Facing a new lockdown, extend the bubble to two adult families?

I feel that everyone much make their own decision about forming a bubble. I’m so fortunate not to live alone and understand that for people who do the bubble is so important. We will defo not be forming any bubble. With 4 married AC it will cause nothing but stress and may be very divisive in the long term. 3 of the spouses are very close to their families as well. We can’t choose one household without upsetting everyone else.

I was surprised at how many grandparents are responsible for childcare. When my son was small we had no relatives anywhere near us and we had to make other arrangements. My husband worked away a lot of the time and I found a good childminder and worked part time. Self sufficient.

Technically, as a divorced(so 'single') parent of youngest child 17 now, although i live with 2 sons (with disabilities) i can actual form a 'bubble' still with my eldest daughter& her husband & family, (only other family who live near me) but i havent as they still go out to shopping areas regularly (nearby an area where covid is rife) and lately shes had a friend stay who is single, but who has been to London a few times, also as their youngest is back at school, i dont want to take all the risks of these 'incidences', so i simply havent bothered.I was just considering it might be safe to meet in a park perhaps, but now all rules have shifted again, and we practically cant go anywhere.But college& uni apparently demand sons back to study even though they've both got underlying medical issues- which isnt safe in my opinion.Everythings gone completely mad if you ask me- just to 'keep the economy going'- There'll be no people left before long hardly to need an economy for.And its not families spreading it- its folk like the old bloke (60-ish) i saw in town last week ,just stood (no mask on) hailing everyone he knew who passed- then SHAKING HANDS with them, and none of the idiots even objected!

I have not seen my grandchildren since Christmas Day.

My confession is I feel jealous of all these support bubbles and good luck to anyone who has seen someone from their family in lockdown.
I only have a small family but have not seen either my sister or son and his family since last year as visits planned earlier in the year were called off in full lockdown.
I thought I would see my sister in November, both of us were to travel to Brighton but she called it off a few days ago in panic as her area goes into new measures and her husband is awaiting a heart operation. Travelodge were unhelpful but we have rebooked for the Spring rather than totally lose my money...if we can't meet then I will face it then. Meanwhile we hope to go and see our son, dilaw and grandson in mid November as both families are currently in low Covid areas but who knows.
Good luck to you all

Why do people always want to change the ‘rules’ to suit themselves? The rule of 6 is to protect us all, not to cause inconvenience.

My son and his OH have seven children - so breaking the rules without seeing anyone else!

We could bubble with our single son, but as he’s in work and on public transport it doesn’t seem a good idea as I am vulnerable.

The spread is down to certain groups, we all know who they are. We will be bubbling and socialising with our kids and GK’s under sensible conditions unless things become more dire in our area. The current guidelines are a joke.

I think that bubbles should be any two families and the single person rule is rather silly. I also find the Rule of 6 as is in England, equally frustrating as two of the other nations don't include children under 12 or 11. What might have been tolerable for 6 or even 12 weeks will not be so after 6 months of this. Lockdown fatigue will set in. Perhaps it's time some of the experts did some psychological modelling.

I think it is a good idea. If the government want people back to work then parents need child care.

Clearly all different for those areas with current restrictions but when easing lockdown rules, Boris was clear in saying that the relaxed rules meant that a family could see one set of grandparents one week end and the others the next. More recently by the looks of it, it’s become a bit of an “all in”.
Despite eases, it is still up to each individual person/family to be left to weigh up their own risks. I have a friend who has been locked away for nearly 7 months....without spending time with any of her family. For me, that would be unthinkable as well as un necessary but we all thankfully have different belief systems.

Jaibee12

The spread is down to certain groups, we all know who they are. We will be bubbling and socialising with our kids and GK’s under sensible conditions unless things become more dire in our area. The current guidelines are a joke.

Who are they? I certainly don't know.

No bubbles as we are two, see daughter and two GC’s over the summer, one bbq, GC’s stayed one night, all distancing, but daughter works in a school, GC’s back in school. Seen son a few times in the garden, he shares a house with four others. We meet good friends in local responsible pub. No hugs with anyone. I felt this morning how disparate we’re getting, We are a small family and GC’s used to stay regularly, also a hugging family, even good friends used to get a hug. It makes me sad. But we have chosen to stay within the rules, hopefully protecting others too.

Jaibee12 - I understand what you are saying and totally agree. I live in an area with a very low infection and yet we are going in to stricter measures on Tuesday because people in neighbouring boroughs chose to ignore the more relaxed guidelines. Blackpool, however although much higher infection rates is not subject to the same measures. I have followed the guidelines rigorously but no longer trust the authorities to protect me so I will do what I think I need to protect me and mine and if that doesn't fit the guidelines -so be it!

@MiniMoon The government don’t give a toss about the mental health of children. They are back at school because it enables their parents to work. My personal view is that children going back to school has triggered the second wave as I fully expected it to. I refused to look after my granddaughters once they were back at school anticipating this. Even though I miss them terribly. I don’t see the point of the rule of six because children are spreading the virus between themselves, probably asymptotic and the going home to give it to the adults in their family.

I agree with Nonnapg. A partner shouldn't be excluded in the bubbles. We still need to have some contact with family. I realise that things are going to get worse though due to irresponsible selfish people, yet those who abide by the rules end up suffering more due to them

I live alone and have nominated close family in my bubble. However, if I have not seen my bubblers (or anyone else) for fourteen days minimum, I feel free to change its inhabitants. The same gap would apply, of course, should we choose to revert to the original family.

o.k seems I am the only one not to understand the Bubble!
anyway, I think we will soon be in National type lockup again, so I can`t worry about it.

another thing, why should you have to ask Gransnet to "be kind"? shouldn`t we always be "kind"?

Coco They are not breaking any rules. It was said when the ‘
‘Rule of six’ was announced that households of more than six were not excluded.

Buttonjugs, a friend who teaches in primary school, told me that the little ones, especially only children, have really suffered during the lockdown because of lack of socialising with their peers.

Of course the government wants people back at work. The economy is already in deep trouble. Trying to strike a balance between safety and economic collapse must be a complete nightmare.

Correction to my post to Coco — ‘ excluded’ not ‘not excluded’

Emelle

Jaibee12 - I understand what you are saying and totally agree. I live in an area with a very low infection and yet we are going in to stricter measures on Tuesday because people in neighbouring boroughs chose to ignore the more relaxed guidelines. Blackpool, however although much higher infection rates is not subject to the same measures. I have followed the guidelines rigorously but no longer trust the authorities to protect me so I will do what I think I need to protect me and mine and if that doesn't fit the guidelines -so be it!

So what does she mean? I still don't know.

Buttonjugs
Although I’d love to blame the government for saying the children must go back to school, and I’d love to agree with those who say the government only did that for the financial needs of the country, some friends and members of my family were desperate for school to start so they could go back to work to avoid losing their homes.
What would work better? What should they have said?
I find the instructions odd and they make life difficult, but so many people are doing their own version of guidelines and the virus is spreading.

As Jaibee12 and Emelle are being coy, I'd thought I'd find out for myself how infection is being spread.

According to the government, the most common ways of getting COVID are:

1 from people you live with;
2 from people visiting you;
3 Leisure (inc pubs/restaurants);
4 Visiting friends and relatives.

As meeting other households (especially indoors) makes up a substantial percentage of infectious contacts, it makes sense to ban them where possible.

Unfortunately, it's going to be difficult to monitor because so many people will find loopholes and think they can get away with breaking the rules. Hopefully, most people will act like mature adults in areas where household mixing has been banned.