Some dreadfully judgmental posts here. I'm a mu m of a year 2 child and an October born 4yr old, due together reception in September. I'm desperate for schools to reopen. My 7yr is missing her friends and teachers, and my 4yr old is going to have a very tough start to school, with no transition,and missing out on the last few months of pre-school. They are both worried about the virus, and my eldest is worried about getting behind. She's started to have trouble sleeping, and often tells us how sad she is. they mental health is being affected.
I think my kids are the best things in the world. I'd love to be able to just enjoy the time with them, and fill our days with fun, but I am desperately trying to save my business, which will not survive u til September - dance school that teaches 300 local children, so no chance of opening before schools do - and having completely lost my wage, my husband and I are very very worried for the future. He is still at work every day, so I am managing all this alone. My mental health is suffering. I am not desperate to 'shove my kids back to school', nor do I 'hate spending time' with my kids. like most working parents, we're very scared for what the future looks like for our kids.
The economy is not an abstract thing and the government is not going to endlessly prop it up- if we can't attempt to regain some.normality soon, the future for all of us, and our children, is very uncertain. Mostly for women, as they will be the ones that have to give up their jobs if continued childcare is required.
No one want to send their children back to school if it's not safe to do so, but wishing for normality does not mean we hate our kids.