Self isolation... do I hide from the kids?

[Givemecoffeeplease]

I tested positive for Corona today and so am self isolating for 10 days from first symptoms. According to the guidelines, my kids and husband don't have to self isolate.

The Gov website is unclear as to whether or not I can see my kids. It says 'Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible. (...) Not all these measures will be possible if you are living with children or have caring responsibilities, but follow this guidance to the best of your ability in these circumstances.'

We have a spare room, so I'll stay away from the kids as much as possible, but I know that they'll really struggle with this. Has anyone managed this and got any hints and tips?

Please don't come and shout at me - I'm taking the rules seriously, I do not want to spread this, I'm just trying to work out how to do this without upsetting my kids (5 & 7). I guess my AIBU is AIBU to think I'll have to cross paths with them at some point, even though I'll try to hide out in the spare room as much as possible.

Any 'rona survival tips also welcomed :)

Do your kids and husband need to have a negative test before they can carry on not isolating? I was under the impression thats how it works? No advice but waiting on my own results 🤞

According to the Gov website:

You are not required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 and any of the following apply:

• you are fully vaccinated
• you are below the age of 18 years 6 months
• you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

They've tested negative, and we'll keep testing them every single day (plus we've ordered PCRs for them to take). So I'm confident we are doing all we can to keep others safe. I'm just wondering how I / they cope with separation!

I think it’s weird to stay away from your own young kids tbh, that’s got to be more of a head fuck for them than you possibly giving them covid

My boys are slightly older but as a single parent I'm worrying about being able to keep my distance, fingers crossed someone comes along with some good advice

DD (7) had it recently. None of us made any effort to keep away from her and none of us caught it. I think on your shoes I would try not to pass it to your DH so if you start to feel ill, he can keep the show on the road but I wouldn’t worry too much about the kids. And I say that with DD having been really quite unwell with it… but now she’s relieved that she doesn’t have to worry about testing for another few months and is glad she’s had it!

The statistical likelihood is that your kids wouldn’t feel ill with it, but they may feel anxious about you if they have to keep away from you. Just maybe keep the windows open while they’re in the same room as you and try to manage it that way?

I think if you can try and minimise contact with them but I also think with young children it’s really difficult.
My 8yr old tested positive over a week ago. The rest of our PCRs we’re all negative. At home we’ve ended up just carrying on as normal as you can’t isolate an 8 year old. Other than his younger sibling going to school we’ve avoided going anyway ourselves while he isolates (even though rules are now you don’t need to). And have been taking regular LFT. Just trying to be sensible really. None of the rest of us have caught it.

We just tried not to kiss DD on the lips, DS thinks it's icky anyway.

We had both just had our boosters and we didn't catch it from them.

Honestly? I understand that you want to take the rules seriously but I do not think that you will be able to stay away from a 5 and 7 year old (and I think that the guidance recognises this).

Yes if you can but not easy with young children as they don't understand.

When we had it at our house we didn't have room to isolate and just let it work it's way through us all. I was heavily pregnant (unvaccinated) at the time and all of us had few to no symptoms.

It's pretty clear I think: "Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible."

If you need to see your kids for practical or psychological reasons, or they barge into your quarantine room, you're not breaking the law. Just minimise contact as best you can.

DD tested positive yesterday, I tested negative but I don’t feel great (both PCR tests). We are both isolating but I can’t avoid her without making her very unhappy and I won’t do that. I’m double jabbed.

I had the same approach to you because my kids were still going to school/nursery - it seemed the responsible thing to do to try to keep my distance from them and prevent them spreading it. But the toddler reacted REALLY badly after just 24 hrs so we opted for me keeping my distance from DH and regular LFTs for the kids. Worked for us - fingers crossed works for you too!

Are your kids going to school?
I agree it’s unrealistic to not be in the same room as them.

Hope you have a mild course.
There’s a covid moan/chat thread running on the covid board.

My DH had covid. It was like a bad cold for him.

He works from home anyway so he was upstairs away from us most of of time. My DD is only 3 and has learning disabilities- it upset her a lot being away from her dad so we didn't stop him from hugging or being close to her or her brother.

Neither the kids or I got covid (negative tests. I'm double jabbed).

I wouldn't be trying to keep away much from children that age. I think it would be pretty distressing for them to know that I was in the house but trying not to see them.

I have a 5 and 3 year old. 5 year old had to have a PCR test this week which was negative but none of us were trying to isolate from each other while we were waiting for the result and wouldn't have changed that if he was positive.

I think you just carry on as normal at home. In all likelihood you'll have inflected them already if you're going to. Unless of course you can convince DH you need a few days isolating in front of Netflix, although that could backfire if he gets it 🤣

Thank you for being kind, I agree with all of the above. I'm also still waiting on the PCR so there is a chance that that is negative - apparently there are lots of false negatives about if you have a cold?

GOD THIS IS A BORING HEADFUCK!!

I tested positive yesterday also have 17month and 5yr old at home as I have no one else to take them to school and nursery . I’m wearing a mask and have the windows open and an constantly cleaning.
Its only day 2 and im ready to throw in the towel

@picklesbaby I'm so sorry. Sending love and support. Remember it's 10 days from first symptoms - does that shorten it at all?

If your child had it and was unwell you would have to be in contact with them.
I would carry on as normal; they will know all about it from
School. Daddy will have to do the hugging for a few days. Make a game of it.

@Givemecoffeeplease I wish! I had no symptoms until yesterday tea time. Tested positive yesterday AM on off chance as I was going for my booster jab. Pcr has come back positive but the kids were negative for now . Good luck to you

Wear a FFP3 mask around the home.

I wouldn't hide away from my kids.

I wouldn't hide, but I would explain that mummy is not feeling great and she needs time to get better.