Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

So many people saying they'd see family next week if boris says people can work.

98 replies

IWannaBreakFREE20 · 08/05/2020 18:39

About 5 people I know have said either way their seeing their parents with the children. Because if boris says it's OK to go to work and commute and potentially bring virus home. Then it's surely makes no difference to taking the dcs to see their parents if they're wfh?

I sort of see the logic and I think many will.
My Pil have been begging to come see the kids and we've had to say no.
We normally see them twice a week same as my parents. But they find it harder for some reason.

I think people will now do their own thing in their own homes.

Today we did the social distancing ve day celebrations in front garden and the ones opposite did too. That was it. A little wave.

Out ndn both sides have family round in their houses.. I can hear it and they brightly said hi when going in.

Do u think people will just do it
Will you be one of those?

OP posts:
covidpanics · 08/05/2020 18:40

I’ve been working during this whole thing so far and haven’t seen my family at all so no I won’t go and see them unless we are told we can.

Original poster
IWannaBreakFREE20 · 08/05/2020 18:46

Dh is furloughed and I'm a sahm. Sholing once a week.
But still haven't seen them.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 08/05/2020 18:50

I can see why people will absolutely think that because the risk of seeing non-vulnerable family members who are symptom free is relatively low. Once 'higher risk' activities are allowed people are going to wonder what the point of not seeing their family is.

TabbyMumz · 08/05/2020 18:52

Theres no way lockdown will be lifted in England or say everyone go to work. It wont be much different to Wales.

MamaGothel · 08/05/2020 18:55

I think you're absolutely right. No chance will people be happy to go in and work and be around their co workers but stay away from their loved ones.
Will I do it? Not fully, no. I'm having a baby next week so I want to be extra cautious. But I have a family member looking after my other children whilst I go in so there will be some back and forth there anyway.

Original poster
IWannaBreakFREE20 · 08/05/2020 18:56

Yeah that's my thoughts exactly

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/05/2020 18:57

I will. But my parents are not elderly. My mum is 51 and has already had coronavirus plus she's an NHS keyworker so she's more at risk at work than seeing us. My stepdad is 47 and has been living with my mum while she has had Covid and has had no symptoms himself so is likely asymptomatic.

AlexaShutUp · 08/05/2020 18:58

I won't see my parents, no. I don't wish to put them at risk.

Original poster
IWannaBreakFREE20 · 08/05/2020 18:59

See my mil is on the shielding list but she's been for walks and grocery shopping. She insisted because she's always been mega independent. But she's been going once a week so not daily etc.

OP posts:
Mistybee · 08/05/2020 19:00

Both of my neighbours have other people over today to celebrate VE Day

I’m trying to explain to my children that we can’t see anyone and it’s really difficult when everyone local is breaking lockdown and I’m expected back at work soon

ErrolTheDragon · 08/05/2020 19:01

So the logic is something like 'I've got to go back to work which is risky ... so let's share that risk with the grandparents'?Confused

titchy · 08/05/2020 19:02

But you can go to work now Confused

UnmightyBoosh · 08/05/2020 19:02

Eh? It’s already ok to work outside the home if you need to. That wouldn’t be new.

duvetaddict · 08/05/2020 19:03

It's all about reducing risk. Every unnecessary contact increases the risk of spreading it. Just because we go to work doesn't mean all the other guidelines can be ignored. I have been at work the whole time but stayed at home other than food shopping apart from work. I have seen no one other than at work, the people that keep pushing the rules make me want to scream!

So many people saying they'd see family next week if boris says people can work.
twinnywinny14 · 08/05/2020 19:04

@Waxonwaxoff0 your mum is an NHS worker so more at risk of giving it to you and you passing it on? Just because your family have had it doesn’t mean they can’t get it again, there is no substantial evidence to say that. The point of mixing through work is in order to keep people in work and earning money etc, doesn’t mean it’s ok to mix in other situations too, it’s about reducing the amount of contacts with others we have. People complaining now and doing what they like will be the ones complaining louder if the infection rate climbs and restrictions cannot be lifted or have to be reintroduced

mynameiscalypso · 08/05/2020 19:04

I wasn't necessarily thinking about work but if Boris says, eg, children's playgrounds are going to open then people will start to wonder why they still can't have a cup of with someone.

Aria20 · 08/05/2020 19:06

If they announce schools going back soon then we will socially distant outdoor visit both sets of grandparents as once the kids are back mingling at school it will be too risky to visit them and then we wouldn't see them until schools have finished and we've isolated for a week or 2 whatever the advice will be then!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/05/2020 19:06

@twinnywinny14 I'm not going to work right now, I'm on furlough for the foreseeable future. I'm home all the time with DS.

Bluebellpainting · 08/05/2020 19:23

People are already easing out of lockdown themselves though aren’t they so something is going to have to give at some point. I’d love to have my mum over, we done some waving and brief conversation as she dropped off food to me or as we pass each other’s homes on our daily walk (always more than 5m apart). She isn’t working at the moment, her husband is WFH (until he can fly back to his work and then won’t be home for a few months anyway) and I’m on maternity leave. My husband is only home every other week due to work so for me if there is easing of restrictions where people can go to work etc I would find it very difficult that I still won’t be able to see her for more than a quick minute. We would benefit from the social bubble idea of being able to combine our two households but I don’t see that happening as it is too open to abuse and misunderstanding. My dad also lives near us but as he is a key worker on the front line we have already agreed not to see each as unlike the situation with my mum, his work makes it more high risk for him to give it to us. I don’t think I will be emerging from lockdown anytime soon and actually wish I could go to work but that’s a whole other issue.

Original poster
IWannaBreakFREE20 · 08/05/2020 19:38

I wasnt on about me. And dh can't work now as his place of work is shut. By what I meant about boris is if they opened more places meaning more return to work.

I was trying to say I can see the points I'm not going to do it. But was trying to see if others sort of thought the same.

OP posts:
twinnywinny14 · 09/05/2020 07:01

The problem is that there is only so much ‘mixing’ that can be done whilst keeping the rate low enough. If people start making their own rules then the things that government can control will remain in lockdown or will be reintroduced. The government should try to reduce some measures across the board to keep everyone happier rather than all in one aspect. People need to keep the number of contacts down and therefore only do what is essential not what they want or miss

Selfsettling3 · 09/05/2020 07:08

The government have never said don’t work. It’s only a few places that have been closed; cafes, restaurants, pubs, cinema and gyms.

Moctodtensmum · 09/05/2020 07:21

The psychology of this is interesting.

I had to return to work last week after six weeks of absolutely strict observance of lockdown.

As soon as I was in the office and seeing lots of people I quickly felt like normal life had returned. Then I came home and it felt so odd living normal life at work but not even seeing my healthy sister at home. So I saw my sister. And it’s a slippery slope because now I feel like I could see a couple of close friends.

I am trying to resist but there is no point just shouting at people that it’s irresponsible, if you have to see 50+ co workers it’s psychologically v v hard not to think “fuck this” and see a couple of close and low risk family or friends. If the Government want to avoid that they need to tighten our so called “lockdown” not relax it.

Dollywilde · 09/05/2020 07:28

The thing is, I’m point blank refusing to not to see my parents, sister or MIL until there’s a vaccine. MIL in particular lives alone and emotionally is finding this very hard, and I won’t be going 6 months to a year without seeing them. So there needs to be a point where Covid coexists with me mixing with my immediate family. I’m not saying that needs to be next week or the week after, but it’s going to have to happen at some point.

Crazycatlady123 · 09/05/2020 07:33

Try not to judge too harshly. Seriously considering seeing my parents myself OP. I want to stick to the rules but my mental health is crumbling, 3yo in bed every night, and surviving on little sleep. DH in recovery from stroke so a lot is on me and I just can't do it any more without support from my parents who are fortunately both low risk.