The instincts of any father and any parent...

[Bluebellpainting]

'I think he followed the instincts of any father and any parent’ From Boris Johnson at this evening’s press briefing.

So apparently I have poor parenting instincts. I’m just wondering how many people have this instinct and would drive to 200 or so miles while knowing at least one of you is positive to be closer to family while you self isolate?

I think quite a few whether they admit it on here or not. If I thought fuck if I get seriously incapacitated who will look after my children, I wouldn't think I'll stay put and hope the 4 year old works out how to access appropriate help should an emergency occur.
He went whilst he was still able. In the event that he might not be able to.
That's what he's saying and if that's true I don't have a problem with it. If that's not why he went then I have more of a problem with it.

Apparently it coincided with his mother's birthday and then his second day trip was the day of his wife's birthday...

Didn't he tuck in there somewhere the word "good" and/or "responsible"? If so he wouldn't have a clue about being that.

Lots of us were worried about looking after kids when we were ill. We didn't consider it a reason to spread the virus around an unknown number of motorway service stations.
How likely was it really that both parents would be hospitalised?
Less than that and you just carry on with the help of the tv and junk food for the dc. Most parents have done that at some point right? With Norovirus, migraine etc. It's shit but you cope!
Plus they had family in London Didkt

And even if they didn't, you make a contingency plan where a family comes to you IF it reaches the point where that is necessary (ie severely ill).

The problem with the governments argument is that his bil lives 10 minutes away from his London home and he has other support in London too, so no real need to travel at all

I had Covid at the start of April. Felt fucking shit. DH was working from home so couldn't help with our five and one year olds. So I did it, while feeling like shit and trying not to speak because I couldn't speak and move at the same time. When it got to the point each day when I had to lay down for a couple of hours I put netflix on the TV, put the baby in the travel cot in the living room, and let the two kids rot their brains for a bit. The whole time worrying about what might happen if a) I got worse, b) DH, asthmatic, started showing symptoms, or c) both a&b happened together. What I didn't do, at any point, was get into the car and drive to a family member so that I didn't have to deal with my kids.

Boris is just such Stirling Father material, wonder how much support he has given them and the many mothers over the outbreak...

There's a definite breed of sharp elbowed parent who will do anything for their offspring.

Felicity Huffman went to prison for hers, some go to extraordinary lengths over school places, breaking lockdown is amateur hour when you equate wanting something with having it, whatever the cost to others.

But no, not everyone is like this. Most people wouldn't have done what DC did (at least in part because the excuse is clearly a massive pile of horseshit).

We both had it (not tested) and both felt horrendous. The poor DC age 6 and 3 survived on a diet of a Netflix, crisps and the occasional sandwich. My parents are 200 miles away and offered to drive up but I would never have risked their health.

I think parenting guru Johnson and Dominic Cummings are of the same mind when it comes to parenting (putting themselves first and doing what they like). The statement/briefing was just a load of bollocks.

Agreed, just a pile of horseshite we plebs are supposed to suck up. The tight git had probably put his nanny on furlough and couldn’t be arsed to parent himself, plus it was mamma’s birthday...

We weren't supposed to follow our instincts.
Anyone symptomatic was supposed to follow rules about self-isolation in our PRIMARY residence.
If we follow our instincts, then this whole stupid Lockdown thing is absurd. My instincts are to adopt the Swedish strategy instead.
Everyone happy with that? But how can you protest, my instincts should be followed!

Maybe this dogged defence of DC is a shiny thing. They are burying something truly awful in another announcement somewhere.

@YeOldeTrout
I have wondered what story they are trying to bury with this. Maybe take the heat off regarding schools opening? Or perhaps the reverse- let this out now and it will all blow over in the next few days as announcements about the next stage are made. Who knows?

Felicity Huffman went to prison for hers, some go to extraordinary lengths over school places, breaking lockdown is amateur hour when you equate wanting something with having it, whatever the cost to others.

Hmm, but the PM has defended it as acting with "integrity".

The one thing my instincts as a parent tell me i could never ever willingly do is not be with my child when they were dying. It was made clear we had to suppress that instinct if it came to it, why on earth would any other instinct be different?

'I think he followed the instincts of any father and any parent’ From Boris Johnson at this evening’s press briefing.

I genuinely find this hilarious coming from a man who refuses to even say how many children he has. It’s just another sign of his delusion that he doesn’t realise what he sounds like and expects people to swallow it.

The instinct of a good parent in a pandemic is to plan ahead for your children.

Have entertainment, easily accessible food, medicines, well stocked cupboard and fridge, people on call to come and collect your child etc.

Not leave it to the last minute and seek childcare 250 miles away. Poor planning. Poor parenting, making poor provision for your child.

DC did what many fathers of that ilk would do when it looked like he might have to step up and parent, instead of his wife doIng it all....look to dump the kids on someone else.
I mean, he’s so indispensable, he can’t possibly parent and work.

Seriously, is BJ really suggesting that every parent runs for the nearest GP to drop the kids off for ‘childcare’ when they’re unwell?
He’s just shown how ludicrously out of touch he is.

The key message was stay at home, especially if you have symptoms: the whole family should stay at home and don't leave the house. It's got nothing to do with parenting instincts. I coped at home with my child when I was ill. I didn't leave the house for a week. What a load of bullshit. I am not one to bash the government for the sake of it but this is really upsetting.