Working from home with kids

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

I'm still working from home and have been since we locked down. I have two primary school aged kids and my husband works outside of the house... I cannot be the only one feeling the pressure, and it's about to get worse once school breaks.

Our school haven't provided a great deal of support, but 7 weeks with none leaves me really concerned for all of our sanity.

With no holiday club provision, what are we supposed to do. It's the worst summer holiday ever being locked in your home whilst your parent ignores you so they can hang on to their job!!!!!

Really need this whole thing to be over, anyone else?

Yes, you are not alone - it going to be a difficult one. I’m wfh but my DH is too so we take it in turns / work evenings and weekends.

It is worth checking holiday clubs in the wider area - we found one in a different school (still small bubbles) and some of DDs class friends are going.

We also hired someone to come for the house via Sitters for when we both had meetings. She came for three hours, looked after both kids. It helped break things up.

Yes it’s intolerable.

At this stage, though, just cast the net wide, see what’s out there. Holiday clubs (some are operating), hire someone for a few hours a day to take care of then, favours from friends.

It’s absolutely shit, I know. We have to hope that September will bring some respite.

There have been a few threads on this. A suggestion from one of them is to ask around for a teenager - that might be cheaper than Sitters and you could make a longer term arrangement. A teenager, in addition to looking after your DC, could do some light housework (meals and tidying for your DC) and take your DC to the park, library or whatever's good in your area.

You can't be the only one... jump onto your community or school's Facebook Group,perhaps you can find some local ideas?

On my local Facebook childminders have been advertising summer vacancies, a few summer holiday clubs have made themselves known. At worst, contact classmates of your kids, you might be able to organise some entertainment.

It's like the worst day on Ground Hog Day, isn't it?

The way I see it is this...

We've managed 17 weeks of no-school already, so another 7 weeks is less than a third of what we've already survived.

Still shit though, I know! It's making me and DH feel vaguely ill.

Its not easy at all.

I am looking forward to Friday though. It will be a weight off my shoulders.

Our holiday club is running most of the time so things are actually looking better for me.

Even the days they will be at home, they are fine watching crap on TV or being on tablets.

But what other choice is there?

I’m right there with you OP. 7 weeks without even school work to distract the dc !! DD is booked in a holiday club for 4 days in the whole time. That is all that’s available! (I know 101 people who live in city centres will now come and tell me not to be so silly, but they don’t live where I do, believe me, I have been a working parent for 12 years, I know the local holiday club provision inside out, and my FB feed is full of them saying that they won’t be opening). DS(nearly 12) had point blank refused to go to holiday club at his old school (he has been at middle school for a year), and I can’t say I blame him. He’s happy with a pile of books though, whilst DH and I wfh.