To think I'm the only one still living a distanced life...

[ciarachats]

I'm still strictly distancing, because, well
that's the rules!
But I know very little people that still are.!!

The thing is, I'm so miserable because of it.

I have a 7 month old baby that my mum hasn't held since March. My mum
works around a lot of people and I've not felt like it's a good Idea for her to hold the baby.

I've barely seen friends because the weather is rubbish for outdoor meet ups!

We can't go for coffee because how do you stay 2m away from someone and drink a coffee in a shop together?!
Same for going for lunch or a drink etc.

It's all starting to drive me crazy and I really miss seeing properly.

How long are we expected to keep this up for!!

Should I just stop this now and get back to normal?!

I still live like that. Its miserable but there are a few of us still about.
It would help if the rules were not do confusing though!!!!
(I have a sick child so a conscious choice on my part)

@sadwithkiddies

I still live like that. Its miserable but there are a few of us still about. It would help if the rules were not do confusing though!!!! (I have a sick child so a conscious choice on my part)

Sorry to hear that!

Unless you're in an area with additional restrictions you aren't required to carry on with the majority of the things you are ....

@SueEllenMishke

Unless you're in an area with additional restrictions you aren't required to carry on with the majority of the things you are ....

@SueEllenMishke there are no restrictions in my area. But there's been no mention of relaxing social distancing?

I am another one! I feel like I am the only one too. So there are a few of us which is nice to know

its good that people are still doing it. I am so fed up with the people who have just got back to normal.
I have not been able to get close or hug my disabled DD since March.
I just want to hug her.

But the rules are that you CAN go to lunch with one other household. And the distance was relaxed to 1 metre.

That's what bubbling and such is, a relaxation in strict social distancing. You mum could visit.

Just go back to normal, it’s legal to go to restaurants ect, children have been very little affected by the virus.

Can you not form a bubble with a close friend? You seem to have isolated yourself somewhat, you can mix 2 households unless you are vulnerable I would say your being very hard on yourself.

There's really no need to live like that. Your choice, if you want to - but you could be living a more or less normal life with lots of handwashing like the rest of us!
I had lunch in a tiny restaurant yesterday. The tables were well apart, staff were wiping down tables and chairs after each group left, it felt perfectly safe. Think of all the supermarket workers who have worked all the way through - they're not exactly dropping like flies, are they?

@PurdyFlower

But the rules are that you CAN go to lunch with one other household. And the distance was relaxed to 1 metre.

I was just about to say this ....

I have a 8 month old baby. My parents haven’t held her since March either. They are in their 70s and one has health issues so I think that’s the right thing to do. I do feel sorry for them not getting to hold and interact with her properly but I feel we have to be careful.

It’s your choice but risks to children are incredibly small. Social distancing has been relaxed to 1m which isn’t too hard in a cafe and you could always do it ne sitting on different tables if you figured out an appropriate place.
I think it’s going to be a long time before they actively say we can stop social distancing and we all need to make our own risk assessments as we go along.

Yeah I get you OP. It often feels like I'm the only one who cares about the rules anymore.

No one seems to get that the 1m is with extra precautions like a mask or a screen in place.

My colleagues all met for a picnic and I just couldn't go as I know they're attitude is oh well it's just a 72 hour bug.

Whereas to me and Dh with asthma it could be a killer. I really struggle with a mask if it's for too long so restrict everything even if I do go out.

The only exception I've made is making visits with some friends who still follow all the regulations like we do. Outside usually too.

I am still doing the same as you OP. My understanding is the distancing is still 2m unless you can mitigate by wearing masks, being behind a screen or sitting side by side (not face to face) none of those make for a particularly fun coffee or lunch date. I have had one inside cuppa with a friend where we did sit side by side 1m apart but otherwise I have stuck to meeting outside which is getting harder. I'm sticking with my little bubble for now.

I know people who have been shielding because of having had cancer, who are now out and about. At some point, you do need to start living as normally as possible. The likelihood of your baby catching COVID is beyond tiny.

My parents are doing childcare so they won’t be socially distancing from baby when it’s born.

I don’t see how random strangers taking care of a baby in a nursery is any better than my parents looking after baby!

The official rules say no more than 2 households at the same table in a restaurant so I take that as it's ok. We are going all out but I'm seeing close family and friends (all being sensible and not in quick succession either, one visit per week ish)

Just go back to normal.

And dp's DD's care home are allowing hugs but gloves and masks required, she wouldn't understand to distance. They have allowed since June. (No extra measures around here)

It's going to be a while before there is a vaccine available.
The chances of you catching it are very small . We've been on multiple uk breaks over the last 6 weeks which have involved hotel stays, restaurants, pubs, theme parks, shops etc and none of us have caught it. My friends have also done similar trips and some have been been abroad.

Frequent hand washing, masks in communal areas and making sensible decisions is sufficient in the majority of cases.

Not hugging parents, but going for outdoor pub lunch with them etc. And being careful. Still working from home. You are not alone. Outdoors is so much safer than indoors; take advantage now while it's still warm.

I don’t really understand why you are sticking to it if you feel miserable (understandably). Cafes and restaurants are all open - you can meet people from another household there.

Also I don’t know where you live but weather isn’t likely to get much better, can you not just wesr better clothes for the weather if it’s bad where you are?

Babies are barely at risk so I definitely wouldn’t worry about your mum seeing your baby unless he is sick or was premature.... your mental health is v Important and so is your mums relationship with your baby.

There have always been risks of catching viruses. Life is too short.

I think you need to think about the reality of how long this is going to go on for, the virus isn’t going anywhere so that’s why many are ‘carrying on as normal’ just with the precautions of washing hands and keeping 1m apart where possible.