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

[cottonwoolbrain]

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.

@TokyoSushi

Weep, wail, weep a bit more, and then stoically carry on. What else can you do?

This

@AwFeebs

Cry. A lot.

Looking forward to half term and not having daily battles with a strong willed stubborn little sasspot. who's 6

This. My boss asked if I was planning to take half term off and I told her no, it would feel like a break just having to do my actual job instead of helping with school work anyway. Normally I'd jump at the opportunity to spend quality time with my kids, but honestly I'm going to enjoy having an excuse to send them to their rooms and play. If I take the week off too they'll expect me to entertain them. And I already sit in a room with them all week as it is.

I will feel highly irritated more than upset

Will carry on though

Tbh I’m not expecting them all to go back March 8th anyway. I am hoping my Reception child will go back, don’t expect my Y8 will be in, probably not my Y4. I’m telling myself it will be Easter.

We’ve avoided taking up a KW place by changing shifts around (at the detriment of my work), but if it carries on past Easter we will be asking for the places.

Cry even more than I already do. Eat a shit load more than I already do. Up my bottle of wine a day to two bottles. My DS is on the verge a breakdown already poor thing. We can't go on like this much longer

Go to the supermarket fill my trolley with anything alcoholic. Break up for summer!!!

Probably just feel a bit more depressed than I already do. What can you do though? I don’t think they’ll be going back anyway - my mantra since this whole palaver is “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”.

I’m a sahm and I feel so sorry for people who are trying to wfh - I saw a friend in this situation in the street the other day and she looked close to tears.

Just carry on. What choice is there?

I’d be pretty happy as 8 March is far too soon.

But regardless, it doesn’t matter what you’d do or I’d do. It makes no odds. Just crack on.

I'll carry on recording lessons, marking work in as close to real-time as I can manage so that feedback is meaningful and trying to make sure that the online offer matches the curriculum as much as I can. In between, I'll go in to work to support the children of KW and those who are vulnerable. I'll also keep my SEN DS on track to getting some grades at the end of his GSCE year and worry about the fact that he isn't getting access to the sport he at which he excels.
The same as I've done every day since March last year, apart from the bit where I taught in school everyday and had to tag on the online learning for those in self-isolation/ tested positive on top.
Sorry- but you did ask.

My year 7 daughter has dyslexia and this was the term that school were going to start putting support in for her.

She really struggles with the online school as it goes at a very fast pace and she can’t keep up.

I don’t know what we’ll do if this carries on until easter. I worry that all the progress she has made will slip back.

I was supposed to move into new business premises next month but it’s not going to happen now. We moved everything out of the old place after Xmas as the business centre was closing for refurbishment. I am basically sticking my head in a bucket of gin and hoping for the best.

I really cannot believe that they won't be back on 8th. It fills me with dread. I have totally given up today, I feel completely worn down with exhaustion.

I start a new job on March 8th.

If DS (12) doesn't go back to school that week, I'll have to leave him at home alone for the first four days, which is my induction training. I can pre-prepare lunch & leave him snacks and a phone. He's pretty sensible, thankfully. It's not ideal but I've been out of work for six months and have fought to get this role.

@Ahmnotacat

I’d be pretty happy as 8 March is far too soon.

But regardless, it doesn’t matter what you’d do or I’d do. It makes no odds. Just crack on.

Far too soon for what? On what grounds?

Protest. If there's a March, I'll be joining.

Book more time with their English/maths tutor.
book more Outschool classes.

Try and persuade their school to pay even a fragment of attention to the children at home instead of focusing it all on the children at school. Continued my run of sleep deprivation from working until late at night

These threads always go the same way. Childish responses like ‘drink more!’ And ‘Stop the children doing any more remote leaning!’

It’s so petulant. Like that’s going to do anything except damage their own liver or reduce their own kids’ chances?

Both my children can have a vulnerable child place. I've kept them off so far, but now I'll be sending them in after half term.

Anyone expecting all kids back on 8th is in for a shock though.

I wouldn’t make any changes, but I’d try to focus on not having to do endless school runs and get up early and enjoy that time. I’m working and have two at primary school, we are doing all the important stuff and none of the extras. I’d try to make a better meal plan than I have now to mix it up.

I doubt it will be all year groups if they do go back, most likely it would be Reception, KS1 and Y11 & 13 initially, although with community transmission still really high, even that is optimistic. The daily new infections just aren't coming down fast enough, and reading some threads on here it's not difficult to understand why.

DS(14) won't be going back until DH is vaccinated, hopefully by the end of Feb, and out of the 3 week window.

We will use our key worker place as, I would imagine, will many others who have been just about managing so far.

All the teachers I know want schools to reopen; they understand it’s a disaster for all children but especially those who are the most disadvantaged. Every week schools stay closed creates more of a chasm and creates more problems which will take huge amounts of time and money to resolve.

Numbers of cases and deaths are dropping, those most at risk of hospitalisation have been or will be vaccinated. They are also - in general - the ones most able to shield for a few more weeks till the next vax / immunity to kick in. Children don’t have that luxury; they need to be learning and in school again now. The government know this. Schools - primaries and all exam years - will be back from the 8th March.

Be very stressed. Juggling a full time job and my child's schooling is challenging, March is a massive month for meetings for me, so it will definitely be a difficult one if they don't go back. I'm honestly so happy for this half term week!

@Ahmnotacat

Anyone expecting all kids back on 8th is in for a shock though.

I agree. Reading between the lines the govt are not indicating that this will happen. I expect some key year groups at the outset

Have you spoken to your ds teacher?

What's he like in school? What level of engagement does he usually require to sit still and engage? Because needing an adult to make him sit still is unusual at that age.

It might be you can apply for a place under the vulnerable and unable to engage in home learning category? If it seriously affecting your MH you need to be honest with them.

No one should be crying daily over this. Finding it hard - yes. But you sound like it's more than this and it's unsustainable