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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Child tested positive on holiday...AIBU to feel despair

142 replies

JudesBiggestFan · 21/07/2021 12:08

On holiday in the north of England, staying in a gorgeous cottage on the coast. Long awaited after (like everybody) an awful year. Three kids with numerous self isolations, emergency services job that's super hectic. Made it to the end of the school year with relief and set off on holiday on Sunday. Yesterday middle child felt hot to the touch and complaining of a headache, plus he had a cough. Did the responsible thing and got a Pcr test and it's come back positive!
We're packing up to head home and self isolate but I could weep. He's actually loads better but of course he's been sharing a room with his brother, we've been in the car together for days...I know we can't just carry on but I feel just despair at when this will ever be over! We're both double jabbed luckily so not too worried about the virus, but just so sad that even our much reduced holiday plans have been ruined.

OP posts:
Lucyk1 · 22/07/2021 17:40

Look at the bright side....this could have happened abroad! Then you'd have been stuck in isolation there for 10 days and not allowed to leave.

Abraxan · 22/07/2021 18:07

And North East beaches are pretty empty

At certain points of the day they might be, but at the moment even the normally very quiet beach walking distance from my parents are fairly busy all day with families enjoying the weather.

Isolation when positive definitely means staying at home!

Moulesvinrouge1 · 22/07/2021 18:13

@Schrutesbeets

Unpopular move, but I personally wouldn't have had a test.
God forbid you had the inconvenience, eh!
Moulesvinrouge1 · 22/07/2021 18:16

@Crunchymum

My understanding regarding those who dont have own vehical is that they need to make arangements to travel home avoiding others any additional costs are their responsability

@Covidworries, do you have a source for this?

Are you suggesting that people who travelled possibly hundreds of miles by train are meant to find a taxi home / someone to come and collect them?

Yes of course they are! Why would you think it’s ok to get on a train if you had COVID? You made the choice to travel, I think you have to suck it up about the extra cost and inconvenience of getting home. It’s no-ones job to do that for you as you chose to travel?!
ExhaustedPigeon · 22/07/2021 18:18

I'm so sorry for you. It is devastating. We've had to cancel a long awaited trip because I had to isolate but I am glad you have chosen to go home to isolate. My husband works for the ambulance service and we are in a popular tourist area. Last week they had a call to a family who came down from London fully aware that they were positive and came anyway. Apart from the risk they have put the people they have come into contact with, the dad is now in hospital taking up a bed in our very overstretched at the best of times hospital.

DwangelaForever · 22/07/2021 18:20

I feel your pain. I was at a wedding 2 weeks ago and caught covid and was supposed to be going away yesterday and had to cancel.

willstarttomorrow · 22/07/2021 19:14

I think this thread highlights why the government just advocating 'common sense' is not a viable option. Every one is fed up, the pandemic has been difficult for everyone but some have been hit harder, either personally or financially than others. Anyone who has lost someone or knows someone with long covid is likely to have a very different opinion of the way the pandemic is being handled at the moment. The reality is that I know and know of a number of people who have been fully vaccinated who have tested positive and some have been quite unwell. Infection rates are high and a really contagious strain is rampant amount younger people and we do not know how this will resolve in the long run. It is a virus, it will continue to mutate. I certainly do not think we can just continue to live in lockdown, what worries me is as soon as there is any progress all the sacrifices are undone and we go backwards.

Marmitemarinaded · 22/07/2021 19:25

*God forbid you had the inconvenience, eh!^

I’m done with my children and I being inconvenienced by covid. So I’d do same as pp. no test.

cookie4640 · 22/07/2021 19:28

Certainly feels like it sometimes living on the coast!

bumblingbovine49 · 22/07/2021 19:36

@Mustfly

Well we are homeward bound. All sorts of wild thoughts flew my mind of carrying on regardless, but in reality of course the guilt would have killed me! We had Alnwick Garden booked, a sunset boat cruise, dinner at a pub in Bamburgh...just not sensible or safe. Of course Covid-y child is feeling loads better now and it kind of seems surreal! But we also have a three year old and a twelve year old and were we to get unwell 4 and a half hours drive from home we'd be in a real pickle. So so glad we didnt book to go abroad...can you imagine! I guess one day this will be a memorable holiday...rather than a disaster that makes me want to cry!
I had to cancel an Easter trip to Italy one year where DS and I were attending a family wedding.We had booked into an airport hotel for one night as our flight was at 7.30am . That night DS started vomiting with bouts of diarrhea as well as writhing and crying at regular intervals as his stomach hurt so much . I decided in the end to leave for home at about 11 pm that night .as I was pretty sure he had norovirus which was doing the rounds of his school. It was the right decision as ds was sick several times on the way back in the car and in fact was ill for the next 3 -4 days . I had several people tell me they would have taken the flight anyway Hmm. I wouldn't have subjected the plane passengers to norovirus and I wouldn't spread Covid if I could help it . It was really horrible for us as I missed my nieces wedding but sometimes shit happens . I couldn't leave DS and I wouldn't fly with him like that so we came home . It is shit op but you absolutely did the right thing.
Moulesvinrouge1 · 22/07/2021 19:46

@Marmitemarinaded

*God forbid you had the inconvenience, eh!^

I’m done with my children and I being inconvenienced by covid. So I’d do same as pp. no test.

I’m done with my poor mum having lost nine friends to COVID, but I’m glad your kids aren’t inconvenienced 😘
DingDongThongs · 22/07/2021 19:54

is the cottage in Alnwick op?

FlyingBattie · 22/07/2021 20:22

@Marmitemarinaded

*God forbid you had the inconvenience, eh!^

I’m done with my children and I being inconvenienced by covid. So I’d do same as pp. no test.

Well, as long as you're not inconvenienced that's all that matters I guess.

Some peoples inconvenience would be to get very, very unwell if they come into contact with you but that's OK as you're "done".

Fuck me.

DarceyDashwood · 22/07/2021 20:23

So sorry OP, that’s really shit Flowers

Marmitemarinaded · 22/07/2021 21:18

@FlyingBattie

Pretty much, yes

Moulesvinrouge1 · 22/07/2021 21:36

[quote Marmitemarinaded]@FlyingBattie

Pretty much, yes[/quote]
Blimey! Setting your stall out there.

OP I am so sorry for you. But you have done the right thing - stopped the spread, vacated the property, and it’s all this sort of thing that stops people getting really sick and dying.

GreenSalon · 22/07/2021 21:39

@Mustfly exactly same thing happened to us last weekend. Only arrived and had one night before PCR tests confirmed 2 of our 3 children had it. Had a moment of madness where we considered staying as the children were devastated and I’d already organised a big food shop but realised we couldn’t even pop in for milk etc and quickly realised it was not a good idea. I felt terrible having thought about it when the holiday home owner told me they were required to stay away from the premises for 3 days before extra cleaning meaning we would have denied other people their holiday too if we’d stayed. As it turns out, both children have been REALLY ill with it and DH and I now have it. We’ve had to rely on friends to drop off medicine and a few other things we couldn’t get delivered so even more glad we came back. DH is very poorly with it and I’m not as bad but lying in bed. The idea that we could have stayed and had walks on beaches etc away from others is laughable as none of us are fit to do anything and I’m glad we did the long drive home before we got really sick.

ConfusedCarrie · 22/07/2021 21:39

Aw bless you. Get well soon little one Flowers

tallduckandhandsome · 22/07/2021 21:41

Oh no! Will you be able to claim on your insurance OP?

amelema · 22/07/2021 21:41

That's shit, sorry OP! Hope your son is okay!

Twylar · 22/07/2021 22:36

So awful for you. But thankyou for being responsible, getting your child tested and isolating. Very grateful for sensible people like you

SherbrookeFosterer · 22/07/2021 22:59

Child, ill, wrong place wrong time, wrong place, not enough money, not much in the fridge, well as a 55 year old, parent of four, three still alive, all I can say is that's what it is.

Just get on with it.

Pedalpushers · 22/07/2021 23:13

Anyone who has ever died of any infectious disease, ever, has caught it from someone. Never in the history of the world have we been so vicious in blaming others for the course of nature. It makes me quite sad.

FlyingBattie · 22/07/2021 23:22

@Pedalpushers

Anyone who has ever died of any infectious disease, ever, has caught it from someone. Never in the history of the world have we been so vicious in blaming others for the course of nature. It makes me quite sad.
Yes, but for example:

If you don't know you have HIV and pass it on it is different to having symptoms and not getting tested and carrying on sleeping with people.

Anyone with covid symptoms who doesn't get tested is irresponsible, IMO.

Foxhasbigsocks · 23/07/2021 05:13

@Pedalpushers the blaming is not new. It has always been taboo to knowingly infect others. Eg Typhoid Mary

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