To be seriously concerned about my family

[Stuckinforever]

We are a family of seven. Two adults, five children under 13. We did the full lockdown, with me being out a lot of the day providing care to family who were shielding, OH trying his best to home school etc. My older children have completely changed, personality wise, probably a mix of teenage hormones as well as recent events.
Kids are back at school, it's half term, and we cannot do anything together. Rule of 6. No cinema, museum, meal. Unless the weather allows us to have a picnic in a public place.
For context, we're tier two. I could meet with 6 of my friends outside but can't do anything, at all, with my family.
I'm seriously concerned about my teenagers' mental health. AIBU to think large families have been forgotten?

Sorry, 5 of my friends

You can if you are all one household.

I thought you could if one household too

Yes, the Rule of Six doesn’t apply to individual households. You may find places that don’t understand that though.

You are a living in the same house so the rule of six doesn't apply.

Yes you can .

This seems mad, as you are all together at home anyway.

I was going to say the same - rule of six doesn’t apply if you’re one household!

You're not understanding the rules.

You can do anything a family of 3, 4 or 5 can do.

www.gov.uk/government/news/rule-of-six-comes-into-effect-to-tackle-coronavirus

Exemptions include cases where a single household or support bubble is larger than six people.

However it’s understandably confusing as Venues following COVID-19 secure guidelines – such as places of worships, gyms, restaurants and other hospitality venues – can still hold more than six people in total. But within those venues, there must not be individual groups larger than six.

Rule of six doesn’t apply indoors or outdoors if you are one household, but if I’m reading the rules correctly even if one household, if you have more than six you have to book two tables at a restaurant for example and those two tables have to social distance the entire meal.

It’s shit OP.

I think you have slightly misunderstood the rules. They do not apply to a household if more than 6 people.

I think when it says indoors it means in peoples houses and not public places indoors, but the rules are not very clear.

You can go to restaurants....

The rule of 6 applies to people from different households. You form one household.

You can do all those things
You may need to phone the restaurant and explain or even book two tables of 3 and 4 but you can do it.

I understand the houshold/bubble etc. Nowhere will allow us to book. We can't walk in. Our bubble is 8 technically.

We want to be together. That's the point

I know in Wales restaurants are told not to take a booking of 6 or more unless they are from the same household/ support bubble. This was obviously pre firebreak when they were allowed to be open. Not sure what the rules are in tier 2 England.

As everyone above has said, you have got the rules wrong. However, I suspect your teenagers would prefer to do things more appropriate to their own age group than with the little ones anyway.

I’d suggest you ring the council then. Licensed premises should know the rules and allow you to book. Certainly the local ones here allow bigger families.

Hmm, I get that it's a bit disappointing that you can't all do stuff together (if indeed that is the case), but there isn't actually anything to stop you doing stuff like cinema/museum/meals with your children - surely you just tag team it between you, one parent goes with the older kids and one with the younger ones? Or leave the teenagers at home while you both go out with the little ones? I'm a bit confused about their ages, as you initially said 5 kids under 13 but then mentioned teenagers?

With five kids of (presumably) varying ages, I can't imagine that they all want to do the same thing anyway, do they? I presume that you get plenty of time together as a family at home, so while it might be nice to all go out together from time to time, I can't honestly see why this is essential to your kids' mental health. Surely the older ones are more bothered about whether they can see their friends than whether they can go to the museum with their younger siblings?

Can’t you just ring and explain that you are one family, taking proof if needed. My husband runs a business and we know about and adhere to the exemptions to rule of 6, not just for large families but support bubbles too.