Desperate! Just don’t know what to do.

[ChazP]

My partner has developed a temperature and intermittent cough overnight. I’ve banished him to the spare room and ordered a test.

But I’m in a total panic! I’m a WFH key worker. My job involves long hours in “meetings”. I HAVE to have the door closed - subject matter is highly sensitive and confidential. I can’t return the work to someone else.

Have got 12 yr old (who has been in isolation before, so is ok to manage herself), but also have 6 yr old who requires far more supervision. I don’t know how to manage! Realistically, I’m likely to be locked away from 10-1 and 2-4:30 most days. 12 yr old can supervise 6 yr old to some extent, but at the expense of her own school work and the chances of her being able to encourage him to do any school work at all is zero...it’s a battle for myself and my partner.

Not really sure what I’m asking, really. Probably just a handhold and any tips to make this as least bad as it can be. Please be kind - I know lots of people are in worse situations, and I should be grateful that the kids are a bit older, but I’m scared and panicking and I haven’t got anyone I can talk to in real life at the moment.

Thanks

Stick the 6yo infront of the TV or on a game. They're old enough to learn - swiftly - that they stay put while mummy's in a meeting unless their arm is hanging off.

As a key worker why cant you send your 6 year old to school?

Send them to school. You're a keyworker. Or, you explain to your boss that your husband is symptomatic and you are in sole charge of two children.

Call your 6yo school and tell them what you have said here, or take emergency leave until you can arrange a place for 6yo at school?

@AriataBrown

As a key worker why cant you send your 6 year old to school?

Probably not the best idea while her partner has COVID symptoms, they should all be isolating now

How about your partner supervising the 6 year old via Zoom/Facetime/Alexa (if you have one with camera and a screen) or whatever. The 12 year old props the device up so that he can see them, and then keeps them on track, encourages, tells them to sit down again.

If I am honest, given that your DH has been in contact with the whole family I would just continue as you did before. He can try and keep a distance from the DC and make sure he sanitises often and maybe wears a mask around them? He can listen out from the room he is isolating in surely? The 6yo is old enough to understand daddy is unwell and if she needs anything she must just go to the door of the room and speak to him, not go in. You might also want to explain the situation to your work in case you have to be interrupted.

If the partner has Covid he can’t go to school!

Seriously...3 of you suggesting the OP sends her child into school when there's a member of the household with covid symptoms? Ffs

You can’t send them to school as others have suggested I’m afraid OP. Your whole household has to isolate

I’m afraid it is a balance of just getting through the next 10 days. Screen time limits out the window. Don’t feel guilty for it- it is beyond your control. Also talk to your boss so they know your household is isolating. How does it work with your role when you are off sick? They might need to function a bit like that for a few days.

Can’t believe people are saying to send the DC to school when there someone symptomatic in the house! Everyone needs to isolate.

Sorry OP that sounds hard, I agree with pp saying put your son in front of the tv if he’s not able to work by himself.

6 yr old was in school but had to isolate due to other child testing positive (we suspect this is where partner got it). 12 yr old tested negative at school yesterday, but can’t send either of them in while partner has symptoms. I like the idea of partner supervising by zoom - that might work if anything overruns at my end.

Sadly, without being too outing, it’s impossible for me not to finish off the current work I’m doing, unless I’m too incapacitated myself to do it.

I’m gradually calming down (doesn’t help that my peri-menopausal PMT makes me very weepy at the best of times). My DD is on an online tutorial at the moment and has told her tutor, so I feel a bit better that she’s going to be supported.

I’m so over 2021 already!

What would happen with your 6 year old if your DH didn’t have a cough?

If your DH supports him with his work, can’t he still do that through FaceTime?

I agree with the pp who said you’ve all been mixing anyway before the positive test, so I would carry on as normal, just with masks , hand sanitiser etc.

It's good that you've ordered a test...your partner could test negative remember, so this might only be a few days in which your 12 year old needs to help out so shouldn't have too detrimental effect on schooling.

I also think that this is maybe the time not be precious about screen-time. Try and put the 6 yr old in front of a screen in the same room as the 12 yr old, as the 12 yr old to supervise as best they can between those hours (maybe also explain to their teacher) and manage like this for a few days until the test result comes back...

@2020fuckoff

Oh get over yourself. Was talking in general

You've all been mixing, so if DH has covid, he's probably already passed it onto the rest of you.

How ill is he? Unless he's actually really ill, he can deal with DC, home school etc, while you work can't he?

It’s two weeks. It’ll be tough but them missing two weeks of school isn’t the end of the world. It will be fine. Breathe.

Put the telly on and get through this as best you can. Your priority has to be your work rn. Screens and snacks will support you in this.

I echo screens 'n snacks. You'll get through this.

For the 6yo, CBBC Bitesize (the BBC educational programmes for primary kids) starts it's live broadcasts at 9am. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/cbbc/20210126 You can obviously watch on catch-up too though.

They're brilliant - educational and entertaining.

I'm in Scotland, so below is the Scottish info (just in case anyone else reading the thread from Scotland is interested):

Schedule for today for BBC Scotland's live educational broadcasting for primary children: www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p06kvypx

Primary broadcasting starts at 10am. Secondary starts at 11am.
You can watch BBC Scotland here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcscotland

We watch these anyway as they're only 40 mins or so and my DD's primary school haven't been the best at providing work to be honest.

Temporary shittons of screentime and a box of snacks, whatever you have to do to get through.

Yep screen time and dh supervising via zoom.

All normal rules out the window.

I would just have your partner teach and look after the children.
They have already been around him and children are not hugely at risk of severe symptoms of covid, plus he might not even have it.

In terms of your job, I've taken a wild guess as I suspect we are in the same profession.

Depending on how many days your 'meetings' will go on for it might be worth speaking to your clerks and the 'chair' of the meeting together with the other person/people involved in the meeting(s) and explain the situation if you OH tests positive. The 'chairs' have been given guidance (I believe) to be understanding of the difficulties people are having at the moment. (I got an email about the work some groups are doing about this on Friday evening.)

I've had to offer an explanation during telephone meetings and apologise for any screams and shouts when we've had the kids home self isolating and the chair of the meeting has always been very understanding, often providing similar anecdotes if they're working remotely!

Also, you could ask for additional comfort breaks if the meetings are being dealt with remotely. Most of my 'meetings' have had these additional breaks and it might give you 5-10mims to check on the kids.

You're welcome to pm if you need any more details!
Good luck today.