Hi folks,
Hope everyone is coping ok.
Did anyone else get a ridiculous email from DHSC/Matt Hancock this evening? Presumably a standard one, it mirrors the new advice on the govt website ie says that I’m clinically extremely vulnerable, stay away from people, shops etc, work from home blah blah blah. So far, so to-be-expected. But the insane bit: stay 2m away from people inside my home, don’t take public or private transport including to school or work and do send my children to school. Is the govt suggesting my small children fly to school (it’s too far to walk) or as a friend of mine suggested when I told her, that they live in a kennel in the garden and I put them in a trailer to get to school!?! 
Yes I realise these guidelines make total sense from an infection control point of view but to recommend that I do not hug my children for a month (at a minimum) and that they make their own way to school is beyond heartless and insensitive (I do have a husband but he leaves for work at 0645 so I do the school run). Yes of course I am terrified about the risk they are bringing into the house by being at school and I do not need to be reminded of this but surely the govt did not need to tell me to stay 2m away from them if possible - implying that if not possible, I’m bringing risk upon myself and the onus is on me to not hug my children?! As if this whole situation isn’t bad enough for our mental health, honestly I could do a better PR job myself… oh you have to laugh really it’s so ridiculous… am so scared, but my children suffered a lot missing school for 6 months and I can’t imagine the damage it would do to take them out again now, they are only 8 and 11. (I know of course that home school is now the best course of action for plenty of people and may yet be for us). Honestly do these govt letters/emails not get reviewed before they are sent out, you would think someone would see they could do with a little editing!!
I should also clarify that I am hugely relieved that lockdown 2.0 is being brought in, Ive been shielding anyway since March (NOT from my children though!) and was getting more and more concerned at the thought of the children possibly bringing Covid home from school (or my husband bringing covid home from work), so was relieved that something was being done to try to lower the R rate and save some lives. So I’m not anti lockdown at all, just anti the lack of joined up thinking, which tells me to avoid my children - and the way it was communicated.
OK rant over thank you for bearing with me! I’d love to hear anyone else’s thoughts. Firefly x
I read the email “Hancock’s Half Hour”
The advice regarding keeping your distance from your children is ridiculous.
What effect is rejection of a child for weeks going to have on the child.
It makes one wonder what planet the government inhabit!!
My children are adults now but I have 5 grandchildren one of them 18 months old.
She will be scarred for life if my daughter follows this advice, she won’t of course.
Neither will any other responsible parent.
I watched parliamentary questions yesterday and saw Boris slumping like a fat toad in his seat muttering and smirking whilst Kier Starmer was speaking.
The fact that 35 Tory MPs voted against the lockdown beggars belief.
If I had young children still I wouldn’t even send them to school.
Anthony
Thanks Anthony, you have helped me start my day with a smile!
Hi @Firefly, well I am glad you felt that you could have an honest rant on here and @Blackhat I did laugh at ‘Hancock’s half hour’, brilliant, yes, it did take me that long to read the letter as well.
Staying 2 m apart from my hubby in our flat would not be very practical, although I realise he is the person that might be bringing the virus into my fortress.
I think it must be so difficult with school age children and I certainly do not envy the dilemmas parents and grandparents continue to have in Covid times.
Thanks for starting this thread @Firefly, we await others thoughts.
As a Grandma I am finding it heart breaking that the older Grandchildren are so shy with me. They are smart buttons and have really taken the coronavirus to heart and know that I am vulnerable. The littler ones do not hold the information in their heads and get told quickly to ‘Get back you are too close’ by their siblings. I long for the cuddles again.
Having said this I feel more for those of you who are parents of school age children. You are all amazing and I know that you are finding your way through this the best way you are able. Just find moments when you can breathe and pat yourselves on the back. You have my admiration and I hope your spouses know what heroes you are. I am sure they do.
Hi @GrandmaJo, perhaps you are a hero too, it must be heart breaking for you not having a cuddle with your grandchildren.
Perhaps you can sent them little notes instead.
Take care we will all support each other through this virus.
GrandmaJo! You’ve brought a tear to my eye with your lovely message. Thank you. Made my day. It’s not easy for grandparents at all either. My parents are in Ireland and haven’t seen my children - their only grandchildren - since last Christmas. Usually it’s every 3 months. They’re finding it really hard, as you must be too. Almost harder to see them and not be able to hug them, I’d imagine. And, so against human nature to have to tell little ones not to hug you. Well done to the older ones protecting you though. Oh it is all so difficult. But great news just out about the vaccine, hopefully we are on the countdown now and 2021 will be a better year. Sending you love and thanks xx
I think that physical contact is missed by so many isn’t it. I could never imagine avoiding my children indoors, it’s impossible. Your grandchildren sound amazing. I hope you are well? X
Hi @Firefly and @GrandmaJo, I just didn’t realise how much I would miss that human contact and cuddles, I just took it for granted as part of ‘normal’ life. It must be even more difficult with little ones that just do not realise why they cannot run to you and cuddle.
A lot of us are lucky enough to have ways to see our loved ones, either electronically or through a window perhaps. But it has been so long now that it is going to mean our little ones are growing up without us, changing or perhaps other relatives have been ill, aged or got frailer. 2020 has been such a difficult year but we will support each other on this forum. Take care everyone.
I did write letters early on but the biggest hit was recorded bedtime stories on WhatsApp. They loved them and their parents too. I was feeling a bit smug because when I went to the library as I sensed lockdown coming I had taken fifteen kiddies books out.
They also love a bit of nature watch. The deer lying down in my front garden whilst digesting my flowers which he had just eaten, the toad having a rest in the pond and snippets off the internet too. The little ones who could not write sent me some picture letters just of emojis which they thought I would like. Still not the same as a cuddle and nonsense chat with them… Soon!
Hi @GrandmaJo what good ideas you have, I have just downloaded some books onto my Kindle as a Christmas present from someone and to make use of a Kindle offer.
Any other ideas out there?
I’ve sent magazine subscriptions and jigsaws as Christmas presents this year, to both kids and adults, hopefully they will be well received x