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Covid

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Original poster

What would happen to my DD if I got it?

24 replies

OhLook · 10/03/2020 20:57

Say I was too ill to get out of bed to make her food, or I had to go to hospital and she didn't need to?

I live on my own with her. She is 8. Her dad would come here to look after her if I couldn't. But then if he was too ill too then what?!

This idea has suddenly terrified me.

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 10/03/2020 21:03

I was wondering about this yesterday. Usually if parents can't look after a child and there are no friends or relatives to do so SS will become involved and a short term foster placement would happen. I'm wondering how any children will end up being missing from school because their single parent is too ill to take them in? Will babies be left in cots with parents struggling to breathe?

DamselInTheStress · 10/03/2020 21:03

This is what we’re dealing with right now. Non-CV related but when this happened to a child I know, other parents at school stepped in to care for her (with supervision from school and SS, she wasn’t just handed over!)

Original poster

OhLook · 10/03/2020 21:06

I'm not convinced anyone would come forward to offer help in this situation though.

OP posts:

ludothedog · 10/03/2020 21:13

How about teaching your DD how to make a few easy meals? Pizza, fish fingers, sausages, pasta, heating up soup in the micro wave? Everything else can wait and at 8 your DD won't need supervision like a toddler. Just make sure you are stocked up on easy stuff (and leave her with the tablet).

That's what I've done when I'll in the past.

GrumpyHoonMain · 10/03/2020 21:16

I agree at 8 she should learn how to make a few things. DN makes herself toast, boil eggs, and can put waffles in the toaster and open and heat tinned baked beans in the microwave. If you keep a load of fruit and other snacks in easy grabbing distance she should be ok for a bit

Original poster

OhLook · 10/03/2020 21:18

Yes, I will do. Thanks. If only she wasn't such a fussy eater!

OP posts:

ByeMF · 10/03/2020 21:22

I don't think you're going to be ill enough that SS would be involved. Unless you have underlying conditions it's going to be similar to the flu. Can you get some snacky food in just in case so if the worst happens she can feed herself for a few days? Obviously she wouldn't be able to go to school.

Makegoodchoices · 10/03/2020 21:41

I was thinking about this tonight and taught my 8 year old to open a tin.

Tomorrow we’ll go through something else, maybe putting the oven on and setting the timer - he has no problem setting up an Xbox so surely it’ll be a doddle...I’m just going to keep adding skills gradually. It’s probably time to start this stuff anyway.

StrawberryJam200 · 10/03/2020 21:43

I would ensure they know how to call 999 too, just in case.....

Bellyfullofbiscuits · 10/03/2020 21:45

Of course they are way more capable than you think. Just teach them. Give them basic food skills and emergency skills and get your network together,trusted neighbours , friends. If u say now,I don't have them , work on it.

Original poster

OhLook · 10/03/2020 21:45

I had flu as a child and couldn't even sit up in bed!

Yes, I will get some snacks too.

Thanks everyone. I think I need to stop looking at social media for a while and stop dwelling.

OP posts:

ConcernedParent1899 · 10/03/2020 21:48

Yes you really do. There is absolutely nothing to worry about unless you have an underlying health issue. Stop fuelling the panic!

loutypips · 10/03/2020 21:50

Dd is 9, and as a single parent too this has worried me.
I'm going to teach her how to heat stuff in the microwave, boil the kettle etc. All basic stuff that means she doesn't have to use the hob or cooker. I've got an old m&s microwave cook book that I might stick post its in for cooking chicken too.
Trouble is she's an independent Annie, and will assume that she can cook a full roast dinner!
Also an excuse to show her how to use the washing machine and the dishwasher!

WinterCat · 10/03/2020 21:53

I agree with showing her how to make some basic meals etc and prepare her for the fact that you might be unwell and what she needs to do in those circumstances. At eight, I would expect she will be worried but far more capable that you are fearing.

CoronaOffice · 10/03/2020 22:32

I have a 1 year old and 3 year old and how on Earth we would cope with them if we were both seriously ill I have no idea. I have got a few of the toddler ready meals, lots of snacks and pasta and sauce that I could do with minimal effort. My 3 year old could make bread/toast and butter and marmite and fill water cups but that's about the extent of it. He certainly can't change her nappy and we would struggle to keep them safe from themselves and each other even. Base plan is to hole up in the reasonably baby proofed playroom for the majority of the time and do our best with food and hygiene and let everything else go. No local family and our go to babysitter is 80 so out of the question.

batsBATSbatsBATSbats · 10/03/2020 22:55

Not the same, but I was a single parent with two children, and one had to be rushed to hospital. I couldn't go, I couldn't collect my younger child, and my buss pass ran out and I didn't have my purse with me either.

We had to stay a few nights but a lady in my road who I trusted and was friends with, collected and looked after my youngest til we got out.

I'm not sure what steps I would have taken it she hasn't been available.

It turned out to be nothing serious so for that I'm grateful. And I'm grateful for the good people out there.

LuluJakey1 · 10/03/2020 23:04

We were talking about this tonight. There is me and DH but we have 3DC ranging from 5y to 6m. PIL live close by but DH's grandma (90s) lives with them and FIL has a chronic health issue that makes him vulnerable.
SIL and BIL live close as well but she is pregnant and unwell (not coronavirus) and they have a 2 year old. We decided we are catastrophising and the chances of us both getting it and being unable to look after them are really low. DS1 can make a sandwich of sorts and pour cereal and open yoghurt. He might have to look after the three of them.

DingleberryRose · 10/03/2020 23:29

I’m so glad I don’t have kids in today’s world. I think anyone still actively intending to have children is bonkers!

thaegumathteth · 10/03/2020 23:30

If it's any consolation dh and I both caught swine flu when the kids were 3 and a newborn. It was hellish but we survived, even though my asthma took a massive hit and I needed more steroids than I've ever needed, dd was a newborn and needed antibiotics and ds ended up with pneumonia. No babies were left crying in their cot and nobody starved to death. It was awful and scary at times but we did it.

Northernsoullover · 10/03/2020 23:37

I've got two teen boys and I'm still worried. To get them out of bed I have to turn into a drill sergeant. They won't cook, won't pick up after themselves.
Note 'won't' not 'can't'. Disney Dad has furnished them with enough money to indulge their Uber Eats habit.Obviously they don't need looking after as such but they would probably develop scurvy if I got really poorly. It will be like Lord of the Flies

finn1020 · 11/03/2020 02:31

Just remember most people who do happen to contract it will have a very mild illness and may not actually feel very ill at all. So chances are you’ll probably manage fine.

attatiti · 11/03/2020 02:54

It’s really unlikely that both you and her dad will be totally incapacitated, let alone at the same time. But she should be able to operate a toaster and a microwave, and even the oven for in-out stuff, and be able to read the cooking instructions if you practice with her now. Get some ready meals for the freezer and teach her how to heat them. Frozen pizzas may be too big for one meal, you could get freezable fresh ones and cut them in half or thirds before putting them in the freezer (I do this routinely as I am cooking just for myself most of the time).

tangledyarn · 11/03/2020 02:55

I was thinking about this earlier and trying to make a plan. Different situation but my 70+ parents have my sister living with them with learning difficulties. I'm thinking if she gets it first I'll have to go and try and look after her to prevent them from catching it..and try and avoid it myself. I'm just trusting that we can middle through if it happens. Worrying though.

crazydiamond222 · 11/03/2020 04:05

I am wondering what happens if I need to go to hospital as a breastfeeding mum of a 4 month old. My baby will not take a bottle and is wholly reliant on me. I read that they will try to keep mother and baby together until 6 months but only if there have a seperate room available at hospital amd I can't see that happening. Plus the hospital will required another adult to stay to help with the baby. My DH will not be able to do this as we habe another son with severe autism to care for.

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