Social distancing with family

[MozFan]

When reading Ireland’s plans for exiting lockdown, it looks as though they are allowing people from other households (family and friends) to meet at certain points throughout the guidelines. However I saw it says social distancing needs to be maintained at all times.
If we follow suit, I’m worried how I will stop my 18 month old from running up to his grandparents for a cuddle or wanting to sit on their lap for a story.
I know it’s a small worry in the scheme of things, but just confused as to how this will work.
I guess it also means you can’t hug your mum/dad/sister/brother or partner even, if you don’t live with them that is.

The short answer is it'll be impossible. It's only natural for children (all of us really but particularly children!) to want to be physically close to their loved ones!

Hold their hand!

If you couldn't trust him or he would get upset then it might be best that he didn't mix with them yet. If you meet up for a walk that might be easier than meeting up somewhere to sit down and have a chat.

The virus won't go away just because lockdown restrictions are being eased, social distancing is still a useful way of avoiding catching it.

How old are your parents? Do they have full mental capacity? Isn't up to them whether they want to take the risk?

@ineedaholidaynow but if social distancing is to continue for the foreseeable future, surely that means we can’t go and see his grandparents full stop? When out walking of course we’ll hold his hand and stop him from running up to them or anyone else. But I’m more thinking once they allow visitors into houses etc.

My parents don’t have an issue with it. They’re 56 and 60.
My in laws are 69.

I don't plan to see my DM anymore than I do now for some time, which consists of standing across the road talking to her when I drop off her shopping. She is in her 80s, would never forgive myself if I passed the virus to her. It's horrible to think I can't hug her or have a chat properly with her in her flat, but at the moment I don't think I can risk it.

I’m confused about whether it will be legally enforceable!

I assume if people don't comply and the rates go up again, strict lockdown will be enforced again.

And what about partners who don’t live together? Surely they’ll want to kiss, hug and have sex?!

@MozFan then surely it is up to all of them? They aren't children and so they have to calculate the risk for themselves of being infected by their grandchild.

I’m just worried about ‘breaking the rules’ I’ve never been much of a rule breaker, boring I know.

Is anyone else getting to the point where they feel that we are not living only surviving . At what point do we decide we would rather take the risk and live a full life again ? I miss my family I miss my job I miss my friends it feels like every day I'm just wishing it away to see what the next will bring

I’m definitely a rule follower but cannot do much more of this. If it’s not relaxed at all in the next couple of weeks, I think I’ll start flouting them a bit!

My SIL is a front line NHS worker and caught Covid (was tested). She had it very mildly (no cough or fever at all) & as a low risk household I feel happy to risk it and to try to get back to the “new normal” what ever that’ll be!

I do 100% Ejmorgan. We're not living, we're just existing.

My parents live up the road from me, they're seeing nobody except for DM going food shopping once a week, we're seeing nobody at our house except for me going shopping once a week.... there's no higher risk with our households mixing than there is us not doing so.

We've followed advice to the letter so far but I'm really hoping there is some easing up come Thursday.

@m0recakeplease Similar story with one of my close friends. NHS nurse, tested positive. Only symptom was a loss of smell. She’s perfectly fine now, over 2 weeks on. Her husband had a mild cold and her DS had no symptoms at all.

@Ejmorgan I feel the same, just existing, surviving. Not living in the real sense of the word. At least in the world wars, although they were much more horrific in many ways than we are experiencing now, they had social interaction and that gave them a boost to get through. The blitz spirit and some camaraderie.

MozFan the one good thing at the moment is the time of year, so you're going to have a few months of being able to socialise outside, which sounds easier for you, so a family walk might be worth trying.

@TellerTuesday4EVA we are the same. We haven’t seen anyone apart from the food shop and it’s the same for them. So I don’t see how it’s a bigger risk seeing them than shopping for example.

@ifonly4 I know, I just hope that one day in the not too distant future he can sit on his grandma’s lap and have a story again