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Original poster

Say it with me folk - children are people

131 replies

Ohalrightthen · 01/11/2020 10:44

So many threads on here, and so many people on my SM and in my whatsapp groups, all asking "we can meet one person outside the house, so it i go to meet my friend, can we take our kids?"

Are your kids people? Question answered!

I know it sucks, I'm gutted, and will shortly be spending aaaalllllll my time with my 1yr old and would love to be able to take her out with me to see friends, but surely a little common sense is in order?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohalrightthen · 01/11/2020 12:45

@PostItJoyWeek

61 year old Beryl's chances of dying from Covid are vanishingly small. If she is vulnerable she should isolate.

We won't be going into MIL's nursing home.

I hope the vulnerable isolate well during this month while the youngsters and their low risk adults all catch it through school thus becoming a human firebreak to the virus when the vulnerable's isolation ends.

...apart from the fact that new studies have shown that covid antibodies aren't permanent. Herd immunity is out.
OP posts:
PostItJoyWeek · 01/11/2020 12:46

Do you think the rule is sensible @Ohalrightthen?

You can say the rule and encourage us to say it with you, but have you thought about it? Do you understand what it is trying to achieve? Maybe think about the reality of disease transmission in your life and network, not application of almost arbitrary rules.

PostItJoyWeek · 01/11/2020 12:47

The research does not say that herd immunity is out. It says that one particular mode of immunity last only a few months. A few months is a long time considering lockdowns are a few weeks. That's a good firebreak.

Hickorydickoryspock · 01/11/2020 12:49

Children under school age should not be included as a person under the regulations imo. It means single parents are going to be completely cut off from everyone.

peboh · 01/11/2020 12:49

As a sahm mum whose husband works away, I can't go outside to meet one person and leave my child at home. If I follow this rule I will go crazy, because it will mean being on my own 24/7 with a toddler who has a language delay and cannot communicate with me. A toddler who spends most of the day doing her own thing, and doesn't play with me. It would be debilitating to my mental health.

TempsPerdu · 01/11/2020 12:50

Children are also people in the respect that we should care about their welfare and the long term consequences that this pandemic will have on them. Everyone says we should think about the elderly. But we are sacrificing the future of our children without a second thought. Let's give 99 year old Beryl an extra 6 months. Never mind that our kids will be illiterate because they have missed two years of school

Totally and utterly this. I opened this thread thinking it would be about considering and supporting children (and mothers) through the pandemic - but no, it’s yet another one about how preschoolers should be kept at home and isolated from everyone else. And how the women caring for them shouldn’t be allowed any respite at all.

There is going to be another epidemic when we finally emerge from this one - this time of mental health issues across the population; of developmental and behavioural problems in poorly socialised young children; of speech and language difficulties... less tangible than people dying, but still massively affecting quality of life. I am pretty certain that this will all be in the headlines in approximately two years’ time, when this cohort of toddlers start school.

Original poster
Ohalrightthen · 01/11/2020 12:50

@PostItJoyWeek

Do you think the rule is sensible *@Ohalrightthen*?

You can say the rule and encourage us to say it with you, but have you thought about it? Do you understand what it is trying to achieve? Maybe think about the reality of disease transmission in your life and network, not application of almost arbitrary rules.

I do think it is sensible, yes. As I've said multiple times, it's not going to be pleasant for me, or many women in my situation, but with parents working on Covid wards throughout the first peak, yes i absolutely believe it is sensible.
OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 01/11/2020 12:52

Totally and utterly this. I opened this thread thinking it would be about considering and supporting children (and mothers) through the pandemic - but no, it’s yet another one about how preschoolers should be kept at home and isolated from everyone else. And how the women caring for them shouldn’t be allowed any respite at all

Agreed. I thought ‘finally a thread considering the fact that children are people and their needs deserve consideration too’. No such luck.

OverTheRainbow88 · 01/11/2020 12:52

I’m hoping my dad will take my little one out for a walk/to playground and I can go for a Walk with my mum... I guess that’s allowed?

PostItJoyWeek · 01/11/2020 12:54

What do your parents' jobs have to do with whether toddler play dates are high risk or not?

linerforlife · 01/11/2020 12:57

But the rule isn't for "mobile children". So I can't go for a walk wearing my 5 month old or pushing her in the pram and meet ANYONE. I breastfeed so I am quite tied to her!!! I'm going to be very isolated.

RegularHumanBartender · 01/11/2020 12:58

What is the need for these lecturing threads? Do you think you're doing people a favour with your helpful "advice"?

PostItJoyWeek · 01/11/2020 13:03

@linerforlife

But the rule isn't for "mobile children". So I can't go for a walk wearing my 5 month old or pushing her in the pram and meet ANYONE. I breastfeed so I am quite tied to her!!! I'm going to be very isolated.
You can. No one will physically stop you. Don't sacrifice your mental health. Make support bubbles with a couple of friends.
TiersTiersTiers · 01/11/2020 13:04

So many threads on here, and so many people on my SM and in my whatsapp groups, all asking "we can meet one person outside the house, so it i go to meet my friend, can we take our kids?"

Yep, there are a lot of thick people about. Or perhaps it's the special people looking for a way to not follow the rules for a month so that the lock down will be extended again Hmm

Ickabog · 01/11/2020 13:10

Yep, there are a lot of thick people about. Or perhaps it's the special people looking for a way to not follow the rules for a month so that the lock down will be extended again Hmm

Have you read some of these posts? People are struggling with their mental health, isolated from others just because they have a small child or a baby. Posters are at breaking point and you're calling them thick and special. Angry

Ignoringequally · 01/11/2020 13:16

Have you read some of these posts? People are struggling with their mental health, isolated from others just because they have a small child or a baby. Posters are at breaking point and you're calling them thick and special. angry

Yes. I am at absolute breaking point dealing with a toddler who has some social development delays, which I can’t get any help for because the HV basically said there was nothing she could do because Covid, and the odd walk with my dad is the only thing not tipping me over the edge.
But I’m then I’m just thick and ‘special’, so what do I matter?

BeanieB2020 · 01/11/2020 13:16

The rules shouldn't class children as a person in the "meet 1 person" category until they're at an age where they can be left home alone. Loneliness is more dangerous than COVID to many people with young kids who will now have no ability to see friends.

JanewaysBun · 01/11/2020 13:17

My children aren't people, they are demons sent create havoc on thia earth...Halloween Wink

Original poster
Ohalrightthen · 01/11/2020 13:28

@PostItJoyWeek

What do your parents' jobs have to do with whether toddler play dates are high risk or not?
Because i am acutely aware of the severity of the situation we were in, and the second wave is projected to be worse.

Toddler play dates may not be high risk, but they are a risk. It's only a month! Yes, it's going to be unpleasant. I'm not looking forward to it. But it's not forever and it is very necessary.

OP posts:
PostItJoyWeek · 01/11/2020 13:31

What do you think is the severity of the situation?

Original poster
Ohalrightthen · 01/11/2020 13:34

@PostItJoyWeek

What do you think is the severity of the situation?
Last night's briefing made it much clearer than i could - it's on the iPlayer.
OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 01/11/2020 13:35

I’m glad it’s just going to be ‘unpleasant’ for you OP.
It’s likely to tip me over the edge.

Bizawit · 01/11/2020 13:40

When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was going to be about the awful impact that covid policy has had on children, and the way their needs have been deprioritised in this mess. How wrong was I? Hmm Angry

peboh · 01/11/2020 13:44

@Ignoringequally

Have you read some of these posts? People are struggling with their mental health, isolated from others just because they have a small child or a baby. Posters are at breaking point and you're calling them thick and special. angry

Yes. I am at absolute breaking point dealing with a toddler who has some social development delays, which I can’t get any help for because the HV basically said there was nothing she could do because Covid, and the odd walk with my dad is the only thing not tipping me over the edge.
But I’m then I’m just thick and ‘special’, so what do I matter?

I hope you're okay! It's so difficult having a delayed child right now, we're fortunate that my daughter already has a paediatrician, however the referrals process for everything is currently stuck. Sometimes you just need to see another adult, and be able to have a real conversation!
RedskyAtnight · 01/11/2020 13:51

@Hickorydickoryspock

Children under school age should not be included as a person under the regulations imo. It means single parents are going to be completely cut off from everyone.
Single parents can form support bubbles.