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Original poster

If school's don't return on March 8th what will you do?

479 replies

cottonwoolbrain · 11/02/2021 15:06

I am goign to be completely honest. I can't handle this anymore. I'm not sure what I'll do. I'm in tears every day now and the rest of the time just feel completely and utterly numb as if I'm doing everything on autopilot. Keep shoutinbg at the children - rate its going they'll get Stockholm Syndrome being coooped up with me as I am

DS (8) needs almost constant supervision to get him to do any work at all or even to sit in his chair. HIs school have great distance learning but I'm exhausted trying to get him to do it even with online classes. DD is 15. She's great at doing the work but is understandly stressed and lonely and worried about next years GCSEs and I feel like I'm getting the brunt of it.

I work part time and its the sort of job that requires high concentration levels. I can't just stop to answer questions about everything under the sun (including the flipping sun).

I'm breaking. Half term starts tomorrow. Hopefully a week of not home schooling will help and then I''ll be counting the days until March 8th but I'm so desperately worried they won't go back and I'm not sure what I'll do or how I'll cope.

DP helps as much as he can but most of its falling on me.

Sorry don't knwo what I'm saying except that i dont thknk I can hold out much longer and its messing up my children so badly.

OP posts:

Icandothis123 · 12/02/2021 18:19

@Oxonlady I'm sorry you're having a hard time, but there are adults in school too with their own children who come first to them.

Whu020 · 12/02/2021 18:22

Ring school and tell them you not doing it anymore if they want the child educated they need to do it themselves, stick with your guns your not superwoman it's not your job and they can't make you do it, everyone with kids should do the same.

Lotsofwishes · 12/02/2021 18:25

@Whu020

You do realise it’s not the schools or the teachers that are making these decisions?

In what way at all would your suggestion benefit anyone?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

Riolou3 · 12/02/2021 18:31

@ChancesWhatChances

With how I feel right now, find a bridge and jump?

but in all honesty if they don’t return there’s nothing anyone can do. You can’t just drop them off at the gates and wash your hands of them for the day, they’ll need to stay at home for yet another month or two (or three or four... and if it’s that long I really will find a bridge!)

Really? Do you think you can make ‘throw away’ comments about finding a bridge to jump off? That’s how my brother took his life. Think before you type. Aghast.

Scorpio75kaz · 12/02/2021 18:39

I nearly cried at the thought of them not going back..... what will I do? Have a breakdown I think!!!
As a single Mum with a 7 year old on the final leg of being diagnosed with adhd, I honestly don’t think I can carry on..... the damage it’s done to our relationship is horrific, and I’m honestly not sure how reversible it may be!
I cry myself to sleep every night. I’m at total breaking point. I’ve never felt so alone and isolated in my life.
Huge hugs to you!

CeefBurry · 12/02/2021 18:41

*Riolou3
*
So sorry to hear that. How devastating for you and your family.
💕

bemusedmoose · 12/02/2021 18:49

i'll just suck it up and carry on - not much else to do really!

My kids are the same age as OPs - 8 yr old needs constand supervision, 15 year old was doing great but has suddenly given up on even trying. I'm getting nothing i need to do done and pretty much live groundhog day - get up, feed pets, coffee, get kids up, feed them set them on lessons, coffee, kids moan for food even though they dont need it, next lesson, more coffee, lunch, an hour rest from nagging them about not listening or not doing work, more lessons, coffee (already considering adding a few shots of rum, thinking of starting tea, tears from kids about not wanting to do any more even though they have barely scratch the surface on the work set.... more food, load dishwasher, bed.... then it all starts again. Not the most fun ive ever had, yes it's draining and boring but it's not forever, we just have to stay in and stop this bloody thing spreading long enough that the vaccines can be administered and infections rapidly fall. Until then any mixing of people is making everything worse and will make this go on longer. If we had stayed in lock down just a few more weeks the first time we wouldnt be on lock down 3 now!

Bilson · 12/02/2021 19:02

@Riolou3 I'm so sorry about your brother.

I can also see why you find 'throwaway' comments about taking one's own life upsetting.

However, there are people on here who might make an apparently throwaway comment but who are actually feeling suicidal. An apparently throwaway comment may be precisely as it appears at face value, or it may be a genuine cry for help. Who can possibly know?

InFiveMins · 12/02/2021 19:09

@MyDcAreMarvel

Sob with relief. I would like people’s lives to be the priority.

Oh come off it.

People die every day. We can't just stay at a standstill forever, watching a chart of stats go up and down feeling afraid to step outside our front doors for fear of peoples lives. The education and sanity of millions of children (and parents) up and down the country is at breaking point. Children need to go back to school, full time, from 8th March, no more excuses.

Riolou3 · 12/02/2021 19:14

[quote Bilson]@Riolou3 I'm so sorry about your brother.

I can also see why you find 'throwaway' comments about taking one's own life upsetting.

I do know that I might make such a comment, and it might seem 'jocular' - but I also know that it has seriously crossed my mind, as the lockdowns (not Covid) have had such a catastrophic effect on my family's life. The only thing that has stopped me is the fact that my DC - adults though they mostly are - do not deserve yet another shitty blow.[/quote]
Whilst I appreciate a different point of view on what was written, it still seemed pretty thoughtless to me. Stopped me in my tracks, even referenced twice in the post.

I’m sorry you’re having a tough time, as we all are in a lot of ways. Always reach out and tell people how you are feeling - it helps, trust me x

Riolou3 · 12/02/2021 19:14

@CeefBurry

*Riolou3 * So sorry to hear that. How devastating for you and your family. 💕

Thank you 💙

Scorpio75kaz · 12/02/2021 19:15

@spababe you don’t know how much better your comment has made me feel! Thank you!!!

MyDcAreMarvel · 12/02/2021 19:18

@InFiveMins I am homeschooling five children , four with SEN they are not behind in fact they have progressed remarkable since being at home. It is however extremely challenging, they have high needs need constant attention, cannot he left alone on a room for longer than five minutes. I still would rather schools are not open until the rates drop dramatically.
They are our children we chose to have them/adopt them , we are willing to put the hard work in so that other people do not die unnecessarily.
Quite frankly even if they were struggling with their education it’s not more important than peoples lives.

CallmeAngelina · 12/02/2021 19:24

"The right thing to do is lift restrictions very carefully starting with those that are the most safe, so progress can be felt."

So, not schools then?

Pomatron · 12/02/2021 19:32

I think I will scrap the home learning as our mental health is more important!

Surely children should just repeat the year they have now basically missed out on half of 2 years.
Reform education and get us in line with Europe delay school start until age 5/6 then we stay away from school with no more stupid worksheets or online classes!

chocolateisavegetable · 12/02/2021 19:49

@SomethingOnce

I know that you a probably genuinely struggling, and I honestly do sympathise, but I must admit that the thought of headteachers having children superglued to them on the 8th March did bring a smile to my face!

Ah, no worries, @chocolateisavegetable, happy to have raised a smile

Thank you for taking it in the spirit it was meant. Big unmumsnetty hugs to you

Notenoughchocolateomg · 12/02/2021 20:08

Probably have a nervous breakdown.

Shell7272 · 12/02/2021 20:30

@Pomatron I would love for this to happen.

Courgetteandbeans · 12/02/2021 20:37

If they don't go back on 8th March I will cry until I have no tears left. Oh hang on, I've done that already.

Scottsy100 · 12/02/2021 20:58

Unfortunately I’ll just be waiting till March the 8th what else can we do, I have a 10 yr old homeschooling but I also have a 2 yr old who only goes to nursery 2 mornings a week and I’m working a part time (that kind of becomes full time job) I can’t constantly watch over the 10 yr old he gets assigned work every day and has Team check in meetings every day with his class, I know he loses his Mojo occasionally but the work thankfully is not endless and over whelming and we are always getting encouragement and just lovely messages from the teachers, I can’t complain one little bit. It is what it is and what do they say “this too shall pass”

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 12/02/2021 21:01

@Oxonlady

For those saying schools are not safe - how much safer do you want it to be?! Once all those vulnerable are vaccinated, I don't see how it can get much safer.... children are at almost zero risk from this. I'm far more worried about my teen SEN child who is now at the point where he is banging his head against the table and telling me he feels depressed and who cannot cope with online lessons. There are thousands of children feeling like that, who are desperate for normal life to resume and have sacrificed an awful lot this year, when they themselves are at no risk whatsoever. I'm very worried at what all this is doing to children and it has to stop.

I still don’t believe they are safe for the adults. Quite a few (not a majority but enough) of my teaching colleagues won’t return until we are vaccinated. It won’t help stop community transmission but it would mean schools could reopen without staff shortages. Teachers’ mental health is in a poor way too.

MyDcAreMarvel · 12/02/2021 21:23

@Oxonlady the kids themselves might not be at high risk but the school staff, parents, and Jo public on the bus may well be. We have no idea how well vaccines will work in those with compromised immune systems. Being vaccinated doesn’t equal won’t get seriously ill or worse. Anyone who believes that is very naive.