If you live in tier 2...

[purplejungle]

Are you strictly abiding by the rules?

Interested in what's happening on the ground. I'm in tier 1 currently but think tier 2 might not be far off.

I'm in a bubble with an elderly family member who lives alone so would be able to continue meeting them. But I've got a young baby (on maternity leave) and tbh would find it very hard if I couldn't still go to my mum and dad's. Earlier in the year we met outside no problem, but not really an option now with a small baby...

You could wrap baby up warmly and meet them in the park or a nice country walk and still be sticking to the rules. We are in tier 2 (shortly moving to 3 😒) and we have stuck to it but it's been very hard, especially as we've been under restrictions here since July. I've barely seen my parents since March.

Umm when the girl who dd walks to school in the morning she still waits i our hall which technically is now illegal but well they spend an entire day in the classroom together afterwards!! Otherwise yes but only the “rules” I still meet up with people in outside hospitality for example which is allowed but I think the super strict would frown on it!

Tier two doesn’t help keep cases down though..hasn’t worked anywhere else so sure we will be in tier three soon!

Thanks both. Hadn't thought about being able to meet in hospitality outside 🤔.

Would value more perspectives if anyone has any...

There's an exemption in law for "supervised activities for children" for Tier 2/3 gatherings. There's also an exemption "to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm" which would presumably include mental health - given the obvious MH risks to mothers of babies and how hard it is to do it without help, I'd find it difficult to argue the exemption doesn't apply

Thanks that's helpful, will look into that

I’m in W Yorkshire & been in essentially tier 2 since July (not that anyone cared until it started effecting the south). I make measured risk assessments. For example, I mostly see my mum & dad outdoors in the park. I wrap my 7 month & 3 year old up and it’s fine. We sometimes go for lunch in a local cafe outdoors, again, I wrap my kids up and we are all good. We don’t keep 2m apart outdoors though, we don’t hug etc but we just walk along chatting as normal. And my DD’s don’t distance from their Grandparents.

I do use my parents for childcare indoors sometimes. There are some days I’m exhausted & need a break. Or I’ve had KIT days at work. I only briefly go into their house, settle my little ones and then leave. Occasionally my mum comes to our house, she’s been looking after DD2 while we start packing up our house for a house move! DD1 goes to nursery. The childcare thing is allowed to be fair but I think as adults, you aren’t meant to stay near other.

Softplay & baby/toddler classes are all still running. My friends & I book onto the same classes so our kids can still play together & we can see each other indoors! We wear masks & don’t get too close.. again, entirely allowed but I suppose arguably a bit of a rule loophole!

I’m certainly just trying to make the most of what we can do. Tier 2 has done naff all. As I say, we’ve had it since July & cases have continued to go through roof. Tier 3 on Monday for us 🤦🏼‍♀️

Yes we're abiding by the rules but tier 2 rules aren't doing anything. Being honest about it people are fed up. The rule of 6 is standing for us but many others aren't counting young children. The majority of high risk older people I know are prepared to take a risk now over the loneliness of isolation. Their quality of life is more important to them.

I also feel that MH has been so affected that the need to be with others is now essential for many.

We are not prolific socialisers and we are meeting others outdoors for our children to play and for the adults to reach out for support. My MH is not good, we're going into tier 3 and I'm dreading a 14 day stint in isolation because that will without doubt tip me over the edge.

The only thing that is keeping me from getting very mentally ill is outside time, walks, conversation with friends and neighbours and days out to parks and forests etc.

I'm now at the point where emails from the children's schools are giving me panic attacks because of the stress of having to manage kids, work and vulnerable relatives. I'm heading for needing time off work with stress. My depression is bad and I'm trying hard to manage it within the restrictions.

I'm not scared of covid but I don't particularly want to get it either.

I’m not quite up to speed with all the rules but we’ve been very restrained since the lockdown. I’ve only met up with some friends outside on a much reduced basis and the only relative we’ve seen face-to-face in the last few months is my MIL who lives on her own and gets lonely.

I know many families are still seeing there parents and kids their grandparents. I will not be going back to my family not seeing each other. It will be done carefully and with everyone's agreement.

I have family who have been in the tier 3 lockdown for months now and it's not sustainable. They to are now seeing grandparents as the grandparents would rather have 3 weeks of life with their families than weeks of loneliness and isolation when this could be their last few years anyway. They are prepared to take the risk.

No. I have had to use various people to help with childcare over half term so I can work.

We're about to go I to tier 2. I work in a school and my mom looks after my two year old as he is too young to state nursery and I can't afford private nursery fees. Where do the rules stand on this?
We're having to isolate this week as we have two positive cases in our house, I'm two days in and already the lockdown insomnia has kicked in. Half of my family work in the family business together, it's legal for them to work together but illegal for the same people to see each other after 5pm? I can't get my head around it.

Also likely to move into tier 2 and due another baby soon but we are all planning on meeting outside in that scenario! I'm outside with toddler every day anyway so baby will just be wrapped up warm

I'm not one the militant puddle jump your way to positivity mumsnet types but do think we have lots of nice bright days too amongst the rain!

Yes we are but the amount of people who have assumed we’ll still be going to their houses for dinner or meeting up indoors at pubs/restaurants suggests a lot of our friends are not

@duckme regular informal childcare arrangements for work purposes are permitted

@Spotthedoggies thank you

I think I am. I still let my mum come over as she is a single person and we were her bubble, but I've no idea if that's still allowed. I'll be letting her round regardless. We not mixing indoors with anyone else. (Not since March actually, thinking about it! Christ, I've become a recluse).

Thanks all, these are v helpful perspectives