Nothing new really - feeling robbed of my maternity leave with school nursery closure

[crispytowel]

I know this is nothing compared to the havoc, pain and losses this virus is causing. But I've just had my second and was really looking forward to my mat leave as I had PND with my first. With the school closure I have my first child home with me and baby and barely have any time to spend with the latter. It's really getting me down :(

It’s rubbish isn’t it! I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old, this maternity leave is getting me down. Nothing to do, no where to go, no one to see! I’m so bored of walking, my toddler moans constantly so even if I meet someone for a walk I can’t really talk to them as I can’t hear myself think over the constant whinging and shouting! It’s so cold as well I worry the baby will get ill etc!

I had this during the first lockdown - nursery was closed for 3 months. It wasn’t ideal but we got through it. Hopefully it won’t be as long for you

Yup, totally utterly rubbish. Spending my maternity leave trying to homeschool my DD (fortunately just reading books and colouring, bit of letter formation etc) instead of giving my DTwins the attention they deserve. Even when schools open I think a lot of baby groups won’t. So it does rather suck.

Yes I am the same. I have a 4yr old who is so bored no amount of toys, books, walks, activities, colouring, craft, baking or TV entertains him for longer than 5 mins. My poor 14 week old DD isn't getting a look in and hardly naps because he wakes her. I'm really struggling 😫

I saw a previous thread on this turn really nasty so hopefully this won’t go the same way.

I’ve had a similar experience, this was first baby and I gave birth pretty much as we went in to lockdown. It’s been very stressful trying to deal with covid and starting mat leave without family support etc.

Your feelings are entirely valid and justified. Just a bit shit isn’t it.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that DC2 has hit most milestones at the later side of normal and significantly later than DC1 did. DC2 hardly had any one on one time as I was too busy trying to entertain DC1.

What made me feel a whole lot better about it was reminding myself how much easier we had it because I wasn’t working. This round of school closures on the other hand...

I understand how you feel. I found the first lockdown with a tiny baby and preschooler really stressful, and now I’ll have a reception age child to homeschool plus a just walking wobbly baby who refuses to be contained anywhere. Oh and meant to be working too, so now I’ll have to use up all my holiday. Plus it’s wet and cold out there. I know I’m lucky in many ways but this is not an easy time to have young children!

Same. Pnd with my first. Baby is 5 weeks and now I'm going to have my own dd7 plus step kids at home. I know people have got worse issues but I could cry really. No idea how I'm going to homeschool dd and keep on top of the mountains of laundry, cooking and dishes this will create.

Yep same here!! Just because our situation is not as bad as others (I am a frontline health care
professional so fully aware of the heart ache/trauma and long term impact Covid is having on people), these feelings we have are still valid too. I have an 8 year old and Dc2 was born the day before lockdown number one so also did the homeschooling with a newborn until
5 months when eldest went back to school.
Now we’re starting again, this time with an almost walking whirlwind of a 9 month old. I haven’t had that time with dc2 that I had planned when we decided to wait until dc1 was at school before having another. Pretty crap situation really despite loving having the eldest home and she’s great fun. I’ve just had enough now.

Same here, my youngest was 8 months at start of last lockdown and feel so sorry that she has missed the great routine her sibling had of playdates playgroups etc. She is a bit behind in her speech milestones and worry about her social development because she has not had any of the normal level of input in this way.

I'm going to have DC3 in the spring and hope and pray that early years continues, it is one bright spot of the week. I can't join in with their play but at least they see other kids. If they close nurseries I just don't know how we'll cope. I saw a petition with 30k signatures asking for early years to close 😱 in my mind these people are evil!