when some of the PPs said some of their kids haven't gone back yet

You're obviously not that engaged in his schooling if you didn't know which years have gone back.

I can't see how anyone paying attention to the daily briefing can have missed that nevermind the thousands of posts on here about what's going on with the schools.

Oaktree55 · 19/06/2020 17:51

@borntohula

You're not vulnerable or shielding and you'd keep him off because you 'don't feel safe?' Just say to him 'I haven't yet managed to get my head around the fact that covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future so even though there will always be a risk that you'll catch it at school, you're staying at home until I'm not scared.' 👍

There are some seriously judgey responses!!! Nobody knows about this virus yet. That includes the best scientists in the world. It’s a weighing up of estimated risk/benefits which will vary family to family. Please don’t be so ignorant to think you know better than the best minds on this planet 🤯. What is certain is that with each week that passes more is learnt so any decision becomes more informed! Don’t judge those who err on side of caution.

TSSDNCOP · 19/06/2020 17:55

I find critical thinking comes far more easily to the well-educated.

GreytExpectations · 19/06/2020 18:02

@TSSDNCOP

I find critical thinking comes far more easily to the well-educated.

This

borntohula · 19/06/2020 18:05

@oaktree55 hide away indoors forever by all means, just don't expect everyone else to think that's realistic or sensible.

heartsonacake · 19/06/2020 18:06

You need to put your child first, OP. Not let your his education and socialisation be derailed because you can’t control your anxiety.

Shame on you.

onlywomennotmen · 19/06/2020 18:12

It is fine to be anxious, it is fine to be assessing risk differently to others, but you do need to communicate that in a matter of fact way to your child that is age -appropriate and you do need to make sure that you aren't putting your anxiety before his needs. Do you think you might be?