The Vent

[HowTheFrigDoLoneParentsWork]

Evening
Was hoping to create a non-contentious safe space where people could have a little rant in.
School bubble burst so whole class out for a week (the positive was last seen a week ago. Not a pupil but advice is the same ).
I get it. I honestly do. I was one of the first to take my kids out to get tested after the return to school coughing season.
It just seems so bloody unfair.
Only one DC has to isolate, the other can go to school.
I do not have to isolate either but I have no childcare. It sucks.
We are in local lockdown too so I could put a call out for any other single parent who wants to make a childcare bubble but doubt there are any like me who has no support bubble of their own (my family are miles away and shielding in any case).
I find the differences between primary and secondary with regard to mask wearing and bubbles annoying (trust me, all kids of all ages mix more than you think they do). The idea of intact bubbles when you have mixed childcare bubbles and siblings in different bubbles also make it somewhat farcical. I know. Tis a plaster on a deep wound and everyone is doing their best.
I know I am being unreasonable. I am merely frustrated.
Vent away!

I am waiting on results, feeling really stressed about it. If we have to isolate due to school quite often, this is going to be an utter nightmare. Holding on to my retail management job during these tough times, with a tiny team. Too many periods of isolation and things are set to be v difficult. I have no answers.
I also have been refreshing my emails about every other minute(!) to check results.
I think people want to do the right thing but many can’t afford to take 2 weeks unpaid or ssp each time.

I am crossing my fingers that you get a negative result back soon. Ours took 3 days last time. The bubble bursting is a different ball game though if primaries have been told one positive, all out, every single time. Secondaries are not doing this, at least not all of them.
My employer has been sympathetic but as I am meant to be covering Covid absences, I cannot expect that sympathy to not run out at some point. It is so damned difficult. I like consistency so the different rules at play are irksome and I really wish there was some greater job protection - as it is, I am not sure with a probationary period, why employers would not let someone go with poor attendance even if Covid related.

Thank you. The result turnaround time is so inconsistent. My boss got hers in 8 hours, my sister was 3.5 days.