Have you sorted out the logistics of your pod yet?

[Anonymous]

I have a 7 yr old and 3 yr old. Family we’ve seen this summer has twin 7 year olds and an au pair. My husband and I work at home right how as do the other parents. The other family asked us to pod with them for school and I initially declined - they thought each adult could take a morning one day a week. I didn’t see how to do that with my job and watch my 3 yr old. Last spring we picked a few of the school assignments each week and ignored the rest. They then returned that the au pair was willing to do each morning (2nd grade will only be 4 hours), thought the consistency would be easier, and thought the twins would learn better with one more child there, not just siblings. I offered to pay for any additional hours she worked and a stipend. So I thought we had it all figured out. But then I realized they might not be in the same 2nd grade class (and the assignments can vary), and my husband is still adamantly against being indoors with anyone outside our family - he apparently envisioned that they’d be learning outside. For now he can teach her (or she can skip some assignments) but his job responsibilities are changing. I really hope the pod works out since we’ve even identified a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 friends/classmates of my 5th grade dd + dd. We will rotate houses, Tu-F. When it’s your day you figure out how to oversee the kids. A couple of dual working parents who will either take turns with the spouse (so each spouse gets one day every 2 weeks) or have a sitter/nanny available that day. A couple of SAH parents. As far as I know some families will have different pods for their other kids. In any case they won’t be included in this one.

We’ve known the families and kids for years and don’t anticipate any problems with the possible exception of needing to shuffle days around, which everyone is prepared for. The hours will be per the school bell schedule.

I would not agree to anything more complicated than this arrangement, including different age groups or kids we don’t know well.

THIS MAXIMIZES YOUR EXPOSURE AND IS WHY PODS ARE A BAD IDEA.

Apologies for shouting, but this is the example of what not to do: rotating locations rapidly, rotating caregivers rapidly, AND overlapping pods. It's the worst possible pod situation.

Someone who is in this type of pod situation likely would’ve wanted in-person school and doesn’t mind.

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

Yes - we have gone through a bunch of "teachers/tutors" resumes and have interviewed through zoom.

Now we have made our choice and the parents who want in (we were corresponding via e-mail with last year's classmates) have to make a decision by the end of this next week. Our pod is light though - only once/week for 2.5 hours for starters. If we feels the need to do more, the tutor is open to it.

But I don't think we will do it - I will probably offer to host the kids one extra day per week for 2 hours to work on some math/reading (for 1 hour and 15 min) then 45 min of playing. Kids are 6y old and k/1st graders.

[Anonymous]

There’s too many variables.

Nobody has class lists yet. Having the whole group on the same assignments and the same zoom calls with be the easiest. Then you have most assignments (worksheets assigned at grade level) the same, and the same schedule for zoom, just different teachers. There are pods that will have completely different assignments and zoom schedules.

The only that make me think the parents have rocks for brains involve 4-6 kids, all in different schools/grades. They KNOW going in that none of the kids will have anything the same. Whoever agrees to supervise that fiasco will have to run a phone app to know who needs to be on zoom when AND have a white board/clip board on the wall to track each child’s assignments. I can’t fathom how anyone that was a good idea... They don’t even know whether any of the kids will be able to eat lunch together!

[Anonymous]

Seems like these pods are going to just increase community spread like crazy. They closed schools for a reason folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like these pods are going to just increase community spread like crazy. They closed schools for a reason folks.

There’s a difference between limiting a potential outbreak to a group of 4 kids and their families and having a classroom outbreak, or spread around on a bus containing kids from many different classrooms.

The big rallying cry in many districts was to protect the teachers. Pods achieve that.

This is a dire situation where parents need to work while kids need to engage in learning. By all means, make suggestions that allow that to happen while avoiding live school AND small private arrangements/ pods. We’ll wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 friends/classmates of my 5th grade dd + dd. We will rotate houses, Tu-F. When it’s your day you figure out how to oversee the kids. A couple of dual working parents who will either take turns with the spouse (so each spouse gets one day every 2 weeks) or have a sitter/nanny available that day. A couple of SAH parents. As far as I know some families will have different pods for their other kids. In any case they won’t be included in this one.

We’ve known the families and kids for years and don’t anticipate any problems with the possible exception of needing to shuffle days around, which everyone is prepared for. The hours will be per the school bell schedule.

I would not agree to anything more complicated than this arrangement, including different age groups or kids we don’t know well.

THIS MAXIMIZES YOUR EXPOSURE AND IS WHY PODS ARE A BAD IDEA.

Apologies for shouting, but this is the example of what not to do: rotating locations rapidly, rotating caregivers rapidly, AND overlapping pods. It's the worst possible pod situation.

Right. It is way way riskier than a licensed learning center/daycare-run pod where parents have minimal/no contact at pickup, they are in the same space with the same kids that is cleaned daily, and there are only two teachers per room (who are background checked, too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you are a sahm. This pod idea doesn’t benefit you or your kids. You’d be better off staying out of a pod and focusing on your own kids. No exposure risk and you can focus on their education and your other kids. Drop out.

Yes, exactly. This is what I am doing. Once we have his class assignment I'll reach out for outdoor play dates with classmates for socialization. And even if you don't see it right now, OP, I do think the other parents will assume that you will "lead" since you're a SAHM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like these pods are going to just increase community spread like crazy. They closed schools for a reason folks.

There’s a difference between limiting a potential outbreak to a group of 4 kids and their families and having a classroom outbreak, or spread around on a bus containing kids from many different classrooms.

The big rallying cry in many districts was to protect the teachers. Pods achieve that.

This is a dire situation where parents need to work while kids need to engage in learning. By all means, make suggestions that allow that to happen while avoiding live school AND small private arrangements/ pods. We’ll wait.

I gave up a lucrative career to spend time with my children. I haven't regretted it for a moment. Maybe you need to reexamine your priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like these pods are going to just increase community spread like crazy. They closed schools for a reason folks.

There’s a difference between limiting a potential outbreak to a group of 4 kids and their families and having a classroom outbreak, or spread around on a bus containing kids from many different classrooms.

The big rallying cry in many districts was to protect the teachers. Pods achieve that.

This is a dire situation where parents need to work while kids need to engage in learning. By all means, make suggestions that allow that to happen while avoiding live school AND small private arrangements/ pods. We’ll wait.

I gave up a lucrative career to spend time with my children. I haven't regretted it for a moment. Maybe you need to reexamine your priorities.

You realize that there are millions of families that will suffer if reduced to one salary, right? And that single parents are in a particularly bad spot? That women are giving up jobs and careers left and right because they have no choice?

Maybe you need to re-examine your blind spots, fool.

[Anonymous]

None of this has any potential to work. What is the point of the overseeing? Will that person help submit exit tickets etc, even if working? What if the kids are in different classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 friends/classmates of my 5th grade dd + dd. We will rotate houses, Tu-F. When it’s your day you figure out how to oversee the kids. A couple of dual working parents who will either take turns with the spouse (so each spouse gets one day every 2 weeks) or have a sitter/nanny available that day. A couple of SAH parents. As far as I know some families will have different pods for their other kids. In any case they won’t be included in this one.

We’ve known the families and kids for years and don’t anticipate any problems with the possible exception of needing to shuffle days around, which everyone is prepared for. The hours will be per the school bell schedule.

I would not agree to anything more complicated than this arrangement, including different age groups or kids we don’t know well.

THIS MAXIMIZES YOUR EXPOSURE AND IS WHY PODS ARE A BAD IDEA.

Apologies for shouting, but this is the example of what not to do: rotating locations rapidly, rotating caregivers rapidly, AND overlapping pods. It's the worst possible pod situation.

That's one the risks you take when you close schools. Parents who need to work are going to do what they have to do, and we all lose control of the situation.

It's far from obvious to me that closing schools was the safer choice for society as a whole. I think there will be a lot of risky situations as a result. In-school instruction with practical precautions might be safer than having everyone fend for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Time to back out, OP. The others didn't prepare anything because they were expecting you to do all the work...

+1

My husband and I both work so we are paying for a nanny if our kids end up at home (their private is still planning to do in-person school as of today). Another family with two working families has asked a stay at home mom if she’ll handle the school stuff if the kids are at home. You know those parents don’t plan to do anything. OP, I’d be very careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who has 3 friends that we said we would pod with. We don’t have class assignments or school schedules. I am a SAHM and the other 3 families have work from home parents. All four families have 3 kids each and kids are different ages.

We have no specific details, no tutor, no discussion of meeting times. I’m wondering if this will end up just being play dates.

I joined a few Facebook groups about pods and it has a bunch of parents looking to join or create pods for various ages and schools.

What is your pod arrangement?

Is it childcare sharing? Are you hiring someone to lead the pod or will the parents take turns?

Yeah, good luck with that. I'd get out while you can

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 friends/classmates of my 5th grade dd + dd. We will rotate houses, Tu-F. When it’s your day you figure out how to oversee the kids. A couple of dual working parents who will either take turns with the spouse (so each spouse gets one day every 2 weeks) or have a sitter/nanny available that day. A couple of SAH parents. As far as I know some families will have different pods for their other kids. In any case they won’t be included in this one.

We’ve known the families and kids for years and don’t anticipate any problems with the possible exception of needing to shuffle days around, which everyone is prepared for. The hours will be per the school bell schedule.

I would not agree to anything more complicated than this arrangement, including different age groups or kids we don’t know well.

THIS MAXIMIZES YOUR EXPOSURE AND IS WHY PODS ARE A BAD IDEA.

Apologies for shouting, but this is the example of what not to do: rotating locations rapidly, rotating caregivers rapidly, AND overlapping pods. It's the worst possible pod situation.

Right. It is way way riskier than a licensed learning center/daycare-run pod where parents have minimal/no contact at pickup, they are in the same space with the same kids that is cleaned daily, and there are only two teachers per room (who are background checked, too).

This is dangerous. Stop trying to be the "in crowd" by podding up. It's too risky, too many variables.