Anyone got a solution for this?

[MamaInNeed]

I have 2 DDs age 15 & 12. DH and I both have to go out to work, can't WFH for at least the next 3 weeks (waiting for a work laptop). My 12yo can be very violent when she's bored or lonely, which obviously she is when she's stuck at home with her sister for 8 hours a day. Usually she goes out with her friends every weekend but she can't do that now. She's a lot stronger than my 15yo and would be able to injure her. It's not safe for them to be alone for that long, but what else can we do? We tried to get a school place for the 12yo but they said no (LA we live in says it has to be where they go to school, LA they go to school in says it has to be where they live). I can't leave them both alone for 5 days a week for the next 3+ weeks. Anyone got a solution for this? (If all you have to say is "you just have to manage", don't bother. That's not safe for them.)

Sorry no advice but bumping

Unpaid parental leave.

Sorry.

Are either of you key workers ? Ring your local authority again and ask about registered childminders who are still open for key workers as they will have a list who are and who has any available spaces.

Can’t see any option other than unpaid parental leave

Try contacting her school directly?
My dd school is not same as where we live
I was classed as a key worker and she was offered a place
Work then changed the rules and closed, so we didn't need her place.
As far as we were told, kids should go to their own school if they qualify for a place

Can you insist they keep to different rooms or different parts of the house? Put a lock on the 15 year old's door so she has somewhere to retreat to.

Have a serious talk with your 15 year old about not riling up her younger sister (however, if you mean DD12 will attack DD15 with no provocation at all then I don't know what to suggest unfortunately but presumably you have or will be getting advice of some sort for what's going on her with her).

Buy the 12 year old some kind of computer game or gaming console as distraction? Would she like the Sims? 12 would about the right age to start playing it. Or some other engrossing hobby.

Otherwise, if you have any annual leave left, or leave you can carry forward from April, I would ask work if you could use it. It's unlikely you'll be travelling or going on holiday much this year to use it, after all. Or, if not, see if you can take unpaid, if you can afford it. I don't know whether parental leave would cover this sort of situation, but it also can't hurt to ask.

Are you key workers? If so, childcare should be available for the 12 year old. If not, why are you going out to work? You shouldn’t be.

Is it temper or medical needs?

If you are not key workers then one of you has to stay at home.

Would she manage, and would your works allow, one of you to work from really early - say 6am to 2pm, and the other work really late-say 12-8. That would only leave 2-3 hours with them unattended each day.

It sounds really hard. I'd contact the LAs again, and say they need to resolve the impossible position you are in - I'm assuming here that you are key workers, or your 12 year old has an EHCP due to her behaviour.

Otherwise, its leave, I'm afraid. It sucks for nearly everyone currently.

After next week it should be Easter holidays. How were you planning to manage that?

Maybe some online research of CV and how she needs to grow up, behave and help you in getting you all through this alive?