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AIBU?

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Original poster

That now is not the time to visit a zoo

121 replies

aceofspades987 · 15/07/2020 23:42

NC as family are on here.

I'm shielding and have barely been out apart from quiet walks since March so am prepared to hear that I'm BU.

My brother is taking his DC to a fairly busy zoo next week. They refuse to make the DC wear masks at the moment so are unlikely to wear them when they visit the zoo.

For background, during the last month or so they have been visiting us and trying to socially distance in our garden but it's quite tricky as the DC are so young. I feel that knowing they will have been somewhere so crowded makes me not want them to come round to our garden (as I have said it is very hard to SD at the best of times)

Am I being overly cautious?

OP posts:
midnightstar66 · 16/07/2020 10:05

The zoo will not be fairly busy as they are strictly limiting numbers - zoos are in absolute crisis and need to get back to working to feed their animals. I'd go!

WhatAWonderfulDay · 16/07/2020 10:11

YANBU if you ask them not to come around, or keep them at an extra distance in the garden or see only the adults.
TANBU for going to the zoo.

You could not see them for 2 weeks after the zoo trip - but they may be going other places too.... so really the question is how you can safely see them.

For what it's worth, we've planned a short trip at the end of July including a theme park. We will treat it like a holiday and self isolate for 2 weeks when we are back from our wanderings. The kids will go crazy if they don't get a break ahead of winter.

MessAllOver · 16/07/2020 10:13

it sounds awfully dangerous to make it normal to accept something blocking your face!

As a complete aside, I wore a cloth reusable mask for my first bus trip since February yesterday. It was surprisingly unpleasant and definitely restricts breathing (and it wasn't even very hot yesterday). I've been using a scarf in shops up till now. However, I understand the necessity to keep the people around me safe. My toddler doesn't so I couldn't get him to wear one and I'm not sure it would be safe if I could. I'm just going to try to limit taking him anywhere that requires adults to wear a mask as much as possible, since he won't be able to wear one.

SlothMama · 16/07/2020 10:20

If people can go into a pub indoors they can go to an open air zoo, surely that is much safer?

saraclara · 16/07/2020 10:21

@MessAllOver

it sounds awfully dangerous to make it normal to accept something blocking your face!

As a complete aside, I wore a cloth reusable mask for my first bus trip since February yesterday. It was surprisingly unpleasant and definitely restricts breathing (and it wasn't even very hot yesterday). I've been using a scarf in shops up till now. However, I understand the necessity to keep the people around me safe. My toddler doesn't so I couldn't get him to wear one and I'm not sure it would be safe if I could. I'm just going to try to limit taking him anywhere that requires adults to wear a mask as much as possible, since he won't be able to wear one.

Please don't restrict your toddler's life. Children don't need to wear one.

I am really concerned about small children's development. If they are not outside experiencing the world (even 'boring to us' places like shops) for the foreseeable future (and they've already had four months of it) it is really going to impact them psychologically.

midnightstar66 · 16/07/2020 10:24

Your kids might not have to but we might in a few weeks time the way Johnson is going with these bloody updates.

Zoos are outdoors. Masks are to be compulsory in indoor spaces. The fact the dc won't be wearing masks is irrelevant anyway as it's to prevent them passing corona to others not to stop them catching it. Asking them to wear masks on a garden visit would be reasonable though!

LittleDonk · 16/07/2020 10:34

I went to the zoo last week.

You book time slots, so family groups are let in 10 mins behind the last people.

Arrows to follow, so you're only going one way.

Indoor exhibits closed, so we were outdoors the whole time.

There was a bouncer on the toilet door, 1 in 1 out, hand sanitiser on the way in and way out.

firstimemamma · 16/07/2020 10:55

"Please don't restrict your toddler's life. Children don't need to wear one.

I am really concerned about small children's development. If they are not outside experiencing the world (even 'boring to us' places like shops) for the foreseeable future (and they've already had four months of it) it is really going to impact them psychologically."

My toddler cries hysterically whenever I wear one so things really aren't as simple as you're making them out to be for everyone. I'm not going to be able to take him shopping anymore. Will it impact him psychologically? Probably, but the impact of taking him and having him sobbing and sobbing will be worse so it's been a careful weighing up of the pros and cons for us.

For some toddlers it's of course going to be fine but you can't really say to someone you've never met things like "please don't restrict your toddler's life" because u don't know their side of the story and it might make them feel very guilty especially if they are in a situation like mine.

firstimemamma · 16/07/2020 10:55

@saraclara

luckylavender · 16/07/2020 10:58

Zoos need income too, they're businesses which are really struggling.

Dahlietta · 16/07/2020 11:06

Not seeing them for two weeks only makes sense if the zoo is the only place they are going for those two weeks.
As others have said, it's very unlikely to be the most risky place they will go during that time.

randomsabreuse · 16/07/2020 11:12

My toddler doesn't let me wear a mask if I am in range of his hands. Or glasses, so not a new behaviour. If it's on my face and he can reach it, it gets grabbed...

Obviously with glasses I can switch to contacts but can't "fix" the mask issue. Irritatingly that limits my "leisure" shopping to evenings and weekends, so I'll not be bothering as most leisure shops aren't open in the evening and there's no "leisure" in the queues at the weekend!

saraclara · 16/07/2020 11:40

@firstimemamma

"Please don't restrict your toddler's life. Children don't need to wear one.

I am really concerned about small children's development. If they are not outside experiencing the world (even 'boring to us' places like shops) for the foreseeable future (and they've already had four months of it) it is really going to impact them psychologically."

My toddler cries hysterically whenever I wear one so things really aren't as simple as you're making them out to be for everyone. I'm not going to be able to take him shopping anymore. Will it impact him psychologically? Probably, but the impact of taking him and having him sobbing and sobbing will be worse so it's been a careful weighing up of the pros and cons for us.

For some toddlers it's of course going to be fine but you can't really say to someone you've never met things like "please don't restrict your toddler's life" because u don't know their side of the story and it might make them feel very guilty especially if they are in a situation like mine.

Fair enough, but that's not the reason you gave in the post I responded to. You said that you weren't going to take him with you because HE wouldn't wear a mask. Not because he doesn't like you wearing one. So I stand by what I said if people aren't taking their children out for the reason you initially gave.
firstimemamma · 16/07/2020 11:43

@saraclara you are confusing me with another user - mess all over. I never said what you claim I did.

saraclara · 16/07/2020 12:32

[quote firstimemamma]@saraclara you are confusing me with another user - mess all over. I never said what you claim I did. [/quote]
Ooops. Apologies.

Coconutmeg · 16/07/2020 12:37

Actually, hearing about time slots and spreading visitors out etc
This sounds like the BEST time ever to visit a zoo.

Abouttimemum · 16/07/2020 12:48

We’re going to the zoo with DS on Saturday. We had to buy a ticket with an entry time slot which are staggered all day, and numbers are limited with a one way system. It’s all outdoors.
I’m more terrified of going to the supermarket!

Original poster
aceofspades987 · 16/07/2020 14:11

I have to say that all your replies are really reassuring and I wish I could go to the zoo myself 😂

Yes my title was misleading. I don't wish to control what anyone else is doing. I just want to be as safe as possible for the sake of my own family too.

Thanks for those who have understood what I was asking.

OP posts:
MessAllOver · 16/07/2020 14:12

@saraclara. @firstimemamma. Yes, my toddler has no issues with me suffocating under my mask Grin. He finds it hilarious when I make funny eye expressions out the top of it.

MessAllOver · 16/07/2020 14:14

@aceofspades987. I'm sorry you're in this position - it must be really tough. You definitely need to take the measures which will make you feel safest, even if it means not seeing them for a few weeks.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 16/07/2020 14:17

OP we went to the zoo two weeks ago and it was fine. We didn't have to compromise social distancing at all during the trip. Numbers were really limited and it wasn't at all crowded.
Your worry is totally understandable though and you wouldn't be unreasonable to ask people to stay away if it makes you feel more comfortable.

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