How the hell can a single mum self isolate?!

[TwinkleMerrick]

Single mum of a 2 year old. Secondary school teacher, so I come into contact with a lot of people daily. If I get it how the hell will I self isolate? I have to look after my little girl. Can't ask grandparents, nana has severe asthma and grandad....well he gets man flu every other week and I really couldn't cope with him having Coronavirus!

I'm starting to get so anxious about this, I have asthma and my daughter is showing signs of being asthmatic....so I'm worrying constantly as we are both considered 'vulnerable'. Any other single mums or asthmatics feel the same?

Sick pay starting on day 1. I'm asthmatic and have requested an extra inhaler. Make sure you have enough. Make sure you've got this basics in.

I’m a single mother. I’ve bought food that my 13 and 10 year old can cook if they need to. If there’s none left they will have to take my contactless card to the local shops. We have had to do this before but it was a few years back so they just ordered pizza.

In an absolute emergency they know what to do, we have rehearsed it enough times.

Where is your 2 year old’s father? You need a contingency. Any local friends you can call on?

Also a single mum

From a practical point of view your 3 yo will isolate with you.
I've been isolating since I got in from work on Thursday as I have a cough. I was with my 3yo by myself until this afternoon as DH was away.
(I appreciate its not the same as a whole 7 days)

There’s been at least two other threads in the same vein, wonder whether MN need a separate single parents’ Covid board!

There are so many single parent families and others in v vulnerable positions, let’s hope the government, in conjunction with social services, organisations like Gingerbread, etc are thinking about us.

@Llareggub the father is a recovering drug addict who can't manage more than a 2 hour fortnightly visit. No chance of any help from him!

@indemMUND I'm due my asthma review in 2 weeks, dr won't let me order any more inhalers until I have my annual review. But had a text from dr saying all app are cancelled. I'm going to call them Monday am and ask if I can have a couple extra inhalers without the app. I have 1 preventer left that I cracked open yesterday and 2 blue ones.

Did an online shop so have plenty in, but there were a few items they didn't have, so going to pop to local
Coop tomoz....then I plan to go out as little as possible.

Obviously the working thing is worrying, as I come into contact with around 300/400 students a day.

@StrawberryJam200 if we do end up going on lock down, would be good to chat to other single parents for support. Not sure I would cope without some adult chat xx

Do you have a preventer inhaler? I've barely used mine for over a year. I'm using it religiously every day now.

Are there friends/neighbours you could ask for help? Even if they are just preparing food and leaving it for your DD. I know I would help if someone near me needed it. Also, are you on your local Facebook group? Lots of offers of help on ours already.

Also totally behind having adults to chat with! It'll keep us sane!

I can't. No family nearby. 11yr old prone to meltdowns and can't be left alone with her older brother.
I've been social distancing to hopefully delay it.

Single mum also. I have loads of supplies in. All you can do is prepare the best you can. You can even freeze sandwiches which will do for a few meals if you are really poorly. Perhaps get an 'emergency bag' with some new books, colouring and snacks in to entertain your daughter if you need to rest.

@Beesisabuzzin frozen sandwiches are a genius idea! Thanks

@indemMUND I'm using my last preventer NOW, opened it yesterday so should last a while.

Can you reach out to other single mothers? We have an informal network of single mums who help each other out. If I was your colleague and you asked me for help I would definitely say yes. Single mothers know and understand in a way others can’t.

Yes do check out the local Facebook pages. My local page has already formed some sort of plan to help out the community.

Sorry if I'm being dim, but my thinking is that if I'm self-isolating, then I'll be isolating my kids with me too as they'll likely be carrying the infection? By the end of the isolating period, it should be clear whether or not they need a further isolation period. I'm a single mother too and had thought that if I developed symptoms they'd likely be infected also

Single mum here. At the minute you would only have to isolate for seven days if you got the symptoms. Just treat it as if you would if you had gotten the flu. I have supplies of snacks and stuff in as normal, and have warned my seven year old if either of us gets it we both have to stay at home. Online food delivery even takeaway, they can leave it at the door. I have no family nearby but am sure I have friends that would do the same shopping wise if I needed it. Daughter is asthmatic and due for a review am going to see if they can do it over the phone.

Single mum of two here with 8 month old and two year old. No father present, lots of help from parents which would have to stop as I worry since they have underlying health issues.

I know my two would absolutely have to self isolate with my. My two year old would probably give it to me and my baby still breastfeeds.

I worry about my mental health to be honest... not having any break from both of them for minimum week ( and who knows how often I have to repeat that as my two year old always bring coughs home from nursery) both wake repeatedly in the night so I can imagine getting more abs more sleep deprived as well as potentially ill and no help I can call on as all friends are either vulnerable or have close contact with vulnerable people so couldn't risk them getting infected.

I don't think there is a real solution I think I'll just have to grit my teeth and get through it. Not looking forward to it.

@OneMoreWish I'm also worried about my mental health. I have suffered with anxiety in the past and I can feel it creeping back. Can't sleep with worry!

I read a post from someone who had been self isolating already and they said, routine helps. So if we do go into lock down planning to keep my 2 year old with a routine of garden play, colouring in/painting, reading time, online child yoga and best of all cbbies. But can't see that happening if I get it, thank god I always have a good stock of paracetamol....I always bulk buy as I can't just pop out to shops so had it in way before the panic buyers started.

yy, mental health worries here too.
Visiting my family is the only break I get every school hols and I have a sinking feeling that's off. I don't really have conversations most weeks.

I am a lone parent and am taking the approach that if 1 of us gets it we all do. I dont think there is any other way round it. My dd had a terrible fever the other day and so she is self isolating for 7 days and i am as much as possible. Luckily I wfh and am allowed to wfh every day at moment but she is going a bit mad and begging to go back to school.It's not easy and I have practically no adult contact and that is without illness to contend with other than 1 bad night

Tbh it won’t be long until the advice is if one member of household needs to self isolate everyone does and I think that is sensible advice so if anyone gets it you all stay in

my previous comment was meant to say it is not easy! not that it is easy, oops!

Single mum here, my ex is involved but would not be able to take DS for an extended amount of time. DS would just have to self isolate with me, he's 6 so can't cook and care for himself alone.