Childcare

[trumpisaflump]

Ok I know I'll probably get flamed but I really didn't know what I should be doing here. I work part time in an acute NHS hospital and DH is an accountant who is currently still at work in a very small office. My DS's school is still open at the moment. My MIL and DM who are both over 70 but in otherwise good health look after my DS on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday aftter school until my DH or I come home from work. I'm now showering as soon as I come home before picking him up from their home
Working from home isn't an option (for me especially-frontline NHS) I just don't know what I should be doing here.
I'm so stressed about this and this is before the schools inevitably close. I think I'm so stressed I can't think straight so world welcome advice.

I think the best option would be your DH finishing early on the days grandparents usually have ds.
Once schools shuts then DH may need to take leave.

There really aren’t many options unfortunately.

We're in a similar situation abroad whete the schools have already shut. There's emergency childcare for essential workers but both parents have to be essential workers in a two parent family. DH hasn't been allowed to work from home although it looks as though from tomorrow he might be. His work is office based but high security so he'll have to physically go in to transfer work done at home on an isolated laptop rather than sending anything electronically, but should be able to minimise time in the office from tomorrow.

So far Ive been able to swap shifts and did 29 hours between Friday lunch time and sunday lunch time - our kids are old enough to be alone for a couple of hours too.

You just have to juggle, but it isn't easy as the home school work set also needs pretty significant suppervision for the younger kids - theyre still doing a full school day, just at home. We have to print, explain, supervise, do some interactive work and mark the work from answer sheets sent by the teacher. DC3 doesn't understand everything set - they're motoring on with the syllabus - and I've been finding explanation videos on YouTube and an educational TV programme's website to explain things I can't.

That sounds rough @anothernotherone. You see I think I'm struggling to understand as both parents aren't 'self isolating' they are just adhering to'social distancing' recommendations. When they have my DS there are only two of them in the house so I'm wondering if this is still classed as social distancing?

trumpisaflump your parents absolutely should not be having your child after school - he's the channel that will bring them the virus. Just think how many children he's in contact with immediately before they pick him up.

Thats how things got to this stage in Italy.

You need to stop using your over 70s parents for childcare immediately - today.

My sisters are still using my parents to do school pickbups and babysitting, both of whom are over 70 and have serious underlying conditions - even though one works from home and the othwr doesn't work, she just prioritises her horse hobby over everyone and everything else. Im furious at their utter selfishness and my parents' ostrich attitude. They will kill our parents, and their children will live knowing they infected them.

@anothernotherone I hear you however I actually don't know who will look after him these days after school. I work in ICU and my manager has already said when schools close we cannot take time off work for childcare. My DH is working all hours to hopefully keep his business to keep a roof over our head in 3 months time

how old is your DS?
Can your DH not work from home at all? Not even after school for those 3 days per week?

I’m so sorry to hear that, I’m really stressed about this too. I hope your manager recognises that this isn’t a reflection on you, it’s an NHS wide problem x

trumpisaflump if its his business he needs to work from home from 3pm