If they open up schools all at once, I'm done with every other precaution

[BettyBoomerang]

If the 'leak' is true and they are stupid enough to open up all schools to all kids at the same time (thus leading to uncontrolled transmission of variants and increased risk of vaccine escape, further lockdowns and a redo of the vaccination programme) then I'm done with any kind of compliance.

I'm not staying at home like a fucking stupid sitting duck, waiting for my kids to come home with Covid anymore. The kids can see their friends, have sleepovers and we'll go out and about and visit friends and relatives and do the maximum we can.

You can pile in and call me selfish or whatever - I genuinely don't care anymore. I'm not putting my life on hold just for the government to fuck the recovery up again. I'm the most compliant of pretty much everyone I know but this is it for me, and many others I suspect (most of whom are already doing way more than me). If it's safe for my kids to go to school, then everything is safe.

Do you believe me when I tell you school isn't the right place for my child?

Sure. Homeschooling is an option. Always was. Take it if it works better for you.

I’m not sure what that has to do with the large numbers of children who are suffering because they aren’t at school.

What can possibly go wrong

I’m not sure what that has to do with the large numbers of children who are suffering because theyaren’tat school.

But of course they are, because there is literally nothing else to do. Everything is closed. They can't see friends outside school, they can't see family, they can't go on day trips or holidays.

There are plenty of children who would actually hugely benefit from homeschooling. Homeschooling during a pandemic is not the same thing.

People talk as though children's mental health was excellent prior to this. It wasn't. It was a fucking shambles and school was a major part of the reason why.

I personally find it extremely convenient that the most pressing issue to children's mental health just happens to be the thing that is also most convenient for parents.

Absolutely not saying everyone should homeschool. Plenty don't have the privilege to be able to for a start, I totally recognise that. But I think it is massively disingenuous to pretend that most children were delightfully happy at school and there are only a few outliers who weren't.

Scary how the parents of the next generation think...or rather dont think. But then they teach litter dropping, sitting outside in SUVs with engines running and other life skills.

But I think it is massively disingenuous to pretend that most children were delightfully happy at school and there are only a few outliers who weren't.

I know my child is happiest at school. And that’s my priority. 🤷‍♀️

As I say, homeschooling has always been an option. Knock yourself out.

Neither you nor I have the right to tell others how to school their children.

Eh? One of the reasons they say that schools can be open is because of all the other restrictions in place reducing overall risk of transmission.

It's genuinely baffling how so few people grasp this very simple concept.

@Mythymist

I’m not sure what that has to do with the large numbers of children who are suffering because theyaren’tat school.

But of course they are, because there is literally nothing else to do. Everything is closed. They can't see friends outside school, they can't see family, they can't go on day trips or holidays.

There are plenty of children who would actually hugely benefit from homeschooling. Homeschooling during a pandemic is not the same thing.

People talk as though children's mental health was excellent prior to this. It wasn't. It was a fucking shambles and school was a major part of the reason why.

I personally find it extremely convenient that the most pressing issue to children's mental health just happens to be the thing that is also most convenient for parents.

Absolutely not saying everyone should homeschool. Plenty don't have the privilege to be able to for a start, I totally recognise that. But I think it is massively disingenuous to pretend that most children were delightfully happy at school and there are only a few outliers who weren't.

Dc here are very happy at school. You can as you say rightly concentrate on your own dc.

No need to guess about other families with a dig about convenience.

What do you plan on doing?

Sitting outside the local with a can of beer?

Breaking into a clothing shop?

Sure you can go round peoples houses but then they'd have to be happy to receive you and how would you feel if someone caught covid from you and died?

I'm genuinely mystified. I see so many of these posts "I've had enough I'm going to do what I like!" surely it's this attitude which has resulted in us being locked down for what feels like 10 years and why other countries are so much better off than us?

Have some sense. A couple of people going to sit in another's garden - fine, ok, this is probably minimal risk. Going to a party with 20 others is pure selfish twattery.

My dad recently passed due to basically drinking himself to death after Covid exacerbated his existing mental health problems. Believe me, I get it. But for the love of God can't people just hang on a few more months?

I understand the OP’s point of view.

If the governments not being careful it sends a message and clearly people are hearing it.

If the governments not being careful - why should we?

If the government has decided not to care about the R number - why should we?

If the government decided not to care about infections and high transmission creating new variants because they think deaths and hospitalisations won’t be as bad while we have vaccines that work - why should we?

People talk as though children's mental health was excellent prior to this. It wasn't. It was a fucking shambles and school was a major part of the reason why.

you are projecting. No one is pretending that every single child is a perfect fit in every single school. There are some shit schools and some bad teachers, unfortunately.

But I think it is massively disingenuous to pretend that most children were delightfully happy at school and there are only a few outliers who weren't.

In some schools it's true.

Maybe the one who was miserable has been removed by their parents to be homeschooled, but there are schools were kids are having a blast.

Have you ever bother to volunteer and have a pick of the dynamic of a class for 1 hour or more on a regular basis?

Schools need to reopen urgently. If they really aren't suitable, you are free to homeschool, you don't get to penalise everybody else.

Believe me, I get it. But for the love of God can't people just hang on a few more months?

Apparently not.

@Mythymist

I’m not sure what that has to do with the large numbers of children who are suffering because theyaren’tat school.

But of course they are, because there is literally nothing else to do. Everything is closed. They can't see friends outside school, they can't see family, they can't go on day trips or holidays.

There are plenty of children who would actually hugely benefit from homeschooling. Homeschooling during a pandemic is not the same thing.

People talk as though children's mental health was excellent prior to this. It wasn't. It was a fucking shambles and school was a major part of the reason why.

I personally find it extremely convenient that the most pressing issue to children's mental health just happens to be the thing that is also most convenient for parents.

Absolutely not saying everyone should homeschool. Plenty don't have the privilege to be able to for a start, I totally recognise that. But I think it is massively disingenuous to pretend that most children were delightfully happy at school and there are only a few outliers who weren't.

Eugh I wondered when the bs implication that children are in school for child care would rear its head. Zoos farms museums, play dates alll banned! School is a learning and social environment and kids need both ASAP! Feel free to home school going toward

No need to guess about other families with a dig about convenience.

These are conversations that need to happen. Children's mental health has been at breaking point for years. There will be a number of reasons why. Schools (or more pertinently, the current education system) were a contributing factor, among many others.

When there are parents of five year olds despairing their children are "falling behind" there is something seriously wrong.

The social aspect of school is another conversation, but again I think that hugely ignores all the negative aspects that come from that too.

@Mythymist

Believe me, I get it. But for the love of God can't people just hang on a few more months?

Apparently not.

People don’t believe it will a be a few months- remember when kids were off last March for 6 wks just to flatten the curve...how did that pan out?!

@PrincessNutNuts

I understand the OP’s point of view.

If the governments not being careful it sends a message and clearly people are hearing it.

If the governments not being careful - why should we?

If the government has decided not to care about the R number - why should we?

If the government decided not to care about infections and high transmission creating new variants because they think deaths and hospitalisations won’t be as bad while we have vaccines that work - why should we?

This massive misunderstanding of what’s happier part of the problem

The gov is being careful, to a point. They’ve decided the most important first step is schools so are doing that on the 8th. They know it’s risky, so they’re doing that and nothing else.

They’ve not thrown caution to the wind, not stopped caring about R numbers. They’ve taken step 1 (a big one) and that’s why holding the line on every else is vital at the moment

Do you understand that?

People don’t believe it will a be a few months- remember when kids were off last March for 6 wks just to flatten the curve...how did that pan out?!

Anyone who had actually read the news and information properly knew perfectly well it was not going to be 6 weeks.

Most epidemiologists have been saying right from the start we are talking 2-5 years to see this thing off properly.

That doesn't mean we'll be in lockdown for that length of time, before anyone jumps on me.

@Mythymist

No need to guess about other families with a dig about convenience.

These are conversations that need to happen. Children's mental health has been at breaking point for years. There will be a number of reasons why. Schools (or more pertinently, the current education system) were a contributing factor, among many others.

When there are parents of five year olds despairing their children are "falling behind" there is something seriously wrong.

The social aspect of school is another conversation, but again I think that hugely ignores all the negative aspects that come from that too.

If you want to homeschool because your child suffered in school. Great no one will stop you (or care much)

Other parents may make the same decision.

Let them be in control of decision.

Happier = happening is

Zoos farms museums, play dates alll banned! School is a learning and social environment and kids need both ASAP!

I literally covered that point, did you not read my post?

I never said schools weren't childcare. I don't have so simplistic a viewpoint!

@PrincessNutNuts

I understand the OP’s point of view.

If the governments not being careful it sends a message and clearly people are hearing it.

If the governments not being careful - why should we?

If the government has decided not to care about the R number - why should we?

If the government decided not to care about infections and high transmission creating new variants because they think deaths and hospitalisations won’t be as bad while we have vaccines that work - why should we?

This is not what is happening

The plan is very cautious

Each stage is weeks apart with four tests to be satisfied

I know there are some who want lock down longer but this is a cautious way out

@BillMasen - yeah, we all understand it. Will await govt announcement and hope that they really will err on side of caution and be prepared to act quickly if they need to change course. They've failed to do either until now, but tomorrow is another day, I suppose.

In March last year when we were told 6 weeks, coronavirus was new, we knew nothing about it, there was no vaccine.

Now there is a vaccine and treatments are improving. I really think that it everyone plays the game we could be so much better off by summer. But if everyone just stops following lockdown immediately cases will shoot up again, leading to more lockdown and more mutation risks. We're so close to the finish line now.

@Mythymist

Zoos farms museums, play dates alll banned! School is a learning and social environment and kids need both ASAP!

I literally covered that point, did you not read my post?

I never said schools weren't childcare. I don't have so simplistic a viewpoint!

This comment specifically “I personally find it extremely convenient that the most pressing issue to children's mental health just happens to be the thing that is also most convenient for parents” Crap!!

but again I think that hugely ignores all the negative aspects that come from that too.

Sounds like a lot of projection based on your own circumstances. But as everyone has said, you can control your own child’s experience. Not others.