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Original poster

Making friends take a test

76 replies

PeacheyPeach · 03/08/2021 23:43

We are due to go away in a few weeks. Dteens haven't seen their friends since end of school due to one thing or another so really want to meet up before we go away. Would it be unreasonable for me to suggest that they all take tests before meeting up as I don't want to run the risk of catching covid or we end.up having to isolate and miss out on our holiday!?

OP posts:
JustLoveYourselfALittle · 03/08/2021 23:44

Very unreasonable!

PieceOfString · 03/08/2021 23:47

Perfectly reasonable. I've done that for two friends so far. I've lives with vulnerable elderly family so wanted to minimise risk and the other is self employed and couldn't afford to catch it and need to isolate so wanted to minimise risk also. I was happy to do that and why not, the test is free.

Caffeinemonster · 03/08/2021 23:48

@JustLoveYourselfALittle

Very unreasonable!
Why?
JustLoveYourselfALittle · 03/08/2021 23:50

You cannot expect to dictate /ask for other people's dcs to take tests.

If anyone asked my teen just so they could socialise then I'd tell them to swing.
They need normality.
It was bad enough them having to do it at school which in Sept ds won't be either

JustLoveYourselfALittle · 03/08/2021 23:52

Just like last half term the 3 schools I'm involved in all had significant drops in lft take ups.

flightofthewilderbeast · 03/08/2021 23:52

Do it. We are flying on Saturday to see my family who live overseas, teen DD had 3 friends over for a sleepover last night and I asked the parents/ kids to do a lateral flow before coming, I explained why & no one had a problem with it.

supersonicginandtonic · 03/08/2021 23:53

I'd tell you to p*as off and stop being so stupidly paranoid. Maybe get some help with your anxiety too.
We're learning to live with the virus now, let the kids live a life again. we're on holiday now, would never have dreamed in a million years of asking my kids friends to take a test.

Caffeinemonster · 03/08/2021 23:57

So you’re one of those people @JustLoveYourselfALittle.

OP here on planet normal most people are pretty reasonable and would feel terrible if they or their kids ruined your holiday by giving your kids covid when taking a simple and straight forward test could have prevented it.

WinoAnon · 04/08/2021 00:02

I would have a 'the worlds gone mad' moment but ultimately understand the reasoning behind it and would 100% agree for my child to rest before meeting your dc.

However I think if I was in your position I would just say they can't meet up - I'd feel too cheeky unless I knew the parents really well.

WouldBeGood · 04/08/2021 00:06

Very unreasonable.

exexpat · 04/08/2021 00:13

YANBU. I would also suggest only meeting outdoors.

DD is 18 and is nearly out of her third bout of quarantine/isolation so far this summer - this one was because one friend turned up to a gathering after going to a club a few days earlier and already feeling a bit off, then tested positive the next day, so all her friends got contacted by track and trace and had to miss out on everything they had planned for the next ten days.

DD and friends have now all agreed to do LFTs before meeting up for the rest of the summer, meet outside as much as they can, and they are all avoiding pubs, clubs and gigs. It just seems sensible to all of them - no one wants their summer plans ruined any more than they have been already. (not my suggestion or rules, by the way - this is what all the 18-year-olds have come up with and agreed on)

WouldBeGood · 04/08/2021 00:15

Depressing af. What are we doing to young people?

Stripyhoglets1 · 04/08/2021 00:15

Totally reasonable. Holiday disaster averted for several families tonight when kids did LFs before a planned sleepover and a positive was picked up. No symptoms. Would have meant a family isolating rather than going on holiday if sleepover had gone ahead with no one testing.
Not wanting to be stuck isolating instead of holidaying is a good enough reason to ask at the moment imo.

LegArmpits · 04/08/2021 00:21

Absolutely not.

Caffeinemonster · 04/08/2021 00:23

@WouldBeGood

Depressing af. What are we doing to young people?
Most people are just trying to prevent them missing out on holidays and other plans for the summer. What’s depressing about that?
BeenThruMoreThanALilBit · 04/08/2021 00:28

Totally reasonable. If they get a negative result, great. If positive, best to know before you get to the airport no?

All this guff about children needing a normal life, paranoia blah blah. What’s the actual problem with taking a test to make sure a communicable disease that can put holiday plans at risk isn’t present? What dreadful outcome do you think your children might suffer if asked to take a test?

grapewine · 04/08/2021 00:34

@BeenThruMoreThanALilBit

Totally reasonable. If they get a negative result, great. If positive, best to know before you get to the airport no?

All this guff about children needing a normal life, paranoia blah blah. What’s the actual problem with taking a test to make sure a communicable disease that can put holiday plans at risk isn’t present? What dreadful outcome do you think your children might suffer if asked to take a test?

Totally agree. I don't see the issue.
PieceOfString · 04/08/2021 07:47

It takes five minutes if that, it's not a drama and might save your holiday plans because catching the virus would put a spoke in the works for that. This can be true at the same time as the virus is here to stay and no need to lie awake at night fretting with anxiety.

unicornpower · 04/08/2021 07:53

I think its fine? Its my baby shower soon and everyone is doing a test before coming as it just makes sense. I don't see the issue about taking a test at all and I would be happy to take one/get my children to take one! Better you know now before ruining your holiday plans x

bigbluebus · 04/08/2021 08:04

@WouldBeGood

Depressing af. What are we doing to young people?
Hopefully teaching them to grow up into responsible adults and to consider other people not just themselves. We have asked friends(and others have asked us) to test for a whole host of reasons. We had a weekend away with friends which was a week before our holiday. We ALL did LFTs before the weekend to protect each other and our holiday. No one minded. We have had to do tests for music events - outdoors (and not ones in a pilot either). We are going to a festival next week. We need to test to get on the campsite on day 1 and every day to get on the Festival site. It is just part of life for now - I'm sure the teens will be fine with it unless they've got drama llama parents like some on here. In your position I would ask them to fo it and explain why. If they don't want to do it then they miss out on the meetup. Even meeting outdoors, teenagers seem to be all over each other. I've yet to witness a group of teens sitting 2 metres apart in a park!
5475878237NC · 04/08/2021 08:08

In my circle this is totally accepted as the norm now yes.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/08/2021 08:10

Totally reasonable, all ds's mates test regularly anyway,they're all used to it now.

ifonly4 · 04/08/2021 08:11

You can't make them.

A compromise would be meeting outside. I know there's still a risk, but it'll certainly be reduced that way.

whatswithtodaytoday · 04/08/2021 08:12

Completely reasonable, in my circle of friends we're all doing LFTs before meeting up. We have pre-schoolers/primary age kids so not testing them, but absolutely would with teenagers. It's not exactly a hardship is it?

'learning to live with the virus' is surely about mitigating risk of infection until rates are lower, not going straight back to 2019 and telling everyone who is still cautious that they need to see someone about their anxiety.

Apeirogon · 04/08/2021 08:13

I think it would be ok to ask. At the end of the day you won't know if their friends actually bothered to take a test or just said they did, but if it makes you feel better, why not.

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