Lauren McCabe is self-isolating with her son because she has asthma and a low immune system after catching shingles

A single mother self-isolating with her son during the lockdown had a note pushed through her door asking her to keep him quiet.

Lauren McCabe, 26, was asked to ‘reduce the running around’ as it was waking neighbours early in the morning.

The note read: ‘We think you have a young child and it must hard keeping them entertained in a flat.

‘Can we please ask that you try and reduce the running around as this is really loud. Especially early in the mornings where it wakes us up most days. Thanks in advance.’


The note the neighbour pushed through Lauren’s door (Picture: Lauren McCabe/BPM Media)

The 26-year-old, who has asthma and a low immune system after catching shingles, was so devastated she wrote a note back in her two-year-old son Leo’s name.



It said: ‘I no longer go to nursery or get to see the people I’m used to spending time with. My mummy isn’t very well, she said we have to stay home ’til she is better.

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‘My mummy doesn’t want me to feel anxious or upset with these change to my normal routine. So she’s finding ways for me to feel happy, like running around my living room, dancing in my living room, playing with my favourite toys in my living room.

‘I’m sorry you’re finding this hard. I just want my mummy to be better and things to be normal.’

She wrote a note back in her two-year-old son Leo’s name (Picture: Lauren McCabe/BPM Media)

Lauren, a freelance make-up artist, wept after reading the original note, which was pushed through the door of her Birmingham flat.

Lauren’s mother, Sarah Burgess, said: ‘I haven’t seen her because she’s in isolation, but she rang me sobbing, saying: ‘Mum how am I meant to keep him quiet?

‘They should have found out the background before sending that note.’

Sarah said Leo was a ‘typical toddler’ but is not noisy and is easily pacified. And she said the row was the last thing the pair needed as they tried to keep their spirits up.

‘At the moment Lauren and Leo are stuck in the flat,’ she said. ‘I buy all their food for them and leave it outside their door, and the only time they get to go out is to sit on the lawn in front of the block.’

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