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Original poster

...to ask how many people are WFH with no childcare right now?

219 replies

michaelbaubles · 31/03/2020 11:31

Seen a few comments on other threads at people incredulous that anyone was having to work from home with no childcare, and I thought surely a huge amount of people are?

Check in here - I'm teaching, full time from home (basically working 8.30-4 on and off, no live lessons but setting and marking work, chasing up students and responding to messages and emails all day), and I have 2 DC, 6 and 8 here too.

DP is here but he is also working from home (freelancer, has to keep hustling and chasing up funding to get any money at all).

OK I wouldn't normally be working like this but some posters are acting like it's literally impossible - it isn't - it's hard but we have to do what we can.

OP posts:
inwood · 31/03/2020 11:34

Pretty much everyone WFH who isn't a keyworker?

I have twin 9 yo's. We are doing ok. I would not be doing ok if they were babies, or toddlers.At 6 and 8 they can entertain themselves for a while.

Metalhead · 31/03/2020 11:42

Well it depends how old your children are as to how easy it is, doesn’t it? 10 year old DD1 - no bother, just gets on with her school work; 4 year old DD2 - not so much, she’ll play by herself for a bit or watch a film, but in between she needs a lot of attention. DH and I are managing between the two of us, but it would be an awful lot harder if DD2 was even younger or as a lone parent.

Fleurchamp · 31/03/2020 11:48

Yes, both DH and I are WFH with our two DC - 4 and 2.
I work PT and DH FT. He is the main breadwinner so his work takes priority Hmm
I am basically doing all the childcare and working in the evenings and weekends (my job is more flexible, I suppose, whereas DH is on constant calls).
I hate it and I am struggling. Work sent out an email at the beginning of the WFH rules saying we had to have childcare and that if we didn't they would furlough us - I told work I do not have childcare but was told to lump it, I am in a bit of the business that can carry on to some extent.
We are not particularly well set up to work from home either - my firm didn't have enough equipment to go round so I am working from my own laptop and do not have a big screen.
I am exhausted and not sure how long I can keep this up for.

IndieTara · 31/03/2020 12:00

I'm a single parent wfh DD is very very slowly realising I don't have time during the day to watch her you tube videos or latest dance routine.

Dontrainonmyparade · 31/03/2020 12:03

Yes. DH is employed and lots of colleagues have been furloughed. Talk of redundancy etc so he has set up in the shed to work properly 08:30-17:30 every day. We see him at lunchtime and when he comes in for a cup of tea. I’m self employed and set my alarm for 05:00 now. I work 05:30-08:30 and do a bit more in the odd hour when I can get my older kids to entertain my preschooler during the day. I pick back up again properly in the evenings after dinner. I worked 08:30-15:00 M-F before CV. I am less stressed now that the plan for supporting self employed has been announced so I feel like it’s ok to skip the 05:00 alarm sometimes when I’m completely exhausted. It’s pretty full on all day with preschooler but at least we have a garden, craft stuff, Netflix etc and nursery are sending us daily tasks. The older ones are independently getting on with set work and keeping broadly to a normal routine.

Elephantonascooter · 31/03/2020 12:07

Yep. 18mo DS and dh is out at work all day. Trying to fit 30hrs in accross nap times and evenings

WhoWants2Know · 31/03/2020 12:13

Yep, but mine are 10 and 12

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 31/03/2020 12:17

Both DH and I with 4yo DS. It's hard but fortunately my work very understanding.

WhenDoesTheWashingEnd · 31/03/2020 12:18

Yep. 3YO DS.

DH home and working 9-6ish, constant calls and video conferences so he's pretty tied up.
Takes DS out for a walk each evening while I prepare dinner.
Does bath and bed time the spends late evenings doing emails and whatever else he can't do during calls.

I work freelance sewing clothes & costume. Working during nap time (which he's starting stop now) and evenings, entertain kiddo and try to keep him out of daddy's way while he works.

Took about 2 weeks to find a rhythm that works.

About 3 weeks left until I'm due to give birth by C-section so not long until it all blows up again. Confused

It's bloody hard work but doable if we communicate and have well defined roles.

Roomba · 31/03/2020 12:19

I'm having to deal with DS2 (7) interrupting every two minutes to ask questions about his school work which is emailed through each day. If I take my eye off DS1 (14) for two minutes he fails to do his work. So I am mostly doing my p/T job after DS2 has gone to bed, as I've no chance of getting much done before then! I'm knackered from working until late at night and from having to nag like a fish wife all day long Grin

gingajewel · 31/03/2020 12:20

Me! Working from home with a three year old and ten year old, partner still at work, it is practically impossible and I feel like I’m either neglecting work or the kids constantly!

ChainsawBear · 31/03/2020 12:22

Literally millions of us. And mine are 5 and only just turned 2, so they require a lot of attention, have minimal attention spans, and we have to try and do some reading/homeschooling with oldest too.

We've divided the day up into 3 hour shifts between 7 and 7 while kids are awake. That gives us 6 solid hours to work during the day and we can finish off evenings. Everyone accepts that kids may be a feature of work calls right now.

Vanillaradio · 31/03/2020 12:22

Dh and I are keyworkers. Because I can WFH for the foreseeable future and dh partially can (went in 2.5 days last week and 1 this week) school will not take ds as he can be safely cared for at home. Fortunately I am pt so am trying to fit my 22.5 hours across 4 or 5 days rather than the usual 3. Work are also being nice for now and giving dh v little to do on his WFH days so we are able to juggle- mostly!

bushhbb · 31/03/2020 12:23

Got a 2 year old, and can only study when she has her nap. Too tired by the time she goes to bed.

Literally everyone working from home has their kids, since they're not a key worker. So millions I imagine

purplelila2 · 31/03/2020 12:27

Teaching wfh is hardly a full time job and you clearly dont grasp how hard it is for some of us.

Try teaching a 6 and 7 year old whilst going on an hours long con call.

Your job cant exactly be done from home so you don't grasp what it's actually like having to work and teach young children.

TrudysTerribleFringe · 31/03/2020 12:28

Yes doing 30 hours a week with 3 DC at home.

Changed my hours so I am starting 7.30am to 1.30am.

Let the kids have a lie in till 10, washed dressed, breakfast, then the older 2 do school work and the seven year old watches Netflix or plays. Then after lunch I focus on his school work with him.

Its exhausting to be honest.

Poetryinaction · 31/03/2020 12:29

I am a teacher with a 6, 4 and 2 year old.

Lolaesque · 31/03/2020 12:31

Yep - with a 21 month old toddler. Finding my stress levels are rising. I work for the NHS - not clinical - but incredibly busy with lots of covid stuff. Nursery couldn't sustain being kept open. I also manage a team and trying to keep on top of everything is difficult - I feel like I am letting people/service down at the moment and not pulling my weight.

InkieNecro · 31/03/2020 12:33

I have an almost 2 year old and a 3.5 year old and I have no help. Ex 'helps' seeing them at dinner time while I run around cleaning and putting washing away before he buggers back off to his parents to do nothing.

I work while they're jumping on me, during their naps and after they've gone to bed.

I'm not sleeping until after midnight, youngest still wakes up during the night and I'm up for the day at 5 to do it all again.

I'm tired, miserable, snappy and I'm so lonely it hurts.

SkinnywannabeKBH · 31/03/2020 12:33

A huge amount of the country are WFH whilst looking after their children.
I am very very luck in that we have 2 very good (most of the time) children (8yrs & 6yrs) who can occupy themselves well. We have got a good routine going on the days I work (3 days/wk). We get up, breakfast, girls do PE with Joe Wicks whilst I start answering my emails, then they come in and start their school work. I have it all setup the night before and we all sit at the dining table to do our work. They understand that I have to work and have no choice. I will help them as much as I can. We talk, have breaks and lunch as normal. I am able to chat to them whilst I work. They tend to go out the back to play or play upstairs from 3pm until I finish at 5pm. They are very good and I'm finding it's working better than expected. Yes it's tough sometimes but we're managing. My Husband is currently still working 5 days/wk at work.
People are saying they aren't worrying too much about a school routine at the moment, but I find it makes the days easier. I'm not pushing them to do lots of work, just enough to occupy them and keep their brain working and active

DinoGreen · 31/03/2020 12:37

Working from home full time with 4 year old DS. As he’s an only he demands lots of attention. DH and I are both using annual leave to take a day off a week each, for the next few weeks - gives us both a full day to work solidly. The other 3 days we’re splitting into shifts - 6 full hours each between 6am and 6pm and catch up after DS is in bed. It makes for very long days and is mentally draining - even on “my” DS time, I can’t switch off work fully and keep an eye on emails, take a phone call if urgent etc. DS not at school yet so thank goodness we don’t have schoolwork to do as well.

It’s not sustainable long term. DH might get furloughed and even though it will be a big financial hit for us, I’m almost hoping he does as it then solves the childcare problem.

VeniceQueen2004 · 31/03/2020 12:37

I work in research admin for an HEI and do does my DP. We are sharing the care of DD who has just turned 3. His job involves a lot of meetings and calls, mine is data intensive so I really need to get my eye in. We both work 0.8FTE, at the mo we are probably averaging about 0.5 each (although I did 4 hours last night just to catch up with myself). Work are being understanding; for now. But I'm not going to work my knackers off day and night routinely to try and fit two jobs into one life. I've already had one MH breakdown in the last year due to overwork and stress, I had only just regained my work life balance and equilibrium when all this blew up - I'm not going to sacrifice it now for something that is none of my doing

Slippingcareer · 31/03/2020 12:38

Me and DH are both working from home with our 19mth old. I start work at 5.45am and we take turns all day with DH finishing we 7. We both can work while DS naps (usually 2hrs).

It’s exhausting but we’re managing.

CMOTDibbler · 31/03/2020 12:39

I'm lucky as I only have DS who is 13 - but he's also used to us both WFH FT and knows that Bad Things will occur if he interrupts a conference call. He's following his school timetable, and I check his work in his breaks to ensure its all being done

Handsnotwands · 31/03/2020 12:40

DC are 8 and 10. i'm thankful they're a bit older and more self sufficient. I really feel for my colleagues with toddlers. DH is out at work as usual.

My work is being very flexible and accommodating but we're in the delivery stage of a massive programme and the work has to be done.

I'm doing 8-1ish while they "homeschool" (play on their ipads) then 6-9 in the evenings. it's tiring but needs must

i've not done any housework for a fortnight though