The amount of posters who want support bubbles banned is shocking...

[ToHellinahandbasket]

And quite frankly appalling.
Is it just me seeing a lot of this?
The many threads about further restrictions seem to all be posters suggesting things that don’t affect them and insisting those be the things that should go.
It’s a real eye opener.

I benefit from a support bubble as my son was under one on the 2nd December. I had PND and was already suffering from anxiety due to a previous TFMR which developed into quite bad health anxiety. Without my support bubble I don’t know what would have happened tbh, and I’m still not back to normal now so I dread to think how it will be if they do take them away.

I don’t get takeaway coffee but I’m not shouting from the rooftops for it to be banned. I don’t meet a friend for a socially distanced walk, but I’m not shouting about that either.

There just seems to be a very narrow minded view at the moment, I don’t know if it’s just on here, where people are airily dismissing things without a thought for how it can affect other people or their mental health or situations.

I feel like people bandied together a bit to begin with and now it’s flipped completely. It’s eye opening and seriously depressing.

Is it just on mumsnet do you think? I don’t know what I’m hoping to achieve by posting this tbh I just feel really unsettled by some of the attitudes I’ve seen on here tonight and some of the things I’ve read

I know people are allowed their own opinions, of course and that’s what is great about an online forum, but there seems to be a definite lean one way of late. I even saw a few posters proclaiming we should get the army on the streets to “manage” people and ensure that people don’t break the rules if support bubbles are stopped.

There doesn’t seem to be much compassion left :(

Actually I know several people who live alone who don’t want to form a bubble with anyone. It must be terribly hard, but in their opinion their options - ie their potential bubble mates - were too “leaky”.

@Bluesheep8

Nobody has multiple support bubbles as the rules don’t make that possible.

Er, someone I know had got about 6 'bubbles'

The they aren’t support bubbles they are just lying and breaking the rules!

This thread is so infuriating. It seems nobody is objecting to actual support bubbles, just objecting to people breaking the rules and calling it “bubbles”. This has nothing to do with actual support bubbles.

I think I might go rob a bank tomorrow and call it a “bubble”, so I guess anyone who thinks maybe I shouldn’t do that wants support bubbles banned. 🤯

Then they aren’t support bubbles they are just lying and breaking the rules!

Yep.

And I certainly don't want support bubbles banned. Not the genuine ones.

Their vital for many people. Some take the loss though. My friends mum has 3 different support bubbles, 3/4 of her children. My friend is the only one of the siblings that won’t do it.

I absolutely don’t think support bubbles should be suspended, but not sure about the ‘meet one other person outdoors to exercise’ rule? Is that necessary? Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong. I can see that, in theory, it’s safe, but judging by the people around here walking, none of them seem to be 2m apart.

Dp's dad has 10 bubbles. Dp tried to explain you could have only one bubble, he was told to mind his own fucking business.

In theory, they are a good thing, but there will always be those who do what they want.

@Tootsey11

Dp's dad has 10 bubbles. Dp tried to explain you could have only one bubble, he was told to mind his own fucking business.

In theory, they are a good thing, but there will always be those who do what they want.

10 support bubbles isn’t that your DP’s dad usual routine?

I think bubbles are tricky. Some people really need them but I know plenty of people who are entitled to one because of having a child under 1 or because they live alone who have one because they can rather than because it's vital. Also others who use "childcare bubble" as a way for their kids to see their grandparents rather than because they need the childcare to work.

On balance, I would support messaging that said "you're still allowed to be in a support bubble but think carefully about whether or not you really need to see your bubble in the next few weeks and consider a walk outside rather than seeing them inside"

Genuine support bubbles for single people should remain. They weren’t created so people could carry meeting new people, OLD etc.

Childcare ones should remain to allow parents to work but not for general babysitting or socialising with. Drop off at the persons house and collect only.

The under one could be scrapped as if single they can have a bubble anyway. If not single then no different to any other couple with children.

The government could so easily stop abuse of support bubbles .Put a form online, the public print it off or fill it in. There is a database of who is in a support bubble. Make it a faff to change it frequently. Easy for police to verify that you are visiting your support bubble rather than socialising/travelling unnecessarily etc.
I also wish the police would understand that exercising with your support bubble is safer than meeting them inside, so stop being idiots about outside exercising.

@HazelWong I agree. I think there needs to be some reminders given in the guidance. One of those twats needs to just stand up and say bubble if you fall in the category and it is vital. If you can avoid it, do so because the contact is risky and it shouldn’t be being done just because you can.

@Mouldiwarp1

I absolutely don’t think support bubbles should be suspended, but not sure about the ‘meet one other person outdoors to exercise’ rule? Is that necessary? Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong. I can see that, in theory, it’s safe, but judging by the people around here walking, none of them seem to be 2m apart.

Some people meet their support bubble outside because it's safer than inside - often for a walk etc. That is why it should still be allowed to meet 1 person outside for exercise. Or else let support bubble people have a permission form or something to stop the fear of harassment by police of people legitimately meeting their support bubble outdoors.

Matt Hancock has just ruled out banning bubbles on the press conference

@beachdays123

Matt Hancock has just ruled out banning bubbles on the press conference

I saw that too. Gives me hope and a better fighting chance of getting through this lockdown.

Thank god.
After stupid policies about 24/7 vaccinations and incorrect information about the Guidance on travelling for exercise, he actually said something reasonable.

@beachdays123

Matt Hancock has just ruled out banning bubbles on the press conference

Common sense at last

Not that the government have said anything in recent months where they've later done a U turn, having first of all denied there would be any U turn.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Genuine support bubbles for single people should remain. They weren’t created so people could carry meeting new people, OLD etc.

Childcare ones should remain to allow parents to work but not for general babysitting or socialising with. Drop off at the persons house and collect only.

The under one could be scrapped as if single they can have a bubble anyway. If not single then no different to any other couple with children.

The under one support bubbles are vital to those with a young baby. Being a first time mum giving birth in lockdown then spending the first few months with no support, whilst my husband worked full time was so hard, I was on the verge of a breakdown when the government introduced the support bubbles for under 1s. It has literally saved me, we were about to break the rules and get help but now with the help of our support bubble we are coping much better and are actually enjoying our baby. Honestly those who question the under 1 bubbles haven't had a baby in lockdown, it's far, far harder than in normal times.

@beachdays123

Matt Hancock has just ruled out banning bubbles on the press conference

Brilliant news.The one thing that really needs to stay.

@mousehole10

I think the thing is that it varies. My cousin had a baby in lockdown, her DH is furloughed, the baby is really easy and they have a support bubble because they want the grandparents to be able to see the baby, not because they particularly need it - she says this pretty openly.

On the other hand, I have a friend who also had a baby in lockdown who is really struggling as her baby has horrible reflux and her DH works long shifts in a hospital and she barely sees him. Her support bubble is vital to stop her sliding into PND.

That's why I think the government should send some messages on the purpose of bubbles and encourage those who could cope without seeing their bubble to do that for a few weeks until we are past the peak.