Working from home and home schooling

[Lifeisbeaut]

It’s so hard. My job has to be done during the working day, it’s very reactive. I have small primary age children who are in need of reassurance and routine. How can I possibly do both things at once? I’m massively struggling and feel I can’t cope. I feel like I’m sinking Please help advise me?

I think you have to make peace with the fact that you cannot give 100% to your job and 100% to your children.

Then you can start to decide at which times you will ‘neglect’ each responsibility. E.g. an hour of full-on parenting with the DC followed by an hour of working whilst the DC veg on tablets. Rinse and repeat.

Not ideal, but no one is going for ideal any more.

If they’re young they don’t need “ schooling “ they just need to be occupied to varying levels. I’m hoping you also have a partner so it doesn’t all fall to you.

Good advice from superfurrydoggy,
Am in a similar situation with two kids. I am physically there but not fully present.
Spending time to ensure they are doing work but not just hanging out with them. I am conflicted 😐

Superfurrydoggy has hit the nail on the head. Break the day up into time slots.
Pick a pattern that works for you

Totally agree. You cannot be a great employee and a great parent, it simply isn't possible. Aim for being an adequate parent and a barely adequate employee.

There are some good phonics resources on you tube if your children can take turns to teach each other... how old are they?

Honestly? I’m putting my job first because it pays our bills. My kids will survive playing with play doh, watching films or playing on their iPads.
I still read with them at bed time and will so what I can at the weekends but I need my job more than they need to a few worksheets

I am in the same situation. I just don't know what I'm going to do. My employers have said I can take normal dependants leave but I think that is mainly unpaid

I make breakfast at 7am.
Then work on my laptop with the door locked from 8am to 12 noon.
Then I give them my undivided attention till bedtime.
This usually consists of some time outside on bikes, an hour or two of school work and some fun indoor activity.
Two things:
1.Kids are quite capable of entertaining themselves. When I emerge at lunch time I generally find them in fancy dress, busy with some very complex make believe game.
2.One on one homeschooling is really intensive compared to school. An hour or two is honestly enough. They can't concentrate for very long periods anyway.
You can do this OP! We've been self isolating so we're a couple of weeks in already. It's honestly not so bad.

Then work on my laptop with the door locked from 8am to 12 noon

You’re lucky to only work part time hours, if I did those hours I’d receive half my wage

unlimited I would be opening the door to a trashed house if I left mine unsupervised for more than 15 minutes

exactly sebastien I'm expected to work full time hours and now look after 2 children full time too

I started the day feeling totally stressed. Felt like I had to do as much work as normal and keep my children occupied and educated. As the day went on, I realised it was going to be impossible. I've come to the conclusion that if I can get them to do two 20 minute sessions of something educational a day then that was probably as good as it is going to get. As long as they go in the garden too at some point, then if the rest of the time is tv/tablet so be it. Needs must. Once I decided that I felt a lot less anxious. And actually once I stopped pestering them they happily sat and did drawing and story writing of their own accord.

Just do whatever you have to to get through this with your sanity intact, and your children happy.

I am on the same boat OP, and really struggling too.
I can do my work outside normal working hours, but there is no way I can fit 8hr of those every day.........

In fairness my house is trashed.
But it's not like we're expecting visitors!
I am lucky that my job is part time. Sorry if I came across complacent or smug.
My main point is that if your really clear about the times you aren't available and really present during the times you are... kids will probably be more accepting than you think.

Yes I hope to level this out as time goes on.
I felt so guilty yesterday, is set my children up to work, I was working at my computer but they couldn’t do it without engagement. I’ve been told I can take unpaid leave jf I can’t do the job. Well that’s another pressure right there. At least employed laid off people are getting 80% wages.

Keeping them safe is enough at the moment, you are working to provide a roof over their head and not for a jolly, so please be kind to yourself. How old are they? Just a few ideas, might not work but:

• Lesson names on bits of paper that they pull out, would have to print off a worksheet for subjects, but can do loads at one time as plenty of places have free access to resources at the moment (happy to post some links).

• If one likes playing teacher can have them do the register, follow the timetable etc as a role play, we loved doing this when younger!

• Remember youtube and Facebook streams, Joe wicks at 9am for PE, there's some singing ones being streamed etc.

• For English they could keep a diary of their day, it would also be interesting to look back over afterwards.

• If they can safely be outside while you work, could do some crafts, or role play. Depending on age, something like role play is actually really good.

• They could help with lunch for maths etc, counting/weighing stuff/timing how long.

Incorporating subjects into things you are already doing, if you are planning on going on a walk at somepoint with them, point out trees, animals etc for science. It's not ideal, but it will do. As long as you are all safe for now, that's enough.

I’ve been told I can take unpaid leave if I can’t do the job

In which case needs must and I’d give up on the idea of any schooling during work hours and resign yourself to the ‘digital babysitter’ eg iPads and tv!!

Schoolwork can be done on your days off.

Parenting includes keeping food on the table and a roof over your DC’s heads.

Awful situation for you though.

It's so hard isn't it OP. I'm holding off this week in the hope the government will offer financial support to working parents to cut hours. It is all falling to me as my husband is working in an essential job which is a separate worry in itself.

I get fed up. Everyone goes on about bloody homeschooling and I've been made feel bad when i say I won't get to do it most days as I am working from home.

My employer is paying me to work. I accept i won't be as productive as normal but I don't really think I can spend an hour with the kids schooling them. I will try and assist them when I can but my youngest is to young to do his work on his own.

DH is a key worker so no prospect of him being about unless we are all self isolating. He'll most likely have to work more due to other colleagues being ill.

We'll do our best with the kids and we do support them with homework throughout the year.

I am sure the lovely of homeschooling will fade with many. They just want to use social media at the moment to show how wonderful they are as parents.

I just think I see the pic but I don't bliody beleive you ha ha.

So don't pressurised yourself. Do what you can.

I feel I get in 3-4 hours per day, all the time thinking that I'll make it up inthe evening when they're asleep, but then feeling way too tired by the time they're down at 8:30pm. I really hate this. They're still really little, 6 and 4, and they need me more than ever, but I also feel so grateful to still have a job on full wages. I'm racked with guilt either way and feel the situation is impossible. Backstory: I started this job on 23/3 same day as schools closed and so I also feel I haven't in any proven myself or yet contributed. I can't close the door; they won't be left. This all just needs to end...

I am finding it very tricky. I've lowered my expectations of myself and of them. We try to get some home schooling done in the morning, I wake up earlier to do some of my work, we take our dog out in the middle of the day and then I let them have a lot of screen time, 3 hours or so, while I try to resume working. I've no time to be really creative, I'm the sole earner/single parent and right now is about getting by and doing what we can.

You’re in a bloody tough position OP - try not to be too hard on yourself. As PPs have said, the #makingmemories types who make a big deal out how wonderful homeschooling is will be fed up of it soon (and probably aren’t so keen behind closed doors anyway). If you’re keeping them safe, fed and reasonably occupied you’re doing great.
I’m in a similar, albeit easier situation (work PT and my employer has been quite understanding about how much - or rather little - work I can reasonably do) and on my working days I try to alternate DC time and work time on a roughly hourly basis, then catch up a little on work in the evenings. If your employer is half decent they’ll appreciate the effort and accept that no-one can possibly do a normal amount of work in lockdown with small DC. You are one person and can only do what you can.
Also, it sounds obvious but make sure you’re eating and sleeping enough and at regular times too.

I'm in exactly the same position OP although my daughter is slightly older than yours.
No way would my employer accept me not working anything less than my contracted hours and not being active online and reachable at all times. Right now we are busier than ever and I am needed.
It's not an option to lower expectations and 'do your best'. As you said OP you've already been told to take unpaid leave if you can't juggle both successfully.
My only advice is to do your work hours and commit time to the children outside of those. Whilst you're working you need to do what is necessary to keep them occupied with as little input from you as possible.
It's rubbish I know but annoying your employer is not an option right now.

I'm returning to work after maternity. My baby is almost 1, and should have been starting nursery. I have no idea how on earth this can work.