Lockdown Childcare/Annual Leave question

[SecretRedhead]

Just wondering what people are doing about childcare/educating while also working. I am a lone parent so even things like choosing YouTube videos to keep him busy for a while or making sure he eats his lunch can't be passed to anyone else. My manager is a presentism sort of person - that is, if you can't be seen online while she is online, you must not be working - so I'm constantly going between DS and my laptop to make sure I'm seen as being online. I can’t afford to reduce my hours or be furloughed - plus it would cause my team and our resident’s serious chaos if I was off indefinitely (work in social services).

I'm currently up at 6 every day, log on to work at 7am, have a massively disrupted day of trying to work (which has become a constant overwhelming bombardment since lockdown began) while also orienting DS (age 4) to tasks and activities, I don’t take lunch break just make our sandwiches and accompaniments then get straight back to it, log off work at 3pm having done very little, do some proper learning with DS, do his tea and usual evening stuff, cleaning, tidying, cooking etc., put him bed, log back on to work and get as much done as possible until 10/11pm. Go straight to bed, get up at 6 and start all over again.

I've started taking a day of annual leave a week so there's only one job to do that day but I'm wondering what I will do later in the year when I will need annual leave for school holidays and don't have any left due to this..

I don't feel like the government have offered any real options to working parents in this regard, but maybe they have and I've been so exhausted I haven't seen it.

Is anyone else in this situation? How are you managing? I might be missing some points I meant to include - it’s hard to think clearly. Apologies if this has been covered already. I’m feeling weirdly jealous of all the people who only have one or the other to deal with. Work or childcare. What is wrong with me.. I think my real question is - are we going to be compensated for annual leave we have to take in this time? Sorry if I've rambled.

Just realised I might have posted in the wrong place. Should this be in the Coronavirus section?

Anyone?

Surely you are a key worker, does your son qualify to go to school?

I could very classed as a key worker but as I can do my job at home 95% of the time I never applied for a school place. That was before I realised how hard it would be though.

That sounds really hard work! Is there a chance you could discuss it with your manager and explain which hours you CAN work (eg 7am -11, then catch up in the evening, or after lunch while your Ds watches a film) 4 year olds are such hard work at the best of times, I really feel for you. I think it's good if you go to her with a solution, and even if you work slightly fewer hours but enough work done hopefully she'll understand
I do agree it's very hard to try to work full time with younger children. Any chance you could still apply for a school place?

Download the mousemoving software so you never switch to "offline" while you see to your DC. Sounds like you are doing the work so ethically you're in the clear IMHO

Which country are you in? I think some part of the first UK lockdown will be for all key worker children to go back to school. Do they usually have a school and a place? I'd speak to them as many schools have v little kids at the mo and would accept them

I'm in the same position as a key worker trying to work from home with an awful boss who expects a full day's work with a just turned 5yr old (and also a 12yr old who is being ignored). Just wanted to offer you solidarity. It's really hard.