We have decided....

[whodunit3]

We have just had a family meeting and made the decision, the children will be kept off from tomorrow

Youngest has a chesty cough so wouldn’t be going in anyway but the other two will also be off for the foreseeable future (two primary and one secondary)

We live in an area where parents and grandparents are older, I have 0 confidence that BOJO, government informants or any scientist in the world really knows how this new virus works and I’m scared!

I read today that the reason behind lots of parents stopping doing what they though was right for their children was fear of judgment, doing the wrong thing, or more importantly doing (for you) the right thing.

I just wanted to share, that we are standing up and doing what feel right for us, do what’s right for you.

@category12 It is a matter of opinion. Mine is right tho :p

zefstar, Of course not

Thank you for apologising op

I've had a meeting with myself. I'm going to my cleaning job at the last minute, and leaving afterwards asap, no gossiping with colleagues

I can't understand all the negativity on this thread. You have done the right thing op, I wish all parents (who are able to) would do this.

We should be taking more stringent measures, including shutting down schools, like the rest of Europe. But they won't shut the schools.... If more parents did this, they would be forced to shut schools because there would be no-one to teach. I have signed the 'shut schools' petition.

The argument that children get it mildly and will only be playing with the same children at home anyway is nonsense. Children are great carriers of infection and will pass it on to others....there are many teachers, cleaners, domestic staff, kitchen staff, handymen and joiners, admin staff etc., etc. who all work in schools and it is they who will catch the infections - possibly more badly - and then take the infection out into their communities.

I work in a school (I don't teach) - everyone is full of coughs, colds and sneezes. If the school was shut, I live on my own and don't really interact much with others, and I could keep my distance going shopping. As it is, I am likely to go down with something; but if the school were shut I am unlikely to get anything and wouldn't be a burden on society or the NHS....

no idea how keeping your kids shut up at home protects the vulnerable and elderly - unless they live with you.

My immuno suppressed DD is a teacher. She's messaged me to let me know that she thinks her school will close soon (individual decision where I live). Her biggest class today only had 13 kids turn up, smallest class just 3. Plus 21 teachers have called in sick. I pleased because she can't just stay off. If parents continue to keep their kids off, she'll be sent home.

I think a lot of people are picking at OP because they don't have the same options. Lots of parents would lose their jobs if they suddenly had to stay home for weeks because they voluntarily pulled their kids from school

Well done these people who think they know better than the scientists.

Oh fuck the fuck off. The vast, vast majority of the world's scientists in these fields are begging everyone to self-isolate pretty much completely. The UK is taking a fucking insane gamble right now. You are all part of an epic experiment that is akin to the genocide of your ill and elderly. It's fucking sick and the best way to ensure the virus mutates and your herd immunity if fucking worthless. The whole fucking world is looking at you with utter fucking horror, from lay people to scientists.

This explains why we are not in lockdown now:

@zefstar76 I liked you till the Bob comment...

It is really hard parenting a vulnerable person as everyone seems to think anyone under 40 will just shrug it off (and anyone over 70 is fair game for dying).

We are not in lock down because the UK government wants most people to get the virus. That means half a million people dying, 1-3 pupils in every secondary school, people potentially left with long term lung damage and male infertility.
The next 2 weeks are a key time period to keep schools open to make sure most children get it before the Easter holidays.

OP you are being sensible.

I don’t agree with the way some people have posted to you on this thread, however I don’t see how you keeping your healthy children off school is a huge sacrifice that benefits the general public? I don’t understand why healthy kids from low risk families are being kept off school. Yes I understand if there are vulnerable adults/children at home, or people at home with symptoms so the whole family are isolating for 7 days, but I cannot see why you would keep healthy children from a healthy family off school. From my point of view I just want to catch the virus and get it over with - it’s highly unlikely to kill me or DD, but at some point we will get it, and get over it - like we do normal flu/colds. It is the old and vulnerable who need protecting - if you are ensuring that your kids aren’t going to be in contact with those groups then what is keeping them off school achieving? You say you are doing this to protect others and stop your kids spreading their “germs”, is this really your rationale? If so, spreading their germs to whom? Do you not teach them about hand washing etc?

I agree PP, those who can educate at home (sahp whatever) then yes do it. It takes the pressure off schools and makes them emptier places so there is less risk to staff and pupils who are there. Some people CANT do this. DS is home schooled anyway, so it changes nothing in this house lol! Im of the opinion that if people who can social distance in whatever way they can do so, then it all helps. Whether its kids home, work from home, avoid dense mass gatherings....... like the tesco saying "every little helps".

@CorianderLord Yes that may be true. Frightened parents who have no choice but to send their kids in.
It is tough when the government refuses to help people so they can self isolate or at least use social distancing.

dozywozy Sun 15-Mar-20 23:56:30
because it's very dramatic....
..........
No it isn't. The op did what she thought was right and is sharing it on here, there may be other people with children who are undecided and it helps them. I think she came to a sensible decision. Why pick on her when there are so many other threads concerning what to do in the current circumstances? Let's give each other support.

Teachers at the moment are not only doing the daily job of a normal school day, but many are preparing for closure in case/ when it does happen. They`re working flat out!!! No one knows whats happening!!

Her actions are not necessarily dramatic but the title & tone of her post was. You can't see that? fair enough, doesn't make me wrong though.

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners
Thanks for that DfE info, but this could go on for months - parents cannot keep children off school indefinitely if schools are open surely, as they will lose their school place, and also the impact on their educatuon?

@Rhinosaurus Because kids are a germ magnet. They pick up everything going and spread it around.

But if all older & or vulnerable people are self isolating how will they come into contact with loads of schools children?

@Rhinosaurus but carrying on sending my children into school wouldn’t just potentially impact any elderly or vulnerable relations that we have but also those of their teachers, school dinner ladies, class mates, teaching assistants, the list goes on!

Like I said previously I’m not expecting that we single handily stop the spread of Corona virus but with 3 children in two different school, various hobbies, after school clubs, and busy social lives Om happy with what we are doing.

You didn't come across as pompous at all, whodunit, quite the contrary. I'm sure your post is very helpful to other people with children. Plenty of people are keeping their children at home and self isolating if they can, if I had school children I would do the same.

Since yesterday I've seen a lot of posts on threads like this which are hypercritical and even ridicule. One even objected strongly to their being a thread because it wasn't put on the 'designated board', at a time when most of us didn't even know there was one! It was moved but still visible to anyone who clicked on 'Last Day' or 'Threads I'm On' - as if it mattered anyway.

We're all in this together and have to work it out to the best of our ability. There's no room for resentment, ridicule or condemnation.

I've got it easy compared to others, I live alone and am more than happy not to go out or have visitors, I'll receive my pension regardless and have food delivered, albeit with some items missing. I'm very grateful and only too aware my circumstances are a world away from the lives of people like the op and others and from those who keep the emergency services going.

Is your partner still going to work?

@beebyjeeby You are naive to think this will either will be enough or that it could ever be enforced.

Unfortunately the most vulnerable including the elderly are the least likely to comply to a lockdown.

I know we are an Island and soon out of Europe, but how can people not imagine how it will work if schools shut and people are only allowed out to collect prescriptions and food? I saw people in that situation on my telly last night.

Just because they are in a different country to us, doesn't make them different or the effect of Covid-19 different.

Perhaps our stuff upper lip really will save us? Or those of us born in the North will be made of sterner stuff? Or those who lived through a world war will garner blitz spirit and stay off the ventilators?