Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone else's Parents swanning about as if they are immortal?

765 replies

Namechange2020onceagain · 17/03/2020 20:45

Just had a chat with my Mum, she then asked if I want anything from B&Q as they are popping in there tomorrow! This is after they went shopping to Sainsburys this morning and then said they are going again on Friday.

I have said I will get any shopping they need, but they keep going out.

FFS they are both over 70 and my Dad will die if he gets the virus. They are not taking it seriously at all.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Original poster
Namechange2020onceagain · 18/03/2020 17:43

@Alsohuman

Doesn't matter how old you are, everyone should only now do what is neccessary, food, work and medicine. Everything else should be dropped. No hobbies, no coffee shops/pubs no visiting friends etc

Why are people still doing these things? It must be a form of cognitive dissonance.

OP posts:
broadsreach · 18/03/2020 17:45

This is the old wartime spirit coming out - keep calm and carry on! They don't realise this is different.

Ealingmumoftwo · 18/03/2020 17:50

My mother!!! In her opinion, taking her own yoga mat to yoga class and everyone yoga-ing 2 metres apart is heeding the govt advice😱

daisypond · 18/03/2020 17:52

They will have to make it a criminal offence.

GabsAlot · 18/03/2020 17:52

boris doesnt want to tel people what t o do yet-but he will if advise isnt taken he just said

daisypond · 18/03/2020 17:53

He will have to.

speakout · 18/03/2020 17:53

My mother is very dismissive. She lived through the war, this is not as bad - after all we can still buy bananas!

SaskiaRembrandt · 18/03/2020 17:54

I don't think it's keep calm and carry on, it's akin to the people my grandmother told me about who refused to go into air raid shelters because they were damp and boring. The same people who complained about rationing, blackout curtains and all the other difficulties and limitations they had to face. They weren't keeping calm and carrying on, they were digging their heels in and insisting that, for them, life continued exactly as it had before.

Babysharkdododododododododod · 18/03/2020 17:57

My grandad is so stubborn he refuses to acknowledge anything! He’s 85! My nan is 87 has Alzheimer’s and hasn’t a clue what’s going on! They’re really worrying me, he’s a very active man (although he has health problems) so he still wants to go about as usual. Wish I could lock them in their house

SweetpeaOrMarigold · 18/03/2020 18:02

Yes all 4 grandparents completely ignoring health advice. I despair.

EmbarrassedMum1 · 18/03/2020 18:02

My grandmother is in her late 70s, just recovered from a big OP from a broken hip and a broken arm, is diabetic and she has kidney failure. Still out almost every day, shopping, visiting friends or poping to the chemist etc.

She is driving us all mad and my mother is particularly stressed about it, I'm convinced if she catches it she will die from it.

Nimmykins · 18/03/2020 18:05

Yes, they're a nightmare. My sister stopped them from going to the garden centre today.

My in-laws are just as bad. They're having a break in Wales. My lovely FIL will die if he gets it as he's had a triple bypass.

Alsohuman · 18/03/2020 18:07

Why are people still doing these things?

Why indeed. Because they can and only one part of society is being asked not to do them. In France, Spain and Italy, there are no coffee shops, restaurants or bars, they’ve all been closed. They’re in lockdown and everyone is being treated the same. One reason this isn’t working is because it’s divisive. Just close them all like the rest of Europe has.

Mumgonenuts2020 · 18/03/2020 18:08

Mine have retired two years ago and that is their usual day, John Lewis for furniture shopping and food shopping everyday, but they won’t go for a long walk anymore. My dad was a chef he has no one to cook for anymore.. as we cannot visit. I think a majority of the Age 70 population are still fit and well and have self isolated for the last two years, like they knew it was coming 😄👍my mum years ago just went to marks and Spencer’s for clothes, she will never go anywhere else 😄 I am like that now amazon next and Ocado 😄

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 18/03/2020 18:10

My DH and I are in our 60s, fit and healthy but after reading this thread I'm glad we have decided to stay home. With all this irresponsibility we all have a greater chance of catching the virus and the NHS not being able to cope. We usually look after our GS once a week but as my lovely DD pointed out he's at the CM on other days so could be carrying the virus and she would hate for us to catch it. She also has 2 other DC at school. Fortunately her DH can rearrange his working hours and she works in a school. Our view is that the more we do now the quicker we will get back to seeing our lovely family. The government will have to put us all on lock down because of this 'business as usual' attitude.

Mumgonenuts2020 · 18/03/2020 18:11

The trouble is the more you fuss over them the more they dig their heals in😄😄 now the schools are closed now for the foreseeable future.. 😢😢

Cantaffordthetherapy · 18/03/2020 18:14

Yup! Both have underlying issues (diabetes and immune suppressed) and over 70s. Off for a jaunt for a few days in a hotel! Basically been told 'the younger generation are just panicking' and the 'older generation have seen it all before'. I'm no panicker by any means but when high ranking scientists and medical professionals tell vulnerable people to stay at home, I'd make at least some effort!

Jonas14 · 18/03/2020 18:15

Yep!!! My MIL thinks she’s immortal anyway and still insisting on picking up her Daily Fail everyday. Need to investigate if I can get it for her online. Tempted to send her this thread to show how concerned we all are. Grrr. Meanwhile my parents are stuck abroad and can’t get a ferry back until late April. I trust they are being sensible, they can’t do much as everything is closed where they are!

Furfockssake · 18/03/2020 18:21

Yep my MIL and FIL out skiing in France, came home because everything eventually shut, but when they were out there were up the mountain, in crowded restaurants, bars, cable cars, ski lifts etc. Not a care in the world. Having friends round for dinner etc. Now back at home, FIL thinks he may have it but no testing now, so is just waiting at home to see what happens. I also despair. It doesn’t seem fair or responsible as just impacts massively on DH who is very worried, we had asked them for ages to be careful and to stay away from crowds and they refused to listen. 🤷‍♀️

SaskiaRembrandt · 18/03/2020 18:44

Why indeed. Because they can and only one part of society is being asked not to do them.

But that isn't the case. Lots of people under 70 have been asked to do it too. I'm one of them - I have an autoimmune condition that raises my risk of being a severe case, although I'm still not at as much risk as my mother. I suppose I could complain about being treated differently, but I prefer to follow medical advice and not risk my health or that of other people. I'd also rather not be one of the people who adds unnecessary strain to the NHS. It's called being sensible and having consideration for others.

LightNC · 18/03/2020 18:55

SaskiaRembrandt I think you have nailed it re the war. It’s not (all) stoicism, more denial and disbelief: because people haven’t experienced anything untoward yet, and don’t really think they will.

MitziK · 18/03/2020 19:05

FIL is usually an utter twat convinced of his own invulnerability - he was one of the original antivaxxers, thanks to his parents being of the generation that thought you NEVER called a doctor and treated new fangled things like vaccinations and antibiotics as something akin to witchcraft.

DP spoke to him yesterday. He's fine - but said very soberly 'it's going to be a long haul'.

He used to work in disaster planning.

The last time he did something 'sensible' was moving the entire family to an area just outside the calculated area of total devastation and fatal levels of nuclear fallout in the event of an average sized nuclear bomb being detonated at the highest point by their nearest Naval base.

For FIL to be sensible - and admit to it - well, people should listen. Not that they will, though; he also said that his job always took into account Idiots and there's no way of appealing to Idiots' better nature or Common Sense - the only way to do it would be a) people with guns or b) stand back and let them get on with it with the inevitable consequences for them.

FaveNumberIs2 · 18/03/2020 19:09

Oh fgs. More people have survived this than not. We are talking about the people who taught you how to used a spoon, stop treating them like bloody children. Let them live their lives. When it’s your time, it’s your time! We all lose people, whether we are 6, 26, 66 or 106.

Jackelburger · 18/03/2020 19:10

Yes! Dad 81 has idiopathic lung disease has oxygen at home (lucky to have survived almost 5 years of it) and mum 79. Phoned them at home yesterday and they were not in. They called me back from the car having been to the pub for lunch, a quick nip into the bank and picking up a few bits from Marks. Not sure they get it!

GreyGardens88 · 18/03/2020 19:11

Both parents in their 60s but is 69, 70 in a few months. Both self isolated yesterday thank god