#ToBeHonest: I know they’re saying the schools will open next week but I have trust issues since last March

Left my trust in 2020.

The government has said it fully intends for schools to reopen next week on January 11 and while that may happen, I'm not going to lie, I have trust issues. I feel like I heard something similar last March and to be honest I'm ever so slightly preparing myself to homeschool again. Last March the news broke that we would go into a temporary lockdown and that places like schools would be closed for two weeks. Those couple of weeks in March turned into closed until after the Easter holidays to closed until September. Add to that, that in March 2020 we didn't have the high number of cases that we do now you can see why I'm a bit hesitant to believe the reports on schools reopening. As it stands HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid has warned that daily COVID-19 case numbers are likely to hit 7,000 over the next few days. Don't get me wrong, I want my kids to be able to go back to school, but only if it's safe for them and their teachers. Right now the entire country is in Level 5 lockdown and I'm far from the only one thinking it's a little strange to close businesses and places like gyms to stop the spread but reopen schools. Speaking on Newstalk, health expert and Trinity Professor Luke O'Neill said he 'can't see' schools reopening next Monday if coronavirus numbers continue to rise as they have been. I feel as parents this has become an all too familiar waiting game as many were concerned about if schools would reopen after the midterm break in October too. As it stands there has been no further announcement on how schools are to proceed next week, but I'll be getting a desk ready at home, just in case.