So, I know lots of people hate a covid thread, but I wanted a range of views and those in the coronavirus section will be the ones who are more cautious.
We are in Tier 4. Parents are in Tier 2. Because they live abroad much of the year and have only been in the U.K. since November we formed a childcare bubble with them post quarantine within the rules and let them provide childcare for our DD(2) so that they could spend time with her. We felt this could be justified - it allowed us to be working or doing admin during the day rather than late at night, though we could certainly have managed without if necessary (as we had to in previous lockdowns). We tried hard to stay out of the way whilst they did this - they took offence, but we felt we probably ought to because this is what the rules require (ie childcare not socialising) and because I am now heavily pregnant and they are not very compliant with social distancing or mask wearing.
Before Christmas was cancelled in tier 4, we would have seen both sets of grandparents (PIL have seen outside for walks where rules permitted). We were not absolutely comfortable with this given GPs generally being a bit cavalier and me being pregnant, but we reasoned that it would cause too much upset not to and we would switch to seeing people outside for last 2 months of pregnancy to manage risk (plus my DD is still at pre school for continuity/socialisation sake, so we are not risk free and we have to be a bit pragmatic).
Parents have just messaged angling to come tomorrow, stay over until 24th and use childcare exemption rather than the previously permitted Christmas bubble rules. Have said no because: 1) we are not working those days, so would need to find a childcare pretext for them to come, stay over and travel from tier 2 (I mean, I could find lots of reasons why I might want childcare as our house is a state, but not super necessary ones!); 2) would be unfair on PIL to invent a pretext for DPs and yet still refuse to see them; 3) I'm not sure they are allowed to stay overnight if we would be the ones looking after our DD and it is feasible for them to get home (they live 1hr30 away, fit healthy in 60s, so capable of driving). (I haven't told them this, but I also know that they spent last night in a pub with my sister and husband (who are visiting them) in tier 2, so it's not like they are doing anything differently for my sake or even attempting to meet us half way!).
They will be/are pissed off, and will think that I am simply inventing reasons not to see them (am often cast as the difficult child and am the only observer of the rules in my family).
I do feel guilt about this, though, as obviously they haven't seen my DD much this year and I do want her to have a good relationship with her GPs.
AIBU?