Family Support

I think you need to consider allowing households with young families to receive support from an identified grandparent/carer.

It is very difficult with nursery age children and babies. 24hrs daily, and parents rely on support from grandparents/carers.

I think it would be a huge benefit to introduce an identified care giver for each family with young children.

Why the contribution is important

My daughter is currently on maternity leave having had her second child on 31/12/19. She also has a very active 3 year old. Her husband is working from home so can only provide support for short periods. I am the main support system for the children, but obviously at the moment I am unable to provide this support. My daughter has been left in tears a few times because she just needs a break.

If they lived with us I would be able to help but because we live in separate houses we’re not allowed. I feel helpless.

Please consider introducing an identified support giver to alleviate the pressures on these young families.

by lmccabe on May 05, 2020 at 09:19PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Scot1234 May 05, 2020 at 22:20

    I completely agree with this. I have a very active 3 year old & a husband working from home so I’m on my own all day Monday to Friday & I’m utterly exhausted. The impact on our mental health through all of this MUST be considered along with the impact on our physical health.
  • Posted by Jones17 May 05, 2020 at 23:02

    I think the key word here is " identified". This could be part of a family's social bubble and there should be a register for social bubbles.
  • Posted by Runaire May 05, 2020 at 23:05

    My children who are key workers priority 1 have been handling childcare between them for 6 weeks. They admit to struggling with it and may not be able to manage it any longer. Hubs in our area are not providing gaidhlig medium education. I can offer that to the children. Grandparents should be allowed to help with childcare . Living in the same area is an advantage to limiting spread in the Highlands and assists contact tracing
  • Posted by AnE1 May 05, 2020 at 23:38

    I agree, this is especially important for single working parents. I have an active 3 year old and need to try and work from home at the same time as watching my child.
  • Posted by EllaG May 06, 2020 at 01:01

    Completely agree. Grandparents are required for Childcare.
  • Posted by scottxmcneill May 06, 2020 at 01:10

    I agree that providing child care support from a family members is key to getting the scottish workforce back in action as well as the mental health stability of parents with pre school kids. My wife and I are both Key Workers but cannot work full time, and are not paid for time not in work. We can both work from home but unable to as have 2 kids under 5. Without child care from a family member is much safer wrt transmission risks than nurseries. Child care HAS to be the first thing to establish prior to allowing workforces back and far more important than allowing meeting of friends or extended exercises (where rules are clearly being flouted already!) Allow a grandparent to child mind......this allows key workers initially then wider workforce to return in longer terms.
  • Posted by CometStar May 07, 2020 at 15:03

    I agree with the foregoing comments. Like many other grandparents we are fit, healthy and able to help with childcare. Prior to Lockdown we were helping our son and daughter-in-law in this area and now we can't help because of a blanket decision which, although sought to protect older, vulnerable people, unfortunately stereotyped the notion of grandparent. It is sensible that family units who know that each member has been scrupulous in social distancing be allowed to support each other in this way.
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