remember the "clap for the kids"? there's more...

[PineappleDanish]

saw this posted on social media, not naming the author as it's just SO cringe from start to finish... Oh and the AIBU. AIBU to cringe myself outside in and feel a bit nauseous?

Dear parents in the U.K.,

Today marks six full weeks since our country went into lockdown.

You have had your children home for the same time now that you would if they were on summer holidays. People will say ‘but they are your responsibility’ and whilst that is true, no-one could be expected to have imagined this period before they chose to conceive.

You have protected, nourished, educated, supported and entertained your children during a period of national and international uncertainty and fear. You have experienced emotions for yourself and your family that you never knew existed, never mind experienced before.

Six weeks is a long time.

Think about how you feel at the end of the summer holidays, how ready you are for routine, how badly your house needs cleaned from children home, how much work you are ready to catch up on. Remember that exhausting feeling of having so little sleep, much less money and hearing ‘mummy/daddy’ every time you happen to sit down.

And you wonder why you are exhausted after six weeks of lockdown?

You are amazing! You have achieved something no other parent ever has during our time. You have faced six weeks unable to take your child or children anywhere, six weeks of no parks, holidays to break up the boredom, no day trips, no family to help. On top of that you have juggled work demands, loneliness on a level never experienced before, information overload from the internet and emotional turmoil of not being able to see people you hold dear. Even getting food to eat has been a major drama!

So it’s ok to feel drained. It’s ok to feel like you would sell your soul right now for five minutes alone. It’s ok to feel uninspired about another day of homeschooling, another day of never ending laundry and cooking.

It’s ok to be so very tired.

Six weeks is a long time.

But you have made it.

Be proud of yourself. Stand tall.

History will show you for your courage, your children will remember this period as a time knowing they were safe and loved and teachers everywhere are deeply grateful that you are there for your children when they should be but can’t be.

In short: you are awesome!

And so are your children.

Barf

It is a bit nauseating. What’s with all these long emotive speeches?
Can’t they just say ‘yes, it’s been shit sometimes but we’ve done our best’

These things (in my weaker moments) just make me feel guilty for the times when our house has seemed more like a stressy mess.

YABU - I am awesome
YANBU - the rest of the communication is meaningless drivel. To echo Figgygal BARF

🤮

Ffs. That must have taken ages to write. For nothing. I also want to barf when I see stuff like that.

It's a tad OTT but can see why they wrote it to be honest. There's been a few suicides because of this lockdown, don't know how many in total, but one of them at least was a single mother.

Think it could have been written better though.

A bit cringeworthy - but worth it if it helps a parent feeling overworked and under appreciated. Social media is full of competitive lockdown posts whereas for some of us the bar is very different.

Utterly embarrassed for the author of this absolute twattage. How DARE people be expected to care for their children for 6 whole weeks?! There have been some very nasty and stressful consequences of lockdown and Covid, no doubt about that - but from what I can see, having my children at home isn’t one of them.

What?! No clapping for us?!?

Jesus wept!

I dunno, it’s a bit cringeworthy but who am I to correct people telling me I’m awesome.

It's a bit nauseating, but a lot of people are struggling, and knowing they are not alone helps a bit.

I love my kids. I'm happy to keep them safe at home. But last few days I'm starting to think my depression is returning- I've been crying over little things, struggling with motivation, eating more and more... All while trying to keep a happy face in front of the children. My house is a tip as they can create mayhem faster than I can clean and tidy with their help, plus try to 'school at home' (as despite trying to teach them with suggested resources from school, we aren't allowed to call it home schooling). I look forward to my weekly shopping trip to have a conversation with another adult in person (besides DH, I see him in the evenings.)

What does “ history will show you for your courage” even mean? The whole thing is well meaning but dreadfully written.

No, I do not need applause for spending six weeks with my own children.

There have been some very nasty and stressful consequences of lockdown and Covid, no doubt about that - but from what I can see, having my children at home isn’t one of them.

Yeah exactly bits like that shouldnt be in there. The parts about not being able yo get food, that's understandable. It is badly written.

I think the part 'history will show you for your courage' is almost trying to demand some kind of tribute to this, like a statue. It's so badly written.

You like that? Check out what my self-serving cousin posted. Really who organises a clap for themselves?

Trying again

I think the part 'history will show you for your courage' is almost trying to demand some kind of tribute to this, like a statue. It's so badly written.

That would be brilliant- a statue of me sitting on the sofa, surrounded by stockpiled loo roll, eating biscuits and watching Tiger King while my kids wreak havoc around me and refuse to do their schoolwork. The author was right- I AM awesome...

The courage will not be remembered, it will be the suicides, abuse behind doors,
time to get into counselling

Having my DD home for 6 weeks has been exhausting because she’s 6 and needs stimulation. However, I am not some hero for doing this. I’m her parent. DH and I take it in turns to have a break.

teachers everywhere are deeply grateful that you are there for your children when they should be but can’t be.

Can I remind this ‘author’ that a teacher’s role is to teach? We aren’t meant to be ‘there’ for your child. Parenting is still your responsibility. We, of course, care for your child during the hours of 8:30 and 3:30 and provide them with stimulation during the day but that comes in the form of education.

I can think of one specific Facebook friend of mine who will be posting or sharing that later.

Admittedly my DS is a baby and therefore not that much trouble but I'm sat on the sofa in my pyjamas eating an Easter egg. It's not exactly the toughest Tuesday morning I've ever had.

Queen that is truly awful....