To think working from home and looking after//home schooling kids is unsustainable until sept!

[heh1]

Had enough. Dh and I both in pressured busy jobs. Dc in non returning year group

We are surviving by sticking them in front of screens all day when we are on con calls

Don't want to ask for furlough as then my colleagues without dcs or who have much older dcs will get my work ( client focussed sector) and I might be made redundant

Feel pretty rubbish..

House is a shit tip..
Dcs craving attention and largely ignored
Work carrying on like business as usual

Can't manage this until Sept

GPs too far away and in vulnerable category so can't help

[HereIamin2020]

My boss couldn't cope and is now on sabbatical. I am considering my options. DH is worried alot of his female staff may quit/drop hours when they are busy. Waiting to find out what level of provision may be available in September then I will make some decisions.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

I and a lot of my friends/family have cracked already and sorted private school/online school/tutors because it was too much pressure on everyone. Now it is amazing, the children do interactive school lessons online while we work so everyone is less stressed and they are happier.

[DefConOne]

GoldenOmber we also can’t use keyworker childcare unless parent/s are working out of home. I’m NHS and have been really busy WFH but COVID response as part of my job. Only option is unpaid leave or crack on.

[Defaultuser]

I was just thinking the same. Toddler in a flat. DH and I both WFH. I'm recovering from cancer. No family help. I'm shielded so not sure when we'll be able to send him to nursery again. Feel like we're not giving him our full attention as juggling work. Could manage as a temporary measure but I don't see an end to it.

[Deliaskis]

I've found my people! It's so so hard, and DD (9) is just fed up with minimal and very repetitive learning from school with no actual interaction or support. She was in tears last night and after she'd gone to bed I just cried too at the prospect of this for weeks and weeks yet. It's not fair on the kids, the parents, or the people we work for really. It simply doesn't work, and it seems to be an issue that is largely being ignored.

[HeyThereDelilah1]

@NeverTwerkNaked which resource do you use? Would be really grateful if you could share... desperately need something like this and willing to dig deep at the moment.

[HeyThereDelilah1]

@Deliaskis that’s what I just find unbelievably frustrating, zero acknowledgement that working parents are being asked to deliver the impossible. Blended learning can do one! There’s no protection for parents in terms of the workplace either...

[Kljnmw3459]

Yanbu op! I don't mind wfh, I don't mind home schooling and I ofc don't mind running after toddler 24/7 but doing all 3 at once?! Thankfully I can work at night to try to catch up.

[TrueNorthStrong]

100% agree! Though in my area holiday camps claim they will be running. Can you get respite through a holiday scheme?

[Kljnmw3459]

Thankfully my work is supportive and understanding, that really helps.

[Cremebrule]

It is utterly shit and we’re at breaking point and everyone is fed up with each other. Even if I hadn’t been working, I’d be going round the bend. I’m looking at holiday clubs for the summer for some respite. If part-time schooling is a thing in September, working parents will find things very tough.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

@HeyThereDelilah1 will pm you

[MotherofPearl]

YANBU at all OP. It's absolutely diabolical.

In the absence of our DD's nursery reopening we have managed to find a childminder who can take her 2.5 days a week. Can't wait to get some time and headspace. She's 4 and needs fulltime supervision and entertainment. I have two other DC who are better at getting on with things on their own, but I feel like they're really neglected because the 4 year old takes so much of my time, and what's left is spent on trying to work.

If schools are not back FT in September then I can't possibly see how working parents will be able to carry on. Why is the government not discussing this?

[wizzbangfizz]

I'm really struggling OP, I'm in a new full time job I started in March and am being woefully unproductive

[LavenderLilacTree]

It's because of the unprecedented global pandemic with a new virus which is killing lots of people OP.
If we have no lock down and just let it rip through the population, the death toll would be unthinkable.

[GoldenOmber]

If schools are not back FT in September then I can't possibly see how working parents will be able to carry on. Why is the government not discussing this?

Those of us in Scotland are getting no more from the government than "we hope employers will be flexible" about schools going back part time in August. I just don't understand where that flexibility is going to come from, my employers can't put more hours in the day! It feels like the only answer is "working parents will have to massively drop their hours or totally give up their jobs" and they just don't want to say it out loud.

[ChocolateCard]

NeverTwerkNaked - I’d be really interested in the online solutions that you’ve been making use of, and am happy to pay now. Do you have any recommendations?

[LavenderLilacTree]

I wouldn't worry too much about their learning OP.


www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/will-missing-school-due-to-covid-19-matter-for-school-students/12154266

[GoldenOmber]

@LavenderLilacTree

It's because of the unprecedented global pandemic with a new virus which is killing lots of people OP.
If we have no lock down and just let it rip through the population, the death toll would be unthinkable.

omg there's a pandemic? Whyever didn't you say something! We might never have known!

[MindyStClaire]

That's how we're feeling this week too OP. Both wfh with a two year old, so homeschooling not an issue but obviously she needs someone properly with her all the time. I'm pregnant so struggling with the physicality of that.

We have very flexible jobs, so at first we just cut our hours, alternated days looking after DD and caught up with emails during naps and evenings. But that doesn't cut it long term, I worked past 10 every night this week, and after midnight once. I'm exhausted.

We're having one of the women from her nursery come from tomorrow. Three days a week will allow us to each work four days and hopefully get us some evening time back.

The frustrating thing here in NI is that childcare isn't even mentioned in the Executive's plan. We have no idea if the intention is for nurseries to reopen next week, September, January, not a clue and nor do providers. I understand this is an unprecedented situation and plans can change but I'm just getting angry at this stage that we're not being given any indication of what to expect at all.

[everythingthelighttouches]

We’re at breaking point. We have only one yr2 child but with an ehcp and who takes a huge amount of input just to do the simplest thing. His behaviour has taken a nose dive these last few weeks.

This mornings’ “lesson” ended in (my) tears.

I’ve been working since 2.30 until just now. My job is very stressful and more work than usual at the moment.

Sometimes I worry for his safety, if we’re both on calls at the same time we can’t give proper supervision. I worry for my own blood pressure and our DS’s mental health at the end of all of this.

I also can’t see what will have changed by September.

[Dumbie]

It's really really hard. Relentless. Exhausting.

Can you take a bit of time off and switch off from work entirely?

[snappycamper]

YANBU OP, I am in exactly the same position and have been so down about it today. It's utter shite, school have been so negative and clearly don't intend to have them back before the end of term. At this point I'd be overjoyed with just a week.

[Queenunikitty]

In the same boat with a DS with SEN and no EHCP. Both parents working full time, he is in private school and they do have online provision but it’s making it worse as I can’t keep up with the SAHM as I am working full time. Ready to give up.

[ceeveebee]

We’re in the same boat as you, both work FT in full on jobs, and no prospect of our DCs returning this term

We have decided to pay our 18 yo babysitter to come and tutor the kids, (paid nanny is allowed your house,) so they are getting a couple of hours a day at least. Started today and was much better!