I work as a cleaner in a care home 2 days a week. Most of my income is from top up benefits (tax credits). I’ve got asthma and Dd has asthma (neither is severe). Me going to work would mean me going to and from work on public transport and Dd being shuttled between school, grandmas (and her after school club), dads and my dads houses in order for me to go to work for 16 hours.
I’ve also got anxiety and I’m not coping well at all. In fact I feel like I’m going to have a breakdown as I know many other people do. I’m not sleeping, having night terrors and I’m having panic attacks.
Dd is allowed to go to school but the head teacher phoned me this morning basically to try and persuade me not to send Dd. I said it would only be 2 days a fortnight and he still said it was still risky and would prefer me to find another source of childcare.
I phoned her dad who is currently self isolating and he said he’d speak to his mum. His mum works in an out of school club which is still open for now and her solution was for her to go to work in the morning, then come and get Dd and take her to her house where she would stay with her a few hours and then take her to the out of school club with her and then drop her at my house when I finish work. The following day she would do the same but then drop Dd at my dads house as she was only allowed to take Dd to one after school session.
Then on the weekend when I work her dad would have her as normal and take her to his house.
This is 4 different households she’s going to be shuttled between and being in contact with at least 8 different family members and god knows how many other children. Not to mention I have to travel on public transport and be in contact with 50+ people at work as I have to go into each and every room and every communal area. We apparently have two residents self isolating who they don’t know if they have the virus. I’m so scared to go into work.
I feel like just quitting and just struggling financially because at least I’d feel safe. I know I wouldn’t be able to claim anything for 3 months but I’m sure I’d manage. I know I’d be forced onto Universal Credit which is dire in itself but I just feel like I’m putting Dd at risk and also 3 other households all so I can go to work for a pittance.
I can’t think logically about all this because my anxiety is just taking over.
Any advice would be grateful.