My mum lives her life completely as before but judges young people for trying to do the same

[differentname]

We had a bit of a falling out about this.
She sees her grandchildren (not my children - we live too far away), meets friends for dinner, walks, coffee, goes shopping, even does overnight visits, goes to church... only thing I can think of she's not doing is going to the theatre.
Yet she's telling me it's such a lack of solidarity that young people won't constrain their social activities!
Makes me so mad!

As the mother of a child on the shielding list, it seems the opposite to me. There is very definitely an attitude that vulnerable people should stay shut away so that everyone else can go back to normal. My family has stayed at home since March - how much more behavioural change is expected?

With all due respect I feel sorry for you having to shield.

Society needs to get back on its feet. And back to normal, it isn't fair but it is way it is.

@HeresMe

As the mother of a child on the shielding list, it seems the opposite to me. There is very definitely an attitude that vulnerable people should stay shut away so that everyone else can go back to normal. My family has stayed at home since March - how much more behavioural change is expected?

With all due respect I feel sorry for you having to shield.

Society needs to get back on its feet. And back to normal, it isn't fair but it is way it is.

Society can’t get back to normal because the virus hasn’t gone away. Even if the most vulnerable stay indoors, everyone else going about their business as normal will cause a return return to exponential spread and there will be enough people seriously affected to put a strain on healthcare and the economy. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t understand this.

Churches have been linked to outbreaks.

I didn't even know they were open again.

Society can’t get back to normal because the virus hasn’t gone away. Even if the most vulnerable stay indoors, everyone else going about their business as normal will cause a return return to exponential spread and there will be enough people seriously affected to put a strain on healthcare and the economy. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t understand this.

I feel for you. Hoping the vaccine comes soon .

But surely part of the issue is that, if we don't at least start getting back to normal, spending money, going out etc., we won't have a society or an economy to go back to. Look at the job losses, unemployment, small businesses closing etc.

@lifesalongsong

I don't have grandchildren and haven't stayed overnight anywhere but I do all the other things on your list and also think young people in pubs will spread the virus, I don't see what the problem is.

A lot of older people go to pubs as well.

I haven't been in a pub since lockdown but the government have allowed them to open and actively encouraged people to go to them (meal vouchers etc).

But surely part of the issue is that, if we don't at least start getting back to normal, spending money, going out etc., we won't have a society or an economy to go back to. Look at the job losses, unemployment, small businesses closing etc.

Of course. It’s a balancing act isn’t it? If we have to have stricter measures again to stop the thing running wild through the population, that won’t do the economy any good will it?

It’s a balancing act isn’t it? If we have to have stricter measures again to stop the thing running wild through the population, that won’t do the economy any good will it?

We can (sadly) only follow the government guidance. We have no right to judge the actions of others if they are in accordance with this guidance. I don't hugely trust this government's intentions or competence, but the clear message from schemes like eat out to help out is that now is the time to start getting the economy going again. They may be (and probably are) wrong but I'm not an expert and so have no choice but to trust their balancing of the relevant factors.

Agree your mum is a hypocrite and does not seem to appreciate the enormous sacrifices that young people have made in losing their careers, education, chances of meeting a life partner and poorer future prospects in order to keep the retired safe.