Planning ahead: lockdown, wfh and childcare

[BalconiWaferAddict]

Thinking ahead in case we do have another full lockdown - how did people with toddlers manage balancing work and young childcare?

I’m only just back so it’s not been a consideration before but now I’m back to work I’d like to have a vague plan for what if. Both our employers are super understanding and accommodating but obvs we don’t want to take the . Working solidly all evening isn’t an option as I’m recovering from PND and doctor has been insistent on the importance of downtime and DH has a phone-based job in customer service.

Currently we think our options are:

1. one takes the morning parenting shift, one takes the afternoon. Work fully on the ‘off shift’ we do what we can when we have the baby.
2. one of us requests furlough (lower earner) and takes on the childcare responsibilities.

Other options greatly appreciated!

We did exactly the same as @CaptainMerica and it was just about sustainable. But it’s no way to live! I’m hoping that any future lockdowns won’t be as long as the last one.

“Char2015
I have a feeling that if there is a national lockdown just as before in March, childcare bubbles will not be allowed. They will have to opt for minimal contact including all childcare. If childminders are not allowed to operate, informal childcare arrangements will not be allowed.”

This is just scaremongering I think. They bought in childcare bubbles as they knew it was a mistake not to have had them in the last lockdown, they need people working and know full well that even if they take away the legal childcare bubble people will have no choice but to do it anyway. The government will not want the furlough bill to be any higher than it already is so won’t risk taking childcare bubbles away.

I wouldn't be asking for furlough in these uncertain economic times, surely you don't want your employer to think they can manage without you? You would be first in line when the redundancies come along.

Ours were home march to september so we did a variety of things. For a while I took a half day of annual leave each day so I only had to shoehorn in a few hours' work not a whole day, and I got up at 5am to accommodate it. Later on in lockdown we got a part time nanny to come in 3 hours a day, we both tried to organise as many work calls during that time as possible as we knew we would be undisturbed. The pt nanny solution cost about half my salary so we figured it was still better than me going on unpaid leave, also wanted my employer to know I am necessary to the business!