How will two little ones cope if both parents get sick and have no help? Make a plan

[whatisit12345]

I have two kids 7 years and 2 years and no help whatsoever. My biggest fear is what will happen if both of us parents get sick at the same time. How will the kids cope? Clearly no help is coming from government. So I have been thinking of planning for that situation. Firstly I have been training my 7 year old on how to run essential machines/turn on off heating/ give milk to little one etc. Planning to keep accessible easy to assemble food for them to feed themselves.
Keeping medicines close to the room we will be testing in while riding out the virus.
Following an hourly schedule written on paper so kids have rough idea of what to do when.
What do you think? Am I driving myself mad or wise? Any tips. If nothing else the older one will come out of this smarter and self sufficient.

Are either of you immunocompromised? I Am a lone parent to a sixteen month old but I'm not too worried.

Seriously? Bloody hell, unless you both are already very ill with underlying conditions then you're not going to be that unwell you won't be able to make some simple food for your kids or have to hole yourselves up in your bedroom and leave two young kids to fend for themselves! 7yrs old is way too young for the amount of responsibility you are planning for them!

Why wouldn't you be able to heat milk or turn the heating on and off?

You won't be incapacitated.

I think training them in general things like how to get cereal and milk, make a basic sandwich is a good idea even if you are not Ill. At 7 those are age appropriate self care skills, as well as knowing who to call in an emergency (generally speaking here, not just coronavirus related). It may mean they leave you be for longer than 5 seconds too. Most children step up when parents are poorly and accept sitting in front of the tv, eating crisps and biscuits for a few hours :)

I disagree with PPs; I think it's worth having a plan. Firstly, it's extremely unlikely you'd both be desperately ill, never mind at the same time. But, in theory, it could happen.

You say you've no support, but in a situation like this, you need to draft in anyone who can help - is there a school class WhatsApp group, for instance? Do you have neighbours? If you go onto a local Facebook group or the Next Door app, you can connect with some of your neighbours. I know our local group has people offering help if it's needed - you could offer to help others if you're well, and then maybe you'd find it easier to ask for help?

I'd concentrate on making sure you had someone coming once a day with food. Even if you just leave them a key, they open the door, set it in the hallway, and go. Sandwiches or something would be fine for the kids for a couple of days. Get disposable cups or something that they could put milk into for the toddler.

If you were both really ill and unable to even get out of bed, social services would have to step in and put the kids into short term foster care.

You get on with it. If you were a single parent thats what you would have to do.

Try and have a few basics in. Paracetamol, simple ready to prepare food.

You will get through it, wont be fun but you will manage.

I was a single parent with flu. I took DS to bed with me. Never felt so ill in my life but we managed. You are being over cautious I think.

Most people will get a cough and a fever. Not something that renders you unconscious for days. Most people have struggled through taking care of their children whilst feeling like absolute crap. Stop panicking!

Like @BlackWhitePurple I disagree with Above and want to have a plan for worst case scenario. When everyone says it is going to get worse before it gets better I want to be prepared.
Thanks black. I have added disposable to my list. And going to take them out and put in accessible place.
More ideas if anyone has?

I've just this evening written out a list of phone numbers of relatives, close by neighbours and a couple of school mums who arent too far away, so that DC know who they can phone if they need to - hopefully wont come to it, but it's one thing I wont worry about. I understand your worry, OP.

Please don't worry unduly, apparently children don't get too unwell.
I am a lone parent to a 4 year old . I have bought lots of snack foods. Your children won't starve in the few days you are unwell.
I am very anti screen time but am teaching mine to use a tablet and also to video chat chat relatives,

If you are very concerned, teach 7 year old to change the 2 year olds nappies and buy a cheap outside bin to put next to kitchen door for dirty nappies.
Focus on hand washing,

If you're so incapacitated that you can't function you'll be in hospital and your children in foster care

Thank you.
Added phone numbers
Nappy changing to my list

This is so useful. I am not panicking just preparing.

Make sure you have enough food and other bits you may need in the house so you wouldn't need to go out, other than that it is rough af but you'd have to manage. My partner works away for months at a time and DS is 18 months, if I was poorly I would just use something out of the freezer or toast. I've had D&V before and it was hell on earth, but toys in a playpen, lots of telly and basic food for him whilst I lay in bed unable to move wasn't ideal but worked. It's surprising what you can do when you have to!

@ihaveaquestionplease it's not necessarily true that you'd be in hospital if you were totally incapacitated. I've had normal flu before where I couldn't get out of bed for 3 days unless I had someone holding me up.

Particularly in the case of coronavirus, they'll be keen to keep people out of hospital as much as possible, unless they need help breathing or something like that.

Incidentally, OP, some ideas of foods that keep well, and a 7 year old could manage:

Brioche rolls
Pain au chocolat
Cheese slices
Packets of cheese biscuits

Those might be decent breakfast options.

But if you're so incapacitated that neither of you can even get out of bed to get a drink or food then it would be a medical emergency as you'd die without care.
I'm assuming when you had the flu someone was helping you (hence you saying about someone holding you up)

My kids are 7 and 4. 7 yr old is more than capable of making drinks, toast, ham sandwich, cereal. Accessing yogurt and fruit.
He often helps his sister if she wants something even when I don't want him too.They will survive.

You won't be incapacitated.

You know this how?

I'm a lone parent and when I had flu and pneumonia I couldn't get out bed, I certainly couldn't have made my child meals. This virus is meant to be worse, I can't imagine feeling worse than I did then, thankfully I had my parents on hand and ds went to stay with them when I was blue lighted to hospital on Christmas day of all days. I very nearly died and I was in perfect health prior to the flu. People are being far too blase about this. Thankfully DS is older now and could take care of himself if necessary but it absolutely makes sense to plan for the worst and prep your kids.

ihaveaquestionplease our hospitals do not have enough beds to admit everyone that will need a bed. In Italy at least one of the dead was left in their house for nearly 48 hours.

Those of you saying the children will be in foster care, what makes you think social services will be working at full capacity? You really need back up plans of who can care for your children for a few days if you really are desperately ill.

Ok some very good ideas so far. I will add brioche / cheese slices / other easy options.
Very reassuring.
It may be bad or it may not be but I can't leave it on chance.

I will also get some toys stored upstairs so kids can entertain around us if needed.

@fafffaffmorefaff - You’d be better off toilet training your 2 year old now than expecting your 7 year old to change nappies!

But I’m sure that most 7 year olds are capable of using a microwave, making toast, etc.

It's unlikely that either of you will be seriously ill. Most parents would take paracetamol, drink plenty and soldier on. When you have a bad cold, you keep going don't you? CV varies hugely from almost no symptoms, to serious illness