Support thread for those of us with family abroad

[TwirpingBird]

I just read on sky news that Nicola Sturgeon has said foreign holidays will be 'unlikely' this summer. As much as this sucks for people who were living for a week in spain (arent we all!), for those of us who have parents or family who live a plane journey away, I guess this means another long while before we get to see our loved ones again.

I dont really know what I want from this thread, but I know many people on MN are coming up to a year away from their loved ones, and facing most of this year away from them, so instead of crying into another glass of prosecco, i thought i would start this thread, so we maybe dont feel so alone.

I feel for you. I'm in the same situation.

Don't give up hope yet. Last year they were very negative about travel for a really long time and it was possible anyway. I will find a way to see my family again. Even if it means breaking some rules. Claiming my travel is essential etc.

I haven't seen my parents for a quite a while. I was hoping to see them last year, then covid happened.
I am quite calm actually, I speak to them often, and they are ok. So, hopefully all these lockdown and restriction pays off and we can see them in not too far away future.

Me too. This June it will be two years since I've seen my parents (in their 80s) who live in Europe. I didn't visit last year as things were so uncertain and I didn't want to put them at any risk, but hopefully this year we will all be vaccinated so it may be possible. I've definitely found lockdown 3 the most depressing.

I am trying to be positive and think 'I will figure out a way'. My country doesnt have hotel quarantine, so I am thinking maybe a long 4 week stay maybe june time, where I stay with my parents and isolate for the 2 weeks, and then isolate when I get back. I am on mat leave so it's a bit easier to get away. My DH would have to stay and work though, so he wouldn't see our DDs for the 4 weeks, but I just need to take any chance I can get. I miss my mum so much it hurts sometimes. I have a 3 month old and my mum is sad at how fast she is growing, I know she is sad. She would never say it though.

My heart seriously goes out to people who would have to isolate in a hotel there and back, or who cant take the time off. That's incredibly difficult.

I'm checking in! 🙋‍♀️ All my adult family are abroad and I'm actually physically ill with the homesickness.

I hope NZ will let vaccinated people in to visit (not repatriation) soon, once the NZ vulnerable have been vaccinated. Us living abroad are hurting so, so badly.

Also, brilliant thread OP. 🤗

I’m checking in too. I saw my mum last summer outside for 2 days but that’s been it. I can cope most of the time - but it makes me really cross when I hear people with local family who can do doorstep visits complain. I have to stay away from threads like that on mumsnet

I have this sad little hope that they may start relaxing rules for vaccinated people coming into the UK. My mum has her 2 vaccines (works in a care home), although my dad wouldn't have his. Their country isnt rolling them out very fast. Bad health system. I know it's probably not realistic but I suppose we have to try see the light at the end.

@SlightlySmaller

I’m checking in too. I saw my mum last summer outside for 2 days but that’s been it. I can cope most of the time - but it makes me really cross when I hear people with local family who can do doorstep visits complain. I have to stay away from threads like that on mumsnet

Yes I must admit that makes me a bit angry too. My MIL cries a lot when she doesnt see her DD for 2 weeks, or my DH for 3 weeks (he is the least favourite child 😆). Or when people say 'shut the airports down! Who is going on holidays anyway!' . Ehhhh. If my dad had a heart attack I would kind of like a way of getting home.

I have an elderly father and MIL living in an EU country. Have not seen them for over a year now. Have tickets for August( moved from last year) and still hopeful to be able to go. Feel for everyone in similar situation, it is so hard and depressing!

That's me. Last saw my parents 29th December 2019. My Mum is 89 and my Dad does pretty much everything for her so we try to give him a really decent break when they visit.
They are in a country where the figures are not so bad as here in London and my Mum didn't want to risk me coming to them in the summer.
They don't do technology so I really haven't 'seen' them in 14 months.
I'm not sure whether I am most worried about never seeing my Mum alive again or my much younger Dad dropping dead from the effort of it all. I miss them so much.

Here too. We live in Germany, our family are in the UK. MIL is getting very good at video calls now.

We haven't been home since September 2019 and nobody has been able to visit us. I'm pregnant and we have a toddler and it's just crap they are missing everything :( Hoping that we can get home this summer.

My family is a long haul flight away. We have tickets to visit this Christmas which I'm hoping will go ahead since it's ten months from now. By the time I see them, it will have been 2.5 years since our last visit. My DC have changed so much in that time. My eldest is a proper teenager now and has already grown 6 inches since my DM last saw him. She won't recognise her dgc!

@BertieBotts

Here too. We live in Germany, our family are in the UK. MIL is getting very good at video calls now.

We haven't been home since September 2019 and nobody has been able to visit us. I'm pregnant and we have a toddler and it's just crap they are missing everything :( Hoping that we can get home this summer.

Ah that's hard. I got pregnant this time last year so I told my family on zoom I was pregnant, and when through it all without them. It was very hard. It was back at the time when we were told it would be done by christmas. It was hard taking blow after blow, realising they wouldnt be able to get to know her. You have my sympathy 🧡

My parents are both dead and my brother lives in Australia. I am very thankful I saw him Christmas 2019 as who knows when we will again

Hi my family are in Aus

It feels fairly impossible atm not sure when quarantine will lift

Checking in, I have not seen my parents, siblings, nephews and nieces for over a year now. The vaccine rollout there is painfully slow and I am thinking that I will probably be vaccinated by the time my parents are at this rate. My worst fear is that they are getting older and that something may happen to one of them before I get to visit them. It is really, really tough.

Oh what a lovely thread ❤️❤️

I haven’t seen my fiancé for over 6 months, he’s in a country that will allow me in but I can’t bloody leave the UK 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I will eventually just head to the airport and see if they let me board...claim my travel is essential as a PP said.

I really wish that the govt would consider relaxing travel abroad for those with partners/family - I don’t see why a flat ban is needed when the self-isolation/amount of tests required will put 95% of people off anyway 😥😥

I haven't seen my siblings or parents since November 2019. My kids haven't seen them since Christmas 2018.

They are in the UK, I'm the one who lives away. I wish I had been to see them before this all kicked off last spring....but I was planning on going with the kids for a proper visit Easter 2019. My dad is in the early stages of dementia and I'm so sad to be missing seeing him while he is still relatively well.

My parents were on their way over here March 2019 and got turned around mid journey

Seems crazy to think back

bertie what's the latest over there i.e. Germany isn't on the quarantine list for UK airports here so what is stopping you coming over here, apart from higher R numbers compared with Germany or is it having to quarantine when you get back/potentially getting stuck here?

Immediate family are abroad in a country that I doubt I'll be able to get to for a while. We will try and meet in a third country - maybe next year. I realised this was likely to be on the cards from last Sept so I've got used to the idea of it now. But don't like it!

I'm sorry for all of you in a similar situation.

Checking in - hello! All mine and DHs family are abroad, it was Christmas 2019 when we last saw them. We have a 3 year old who will have changed so much and will have a new baby in the summer, goodness knows when they will get to see him or her. Luckily some of the family are good with technology and we speak 2/3 times a week but it's not the same. It's rubbish 😭

You've just reminded me to keep an eye on Delores Cahill's Freedom Airways ... anyway that our family can meet will be considered! www.freedomairway.com

My partner is in a different country, not a big deal to me. I can manage on my account end, but he’s missing out on his 2 year old growing up.