What happens when everyone else unlocks?

[enterparentone]

Nobody knows when lockdown will end, or when schools will go back, but it will happen at some point.
I'm shielding, and although partway through my 12 weeks it seems certain people like me will be asked to extend it. But what happens then? My husband is working at home but would need to go back. My children are at home now but would need to go back. Who will take them to/from school if DH is in the office? If they're out in the wild, I'll need to keep to one room of the house, so who'll make them dinner and generally look after them? It feels like we're all in a safe bubble at the moment and although it's hard, it's perfectly bearable being in the house/garden with my little family (I appreciate not everyone has this luxury). I want my kids to get their lives (and education) back, but I'm dreading the time when that'll mean removing myself from it for who knows how long!
DH is already worried about his job due to CV so he can't just ask to stay working from home.
How do other shielding people feel? Any thoughts on how to manage this?

Yes me! I'm shielded and I hate the thought of children going back to school as the Dutch just have.

I don't honestly think we are there yet in this country so DH tells me bit to worry. But I don't really trust this appalling government not to make another stupid rushed decision and send kids back in prematurely putting them, their teachers and us at risk.

I have started thinking about how I could shield in my house. My plan would be to swap DH chest of drawers out of the bedroom and bring up a piece of furniture from downstairs. I would instruct the family on cooking over Zoom. I also think with the right hygiene regime I could go into the rest of the house in the six hours the children were out of the house and therefore could get out to the garden. I'd still be working full time though so couldn't enjoy much time.

I feel better having come up with a plan, even though it would be really really grim

How old are your children op? I think there will still be options to educate from home in this period so you wouldn't need to send them back potentially. So instead of you isolating from everyone, could DH with his contagion risk be the one to isolate?

How do other shielding people feel? Any thoughts on how to manage this?

Keep the kids at home. That's what i will be doing if it comes to it.

I assume the first thing would be for DH to ask for some flexibility so he can drop kids at school. I don't understand the question about who will make their dinner as presumably your DH will.

This is really worrying me.

I am shielded and also recovering from pneumonia so my risk is very high at the moment. I can't self isolate within the house for various reasons, which aren't overcomeable (I just invented that word )

No idea how DC would get to school as can't imagine the (always overcrowded) school bus will be running, let alone how they would manage the risk at school.

I'm also shit at home educating post primary. Although DCs teachers and support staff have been really great, very helpful and understanding.

I wonder if the government will have to put different strategies in place for shielding households (also they don't seem to give a fuck about shielding households and employment so probably not).

It's at the top of my quite extensive list of Things To Worry About.

Thanks everyone. It's good to feel not alone. I have one in primary and one in lower secondary. At the moment work gets sent home, and older one has lessons online too - but the teachers won't be able to carry that on once schools go back as they'd be busy preparing for and teaching the kids IN school, so I'm not sure I could just carry on home ed-ing myself. Not to mention that the chronic illness which means I'm shielding often makes me feel unwell so I don't think I could manage without the support the schools are giving at the moment! Youngest is 8 so not able to get to/from school without me or cook meals alone. DH gets home too late (when working in office) to be able to cook for them.
Every possible workaround I think of seems impossible. I'm trying to live for the day at the moment, but every time there's more talk of the plans to send the kids back/get people back to work I feel the anxiety build. And that then flares up my condition too...
It's good to feel not alone.

Perhaps schools should only open when Parliament does? After all children cannot self distance and no doubt the government will say they can’t , but surely if it’s safe for our children it is safe for our MPs !!!!