Anyone else worried about lockdown with small children (whilst simultaneously “working from home”)

[Ilikeviognier]

Just that. A bit worried really - obviously there are bigger things at stake like lives so clearly we will do what we have to.

BUT- I have a 3.5 and a 5 year old. Both boys. When together at home they fight, so much fighting, argue; get sooo bored if not completely entertained. When schools close, I’m going to somehow work from home, whilst home schooling and supervising the fighting, also presumably we won’t be allowed out by that point so we’ll all be climbing the walls.... and for how long?

Anyone else worried about this? 😳

Yes kids need to be bored however this is not the problem.

Here we all agree that WFH and looking after DC is hard but doable. Add in the 4 hours daily schoolwork they're supposed to do (eg my 8 year old) and it becomes fucking difficult.

Add to that the emotional turmoil they are in and everyone is in tears at least once a day. This isn't normal for them and they are scared.

Not helpful but I have literally never been more relieved to be childfree in my entire existence. I couldn’t imagine coping with what is going on in the world today and have children to worry about.

I’m wondering if it’ll put people off TTC for the next couple of years... or ever!

As an employer without children, I am genuinely interested to hear suggestions for making this practically possible and not just "suck it up".

Most staff are child free. One has older children who can entertain themselves. One has a teacher partner who'll be off if schools are. Another has a partner also asked to work from home.

To me, that reads that all but the last will be the ones "sucking it up". (incidentally, he's also the first to suggest that we'll having "nothing to do"...)

We'll need to innovate to survive and knuckle down to get through this. Yes, we're going to have to make some changes. But it seems like a massive fuck you to the staff adapting and grafting to allow the last guy a free pass, when he's definitely the cheeky fucker of the office.

How families can cope with self-isolating together

On day 1 of this. We’re all self isolating due to DS waking up with a fever and cough. DP is off- can’t wfh so is supposed to be in charge...4 yr old DD is very attached to me and can’t understand why we need to stay inside. I do wfh regularly and on occasion with the kids so it’s doable but not ideal. I’ve been working in 2 hour bursts, I’m exhausted but haven’t actually done that much work.

home Ed work sheets & links

DH & I will be wfh as of tomorrow. When the schools/nursery close we'll have a 5yo & 21mth old to manage. We're planning to split the day between us but not sure if we'll manage our full hours every day/week.

I’ve been wfh a few weeks already, as I work in an airport and immunocompromised. But symptoms appeared today, so 5yo DD and I now self isolating.

I can work anytime, and she’s quite self sufficient anyway being an only child so I’m not too worried.

Might try and keep her up til 10ish each night when streets are quiet and go out for a walk to an empty grass park to combat cabin fever and get some fresh air though!

I’m on day 2, with 4 and 6yos. I have but one top tip. From day 1, instigate the Bedroom Hour. After lunch, children go to their rooms for an hour. The first half hour, they do whatever they like, as long as they stay in there. The second half hour I give them their iPads. So far, it’s a sanity saver.

I feel your pain! My boys are 3 and 8. They also wrestle, fight, throw stuff etc. Very energetic. Loud. Annoying noises. I do love them dearly! But my god they’re full-on!

I have this Lego calendar planned. Getting a kiddy darts board. Maybe a pool table. A table tennis set. Jigsaws.

There’s a kind of solidarity in this I think! Thanks for the tips! Yes it’s going to be interesting.....

My youngest is 2.5. The minute I answer the phone she’s all over me, fighting with her sister or shouting and bawling. I am so looking forward to attempting a conference call with that going on in the background

The five year old can be silenced with a tablet. Computer that is. Not a sedative. That’s for the really bad days...

My employer is the same as @Cremebrule

They appreciate if schools and nurseries close then some people who WFH are going to be a bit less efficient.

The message was get the essentials done and then do the rest as and when. Depends on the nature of your job of course but I could do the essentials whilst the kids are with me and catch up later.

I have 3 kids. 7,5 and 2m

Caveat to add my self employed, tradesmen DP will probably be off too so he can have kids and I can WFH to proper capacity!

I have a 2yo!! Not a 2m old.

I'm thinking up at 6 work till 8.30/9 when they wake , get them food and set them up with something till 10.30ish then maybe have a short break where we do something together then back to work whilst they have some tv/laptop time then stop for lunch at 12-1 and do another activity then back to work till 2 then finish for the day- sounds so easy I'm sure I'll nail it

@wizzywig

My DH has been to charity shops for jigsaws etc today. Got me some sudoku and crossword books. He’s looking in amazon for the darts boards etc.

He’s far from perfect but he’s totally on this!

I’m thinking of that video a while ago where toddler and baby in walker crashed into room where dad was live on the news!

DS is almost 1, due to start nursery when I go back to work next month. I’ve had a year off so I can’t not work, but if he’s not at nursery I don’t know what I’ll do, I don’t have anyone to look after him. DH has to go to work as well.

I just don’t understand how people are expected to manage looking after tiny children and working. It’s not like DS can entertain himself. He’s doesn’t even watch tv!

Those people who think that teachers will be "off" if schools are can think again! I've been given numerous tasks which basically amount to everything I would normally do except having (other people's) children in front of me. Add my own 1 and 3 year olds into the mix and that will be me.counting the days til i can get back into work who am I kidding, on day 5 of isolation and there already

I wonder if fathers are having all this panic over childcare? I hope they are

The childcare will be falling firmly on dh's shoulders whilst I try to work from home. The 12 yr old has autism and fights with the 8 year old. Fun times ahead.

Learning can't happen as I will need the laptop.

I’m thinking of that video a while ago where toddler and baby in walker crashed into room where dad was live on the news!

Same here.

I’m thinking of that video a while ago where toddler and baby in walker crashed into room where dad was live on the news!

that will never not be funny.

Bear in mind how well that all went down though. No one criticised him for it. Maybe it’s just not the end of the world after all.

My 2 year old tries to grab the laptop, press all the buttons, pull out the leads, scribble on it, rip up paper, tip everything out of the desk, grab my phone and hide it....its like her mission is to stop any chance I have of doing anything. If nurseries close and me and my husband have to work from home we will have to do it in shifts, we can probably get 5 hours done each which is better than having to go off. Is there any friend / family member you could tag team with?
I'm also planning on doing stuff they're not normally allowed to do which might work in the short term to distract them. Take all the cushions off sofas and jump on them. Water play inside. Let them loose with glue and glitter. Let them bake and lick all the stuff as they go since we're the only ones that will be eating it. Sure that will kill at least 2 days...

Me and DH are going to have to tag team between conference calls. I’ve meal planned and instigated family games every evening.

Have told my manager that I won’t be quiet as productive with a 5 & 2 yo at home and he genuinely helped me out with a list of priorities -“ if you can do one thing answer your emails and dial in for the team meeting daily (10 mins) other than that, it’s ok.”

DP is also wfh and we’re sharing a laptop...... that’ll work......

Please, please, please don't expect your children to do school work for hours each day. For every hour that they are taught in school, you can do in about 10-15 mins if one to one so an hour broken up over the day is fine. Play games, find bits online, watch documentaries, read, talk, play. Its a great time of year to get planting in the garden. And let them get bored. Amazing things happen when they get bored.
I home educate one of my children and I'm actually looking forward to having the rest at home (I'm fully aware I won't be saying this when they are all fighting in a weeks time)