If you're keeping primary kids home - how and why?

[Indecisivelurcher]

What I mean is, those parents choosing to keep primary aged children at home for a couple more weeks. Why? As in, do you think something will change in a couple more weeks? Options being schools will shut totally. Or the new variant will be shown to be no higher risk to children? I suppose I mean, what good is a couple more weeks? And how, I mean how are you managing around work, are you using leave? Are you working around the kids? In the first lockdown I was luckily able to reduce my hours, and then later on dh was furloughed. But neither option is available now as it would be personal choice.

We haven’t socialised or seen any family at Xmas apart from from a distance on doorstep.

Happy, we have seen no one, I host someone ELDERY every Xmas and with a very heavy heart, even though we would have been allowed to host him we decided it wasn't worth the risk.

We try and go out to rural places but sometimes on the way we need to navigate other people, my family fall into a single file and turn our heads (no one else bothers).

So for me to have to push 2 dds back into maskless crowds, and myself... 100s and 100s... It feels like I'm living in two worlds...

One where we are told we are on a precipice and one where we go into crowds...

It’s simply dangerous to go to school. That’s why I would not to send my DC to school next week, no matter what.

@Happychristmashohoho I have indeed seen my parents. I haven't seen anyone else though, we both shop online. Seeing my parents, (support bubble) isn't really comparable to the 68 children and staff my 2 DC would be mixing with daily . Not forgetting the siblings, parents, partner etc of those 68.

@Happychristmashohoho The last time we saw any of our families was in August. We did no Christmas or NY socialising and every bit of Christmas was delivered.

Oh I tell a lie. DH did do a click and collect from a supermarket as they had a toy I was struggling to get.

DS's school announced this evening that it will be closed to all but vulnerable and key workers' children for 2 weeks. But we had already decided to keep DS off for a few days initially and see what happened.
I qualify as a key worker but I'm back office, DH and I can both WFH, I won't take up the place - one child fewer to spread germs about.

Why - selfishly, because DH is pushing 50, and has some risk factors. We have no family except vulnerable grandparents to care for DS if we were ill or worse. I want us both alive and well and DS not to have the burden of having brought covid home. If we get it, I would rather the hospitals weren't full already. Less selfishly, because we need to reduce transmission to take pressure off hospitals.
How - well we managed somehow last time, though it wasn't fun. This time the support bubble rules mean we are allowed to ask my DM to help. We have been nowhere and seen nobody all holidays, shopping all delivered etc, so I feel comfortable asking her. Wouldn't put her at risk if DS had been in school or we'd been mixing in the last fortnight.

Prior to this weekend, we haven't seen DM since August and apart from one outdoor walk with DMIL, have seen no other family either, we get our shopping delivered, we WFH, we're tier 4 so no mixing with other households.

Also with hospitals full I want to reduce the chance of accidents and that is another reason to keep my kids at home.