To think Lockdown is affecting parenting? So much guilt!

[Maddie2019]

I was wondering if anyone else was in the same position since Lockdown has started. This is so much different to what I managed it would be like, I have always worked full time and loved the idea of spending a prolonged period with my little one.

I don’t even know what week we’re currently in but I have to hold my hands up and admit I’m struggling. My Little boy is missing his friends, missing the park and overall getting frustrated - as I am. I feel like today has been awful, just having to constantly have a go because he’s misbehaving and now he’s in bed I’m sitting here feeling awfully guilty because he’s only small and he doesn’t fully understand what’s going on.

Is there anyone else out there who’s struggling a little? I absolutely hate having a day like today - I feel so awful, especially when he’s fast asleep looking so innocent and I feel like the worlds meanest mum!

Lockdown is effecting everything. It's an extraordinary situation and it would be weird if we all weren't having wobbles. Im just trying to be honest, apologise when I've been grumpy, try and be compassionate to my boy and myself, and we'll try again tomorrow.

Yep. Struggling here too with trying to home school a year 2 and look after a 6 week old. Safe to say I feel massively guilty everyday that I can’t give eldest the support and attention she needs with her work and feel like she will fall behind. Also that I haven’t had that one to one bonding time with new baby as I imagined I would get whilst eldest would have been at school. I know it’s for the best though.

Yes, I'm struggling massively. I'm a single mum with an almost 5 year old daughter. I'm working from home whilst trying to look after her and home school her and it's hell. My bosses are totally unsupportive and I've been subtly told I need to be more efficient. My poor daughter is stuck inside all day either on her tablet or watching TV. She can't even play out in the garden as I can't be there to supervise her, since I have to be glued to my computer. In addition, we have no garden furniture, no table and chairs, no play things like a swing, slide or trampoline, so she doesn't really want to be out there anyway. We go out for a daily walk, where she rides her scooter, but that's it. I try to give her worksheets to do, ask her to do reading, give her colouring books, games to play with etc but she doesn't want to do them. I've had very little help from her school, they've just provided links for websites to look at, so basically it's up to me to do it all. I was hoping the new BBC Bitsesize Daily programmes might be of use but the one I watched was abysmal with the presented Karim Zeroual constantly referring to his time on Strictly come dancing which has no relevance to my 4 yr old. I'm so worried about her mental house and I'm wracked with guilt. My mental health has deteriorated rapidly in the last few weeks. I'm going to ask my employer if I can be furloughed as I can't carry on like this. I'm so worried about the future and honestly cannot see schools reopening at all in 2020 which depresses the hell out of me.

Absolutely. My 4 year old is horrible at the moment but he’s bored. His life has changed massively, I am hoping once we get ‘back to normal’ behaviour will improve. He is missing school, family, friends, parks, soft play, restaurants & days out. We are out & about a lot (I woke full time so make the most of days off) so it’s v v strange for us.
This is shit.

Yes the employers that are not giving parents any leeway is shocking. Mine was the same.
If we are working a full day then the child is pretty much neglected. It's awful.

Ask to do half day holiday for a week or two? Work in the morning, then homeschool & play properly after lunch?

Yes.
It's not the end of the world but it's also not the life I would have wanted for them.
I hate that the kids can't go out or mix with their friends.
If it makes you feel any better: I had a really low day yesterday. Couldn't be bothered to homeschool or do much with them. Felt terrible about letting them down.
DD said it was "the best day EVER!" because she got "cake, pancakes and Disney +"
They are more resilient than we think

Yes. My 17 month old is watching way too much TV for one thing. I currently feel like I'm doing a poor job of pretty much everything.

Yes of course it affects it
My little girl watches hours and hours of Tele at the minute
All day when I'm working as she's incapable of playing by herself!
Her behaviour's deteriorating cos there's not the outlet to burn the energy off and we're not leading our normal life. I know I'm not add good with her as I get no break, get frustrated by life at the minute and frustrated with her.

Not as good with her, that was supposed to say

Oops posted too soon. I don’t know how to sit breast feeding a baby for ages and simultaneously play with my older child (other than loads of TV). We get through each day but I end up very tired and depressed by the end of it. Wish we had an end date for all of this x

I feel like the impact on parents and children is largely being ignored, and there are threads on here delighting in parents having to give up work because school and nurseries aren’t open. Our nursery has given a group of us notice because we dared to question why we were being charged full fees for no service. I feel totally and utterly devalued as a parent and yes, mental health will suffer. That makes me feel even worse because it’s all about how a parent’s mental health impacts on a child. I really wish I hadn’t had the children to bring them into such a shit show to be honest.