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Original poster

We have decided....

352 replies

whodunit3 · 15/03/2020 22:48

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.

OP posts:
TheMagiciansMewTwo · 16/03/2020 07:32

The weird thing is MNers used to be big proponents of family meetings. They're regularly recommended in parenting advice. So either posters are deliberately being idiots or yet again we're being inundated with new members.

itgetsthehoseagain · 16/03/2020 07:33

Oh my god, we had a family meeting this morning, too! I turned it into a bit of fun - we said the dog could take the minutes. Those of you mocking the OP for having one - you should try it. It's a lot of fun; the DC love them.

Hairyfairy01 · 16/03/2020 07:34

My 2 dc are not going to school today or for the foreseeable future. They are years 5 and 8. I'm not a sahp, just trying to do my bit to slow down the spread to allow me to keep working in the hospital. I also have zero trust in Boris. I'm just going with my instinct, that's all any of us can do.

Hercwasonaroll · 16/03/2020 07:35

Regardless I see it as a very temporary measure for them as opposed to those that are vulnerable and are (rightly so) scared for their life!

16+ weeks isn't very temporary!

Tedshouse21 · 16/03/2020 07:36

Why do people keep saying that there is only one case in my area?? Govt have stopping testing people unless they are hospitalised, so 80-90% of cases are now going undetected. My friend has it and is self isolating, but they will not test him unless he requires hospital treatment.

VividImagination · 16/03/2020 07:38

We also have a family meeting when there’s something important to decide. I think it’s important for everyone to be able to have their say.

Ds3 is going to school today but we are in an area of Scotland where there have been few (diagnosed) cases. I hope Nicola will make the decision to shut schools this week as dh is in an “at risk” category. I don’t think he will be going next week whatever happens.

Hoggleludo · 16/03/2020 07:38

Same here

Both of my children will be off. We've spoken with both head masters over the weekend. They were working bless.....they both said that they feel the schools will close this week and that if we wanted to keep the kids off. They understood. They have a code which means we won't get in trouble. And to go ahead and do what we felt we needed too.

Musmerian · 16/03/2020 07:39

@whodunit3 - you sound very portentous and smug. It’s not really that interesting. Do as you see fit.

Salene · 16/03/2020 07:43

I've a 5 year old at school and 3 year old at nursery I'm lucky I can work from home so we have gone into self isolation

3 less people to help spread it about is my view

beebyjeeby · 16/03/2020 07:45

I don't think people are mocking the OP for having a family meeting but for announcing to a load of strangers the outcomes of that meeting.

beebyjeeby · 16/03/2020 07:46

I have decided.....

to wfh today & have eggs for breakfast.

AnneOfTeenFables · 16/03/2020 07:49

Some people were obviously mocking the meeting.

I think OP is right that some people are worried about making the decision and it might help them to see other families are making it, despite the ridicule and arsey comments.

lazylinguist · 16/03/2020 07:51

It won’t be long before the Local Authority come after you and ask why you’re breaking the law.

This is a ridiculous statement. In the current situation (where people are meant to be self isolating for a cough), there is no earthly way that the local authority is going to be bothering to chase up absences!

EricaNernie · 16/03/2020 07:56

what about building up any immunity?

EricaNernie · 16/03/2020 07:57

i hope you are not going to take the dc out and about?

Cam77 · 16/03/2020 07:59

Lol people talking about “ruining” a child’s education by missing a few weeks. Never heard of home schooling? The home environment and general parental involvement and encouragement is far more important to a child’s educational success than what goes on in school. Some kids could spend 9-3 every day doing everyday doing nothing but kick ups and still outperform their peers as the positive learning environment continues at home every hour from 3 - 9/10 and throughout the weekend. I’m a qualified teacher by the way.

EricaNernie · 16/03/2020 08:00

how temporary is this goingto be op?
not much point if it is Too short,
You will need to do this for a very long time

Nearlyalmost50 · 16/03/2020 08:00

Not strange to have a family meeting and discuss consequences of your choices, not weird to discuss it on here when others may be facing the same choice.

I wanted my 16 year old to stay off (the other one is) but she doesn't want to, GCSE year. She wants to join a volunteer student group if they are off school to deliver food to the elderly. I have resigned myself to the fact I can't keep her fully in, she's 16 and does have an opinion on the matter. Plus volunteers will be needed otherwise a lot of isolated older people are going to be in real difficulties.

Good on you OP!

Original poster
whodunit3 · 16/03/2020 08:02

@beebyjeeby oh do fuck off...

Have you checked out the corona section on here, it’s full of people having their opinion and speculating and stressing over that is going to happen, how am I any different other than I have the option to do what is right for my family and have made a decision (which I’m able to do) rather than just sitting around doing fuck all!

I started the post because I have heard lots of people saying what’s stopping them doing what they think is right is judgment and fear of backlash. I was happy to be someone who said, it’s ok to do what’s right for you and your family in a very uncertain time.

OP posts:
StrongMama1989 · 16/03/2020 08:02

Loooool

EasterIssland · 16/03/2020 08:03

Seriously? You’ve a family meeting and the first thing you do is go and tell it to strangers on a forum ?? Good for you but ... rest of world doesn’t need to know about your family decisions.

Original poster
whodunit3 · 16/03/2020 08:04

@Hercwasonaroll

“16+ weeks isn't very temporary!”

You do realise what you are comparing this too right?! Confused

OP posts:
NemophilistRebel · 16/03/2020 08:05

Surly it’s common sense to keep all children off school if one is showing symptoms?

EricaNernie · 16/03/2020 08:06

so are you going to send them back in september?

Hercwasonaroll · 16/03/2020 08:06

Whodunit we pretty much all have to catch it. We will anyway eventually as we can't lockdown forever or the whole world.

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