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Original poster

I'm not ok right now

44 replies

swg1 · 09/09/2020 18:19

I know I will be ok because I've been ok before. But I'm not ok right now.

The thing that pushed me over the edge? Not being able to go to the park after school any more :( There's always at least a few people who go after school and the kids charge around and the parents stand (at least a metre apart) and chat. But me and the kids alone are three people. I can't count on there being few enough people in there to get us under 6 and getting 4 and 7 year old not to socialise is impossible. It's meant 60-90 minutes per visit where they are exercising, not on screens and not fighting, and where I get to just make small talk.

We'll give it up because I'm not a dick and because it's the type of village where people would grumble at the school and the council. I won't put the school in that position and I'm worried the council would just close the park again :( We'll go at quieter times. I know it's not the world's biggest tragedy. But oh, I need a day or two to mourn this one.

OP posts:
Linaya · 09/09/2020 19:19

I would go to the park and stand 2m away from other adults. And if you're really on the edge, a bit of screen time after they've been at school all day isn't so terrible.

CeeJay81 · 09/09/2020 19:20

We went to the park after school today and park was full of kids as it was a nice day. Adults all social distance but kids play however. Does that really count in the 6 people? It doesn't affect me yet, although I'm sure Wales will do similar soon, but it would be ashame for the kids if it did.

Chloemol · 09/09/2020 19:21

Just go, stand apart from any other round and get your kids to try and not play with all the others, can the6 run round the park for a while? Or go a bit later

itsgettingweird · 09/09/2020 19:21

They aren't closing playgrounds. If they didn't want kids who know each other in a shared space they'd close them.

By the nature of playgrounds you'll know other people. They are local play areas.

Seriously. As long as you are SD from adults and only talking in pairs or a small group it's fine.

It's not a social gathering by the sense they have defined it. Which is families meeting or groups of friends who aren't following guidelines for whatever reason.

Tootletum · 09/09/2020 19:21

Eh ? Why is it a social gathering? Kids go to the park after school, that's what it's for. If you happen to have a chat with another parent, so what. You didn't organise a social gathering of over 6 people.

SqidgeBum · 09/09/2020 19:22

Ah now. It's a playground. I really dont think these rules are meant to be telling parents to avoid playgrounds. They are aimed at house parties and people having get togethers for their birthdays, not a mum standing at a playground making small talk. If it was, the playgrounds would be shut. I think you are overthinking this.

itsgettingweird · 09/09/2020 19:22

@Itsjustabitofbanter

Dear lord op, just go to the park. Random people in the same area is not classed as a social gathering at all, otherwise restaurants and pubs etc would just be limited to 6 people.
Yeah this!

Sry clear explanation of the reasons

BikeTyson · 09/09/2020 19:23

I wouldn’t class this as a social gathering. This is people separately going to the park, if you’re not organising to meet there.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 09/09/2020 19:23

@FMW138

I read in the government guidelines a few weeks back that if you are out with people and you 'bump into' a few friends when you are out, you are not allowed to talk to them if that would mean taking you over your max group number.
The Govt said you are not allowed to talk to them? 😂😂😂😂😂
You might have misunderstood that. Yes, the guideline advises how many people can meet out as a group but all you had to do was ensure you were at least 2 metres away from that group in order to talk to them.

Tootletum · 09/09/2020 19:24

Anyway sounds like it'll be tough in such a nosy parker village (I grew up in one, so I know you're not exaggerating!!). My sympathies. It's depressing what we've all become.

butterpuffed · 09/09/2020 19:32

Of course you can go to the park, it isn't as if you've arranged to meet others so it's not a gathering.

If all the parents where you live came to the same conclusion as you, then the park would be empty.

veryvery · 09/09/2020 19:38

I read in the government guidelines a few weeks back that if you are out with people and you 'bump into' a few friends when you are out, you are not allowed to talk to them if that would mean taking you over your max group number.

This doesn't affect me personally as my D.C. is older. But I've got pictures in my head of people appointing 'lookouts' then everyone studiously ignoring each other if an official is spotted....

veryvery · 09/09/2020 19:40

I meant the park issue doesn't affect me.

DisgruntledPelican · 09/09/2020 19:58

You’re way overthinking this. Just go!

AmelieTaylor · 09/09/2020 20:06

@swg1

Sweetheart, you're fine. You're no more 'meeting up' than you would be if you booked a table in a restaurant. You're allowed to be in parks, restaurants, shops etc where other people are as long as you socially distance yourself you're not doing anything wrong.

If any of the Villagers say anything (which I doubt they will) just tell them that taking your kids to the play park isn't breaking any rules!

(You can take it from me, I'm one of the nutters still not even ordering take away & still washing my shopping. You're fine!)

AutumnLeavesStart · 09/09/2020 20:50

If that was the intended interpretation of the rules, local authorities would be closing the playgrounds again.

Scottishgirl85 · 09/09/2020 20:56

I think you are making it more difficult for yourself. It's not a social gathering at a park if you don't go to purposefully meet people. If you see an adult you know you chat to them at a distance. Kids playing hasn't changed, it's not a crime to bump into friends.

VioletCharlotte · 09/09/2020 21:27

The new rules are all aimed at stopping people from having big house parties or going to the pubs en masse. Cases are rising amongst younger people and they believe it's a result of partying and not following social distancing. It's really not about stopping kids play at the park.

FMW138 · 09/09/2020 22:09

[quote NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite]**@FMW138

I read in the government guidelines a few weeks back that if you are out with people and you 'bump into' a few friends when you are out, you are not allowed to talk to them if that would mean taking you over your max group number.
The Govt said you are not allowed to talk to them? 😂😂😂😂😂
You might have misunderstood that. Yes, the guideline advises how many people can meet out as a group but all you had to do was ensure you were at least 2 metres away from that group in order to talk to them.[/quote]
The official guidance says the following: (although doesn't explicitly mention a park setting)

Rules in other venues and activities
Venues following COVID-19 secure guidelines will be able to continue to host more people in total - such as religious services in places of worship - but no one should visit in a group of greater than 6. When you visit one of these places, such as a pub, shop, leisure venue, restaurant or place of worship you should:

Follow the limits on the number of other people you should meet with as a group - no more than six people unless you all live together (or are in the same support bubble)

Avoid social interaction with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know

So yeah, I do take from this that you are being asked not to interact with others outside your group of it takes you over the max numbers Confused

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