Childcare if schools close

[BringBiscuits]

If schools close friends have suggested a babysitting circle so we are able to take turns with childcare and get to work. I’m not keen. If schools close I want to limit contact with the outside world if stall possible. Aibu?

As people will have to work then it makes sense to help each other out where possible assuming everyone involved is healthy and not in a high risk group

If you're not keen then don't do it, they can't make you join in.

I assume you have other options - not everyone does.

We should all stay at home and isolate ourselves to prevent the virus from transmitting!

I have an agreement with one friend that we will work half a week each and have each others kids. Just one though, I wouldn't cope with more than that!

If you aren't keen don't do it
But now is not the time for hospital staff to be off work because they can't get a babysitter or emergency services or those keeping the food supply chain going or those guarding prisons or those
Well you get my drift

I think some of us are going to do similar, especially if my childminder also closes. Not going to work isn’t an option unless I’m ill myself.

So I don’t want to pass on virus to my 70yo mum but one friend works in a hospital so ‘front line’

What would you do?

Keep your kids at home and stay at home yourself!

And don't look after other kids.

This is why they don’t want to close schools. Clearly it would not be effective.

If schools close friends have suggested a babysitting circle

That defeats the whole point of isolation and stopping the transmission of the virus!

That defeats the whole point of isolation and stopping the transmission of the virus!

Well yes, but what else would you suggest doctors, nurses, care home workers etc do?

Well yes, but what else would you suggest doctors, nurses, care home workers etc do?

or you know, anyone who has to work and wont get paid if they dont!

If you don’t want to do it, surely you would say no!?

They can’t make you...

What would you do?

Say no?

I wouldn't look after anyone else's kids in your situation. I'd keep quiet and if pressed say you have a mother with an underlying health condition and you will be practising strict isolation conditions.

It doesn’t really defeat the idea. Closing schools avoid you being in close contact with 30 other children and contact with hundreds more. Looking after a friends children to help out means being in contact with 2 or 3 children so very different.

When schools close people aren’t going to be told to lock themselves in the house for the whole time!

It would be 7 or 8 children. And we’re not talking about a few hours we are potentially talking about all day one or two days a week for however long this lasts. I’m self employed so I won’t get sick pay and although not ideal I could do some work while my kids at home so I’m in a different situation to them.
Really don’t know if I’m being selfish to say no.

Really don’t know if I’m being selfish to say no.

You are not being selfish.

I’m in Ireland and we’ve been advised to isolate from everyone other than essential shopping trips etc. during this closure period, so definitely no play dates.