We have been having our twin grandchildren for three days a week and sometimes more since the summer holidays started. Sometimes we took their two year old brother too, but he mainly went to the nursery where he unceremoniously had to start at the beginning of lockdown since we not allowed to have him then as we had been doing. With both parents key workers, that was their only choice. Anyway key worker childcare was discontinued at the beginning of the summer holidays so we stepped back into the breach, although the little one mostly went to nursery. It is impossible to fully socially distance from two six year olds when they are in your care for up to twelve hours at a time, but we did the best we could with hand washing and sanitising worktops etc. When my darling little girl fell over, scraped her knee and cried, was I supposed to tell her to get up and stop crying? No, I picked her up, cleaned her knee, and cuddled her better.
We spent a lot of time out of doors as it’s supposedly virtually impossible to pick up the virus outside. Luckily the weather was good.
Teddy if I were you I would employ all sensible precautions, hand sanitiser, hand washing, disinfect surfaces, keep them outside whenever possible, but don’t lose your humanity through fear. These are your precious grandchildren and you want to give them positive experiences with you, not fearful experiences.
I realise it’s difficult, and worrying, but our children cannot work without our help. Be as sensible as possible. And enjoy the children.
The twins have now gone off with our daughter and her husband and their little brother to enjoy a holiday in Norway. They arrived in Norway hours before the mandatory ten day quarantine for British people was imposed. Thank goodness, they’ve worked hard all through lockdown and deserve some quality family time.
