Are we key worker parents and our families just not important?

[Bbq1]

Fuming and so angry that schools are opening for children of key workers. It's ok for non working parents and non essential people to stay at home but the rest of us working people are just thrown to the dogs to take our chances? I work in an educational setting where the sick and vulnerable children will attend while we are exposed to the illness. Surely they are the very children that should be staying home while schools open for healthy children?

[Kitten124]

I would be happy to help out with cleaning but you have missed the point. Like many others I’m going to have to juggle a full time job and full time childcare and haven’t yet worked out how the hell to do that.

[TSSDNCOP]

She’s not resentful that she’s a key worker. She’s resentful that key worker kids are getting support, which she admits is unreasonable, but like a lot of people that work but aren’t KW’s she’s struggling with childcare at this time.

[CallmeAngelina]

I’m slightly resentful that other people’s kids will continue to get an education, if I’m honest.
As someone said, it won't be education; more like a holiday play-scheme, with maybe some of the activities with a slightly educational basis. No National Curriculum coverage, anyway. There might perhaps be some supervision to cover the work that has been set for all those at home.
But as the only information teachers have been given is what we saw on the bbc news last night, who knows?

[Kitten124]

TSSDNCOP exactly. How are millions of people going to manage this childcare issue? It’s a real problem that the government hasn’t addressed. Many children will not be home schooled as parents are desperately trying to hang on to their jobs. Even those who get to work from home will still have a job to do and risk losing their job if they don’t meet the expected standards. This is causing a huge amount of anxiety amongst those who are not key workers.

[CouldBeOuting]

I’m slightly resentful that other people’s kids will continue to get an education, if I’m honest.

I work in school admin... I’m not a teacher.... I’m one of the staff who will be providing childcare.... they won’t be being educated..... they may learn some new games ....

[BriefDisaster]

Yeah fuck it let's just everyone stay home.

Hospitals - who needs them anyway?
Supermarkets - totally non essential just lets close them all!
Police - well they wan to stay at home with their kids so we should just let them.
Fire Services - can't take the risk of them getting ill can we.
Army - yep totally not needed just shut it down.
Power supply - we will be fine without it

I could go on......

*hope you all note the sarcasm.

[Frequency]

I have a foot in each boat. I have two jobs. Only one is as key worker and I don't plan on using the school as my keyworker role is a weekend role so it feels a bit of a pisstake to stick DD in school so I can WFH comfortably. She's a teen anyway so will know to keep quiet when I'm working.

My other job is WFH as of Monday. I plan on setting up a home office for me and dd in the dining room and poking DD with a stick whenever she looks like she's playing Minecraft.

It's not easy for anyone but after speaking to my taxi driver this morning whose wife has just been let go from her catering job and his hours have been slashed from 16 to 12 with more cuts to come I'm focusing on being grateful that I still have a job.

My sympathies are with those who don't or those who are in a precarious position. We can only hope it passes quickly and the government offers enough support to keep people going in the meantime. Those in secure jobs, be it teaching or in care need to count themselves lucky.

[Marieo]

It's not been done to make life easier for people though, it's literally just so that critical services can run. The fact that people are struggling to juggle childcare to keep their jobs is stressful; but being a key worker is stressful in a different way. My husband is now away for 3 months, I am having to work odd hours ie naptimes and bedtime, not ideal but I recognise I am fortunate to be able to do so. There is a lot that feels unfair about what is happening, but lets not be resentful for children being able to go into school because their parents both work 'on the frontline', or are vulnerable.

[Tr1skel1on]

I'm being redeployed from my normal job in a school, not a teacher, to quite possibly mopping hospital corridors. Normal hospital cleaners will do the wards. Schools shut so we are a valuable resource, I'm hoping I'm a key worker!

[Kitten124]

Anyone who works is going to have a difficult time right now, I don’t really resent anyone but those who have a secure job and childcare sorted are in a better place than those who don’t.

[Motorina]

My team of specialist clinicians (some - including me - with 20+ years of training and experience) have been given the heads up we may be redeployed as care assistants and porters. Because our highly specialist clinical skills are, as of now, less relevant than that care work.

Whether we'll continue to be paid as the specialists we are, or at the pay band of the work we'll be doing is up in the air. If the latter, then I won't be able to pay my bills.

It's rough all round.

[Wineislifex]

I’ll swap you, you go do my shift in A&E and I’ll stay home with your kids?

[Hippywannabe]

The list of keyworkers isn't out yet, is it? I was happily told today by one year 5 girl that she and her brother will be in next week as Mum teaches and Dad can't be expected to look after 3 kids.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

My dh is a key worker (for those with special needs). I am not. Yes, it's a PITA have g to juggle working and childcare and all the schoolwork that's coming home with the kids but needs must

This is a global emergency.

If it's possible to do any part of your job from home, do it. Even if it means a little extra screentime for the kids.

If you cannot do your job from home, and you cannot go into work as you are not a key worker and getting the school hours then stay at home with your kids. Money coming in and out, bills, etc, can all be sorted afterwards once we are no longer in a global emergency.

[LadyTiredWinterBottom2]

Surely it's because you are more important.

[Kitten124]

How do you sort money out afterwards if you have no job?

[PerfectParrot]

kitten, I think you need to take a look at the news from Italy if you think that nurses and hospital cleaners are better off than those worrying about money. They are literally putting their own lives at risk just to keep taking care of other people.

[Russellbrandshair]

I’m an essential worker and I have kids. OP you are going to just have to suck it up I’m afraid and stop bloody moaning.
I work in social care - if I don’t work, vulnerable people will die. I’m not going to allow that to happen because if I WAS vulnerable I would hope someone would care for me. It’s simple really- treat others as you would like to be treated.
In case you hadn’t noticed - life isn’t fair. It’s also not fair some of the people I care for have life limiting disabilities is it? I am LUCKY to not have to deal with that. So stop whining and get on with it like the rest of us. Let’s get this thing over and done with, and keep as many people as we can safe and well. We can go this if we work together.

[SpokeTooSoon]

A mother in my child’s class is requesting they be included in the key-workers arrangements.

Her DH is a key-worker.

She is a SAHM.

Anyone else gobsmacked by the cheeky fuckery! Just told my DH and he said “well, she’s technically allowed to do that”. !!!

[Kitten124]

No I’m sure that’s not possible, it’s only if there is no-one to take care of the children surely?

[StillMedusa]

I work in a special school... that is staying open. Some of the children will be kept home (the most medically complex, immobile, tube fed, oxygen dependent ones) but most wont.. and thank heavens for that; some are so violent that isolation at home would be impossible for families.. and if their parents aren't key workers there is no child care provision that COULD care for them. We can because there are usually sufficient staff and expertise.
It's not ideal, and I can't say I'm looking forward to coping with children who CANNOT manage the slightest change, with probably a skeleton staff. But I'll be doing it.

And frankly compared to my eldest child.. who is a doctor on the very front line, treating the rapidly increasing number of Corona Virus patients in the major hospital in which she works...

I'm bloody grateful that caring for other people's children in ALL I have to do.
My daughter is one of the first trained for Covid 19 in her hospital, they already do not have adequate PPE, she is with them all day, every day.
She knows how many Italian Doctors on the frontline have died as a consequence of their job.
She is not complaining.
If if she, and all the other front line doctors and nurses are getting on with it. SO SHOULD WE.

[Kitten124]

Agreed (but still unsure how some of us are going to be in two places at the same time).

[goldengranny]

You won't be looking after sick and 'medically' vulnerable children. Just after children and children who have difficulties, like autism or a social worker. The children of front line workers will be a higher risk to you, but their parents will be at far higher risk.

What you're saying is your safety takes priority over all the most vulnerable people in society who front line staff care for.

If you hadn't noticed it we are entering a national/worldwide emergency situation, and we all have to get our shit together and work as a team. You are part of that team.

On a more sympathetic note, it is usually no worse than mild flu for most people and we are probably all going to get it in the next 6 months

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

How do you sort money out afterwards if you have no job?

Because as well as all the millions of other (rapidly changing) things this virus is throwing at them the government are also looking at what to do about people in your exact situation

[Shopkinsdoll]

Parker231

If teachers don’t work where do you think the DC’s of key workers are going to go? Some people have no sense. DH is a doctor and they need additional cleaners, can I put your name down rather than you stay at home.

If your husband is a key worker and he works, that leaves you to stay at home to watch the kids. The parents who need these key worker places are if both parents are key workers or single parents.