How is it that at a time of such mammoth devastation- people losing their jobs, their homes, their health and worst of all their loved ones, people are still able to feel a sense of entitlement and waste government time so badly?

Entitled to hoard goods to an extreme where the weak or those in need are forced to go without.

Entitled to entertainment whilst putting other’s lives at risk without a care in the world or a thought about how our hospitals will cope if Covid-19 spreads quickly and out of control.

And then you have people who feel entitled to abuse and misuse resources at one of the most critical times for us all globally!

My in-laws are currently overseas and their return flights have just been cancelled.

At first, they asked me to get in touch with the embassy as well as their doctor stating that they didn’t have enough medication with them to enable them to stay for an extended period where they were.

Upon contacting their GP, I was informed that this was not the case. They had been given a two month supply – which is one month more than required. And any additional supplies could be purchased overseas.

Phony!

I felt like such a phony having found this out only after contacting the embassy!

When I let my mother in law know, she told me that my father in law had suddenly developed a wound on his leg and they needed to return home immediately.

At this stage, I was incredibly concerned about their wellbeing and did all I could to try and assist their speedy return home!

I took a large amount of time away from looking after my seven little ones to chase all the information up to help them as best as I could…

I wasn’t the only one!

Only to find out they were having all the information I was providing them with cross referenced!

Not only was I contacting all the government bodies I possibly could- but so was all the rest of their family and friends!

Officials were receiving multiple phone calls as well as multiple emails from numerous people regarding the same case.

What A Waste!

Can you just imagine how much valuable time had been wasted!

These officials are receiving constant correspondence from people in dire circumstances- those stranded overseas with no shelter, food or any possible way of getting home.

… and there I was along with at least twenty other people wasting their time for my in-laws who are living in the safety of their own home, with plenty of food, everything they need and extremely minimal cases of Covid-19 in comparison to the rest of the world – the entire country they’re in has only 115 cases.

The guilt really got to me!

Seriously????

But it was a simple text message that really made me question what caused people feel as entitled as some do.

“You need to find the emergency hotline for Australian’s stranded overseas, then you need to call them and tell them that we need to return home urgently! But not until after the 15th because we have now made plans until then.”

The 15th was over two weeks away! How much of an emergency could it possibly be if they were able to dictate when they would prefer to return home? And how did my father in law’s wound mysteriously disappear as if overnight?

I really couldn’t imagine making that phone call!

There my family were trying to cope with the financial ramifications of changes to work. Homeschooling four little ones for the last three weeks. Just trying to make ends meet. And to top it off we had to contend with people who felt more entitled than others for a safe passage home – but on their own terms.

Think Of Others!

If Covid-19 has taught me anything it’s that we need to think of others even more than usual. Be considerate and compassionate no matter what – if we are to protect ourselves, we have to also care for the well-being of others!

This should not come at the cost of someone else, however. If I continue to use the resources we are so fortunate to have available to us and so do twenty other family members, all for the benefit of the same two individuals, we are potentially taking time away from more serious cases!

You aren’t going to receive twenty different answers from the same government bodies. The facts and guidance they provide you with will remain the same no matter how many people ask the same questions.

Please, for goodness sake, don’t waste officials’ time. Yes, they are there to do a job, however, you aren’t going to receive a different response no matter how many people you have call or email them.

Consular assistance isn’t like toilet paper – please don’t hoard it!

What advice would you give this mum in her situation? Tell us in the comments below!