Feeling totally forgotten in Wales

[PutTheCakeDOWN]

I’m fed up now. No, actually I was fed up before Christmas. I’m not sure what I am now.

I’m very angry at the Welsh government. I feel like this is all pathetic political point scoring. We need a plan - rates are low, the most vulnerable have been vaccinated, and still no one knows what on earth is happening or when we will be released from house arrest. My kids need to be back at school. I need to be able to have time to work and breathe. We need to see family.

I also incredibly frustrated with it all I could scream. The wet lettuces in government talking about caution and data make me want to throw things at the radio.

Having a down day with it all. It’s gone too far now, we need to be given a plan out of this - like England have!

I have a newborn. I live too far from my friends to meet them for exercise. I'm not allowed a support bubble, and have you seen the judgy tone of the WG advice on supporting new parents? (Though I have seen my mum under that criteria.) I just want some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel now, and at least England have that.

We do though - he's already said that the stay at home is going to be reviewed in 3 weeks - I know that England have had a road map but honestly how many road maps have we had now throughout the 4 nations and j don't think we've stuck to any yet.

I know it's properly crap but I can't see we are behind England tbh - they aren't going to get stuff a whole lot sooner than us.

He's just taken a more cautious communication approach.

I think England’s route map is helpful (too cautious IMO) but at least we can get the kids back to school. And there’s intention to open up things from a certain date here if conditions are met. Despite the gloom and doom I think things will open up when they have planned. It’s four months until June. We’ll be in such a better situation and people need to know that the most likely scenario is restrictions will be over by then. If that changed then so be it. But there’s a lot of hope and pray optimism.

I feel for you. The uncertainty must be awful.

I think the Welsh government have mostly got it right. I think the English road map has been taken as all these things will happen on those dates. People expect everything back to normal by summer. I'm not so convinced. Mostly normal yes but not everything.

I am slightly miffed though that my year 7, who's had one term at high school will be one of the last to go back. We have an online parents evening coming up and it is going to be so odd. He's got mild learning issues and the teachers have barely got to understand him. It's a big jump from primary to secondary and when you need a little extra support but aren't getting it due to the pandemic it just seems rubbish. I'm worried how behind he's going to get when he already was behind.

I agree with pinkaredcow. I'd hate to be in England (I used to be and am really glad I moved). Johnson tends to U turn on a lot and this pathway out will be similar in our case anyway. English schools haven't gone back. We have started sending our kids back. My school age one is B1 so went back Wednesday after teacher's had prep days. The school is gradually increasing the number of years going in. There's no point sending everyone back at once and finding they have to close again.

The only really frustrating thing is that our local GP is still closed (since original March lockdown) and it can be a 4 hour round trip (for anyone without a car) to the nearest GP. As Wales annoyingly expects paperwork to even request your own blood results, it is a silly trek to be expected to go on. Many of our Taxis don't count the GP surgery we are now supposed to use (not in our village) as 'local'/'in the area' so won't drive there and the bus route involves changes and takes at least an hour and a half each way. For anyone who's sick, those journeys are silly and for anyone who needs paperwork it's ridiculously time consuming! Equally, it's put people off going to the GP which means extra stress higher up the medical care chain because problems escalate.

Lupin - have you spoken to your daughter's school about how much she is struggling? I know of other kids who have been found a place in school for similar reasons (even part-time would help). It is a bit more complicated with DS, as he is not terribly happy in school either, but it does help provide a much needed structure to his life. I think the social isolation is worse for many neurotypical kids, DS is quite self contained and will read books for hours. Lack of exercise is more of an issue for autistic/dyspraxic/bouncy kids like mine as well as lack of structure and change of course is difficult.

I do take the odd drive for exercise for reasons of safety and sanity but there has been a fair amount of car park closures and police patrolling the open ones. I agree with a short car trip being a 'reasonable adjustment' for disability but WG have been pretty cagey on this subject, citing 'a wheelchair user driving a short distance to use a park' as a reasonable excuse. So finding somewhere to park can be difficult!! Also have to be prepared for 'judgy looks' and we have also been challenged by people as to why we are 'breaking the rules'. I really don't want for people to be ill as a result of my actions, but can't see how exercising a child (on our own!) would be likely to cause that!

I'm not anti Welsh Government. I was anti Drakeford at the beginning, but he has grown on me - prefer him and his policies to Johnson any day! I'm amused, however, that WG felt a need to re-ban picnics in December (surely not a major problem in December!) after the whole Vaughan Gething Chipgate episode: 'oh, did you think we'd banned picnics, we never banned picnics'. Do they think we've forgotten???!!! I haven't.

I think there is reason for optimism. If the vaccine is half as good as they say it is, it should make a big difference, the future has got to be brighter.

Personally dreading the summer tourist season - last year was the worst I've ever known it (though great if you are in the trade). Locals here tend to lie low during school holidays.... it is like our own personal summer lockdown, especially as DS struggles with crowds and busy places!!

@Frazzled2207 I am going to drive my DD to quiet spots in the next village, for her to walk with a friend. She just can’t go on like this.

@landofgiants .......unfortunately my DD isn’t allowed a school place as she is 17. She’s treated as an adult but she’s not NT and the lockdowns have really highlighted quite how much she is struggling. We’ve always known she was very keen on routine and struggled a bit with friends but her diagnosis is recent and now we know, it explains a lot. I unfortunately think she’s going to have to drop out of her A Levels as she has fallen so behind. School making all the right noises but actually doing nothing to help at all. Private school by the way; suspect that because she’s not their run of the mill confident, outgoing scholar that they’re struggling with her. But that’s a whole other thread! Main thing is, she’d probably be managing in school, as she clearly has done for years, which is why I’m so fed up!

I am not in Wales so am looking in from the outside.

What I have been struck with is the great difference in infection rates across the Principality. It seems to me that certainly where schools opening is concerned, there could be a different approach depending on the area.

Lupin - Sorry, I assumed your daughter was (a) younger and (b) NT, but you are totally doing the right thing to support a few meet ups with a friend. Pandemic restrictions are hard on young people, teens as well as younger kids and socialising an important part of development. I remember being her age, and oh how I hated A-levels. Tell her from me it gets better!

Peak2021 - I agree, to an extent. The problem in my area (now high), is that our 'peaks' seem to lag behind the rest of the country. However our schools seem to be closed with all the others when the rates are low (this time we actually closed earlier than most places) and then remain shut longer. Councils need to either not be allowed to make these decisions, or be made to state their decision making criteria in advance!!

You’re doing the right thing for her @Lupinhere37 💐
Hope she enjoys it.