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.

The vaccines minister has been on the tv this morning saying they’ve chosen 8th March for schools being back based on it being three weeks after the date in April that they expect to have all the over 50s vaccinated by.

I mean, it’s no skin off my nose as I’m in Wales and DS4 goes back to school on Wednesday, but I much prefer the cautious, staged approach that Wales is taking, than the wham bam thank you mam approach that a government that allows the vaccines minister live on tv talking about something as important as this without checking he can follow a calendar is taking.

OnlyFoolsnMothers

I know which comment you are referring to, and it wasn't saying what you think it was.

My point was now that this particular thing inconveniences parents (which it does, I'm not arguing with that!) suddenly children's mental health is a major pressing issue.

@gerbilfur

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?

Is your understanding of what people are missing seriously limited to... sitting outside locals and breaking into clothing shops?

What happened to your conception of reality that you believe this is what you think people are actually doing to break lockdown?

People are going into each others homes to socialise and be close to their loved ones. Thatis, and always has been, the most detrimental restriction to people's wellbeing in all this, while being been the most underplayed, and is also the easiest rule to break.

This is what happens when you try to police basic human nature. People will rebel and decide that enough is enough. As for "a few more months" - people have been saying "only a few weeks / months!", and it's nearly been an entire year now. People have had enough.

Mystification over.

suddenly children's mental health is a major pressing issue.

and I completely disagree with your "suddenly".

Children's mental health has always been the priority for most parents, and for (hopefully) most schools!

@Mythymist

OnlyFoolsnMothers

I know which comment you are referring to, and it wasn't saying what you think it was.

My point was now that this particular thing inconveniences parents (which it does, I'm not arguing with that!) suddenly children's mental health is a major pressing issue.

Completely disagree that the majority of parents want childcare. I think it’s rare for primary school children to struggle being happy at school, of course some do but those parents can seek comfort for their child outside of school. I don’t think we have ever tested children’s mental health like this before and those screaming for schools for open are doing so for their child.

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?

The Government is being careful by ONLY opening schools on 8th March. Schools are the highest priority, don't you agree?

If the Government opened up ALL sectors of society at once, that would be sending a different message!

Personally I am happy to sacrifice coffee with friends and a haircut for a few more weeks in return for the benefit of allowing schools to reopen.

@Mythymist

OnlyFoolsnMothers

I know which comment you are referring to, and it wasn't saying what you think it was.

My point was now that this particular thing inconveniences parents (which it does, I'm not arguing with that!) suddenly children's mental health is a major pressing issue.

No parents generally always care about their child’s mental health. Of course they do.

@Downriver

It is not safe. It is shit. My child is upset because school is just horrible in this semi SD state, so many rules and no sociability.. He is crying his eyes out about going back. Shitshow.

Why not keep homeschooling then ?

@faerin and I suppose the risk of giving these loved ones you miss so much a potentially deadly infection is just not important at all?

I miss everything terribly of course I do but for me the fear of giving my loved ones this disease outweighs my selfish need to be with them.

Maybe I'm unusual.

Children's mental health has always been the priority for most parents, and for (hopefully) most schools!

OK, so why has it been in such a state for years then?

I don’t think we have ever tested children’s mental health like this before

Children's mental health services have been at breaking point for years, long before covid pushed them past it.

This is one of the most batshit threads I've read on here

As it is schools will and should reopen, and given the success of the vaccine and the fact that covid in most cases is no more than a mild illness this should be the first step back in regaining a functioning society. I just hope that all year groups go back.

The vaccines minister has said this morning that they feel 8th March is safe to go back because it’s three weeks after vaccinating all over 50s by mid April.

Someone, somewhere has fucked up. Either -

• all over 50s should already be vaccinated ready for 8th March

Or

• It should be safe for all children to go back to school on 8th May after all over 50s vaccinated by mid April.

Or, my favourite version, that the U.K. government don’t have a clue or give a shit and have just left the vaccines minister to come up with his own reasons and he fucked himself over by getting his months mixed up.

None of the above paint them in the best light.

@BettyBoomerang

Thank you *@MrsHamlet* I think this is just how Mumsnet goes but I do appreciate the support.

I'm literally just saying 'I'll do what everyone did last time'. Yes my 'everyone' is anecdotal and I'm sure there are people who've been as careful as me who will carry on being careful, but I genuinely have hit a wall of sudden realisation. What's the point? I have several kids in several classes, who will encounter around 100 others a day. There's little point in me sitting home like a goody two shoes anymore. Besides, the government must know how much mixing goes on when schools are open so I'm sure they've factored it in. (Maybe!)

@BettyBoomerang of course there is a point.

You're reducing community transmission.

It adds up.

And those of us who follow rules to the best of our ability are not "goody two shoes". I see myself as a mature person who tries to be community minded as much as possible. Very different way to frame it than "goody two shoes"

@AlohaMolly it's really difficult to think what he was actually planning to say! He obviously didn't think

There is no end to the madness, is there?

@BettyBoomerang is worried about transmission due to schools opening. so in protest, she is going to see more people and create even more opportunity for transmission. Brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think this is actually a reverse or something. Or maybe OP knows we all need a laugh.

It is a weird analogy though. It's like saying I'm having a full English for breakfast with lashings of toast and butter and because that started the day I'm going forward with Steak and Chips and cheesecake for lunch topped off with fish and chips and ice cream and doughnuts for dinner. Most sensible people would see that starting the day on a high calorie note needs some moderation for the rest of the day and vice versa.

What gets me is that there are plenty of people without children (me included) who recognise that children need to go back to school for their own good and that of society. Therefore, to enable this very large group to mingle again IN SCHOOL the rest of society need to continue to do things very slowly to mitigate the risks going forward.
By your assumptions I could turn round and say well if children are going back to school that entitles me to see all my friends again how and where I want. No it does not. Yes I realise that you are angry that they are not phasing the school attendance in, so am I, but equally well there would be many others furious if it was all being phased in slowly. There are a considerable amount of people who want their children returning to school full stop.

But I am very tired of hearing about those that are "done" with it all. We all are actually but some are carrying the load for the others who refuse to comply with the restrictions that are being asked of us all.

@friendlycat

It is a weird analogy though. It's like saying I'm having a full English for breakfast with lashings of toast and butter and because that started the day I'm going forward with Steak and Chips and cheesecake for lunch topped off with fish and chips and ice cream and doughnuts for dinner. Most sensible people would see that starting the day on a high calorie note needs some moderation for the rest of the day and vice versa.

What gets me is that there are plenty of people without children (me included) who recognise that children need to go back to school for their own good and that of society. Therefore, to enable this very large group to mingle again IN SCHOOL the rest of society need to continue to do things very slowly to mitigate the risks going forward.
By your assumptions I could turn round and say well if children are going back to school that entitles me to see all my friends again how and where I want. No it does not. Yes I realise that you are angry that they are not phasing the school attendance in, so am I, but equally well there would be many others furious if it was all being phased in slowly. There are a considerable amount of people who want their children returning to school full stop.

But I am very tired of hearing about those that are "done" with it all. We all are actually but some are carrying the load for the others who refuse to comply with the restrictions that are being asked of us all.

Exactly my thoughts.

@gerbilfur

Most of my family have already had it, and, like the vast majority of the population, experienced very mild illness for a short time.

People are scared shitless of covid and think they will die, or kill others en masse. Sure, it IS absolutely more dangerous than the flu, but unless you're over a certain age, not overweight/obese, in reasonable health, your risk is very minimal.

And also, I guess I'm just bloody tired of sacrificing so much of my time, life, financial security, mental health and being held THIS responsible for the health of people much older and much fatter than me for nearly a year.

It doesn't cost nothing to me to do all this "staying home" and not being close to my own loved ones, and really once the whole "selfish" shit started getting popular to say to people who have had enough, then I decided these people demanding so much sacrifice from other people can go fuck themselves.

@Adventurecake

There is no end to the madness, is there?

@BettyBoomerang is worried about transmission due to schools opening. so in protest, she is going to see more people and create even more opportunity for transmission. Brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think this is actually a reverse or something. Or maybe OP knows we all need a laugh.

Exactly. Posts like this make me both sad and mad. I have Primary ages DCs and I'm an NHS clinician working with people with long covid. I haven't seen any of my extended family inside for a year. I don't get how people don't understand that it's a pay off. We keep distancing so schools can go back. Yes rates will rise, of course they will. But if we just throw in the towel completely now then we'll be back to square one. Is that really what people want?

If I can't open my shop where only 2 people are allowed in at once next month, I won't be complying. I will be out and about, going to supermarkets, meeting friends and family. I thought this was about saving the NHS? The vulnerable groups are vaccinated. Poorer countries who are nowhere near us in terms of vaccinating have their businesses open and are running with no issues. As always, we have to be ott. The flu season is coming to an end, 1/3 of our population is already vaccinated and they are shifting goalposts wtf?? What's the point of vaccinating when people are sitting at home and no normality on the horizon. I've lost so much confidence in our gov and my life from now on will be looking at ways of moving out of this corrupted country. I'm so so angry with everything they have done in the past year so angry.

[quote faerin]@gerbilfur

Most of my family have already had it, and, like the vast majority of the population, experienced very mild illness for a short time.

People are scared shitless of covid and think they will die, or kill others en masse. Sure, it IS absolutely more dangerous than the flu, but unless you're over a certain age, not overweight/obese, in reasonable health, your risk is very minimal.

And also, I guess I'm just bloody tired of sacrificing so much of my time, life, financial security, mental health and being held THIS responsible for the health of people much older and much fatter than me for nearly a year.

It doesn't cost nothing to me to do all this "staying home" and not being close to my own loved ones, and really once the whole "selfish" shit started getting popular to say to people who have had enough, then I decided these people demanding so much sacrifice from other people can go fuck themselves.[/quote]
100% THIS

Love all the toys being thrown out the pram - hilarious !

I mean this with the greatest respect, but if you are aware that being overweight makes you more vulnerable, then are you taking steps to reduce this vulnerability? Or are you just sitting at home waiting for a vaccine.

I am aware that there are mental/medical reasons why you might be overweight - but i am also aware that a lot of people are overweight is simply because they eat too much of the wrong thing and don't move enough.

Rather than sit about and fret about the possibility of being poorly, get up and start exercising!!!!!!!!

And you should be aiming to lose weight to prevent many more illnesses then just CV.

I don't get how people don't understand that it's a pay off. We keep distancing so schools can go back. Yes rates will rise, of course they will. But if we just throw in the towel completely now then we'll be back to square one. Is that really what people want?

I agree. And I'm surprised that a few posters (thankfully the minority) still don't seem to understand this..?!

And if rates do rise and non essential shops and cafes can't open for a while longer, hopefully they won't blame schools alone!