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Original poster

My teens are saying they will ignore any new restrictions

418 replies

WearyandBleary · 21/09/2020 21:19

Big argument this evening. My teens are saying they will ignore any new restrictions because they are mixing at school/college anyway, so what’s the point of not mixing outside of school?

They are really furious. I am quite shocked at how angry they are.

Are they being really selfish? I’m so cross with them. How are other people’s teens taking the possibility of more restrictions?

OP posts:
annabel85 · 21/09/2020 21:57

but to say it increases the risk for them to socialise outside of school with the same people they have spent hours in a classroom with is ridiculous.

It's more that the rule of 6 is brought in to stop big gatherings of people. A group of 20-30 teenagers are together in the park or a public place, or a house party or whatever and anyone pulls them up "oh it's okay we're in a bubble".

These rules are there because people take the piss.

Quartz2208 · 21/09/2020 21:58

Yes they are being selfish and thinking of themselves but they are being asked an awful lot.

This age is all about socialising, being with your friends and figuring things out. And we are asking them to sacrifice all of this - to lose a year of their lives for something that doesn't affect them badly at all.

We are in effect asking them to be completely selfless putting the elderly and vulnerable ahead of their own needs and wants. It is a huge ask for anybody of any age. They are of an age where it is imprinted in them to be selfish because that is what enables you to break free and become an adult.

And we are asking them to do it and it might not even work - indeed it probably wont do much then stem the flow.

And they do have a point dont they - they are mixing all day. What is more mixing with the same people honestly going to matter.

RainbowParadise · 21/09/2020 21:59

The people who take the piss are in the minority. Like it or not, teenagers are going to carry on socialising 🤷‍♀️

HeyMacarona · 21/09/2020 21:59

annabel85

Largest increase in young adults not teenagers

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 21/09/2020 21:59

I'm completely with them

If it is dangerous (for them, for other people) for them to socialise it is certainly dangerous for them to be at school

We haven't had the message that the current schools set up is risky, but worth it as education is so important - we've been told it's perfectly safe for them to go (which is bullshit, patently), oh and feel free to go to the pub, folks.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/09/2020 22:00

Thank you for the link annabel

Notfeelinggreattoday · 21/09/2020 22:01

My teens are ok and understand the difference between school being essential and socialising having to be more restrictive they don't like it but accept it
But then most adult don't get it and some rules are strange
Fairground was local recently and apparently around i wouldn't let mine go as no way they could social distance on a ride and would obviously be screaming / shouting etc
They still go out with friends but keep group down to 6 etc, they mix at school but not with other year bubbles and no after school sports etc being done
Schools seems to have good measures in place ( well as well as they can do)
But mine back at sports and football games not really social distancing so all a bit confusing
Rugby slightly more social distancing taking place and pretty strict measurements in place

GetThatHelmetOn · 21/09/2020 22:03

Honestly... they are selfish but then most teens are. I guess they will understand more when their whole bubble is sent home to isolate for two weeks with the threat of expulsion if they don’t respect it.

DS only had 6 days of classes before his whole year was sent home after one single positive test. It is not fun being stuck at home again, I hope that makes DS more conscientious...

Yellownotblue · 21/09/2020 22:04

Data shows that we Brits are the least compliant of all EU residents to Covid SD rules.

We also have one of the highest death rates in Europe.

What a coincidence! 🧐

OP I’m with you. My children are younger than yours and while they are upset by restrictions, they understand the logic and why we are complying.

As usual, I’m appalled - but no longer surprised - by all the posters who are nonchalantly proclaiming they are flouting the rules.

Scantilydoesit · 21/09/2020 22:05

If they are seeing adults going out and breaking the rules in the media, of course they will feel hard done by. The media need to stop glorifying the idiots here and show more positive scenarios where people are coming together and trying to get through this sensibly.

corythatwas · 21/09/2020 22:06

We are in effect asking them to be completely selfless putting the elderly and vulnerable ahead of their own needs and wants

Oh yeah because vulnerable young people just don't exist. Hmm

Or if they do, you can't expect people to think they matter as much as young people who are not vulnerable.

Besides, it isn't just about vulnerable people any more: healthy young people with no pre-existing conditions are also suffering from LongCovid and we don't know yet whether they will ever make a full recovery.

Racoonworld · 21/09/2020 22:06

Depends if they want schools to stay open or not really. If everyone ignores the new rules and cases go up more then schools will be shut. If they’re prepared for that to happen then fine!

Notfeelinggreattoday · 21/09/2020 22:06

@Yellownotblue do you have data ti show that as during lockdown i was reading different on here

HipTightOnions · 21/09/2020 22:07

How is it not safe for me to be close to my family but fine for hundreds of children to be roaming around the same school with zero social distancing?

From the perspective of an older, “vulnerable” teacher, the situation in schools isn’t fine at all, but the decision that’s been made is that their education is such a high priority that it’s a risk worth taking. The deal is supposed to be that we all take more care everywhere else in order to minimise the risk.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 21/09/2020 22:08

The problem is that most teenagers are bright enough to realise that the rules make absolutely no logical sense whatsoever. They are being asked to comply with something completely illogical and - not surprisingly - are rebelling against it. It's not stupid, or selfish, or immature to be the ones who, when the emperor is parading round insisting that everyone admires his new clothes, point out that he"s naked.

Concerned7777 · 21/09/2020 22:09

I'm in an area of local lockdown no socialising with anyone outside the household in public or private. My DS14 accepted it no problem, I was ready for some kind of argument or resistance, apparently as long as the xbox live doesn't expire its fine. For how long he will have this acceptance I'm not so sure.

RepeatSwan · 21/09/2020 22:09

@ThreePipeProblems

I completely agree with them. They are spending all day with their classmates. I can’t see how much harm it will do seeing them out of school!
I don't get why people still don't understand this stuff, it has been explained so many times!

OP your teens are wrong. I understand the frustration, but they are being scientifically illiterate.

ChodeOfChodeBall · 21/09/2020 22:09

Mine are saying the same, OP. I think they are being eminently reasonable.

They stuck virtuously to the first lockdown (in fact, they told me off on many occasions because I didn't stick to it). It was completely shit for them. Why would they do that again?

My student DC in particular is no doubt doing things that I would lose sleep over. But Covid isn't one of them.

Shizzlestix · 21/09/2020 22:09

It is bonkers. I have 30 kids in most classes but the there’s rule of 6 in homes/pubs. Quite mad.

Emmie12345 · 21/09/2020 22:10

I don’t think they should comply with this crap , gov have got it so wrong

Why not focus on proecting Care homes and hospitals and vulnerable people shield

You can’t limit young people like this

bridgetreilly · 21/09/2020 22:10

Likelihood of spreading increases the longer you spend with other people. If you mix outside and inside school, especially if you aren't always social distancing and wearing masks, you're much more likely to spread it than if you just mix in school.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 21/09/2020 22:10

3 of my dc are each in a bubble of 300 at school. Then come home and mix with a dc from primary school and 1 from college.. Non of their places have any social distancing...
Is there any point me doing anything?

ChodeOfChodeBall · 21/09/2020 22:10

I actually found it a bit more worrying when teenagers were being so weirdly compliant. It's their job to rebel. Yet mine were lecturing me. If the balance is being redressed and teenagers are finally acting like teenagers, I'm all in favour.

shinynewapple2020 · 21/09/2020 22:11

@kitnkaboodle

They are being selfish. They mix at school AND outside of school, they're together for twice as long (and in a more unregulated way) than if they were just at school.

It's immature to not understand this - so if they are 12/13 I might have some compassion with their point of view. If they are 15/17 they should be ashamed of themselves.

I don't see your logic there . It is the 15/17 year olds who by nature should be moving to a more independent life

12/13 year olds much more likely to be happy sitting in their room with a video game

rosiethehen · 21/09/2020 22:11

My young adult ds is arguing this as well. I'm fed up with it tbh.