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Original poster

‘School will have to look different from now on’....

406 replies

Starrynightsabove · 05/05/2020 19:55

‘With a mix of home schooling and in-school learning’

So said Nicola Sturgeon.

So how does this work for a single parent trying to work full time from home with a full on job who needs to pay the mortgage. Literally how does this work?

OP posts:
Aesopfable · 06/05/2020 17:06

You could ‘join in the conversation’ and submit your ideas about how to transition out of lockdown here, as the Scottish Government seems to have given up on obtaining expert knowledge and if relying on any old Bob, Dick and Harry for ideas on what they should be doing....

www.ideas.gov.scot/covid-19-a-framework-for-decision-making

Missillusioned · 06/05/2020 17:12

We can't say school isn't childcare when any single parent on benefits is required to look for work as soon as their youngest is I school.
The government has made it childcare by doing this

Devlesko · 06/05/2020 17:15

TheCountessa

Why would you have to give your job up? Surely your dh would go pt to accomodate you working.
Your children have two parents, he'll need to share nicely.

PicsInRed · 06/05/2020 17:17

Continued flexible and home working from employers, allowing parents to stagger start/end times to minimise childcare needs.

  1. You would need to make this law, or businesses simply couldn't be relied upon to comply
  2. How would a retail worker or nurse work from home? Women very largely work in public facing roles

get an au pair

This relies on

  1. Having a bedroom to accommodate and
  2. International travel reopening

It's lovely to say "life should be better!" but usually law is required to compel this to occur for the less advantaged who struggle the most.

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 06/05/2020 17:20

@Devlesko he makes a lot more money than I do and we need that money to, you know, keep a roof over our heads, eat, pay bills including childcare during the holidays which isn’t cheap. Basically everything we budget for, apart from the fact that his job in agricultural engineering can’t be done part time as he works all over the UK

Devlesko · 06/05/2020 17:20

Starry

In that case your ex should be doing 50% childcare as they are his kids too.
There are lots of married people who want to keep their career, but it's obviously not possible atm if childcare doesn't become available.
I know if I had a career so important to me I'd make damn sure I was in an equal relationship.

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 06/05/2020 17:22

@devlesko what a horrible thing to say! I am in an equal relationship but at the end of the day I’m going to prioritise my home and family being able to eat!

Devlesko · 06/05/2020 17:23

TheCountessa

Well, your choices will be limited then.
We went for the lower earner to stay in work as we wanted a sahp, our choice. My dh career was more important to him than mine was to me, even though I earned tons more than him, and he barely earns much. We cut our cloth accordingly.
You'll make it work if it's important to you.

PicsInRed · 06/05/2020 17:33

"We had the privilege to make privileged choices, therefore other women must just be too thick to figure it out".

Tldr: I'm alright, Jack.

ChrissieKeller61 · 06/05/2020 17:37

@PicsInRed I’m not going to risk my health or that of my children because other people fucked up their choices. And we all made them. Plenty of mistakes in my past but here we are.

It’s quite obvious plenty of people are too thick to figure out solutions atm but they will get more creative if they have to.

Devlesko · 06/05/2020 17:45

I think Chrissie is right, apart from the "Thick" bit.
It's ok saying I want this, or that, but you have to adapt to what you have.
Of course it isn't ideal, and the point I was making that if you are in a couple it is for both of you to work out a solution so you can both carry on working if you both want to.
You can't expect to have childcare when there isn't any, so you adapt.
Women shouldn't just roll over and give up their career, that they spent as long studying for as their spouse.
A solution would be for both to go pt, or the man to give up work, I know they can often earn more, but that doesn't matter short term if you want to keep a career/job.

PicsInRed · 06/05/2020 18:03

I’m not going to risk my health or that of my children because other people fucked up their choices.

So how about you remain at home and formally homeschool your kids and the rest of us will get on with it.

Deal?

We each make our own choices, right?

ChrissieKeller61 · 06/05/2020 18:04

That’s exactly my plan ... equally it might be the teachers plan too so getting on with it may not be an option for you

Bollss · 06/05/2020 18:04

If you need to get creative you’ll think of a solution

Solution like what exactly?

I can't send my child to nursery. I don't have room for an au pair nor could I hire one even if I did right now.

I cannot afford a nanny

I don't have any available family to do childcare

My friends all work

So go on... Get creative for me...

PicsInRed · 06/05/2020 18:12

it might be the teachers plan too

That will be their choice - but they will no more continue to be paid than I will be should I not work.

ChrissieKeller61 · 06/05/2020 18:17

@TrustTheGeneGenie it’s not me with the problem it’s yours to solve. But I didn’t have a 5 bedroomed rambling acreage when we had an au pair. I moved two DCs in with me and gave up the master bedroom. There’s one idea. I’m sure when you really have to you can come up with more

Bollss · 06/05/2020 18:42

@ChrissieKeller61 right and where do you suggest I get an au pair from in the midst of a pandemic?

So so smug.

Bollss · 06/05/2020 18:43

Nor are au pairs supposed to be used as full time childcare either.

ChrissieKeller61 · 06/05/2020 19:08

It’s not a case of being smug apologies if that’s how it’s coming across, but the worlds problems are not mine to solve. I’ve got my own but your career management is down to you and the children’s father. I can make suggestions and you can reject them if you want. Or you can try them them and see if they work. Or you can think of something else ... it’s all in your hands isn’t it

MarshaBradyo · 06/05/2020 19:09

Interesting I wonder if it will be the same here

Bollss · 06/05/2020 19:22

The issue is @ChrissieKeller61 it's entirely out of my bloody hands.

I had a childcare plan in place. It has been taken away from me. It is not a problem I can solve as childcare no longer exists.

The only solution to my problem is for one of us to quit work which won't actually solve anything because we won't be able to pay the bills.

PicsInRed · 06/05/2020 19:24

you can think of something else

Hmmm...🤔 well what if we could set up some sort of nationwide state funded educational institutes, for the education and safeguarding of the children of the masses? It would allow the parents to work days, keep the kids warm in winter, and we could even provide nutritious lunches there!

Really hope this wacky idea catches on.

The80sweregreat · 06/05/2020 19:24

Genie, I'm sorry your even in this position it's a bloody worry and so unfair.
Thanks

Bollss · 06/05/2020 19:28

Thank you 80s Smile

pfrench · 06/05/2020 19:32

The obvious here seems to be negotiating with work. It's still temporary, and everyone is in the same situation.

My partner is up at 6, working until 12.30, then I work from 12.30 until 6, then we both work a bit in the evening. I worked all day on Saturday because he could obviously do the childcare, then he worked half of Sunday.

It's shit, but it's temporary.