Should I let him return to uni?

[mugglewump]

I am so confused about whether I should agree to my son returning to halls, given the current guidance. His uni has said that accommodation fees will be proportionate to time spent in residence, but rather than staying home and saving the money, he is desperate to be back with his new uni friends. He says he can work better there and lockdown in halls will be more fun because he will be with friends. He is also pretty much nocturnal now and his sister is getting up for online lessons at 7:45 each morning and waking him up (adjacent rooms and bathroom). Am I being mean asking him to stay here? Will we be breaking the rules if he goes back? (Still in same area, so does not constitute travel as such). He says most of his friends are returning to halls this weekend.

To2do

Of course seasoned adults are capable of sleeping through their alarms. Is that then an argument for them to have their mummies and daddies live on-site?

Of course you’d wake your daughter if she was at home and slept through an exam, as was I - you missed my point which was to do that, a parent has to be at home aware their child didn’t wake and not occupied with their own work.

Not all students have “been away from home for only three months”. Many of the students mentioned on this thread and in the article recently linked to are 2nd & 3rd years +.

Anyway, obviously some students would prefer to be at home currently than at uni, but probably the majority would rather be at uni. Whatever a student’s view, the rules and guidance should take precedence.

@singsingbluesilver

What on earth was the pint of Wales going into lockdown on 20th Dec if students can down start to drift back from other areas that were tier 4. I feel like we have given up so much and will have achieved nothing.

I don’t think people should be returning to halls unless their course fits a permitted category. Even if your child returns free of covid the more people sharing kitchens etc the more chance of it spreading even if everyone rigorously follows the rules as the new variant transmits more easily. It only takes one asymptomatic person returning for it to spread round. The tests being offered by unis on arrival are apparently not compulsory. My DS uni is only charging people for the time they are in halls.

Well having said up thread that DD was returning (to London) today, she has decided not to; that it's not right under the circs there. Her brain was going 'what if...?' to too many scenarios.
She will struggle to work from home (medically type this not practical Masters), but will see how it goes and wait for a change in infection rates in the capital.
Her decision.

It's quite worrying that people seem to be thinking that catching the virus once precludes catching it again. It doesn't! Two of my brother's bubble have now had it twice and were really ill the second time. Both are in their twenties by the way.

Aber uni has told students to stay home if they can. I frankly don't give a damn if other posters think my comments take the biscuit. I don't want my family put at risk because uni students want to go back to uni because they 'miss their friends'. Stop being selfish. Have some common sense. Stay at home.

gov.wales/guidance-higher-education-keep-wales-safe-covid-19

@mugglewump, I'm glad hes made his mind up.

It's hard knowing what to do for the best just now.

I’m having exactly this argument with my eldest DD now. She’s keen to go back and is actually getting vaccinated tomorrow so thinks that makes it Ok. But we’re trying to stop her on the basis that it’s against the guidelines.
I know they’re adults but as far as I’m concerned until she pays her way in life rather than relies on her parents to fund her she has to abide by certain rules 😂
It’s a tough one and I can see why it’s right in some circumstances it’s acceptable. We have a big warm house and great Wi-Fi. Her student house is cold and damp. But obviously she misses the banter of her uni friends, many of whom are back.
It’s been a tough year for young people.

For DS1 he sees his private rental as his home alongside his family home, whilst he enjoyed coming home it was clear he missed his peer group. He was happy to spend the last lockdown at home as it was home or halls. This time he has really enjoyed living with friends independently of family and university. They all had plans to head back early prior to this lockdown so was in situ before the guidance changed. I am glad he is with his friends. Although having a disabled child at home does influence my views.