Isolating at Christmas

[IsolatedforChristmas]

I’m a teacher. Just received the dreaded phone call that several children in my class have tested positive. Luckily (and most importantly) they are all fine-mild symptoms/asymptomatic. Myself and my whole class now have to isolate over Christmas. I know this year has been terrible for many people and lots of people have endured much worse so I’m trying to keep this in perspective. However, I live alone and now have to spend Christmas completely on my own. The children in my class (only year 1 so Christmas is obviously at the centre of their little worlds at the moment) will be so upset as I know how many of them were looking forward to seeing grandparents etc. I’ve had a really difficult year with my own mental health issues and struggling massively with isolation during the first lockdown which put me in a very desperate state. I was so looking forward to seeing family that I haven’t seen for months.

I’ve loved being back in the classroom this term. I have fully supported schools being open and have tried to minimise the risk where possible (loads of hand washing etc) but social distancing with 5 and 6 year olds is impossible. I’m not angry with anyone in particular but I feel frustrated that if we’d have broken up just one week earlier then this could all have been avoided. It just feels like the worst possible timing. I’m dreading the next 10 days and especially Christmas now. Can’t even get a food delivery because of them all being booked up so hoping a friend can drop some bits over.

PS I’ve name changed as not sure how outing this could be (hopefully not too many people are in the same situation!)

This is utter shit and I'm sorry that doing your job has screwed you over like this. I imagine there'll be quite a few teaching staff getting similar news. It's appalling how schools have been treated throughout all this and yet people continue to bash. Hope you manage to spoil yourself and at least do something that makes you happy.

Sorry to hear this. Myself and 4 other colleagues are in exactly the same boat.

Thanks for your replies. Sorry to hear you’re in the same boat MrsBlobby.

With the new announcements, it won’t actually end up making any difference for the kids in my class or my colleagues who are also isolating because no one can socialise outside their immediate household anyway. I wouldn’t have been able to see my extended family as planned but I would have still been able to see my parents as they’re my support bubble. Just so worried about how I’ll cope on the day being completely alone. I know that’s stupid because it’s just one day and I’m a grown adult but I’m just struggling at the moment.

Thank you so much for being a teacher.

Your post made me cry.

My kids are both isolating. I wish he week before Christmas was remote learning.

Take care

Hasn't the ball of pork said support bubbles still remain?

@blackbearder

Thank you so much for being a teacher.

Your post made me cry.

My kids are both isolating. I wish he week before Christmas was remote learning.

Take care

Bless you. Thank you-your kind words mean a lot! Sorry your kids are having to isolate too. Sending back.

@Shadeelane

Hasn't the ball of pork said support bubbles still remain?

Ball of pork

Yes support bubbles are still allowed but not if you’re isolating because of having contact with a positive case. Which even if it was allowed I wouldn’t go ahead with it anyway because I wouldn’t put my parents at risk unnecessarily.

Exactly the same here too apart from I have DH. I have to isolate right over Xmas.
I have decided I will not be asking the children what they did over Xmas when we go back because I will just get too cross if their parents haven't stuck to it.

@Hippywannabe

Exactly the same here too apart from I have DH. I have to isolate right over Xmas. I have decided I will not be asking the children what they did over Xmas when we go back because I will just get too cross if their parents haven't stuck to it.

Me either. I know for certain some of my families won’t stick to the rules. Many will but some definitely won’t.

Yes support bubbles are still allowed but not if you’re isolating because of having contact with a positive case.

Yes, sorry, I don't know why I put that, obviously you're isolating. Duh. Think I got muddled after reading other shiz about support bubbles and rules etc. Maybe someone should start a Christmas isolating thread for people alone on Christmas day. It's rubbish. Really rubbish.

Don’t worry-I know the rules are rather confusing! Yeah I’m sure I can’t be the only one in this situation. A friend of mine is now unable to see her family because of tier 4 but at least she can get out for walks and to go to stock up on Christmas food. It really is rubbish!

Yeah it's a double kick in the teeth. Not only can you not see family if you have to isolate you can't go out, walk, shop...it's just shit. I've been worried myself as we had a kid sneezing all over the place in class this week. If I now get something I'll have to bail on my parents. This wouldn't be the end of the world but it would also mean the husband can't see his parents who are alone. None of us are totally alone though so we'd be fine. It's so so shit for people who are having to go through this solo 😔

Yes it’s like there’s many layers of shit:
For people in tiers 1/2/3-shit
For people in tier 4-very shit
For people isolating (living with family)-very, very shit
For people isolating (living alone)-super shit!!

Layers of shit. Everywhere.

Struggling tonight. The loneliness is really setting in and feeling sad about the Christmas period really picking up tomorrow with it being Christmas Eve. It’s times like this that make me feel really shit about not having a partner or children.

So sorry OP.

I have covid symptoms and had a test today. I'm an infant teacher as well and it's been such a long term. I agree with everything you've said.

Please ask neighbours to drop food round for you, I'm sure they'll be happy to help.

Really sorry to hear you're struggling tonight. I don't know where you live or if you have much of a garden but I think the inability to get out and get some fresh air and exercise has such a detrimental effect on mental health.
When I've struggled with evenings alone I've listened to the radio, even fallen asleep with it on.
Do you know anyone who'd appreciate a phone call? Try not to focus on what you've not got. Not tonight. Tonight you need to know that you're loved and appreciated by family and friends.

I'm a primary school TA and got the call on Monday to say that a child I work with has tested positive so I have to isolate over Christmas. Luckily I am not alone as dh is here and we had already booked our delivery. I am petrified of catching it as both dh and I are CV. During the first lockdown I was able to work from home, but have been in as normal since September. Isolation hasn't affected my Christmas plans - they were already ruined when we went into tier 4 at the weekend. In some way, having to isolate makes it a bit easier to accept not seeing my ds's, dils and dgs. Trying to keep busy so I don't imagine that every sniffle or throat clearing is a symptom.
Today was day 6 out of ten, based on the info on the gov.UK website. Hoping that the longer I go without symptoms, the less likely I am to have contracted it.

Lots of sympathy, OP. I am in Tier 4 and live alone, and can no longer see family at Christmas as planned. I can go to the supermarket and see a couple of friends for walks so I am definitely in an easier position than you, but I entirely empathise with the misery of isolation and the sense of failure for not having a partner/children.

When does your isolation end? Can you plan anything in advance as a bit of distraction?

Oh no that’s terrible, you poor thing. We are also isolating (or at least, the DC are, as positive cases in both their classes on last day of term) but at least we have each other.
Could you do a video call on Christmas Day with any friends or your parents, and maybe plan a delayed Christmas Day with your parents?

This has happened in my DGD's primary school. 7 members of staff and numerous kids either have it or are isolating. This awful government wouldn't listen to sense and have closed the schools a week early. The time could have been made up in the summer. Bunch of idiots. Take good care of yourself @IsolatedforChristmas and others in the same situation and thank you for all that you do ( I'm an ex primary teacher who remembers it well)

So sorry op. The news that all my colleagues were dreading. Even though most of them hadn’t planned to see family due to the risk at work they were still worried about being poorly over Xmas.
Hope it’s a mild case for you .

Thank you so much for your kind messages. I have had a food delivery from a friend of mine so I’m ok on that front now at least. Unfortunately I live in a flat without a garden so can’t even get out for some proper fresh air. My isolation finishes on the 27th so I’ll make sure I see my parents then and book in some walks with friends. I know that’s only a matter of days away so I just need to focus on that. I think once Christmas Day is out of the way it will be downhill from there.

I had an argument tonight with the husband about NYE zoom meetings so at least you don't have that nonsense to be dealing with. 🙄 Seriously though, find something funny to watch - there's lots of videos of cats being jerks on YouTube if you're desperate - and be kind to yourself. Remember, you are awesome company and don't need anyone annoying you. Have you got wine and chocolate? If not, sending some virtually

Oh and sorry for any confusion caused but I don’t actually have covid (as far as I’m aware). Just had contact with a child who has. So am of course very grateful for my current good health and hope it stays that way.