Feel like I'm failing.

[Ifihadapoundd]

I don't know why but I can not find the strength within to battle my 5 year old DS to do school work. He has spent more time on the tablet today then off. I have a 1.5 year old as well. We have done nothing today apart from watch films and play on the tablet. I feel so bad that I'm not getting them outside in the sun and that they are stuck in all day. We have a garden out it is mainly gravel and the little one just tries to eat the stones so we don't go out. DS1 refuses to come on a dog walk. I feel like I am failing them.

You're not failing, this entire situation is shit. You are keeping your children safe. Two of my dc are doing naff-all, only the eldest (secondary age) is doing real school work. Ordinarily I work in a school and our Head is mainly concerned that dc are happy and parents are not too stressed.

Let your children play, have film nights. This won't last forever.

Is he happy? And safe? For now, that’s enough.
FWIW I feel the same. My 8 year old can, technically, do schoolwork independently, but he won’t unless I’m sitting next to him and even then there’s constant complaining and wriggling. My 6 year old is way behind on reading so can’t work without me there as he can’t read the question and gets upset. I’m running from one to the other trying to help and motivate and am effectively failing both. I’m scared the youngest will fall even further behind. Additionally I have a y9 who keeps getting distracted from gcse work by YouTube and a y8 who seems unable to print/ email/ follow links. I’m running from room to room (it’s too distracting to have them together and they bicker!) failing all of them simultaneously whilst neglecting housework. It’s rough. Part of me hopes their peers have similar experiences and they can all catch up together!