Can family members still look after kids whilst we work?

[GlitteryFluff]

Normally grandparents (early 50's) look after our two DC one afternoon a week whilst DH and I are at work, the other shifts I work are evenings when DH is home to be with the kids.

Neither DH or I can work from home, and neither of our works have closed yet. I'm retail, non essential, but currently very busy due to what we sell, think crafts/diy etc. DH is an electrician and his company are still getting him to do the planned works in schools etc.

Other than work, we're not seeing anyone, just staying in or just going for walks in fields, forests etc where we won't come into contact with many, if any, others.

Grandparents are still doing their jobs too, outside of the home, coming into contact with lots of people. Despite one of them having diabetes which means they should stay home (and would get full pay) but they still think this is just the flu. Don't get me started.

What should I be doing? Can they still look after DC for us? If so can we still see them at other times then? Do I stop going to work so that nobody else comes into our home and we don't go into anyone else's home?

No.

I’m mid 50s with an 11yo so for me this is just normal. I don’t have any health issues, am working full time and now supervising school work too.

If your parents are fit & healthy, ask them. Are they being sensible, hand washing, keeping away from gatherings? Do you trust them?

Just read your post properly. Have a word with the! Are they mad?

Yes, they can. As long as they don't fall into the vulnerable category. My mum is mid-50s and her work (restaurant) has closed so she'll be coming to our house each day to watch DS whilst we work. We are not in lockdown. We're being told to socially distance ourselves if your parents are otherwise socially distancing themselves, they will be fine to watch DC.

the message really isn't getting through is it??

we are following the same graph as Italy.....have you seen their death toll?? much higher than china!!

I would tell work that you can’t do the afternoon shift but are ok to do the evening ones when your DH is home.

We need to minimise spread as much as possible.

Oh wait!! I just missed an entire paragraph! Of course they shouldn't if they're diabetic and in the vulnerable category!

No. If you live in different households then you can’t go into theirs and they can’t come into yours ESPECIALLY if you’re all at work and they’re still blasé about it all.

If just 1 of you comes into contact with the virus then it’ll spread to you all and then all of your work places. It’s difficult logistically and just horrible emotionally but the more seriously it’s taken now, the shorter this isolation will be. Simple as that

No, of course you can't. Do not mix households, end of. In China something like 80% of infections were spread within families.

No especially not a 50, children are super spreaders, they could catch coronavirus from you and spread it to your parents killing them.

I would say try to find other possibilities. We are allowing my husbands parents (early 50’s, fit as a fiddle, absolutely no underlying health conditions) look after our daughter ONLY whenever I go into labour, and that’s because we have no other choice! And our daughter has never entered a nursery and hasn’t been to a baby/toddler group In well over a year so is very unlikely to have it.