What is the point of a bubble?

[DipSwimSwoosh]

Is it

• so no-one has to be alone
• to see people you have missed all year
• a chance to have fun
• something else?

As I live far away from family, I thought it might be a chance to see them. But on both sides (mine and dh) they say it makes sense to bubble with people near you, and see far away family at a different time. Maybe they are right. But when is that time? With the majority in tier 2 or 3, we can't see them anyway. I have a dh and 3 small kids, so we are 5. The rule of 6 doesn't work well for us. So we have each other at Christmas (as in, me, dh and 3 x dc), and that's fine. I would not like to think of anyone being lonely. But it just made me wonder what people think is the point of the bubbles. My parents and 2 sets of siblings will all be together enjoying Christmas indoors as a group of 9. They see each other every week anyway.

There is some sense in avoiding unnecessary journeys but if you want to see your family and could bubble with them but they are opting to bubbles with other family then yes I can understand that would feel hash and unfair. However under the rules you can bubble with them just as if you were 2 mins down the road so if you are bothered about then let them know that, as they haven’t been seeing you it may just be they have adjusted to that to some extent and assuming you are fine about it. If it’s upsetting you at least make your point known even if it doesn’t change the plans

*Is it

• so no-one has to be alone
• to see people you have missed all year
• a chance to have fun*

I think it is all of these. I think a lot of people will use it to visit family who they haven't seen for ages, or have seen but had to social distance or only see outdoors.

Its rubbish that your family have decided to bubble and not include you, I'm sorry . I think you should tell them how you feel though.

I don't think you've got much to complain about if you've got 5 people for Christmas.
Of course, it makes more sense to bubble locally so you can see those people frequently.

My brother, 60 lives alone, so is in our bubble. We see him every 10 days or so, he comes round for a meal. He is so pleased that we can continue doing this as it’s important for him and us.

All family bubbles are sorted for Christmas and we are not included in any of them, so it will be just us and my brother.

Oh it is very difficult. I don't really mind to be honest and wouldn't want to rock the boat. And I understand about avoiding travel. It just got me wondering. I guess the point is to give people options, even if they are limited. It's true that we are 5 and won't be alone. Just a bit annoying it's the same 5 I have seen day in day out all year!

The point of a bubble is to make sure no one is alone. A friend of mine lives alone and bubbling with her parents has saved her sanity.

Dh and I have no need to bubble as we live together.

@DipSwimSwoosh

Oh it is very difficult. I don't really mind to be honest and wouldn't want to rock the boat. And I understand about avoiding travel. It just got me wondering. I guess the point is to give people options, even if they are limited. It's true that we are 5 and won't be alone. Just a bit annoying it's the same 5 I have seen day in day out all year!

It can still be very isolating, and the rule of 6 is appalling for family life. With DH and I not getting out for work/ socialising/ volunteering much it's hard having minimal fresh input into our interractions for the past 8+ months. A 9 yo with ASD and an obsession for WW2 military strategies and weaponry doesn't make for stimulating social input. Neither does a 7 yo obsessed with pokemon.

I've sobbed with lonliness while in the house with my 3 family members because my social needs are more than they can provide, and the practical situations of family and friends have been massively restrictive at enabling contact. DH spends all day being talked at on the phone/conference calls and I am neither alone nor having company. I can't just do as I wish as I would on my own because of being overheard. It's massively inhibiting. He's then talked out by the end of the day, while I've only had conversation with junior age children.

I could legally meet a friend for a walk, but its illegal to bring our children with us, and it feels morally wrong to exclude our children and ignore their social needs to gratify ours. The rule of six and bubble rules are hugely damaging to families with dependent children.

Having a family household does not magically address all social needs.

Anyway, the point of bubbles was to give social contact to lone/ vulnerable people and now widening out to carers. It comes at a cost of having to isolate alongside the other half of your bubble.

Because covid can't go inside bubbles.

It can be outside of bubbles but not inside them. That's why schools can stay open. Because we now call our classes bubbles so covid can't get in.

The point of the Christmas bubble is purely to try and limit numbers that people will mix with because there was a danger that those who aren't following the laws and guidelines would see unlimited numbers of contacts anyway.

Many people are alone at Christmas in normal times. I'm sure those people will be this year too. There are plenty who rely on churches and local centres for their Christmas lunch and some company. I wonder what will happen to those people this year.