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Original poster

Parents want me to do and kids to do covid test before visiting

550 replies

Needarest22 · 22/12/2022 12:51

AIBU for being a bit put out by this?
My brother is also visiting and he's really cautious about covid so it could be driven by him. There is no talk of them doing one.
AIBU to be a bit miffed?

OP posts:
Abcdefu · 22/12/2022 23:03

I would take the test,few minutes to give peace of mind

RaininSummer · 22/12/2022 23:28

My mum wont let us in the house without a test either.

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 05:13

YABU.

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 05:13

MelchiorsMistress · 22/12/2022 12:59

Just tell them you’ve done it and it was fine.

Incredibly selfish.

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 05:14

poefaced · 22/12/2022 12:59

They are hypocrites because they are refusing to do one themselves to protect you.

Just lie and say you tested and you were all negative.

And ask them to confirm they are negative too.

Who said they refused? The OP just said they hadn't mentioned it.

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 05:21

poefaced · 22/12/2022 13:31

Are they willing to pay for the box of tests?

Good God, I've heard it all now.

Some truly mean-spirited people on here.

notsorich · 23/12/2022 05:27

Your parents are older than you (so are higher risk for a bad reaction to Covid). You say they have health anxiety - I'm not sure if you mean actual health anxiety (a diagnosed mental health condition) or you're making a dig, but either way, you are aware that they are worriers. Why wouldn't you want to reassure them for their peace of mind?

They don't go out much by your own admission, so of course they're less likely to have caught Covid than someone with children. Everyone knows that children pick up every bug under the sun and bring it home - it's especially bad when they go to nursery or school. It's not a criticism of your family; it's a risk-based assessment of who is more likely to come into contact with a virus!

TBH, I thought it was standard to test for Covid before staying with older relatives. If you like family enough to visit, you should like them enough to not knowingly give them Covid...

dolor · 23/12/2022 05:32

You're definitely being unreasonable. Don't be so selfish.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/12/2022 06:31

How sad that someone won't do a simple Covid test to put their parents minds at ease. It's really a sign of selfish people.

xmaslurgy · 23/12/2022 06:33

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/12/2022 06:31

How sad that someone won't do a simple Covid test to put their parents minds at ease. It's really a sign of selfish people.

Yeah just stick it up your nose and swirl it round a bit.

I could understand if you had NO money

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 06:40

YANBU. I certainly wouldn’t be feeding anyones anxiety and paranoia like this. It isn’t healthy for them or your brother to carry on this way.

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 06:41

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/12/2022 06:31

How sad that someone won't do a simple Covid test to put their parents minds at ease. It's really a sign of selfish people.

No. It’s the sign of a sane person that hasn’t been gripped with the covid paranoia and anxiety.

Railwayroad · 23/12/2022 06:43

Really don’t get why it’s such a big deal. I’ve recently had Covid and was pretty Unwell. I wouldn’t want to pass that on to elderly relatives. Test takes minutes.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/12/2022 06:51

No. It’s the sign of a sane person that hasn’t been gripped with the covid paranoia and anxiety.

I don't see how it's Covid paranoia when it's known that Covid does kill. Yes for most people it is a mild illness but not all.

booklovingmum · 23/12/2022 07:15

It's a reasonable request so just do the tests and give them peace of mind

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 08:40

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 06:40

YANBU. I certainly wouldn’t be feeding anyones anxiety and paranoia like this. It isn’t healthy for them or your brother to carry on this way.

More fucking healthy than potentially getting Covid!

Honestly, I despair.

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 09:06

harrassedmumto3 · 23/12/2022 08:40

More fucking healthy than potentially getting Covid!

Honestly, I despair.

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No. Mental health problems are long term and much harder to get over than a cold.

These people need serious help.

paintitallover · 23/12/2022 09:09

Their house, their rules. Or stay home and pay for your own dinner.

bagpuss90 · 23/12/2022 09:09

Needarest22 · 22/12/2022 13:13

No they haven't indicated that they will be doing one on the rationale that they avoid mixing. Same my brother will say he has quarantined before visiting my parents. They're 'clean' and we're germ vectors is how I feel.

Your brother quarantined? Wow

orchid220 · 23/12/2022 09:10

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 09:06

No. Mental health problems are long term and much harder to get over than a cold.

These people need serious help.

Show quote history

It's not " just a cold" for many people, including many older people. Not wanting to catch it does not mean they are mentally ill. It means they are not stupid.

WestwardHo1 · 23/12/2022 09:14

orchid220 · 23/12/2022 09:10

It's not " just a cold" for many people, including many older people. Not wanting to catch it does not mean they are mentally ill. It means they are not stupid.

Show quote history

A measured objective to life is more "stupid" than someone going to extreme lengths to avoid Covid, when there is no special reason to?

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 09:14

orchid220 · 23/12/2022 09:10

It's not " just a cold" for many people, including many older people. Not wanting to catch it does not mean they are mentally ill. It means they are not stupid.

Show quote history

Except that for the vast majority of people (those sensible enough to be vaccinated, obviously), including the elderly, it is nothing more than a cold.

If you are so paranoid and anxious about catching it that you rarely leave the house, insist on wearing masks, want people to take covid tests etc then yes, your anxiety has reached a mentally unhealthy level that needs help.

WestwardHo1 · 23/12/2022 09:16

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 23/12/2022 06:51

No. It’s the sign of a sane person that hasn’t been gripped with the covid paranoia and anxiety.

I don't see how it's Covid paranoia when it's known that Covid does kill. Yes for most people it is a mild illness but not all.

Alcohol and junk food kill and yet vast numbers of people still consume them.

Pearl664 · 23/12/2022 09:21

I don't know anyone who is fully vaccinated and boosted who has been hospitalised through covid. Before vaccines I knew several. For the vast majority of fully vaccinated people covid will not be a serious illness. If people aren't testing, and most aren't, there will be lots of people who have covid and don't even know.

I don't know anyone who is testing. It's madness that people are still paranoid when colds and flu can be just as bad. I was hospitalised with flu when I was in my twenties. When I had covid I just felt rough for a few days.

Megifer · 23/12/2022 09:31

YellowTreeHouse · 23/12/2022 09:06

No. Mental health problems are long term and much harder to get over than a cold.

These people need serious help.

Show quote history

Patient: I'm older so a bit more vulnerable if I catch covid and I've asked family to test before they see me. I've been advised I need serious help with my mental health

Doctor: your mental health is fine. Next!

is how that chat would go I think.