Are you still social distancing with close families?

[Kaj29]

Above says it all? Those you don’t live with..

Haven’t actually seen my family in 3 months now. Have been over to in laws but social distancing in garden so they can see grandchildren. They are cool with that as one of them is vulnerable (not shielding but vulnerable) is all happy to do this.

Thinking of going to see my family soon. I’m very happy to sit in the garden social distancing - not a hugger anyway 🤣 But my mum insists that social distancing isn’t important anymore as most families are meeting up like normal, going in each other’s houses etc.

Firstly, I don’t know who my family have socialised with and they probably haven’t social distanced from them. My dad and brother both work with the public. My mum has been socialising throughout.

Secondly, I’m trying to teach my son about social distancing before he goes back to school - he has asd and has been told about social distancing and I think he understands but putting things into practise really helps. Plus he will be confused if he has to social distance at school but not with family, easier to do it all around, he likes rules and regulations. The school have actually said that children can lose their place at school if they find out families aren’t obeying social distance guidelines.

Also, my mum is caring for elderly relatives so I’d much prefer to social distance from them just in case we were carrying it without knowing and spread it around.

Feel like it’s safer for everyone.

Aibu?

Yabu - social distancing isn’t happening with families.

YANBU - insist on social distancing.

We socially distance by nature. We aren't a huggy family, I haven't been to my parents but they came here to the garden and it felt normal in that we wouldn't usually get within 6 ft of each other so didn't think about it.

@Nowabruptly

I’m quite encouraged to see how many people on here are social distancing still as it seems as if everyone I know is bending/completely breaking the rules/guidelines one way or another. I am so depressed by how many otherwise intelligent people around me think the rules don’t apply to them and think they know better than the scientists. Even if you doubt the scientists why not err on the side of caution for the sake of our community? And to anyone on here who says they made the decision to take a risk - this is not your decision to take - it’s not about protecting you, it’s about protecting the wider community, particularly those who are vulnerable. And not taking up hospital beds unnecessarily. I am gutted by the selfishness of those I know and love and it’s going to take me a long time to get over my disappointment in so many people after this is over. I am fed up with having to explain very apologetically to people that I am social distancing and can’t do x, y or z. Surely it should be a given?! I do appreciate there are some very limited circumstances where there is no alternative eg where mental health is seriously at risk. But otherwise surely social distancing is the least we can do! Sorry to rant.

Absolutely agree with this. One thing I have learned from all of this is how selfish and self centred my family are. If the DC were younger and not so close to the extended family I would be seriously considering moving away and keeping contact to a minimum.

@Duckfinger. We are very similar (well I am) but my family is not.). My family are a very affectionate, huggy bunch (I’m just the socially awkward one). Just worried that my mum won’t distance from the children and I’ll end up getting frustrated and upset by it worried they will get poorly. That sounds extreme I know but my mums been around a lot of people!

Still socially distancing

Mainly because I notice a lot of people are not and I can see cases might increase . So still being careful .

I can see from SM that the government is accused of putting the economy before lives and yet about the same amount of people think we should just open up and live with the consequences so it’s a no win situation.

I think we might be getting to the stage where vunerable people ( medically) age irrelevant may still be told to shield to protect the nhs . But others will be told to carry on.

But I hope they make it clear that it’s now down to personal choice and you have to take the consequences .

Personally I would be happier with every shop insisting on face coverings and sanitising you’re hands before you enter . I think the SD thing is going to prove pretty impossible from behaviour I have seen today .

I have been quite shocked to see that people are ignoring the risks and I bet they are soon critical of the government at the same time .

Not my DD as she's too far away.

My dad, I've hugged since the beginning of April and will continue to do so.

@Kaj29

It would be great if a really quick test was developed that was cheap and we could keep testing people to minimise the risk 😀

I'd say we're not being religiously 2m apart, but we are meeting outside and definitely not touching.

If any of my family did insist on it, I would without demur.

Absolutely. I work in a school and don’t want to make anyone ill. I’ve seen my dad at a distance and mil and sil but that’s it. All outside and distanced.

We've been struggling with this as all our family seem to think we're being a bit over the top by insisting we still socially distance.

This weekend we've been invited for a buffet with two households, into my fil house instead of him walking the 100yards to the park up the road and been on a walk with my parents trying to hold my children's hands. We felt 'judged' when we declined invites an ensured we were following the rules.

I'm glad it's not just us that are following the guidelines.

Would so love to hug my mum, but we are still socially distancing. We are both vulnerable health wise. I want to wait until at least July where I hope the cases will be even lower.

The DC have seen their Dad but apart from that,` we have & continue to, social distance from everyone. I really miss my 'support network' now though

A few weeks ago I would have said I don't think I know anyone not following social distancing rules. And now I'm not sure if it I know anyone who hasn't broke social distancing rules with many continuing to do so with no concern. I've see a real change in my social media these last few weeks too with friends shamelessly posting pics of bbqs and gatherings with no distancing.

I haven't met anyone outside of my household and OH has been for a few socially distanced walks with his family a few times since the rules where relaxed but that's it.

Well, we’re towing a middle path.

For the first six weeks I did not see my family at all. Then I had a social distanced walk with my sister, sat on the patio, did not go in their house. Two weeks ago I visited my parents who like many others I’m sure, are becoming increasingly lonely. The drive is just over 1.5 hrs each way so popping in for 15 min in the garden is not possible. We did go in the house but kept our distance - sitting over the other side of the room etc, and tried to go into as few rooms as possible. No hugs or kisses of course. And we went for a walk.

The thing is, they’re very lonely and they just want to see us properly.

DH’s mum is in a care home where no visitors are currently allowed.

I met up with dparents, dB and dnephew in a park today, we all kept our distance until dn needed to hold hands to walk on the trim trail and as closest adult I simply stepped forward... Its so hard but still sensible

No I’m not.

Nope I'm not. I've got young children and have weighed up the risks (currently incredibly low levels of community transmission) against the fact that we are fucking up our kids, socially and educationally. I am no longer willing to do that to my kids any more given the extremely low levels of risk.

Still socially distancing: the closest I've come to breaking any rules is we had a mums meet-up in the park with 7 rather than 6 of us for about 15 mins - I reckon that's not the end of the world!

Yes, we're still socially distancing.

I really can't understand people who think that "it's worth the risk" of giving their friends and family what is often a fatal illness. We've only been asked to distance for about 12 weeks so far, and you can now meet up, just don't get too close. We're happy to distance long term as it means there's more chance of our friends and family living long term too.

Yes! I'm vulnerable as is my Mum. We are making do with Facetime.

Lockdown is NOT over.

We are meeting in laws but socially distancing. It's just not worth it to me to risk something happening.

I think I'd get an agreement from your mum before you meet that she understands you need to socially distance and why (not just health but also teaching your son). If she cannot see your point I'd tell her you will stick to zoom calls for now.

If two people choose to stick to the rules fine. If one chooses not to they cannot impose it on the other person. If two people choose not to stick to rules they could be putting themselves and others in danger.

My understanding of the bubble is that if you had a single friend or relative you could include them in your bubble (or a single adult household) then you do not need to socially distance from them. Is your mum married? Even if not, if your mum is caring for various elderly relatives already she already has several people she is in touch with. So just not sure.

This bit explains the bubble to me...

""From this weekend we will allow single adult households, living alone, or single parents with children under 18, to form a support bubble with one other household."

www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1294451/Family-bubble-can-we-hug-family-members-now-support-bubble

Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

We have but I did drive 180 miles to see my mum today and I did hug her. We were distanced after that (probably pointlessly) but I haven’t seen her since Feb and to be quite frank I’d had enough. She’s on her own and normally I’d have seen her twice over the course of lockdown so I drove down and stayed a couple of hours for a chat and drove back. I give no fucks when we can visit shops and all that bollocks but can’t see our families when they live so far away. Other than that we’ve been really well behaved and only met friends or family socially distanced since it was allowed.

Oh and she can’t work her damn smartphone so I haven’t even seen her over FaceTime or anything cos she can’t work it 🤦🏻‍♀️

We are n a bubble with PIL. DH's grandma lives with them so it is 3 of them. The children are not attending school or nursery and we are very careful with hygiene. DH does not hug them or get too close - because he is working. The children are 5, 3 and 11m and don't do social distancing.
I was really surprised when both MIL and FIL were tearful when they first saw DC. It was really touching. Grandma is made of tougher stuff.

@LuluJakey1 how can you be in a bubble? You don't fit any of the criteria. Neither household has a lone adult.
I'd love to pair up with my mum but she lives with someone and I have my DP.

Sedona

I totally agree that social distancing remains necessary. However it’s a little alarmist to say covid is ‘often’ fatal. No matter how you spin the statistics the death rate per infections is low.

That said, we definitely need to remain cautious and take precautions.