Lockdown - what the hell are we meant to do?

[WhatTheHellHappenedArgh]

I know it's the right thing and there's no other alternative but I'm just panicking right now. I live with DP and our 4 year old in a flat in a city, we don't have a garden. DP and I both work and can continue to work from home easily but it will be such a struggle with a young child and no outside space. Will we literally not be allowed to go outside at all except for food? I am honestly freaking out right now.

I've got a thread on here but I can't work out how to link to it.

Luunaa www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/bbc-keeping-nation-informed-educated-entertained

We've been in lockdown in Spain since Saturday. Ours is very strict. Those who are still allowed to go to work are allowed to go there and back but need a permit to show the police if they get stopped. We can go to the shops to buy food but one at a time and distancing measures are in place, to the cash point, to the pharmacy, to help elderly relatives (ie take them food etc) and to walk the dog, but only short walks and one person only.
There are fines for not complying and the police are patrolling and using drones.
It's hard, but we have no choice but to get one with it. It will almost certainly be extended past the initial 2 weeks as well.
You have much more warning than we did. They started talking about closing our schools on a Thursday, decided that evening and the whole country was locked down the next day.
Use this time to work out ways to make your life easier if it comes to it. You will manage because you have to.

I am not in lockdown...yet. But. I live in one room, shared kitchen, bathroom and toilet (not family members). So that will be fun!

I'm on day 6 of self isolation with a 21 month old, a 5 year old and "d"h. It's hard but doable. I'm getting organised in case we come out isolations straight into lockdown. Just ordered a load of books and board games which hopefully will make it through.

I think structure is massively important. We're starting the day with youtube kids yoga videos (cosmic kids). Then breakfast. Activities are roughly broken down into time slots, i.e craft, play, learning something, reading then lunch and then we do the same in the afternoon. After tea which ds helps me with we play a board game, watch some tv and then read a couple of bed time stories before bed.

It's hard. My mental health has taken a massive hit. I'm prone to suicidal thoughts and hate not being able to go out. So I'm trying to structure my own time in a similar way. There are books that I've been meaning to read forever, I'm learning Russian and the dinosaur playmat I started before Christmas may finally get finished.

We are already staying in. two autistic children in a tiny upstairs flat, in quarantine, feeling poorly.

I think we've moved beyond the social distancing in the WHOs guidelines.

I'm also not sure about going to parks. I've read that in some countries, public parks have been closed

Does anyone know how people are caring for elderly relatives who live a short drive away in France/Spain/Italy? I know there are roadblocks in Italy - do they let people through who have caring responsibilities? My parents provide support for an elderly relative who lives approximately 20 miles away from them. If they can't get to him I don't even want to think what would happen.

Oh no, what a shame...

In France you can visit vulnerable relatives. You have to fill a form in and the gendarmes are stopping to check. It’s a €135. fine if you don’t comply.
Op there’s a lady on another thread who is a single parent and can’t work from home, her parental leave has been denied and she has no one to care for her child.
I know life is tough but you should be thankful you can wfh.
I’m sure you’ll be able to get out for exercise as long as you don’t meet up with other people.

I really don't see how it's possible to go into lockdown. There is already no food in the supermarkets and no online deliveries. How are we supposed to eat?

In Italy on lock down , 1 person goe sto teh supermarket we tend to go every 4 days ( no car we walk so have to carry everything). One person can walk the dog in the immediate area . We can take a walk or run in immediate area not in a group and one person at a time. If you are a home carer you can go to your place of work as long as you carry an auto certificate stating where you are going and why. We have no shortages in supermarkets and chemists are open . YOu must keep minimum 1m apart from anyone that is not in your household.

You will probably still be able to go outside maybe you could go to the beach or for a picnic in Italy they can still go out I think.

If you can only go out one person at a time does that mean that young children cannot go outside at all?

BirdandSparrow - are you still allowed to receive online food deliveries? And amazon packages?

I feel so sorry for people who live in flats with children it will be a nightmare!!

My dh pointed out there will be a baby boom in nine months and the devoice lawyers will be very busy when we all come out of lockdown!! think spending a week with your family at Christmas is bad enough, when at least you can get out!!

I’m very lucky and have a garden which I will be giving dh lots of jobs to do in it.

A baby boom at christmas would be such a nightmare for the NHS if this continues into next winter, as predicted!

we are on shelter in place in SF/Bay Area and the parks/playgrounds are closed down. You can go for a walk with the people you live with, keep social distancing of course. It is a real issue not having basketball courts or play equipment to work off that energy. Big walks are the only thing to do.

Be safe.

We are locked down in Paris in an apartment. You can go out to buy shopping, walk the dog even go for a run - as long as you do it alone or with a member of immediate family who lives in the same house as you. There's no point freaking out about it - you just have to get through it as best you can. Think about how you might manage and what might help so you can make sure you have everything in that you need. Maybe think about stocking up on a few treats for your four-year-old that you can bring out gradually - do this ahead of time. Food shops are open here, but no other shops. Think about how you and your partner can split your time to allow you both to work and take care of your child. Remember, if it does happens everyone will be in the same boat - and as a PP has said, thank goodness for social media and the internet. We are much less isolated in lockdown than we would have been in the past. Try to look on the bright side - at least at 4 your DC is not missing vital weeks at school. Be glad you can still work from home and won't be laid off.

OP, you can definitely go out. In fact they recommend taking kids on bike or scooter rides or for a run around in the fresh air somewhere with open space. They just said to avoid cafes, playparks, anywhere that lots of unwashed hands might be touching the same space.
Can you and your partner take turns to care for her while the other one works?

What about this situation: my mum is 92 and relies on me and my sister visiting every weekend to do her supermarket shop for the week and all the housework, also sorting out her bills, paperwork etc. She's partly deaf and can't go out at all.

Neither my sister or I drive, and my mum is over an hour away by public transport. If we go into lockdown, how on earth will we keep my mum supplied with food and toiletries and keep her house clean, tidy and safe?

My dh pointed out there will be a baby boom in nine months
There won’t be. People who are ill and scared don’t have much libido, and nor will they actively want to bring babies into the world.

@KettleOn919
You need to set up online shopping for her Kettle or find a local neighbourhood support group.. Investigate what local support there is.

I thought I read on here a few days ago that supermarkets were no longer accepting new customers for setting up home delivery accounts?