Last minute plan B if schools don’t open?

[Anonymous]

To the PP on this page feeling stressed out, think about what you can control/influence and work on those factors. Put the rest of the stuff out of your mind as it will continue to torture you. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just looking for support (or solid information if people have it).

I am absolutely terrified right now that school is either:

(1) going to be very short lived and we will be dealing with a long shut down of at least most of Term 2 due to delta or a subsequent variant
(2) that cases at our school will be so frequent that we will be in and out of cohort quarantine most of the year and it will be almost worse than last year because of how inconsistent it is

I am feeling panicked because I don't have a Plan B and I don't really even know how to craft one for either of these possibilities. How can I plan for a midyear shut down with no known end date, especially when everyone else will be scrambling for childcare at the same time? How can I plan for intermittent quarantines throughout the year, or try and plan for childcare with no notice of when I might need it?

My DH has been forced back into the office 3 days a week so most of this is going to fall on me. I'm already so burned out -- I feel like I'm just barely making it through this summer and one of the only things keeping me going is the belief, now shaken, that schools will be open in the fall.

I don't know what to do, or if there is anything I can do. I just have this horrible uneasy feeling all the time and I feel like this year it really will break me. My DH and I have talked about what we'd do and neither of us want me to quit my job (and it would put us in a real bind financially) but I just don't know that I can be the point person for childcare most of the week and work and still function anymore. Even if he takes time off so he can stay home some days, that's finite -- he still has a job and if they say he has to do it in person, that's what he has to do.

Is anyone else in this place? It's really hitting me this week as I start pulling together stuff for school and I just feel like "What is this even for, this isn't going to happen."

Just me?

Don't borrow this stress, PP. Politicians heads will roll if schools don't stay open, so I'd wager that they will. Have a little faith - the problems you worry about haven't arisen yet and probably never will in a city where almost all adults are vaccinated. I'd focus on feeling less burned out for now and leave it at that.

Unfortunately there's not much we can do to plan ahead for this. If we get shut down again, I'm hoping we will be able to team up with another neighborhood family for support. That worked well for us last year (we have no family nearby).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just looking for support (or solid information if people have it).

I am absolutely terrified right now that school is either:

(1) going to be very short lived and we will be dealing with a long shut down of at least most of Term 2 due to delta or a subsequent variant
(2) that cases at our school will be so frequent that we will be in and out of cohort quarantine most of the year and it will be almost worse than last year because of how inconsistent it is

I am feeling panicked because I don't have a Plan B and I don't really even know how to craft one for either of these possibilities. How can I plan for a midyear shut down with no known end date, especially when everyone else will be scrambling for childcare at the same time? How can I plan for intermittent quarantines throughout the year, or try and plan for childcare with no notice of when I might need it?

My DH has been forced back into the office 3 days a week so most of this is going to fall on me. I'm already so burned out -- I feel like I'm just barely making it through this summer and one of the only things keeping me going is the belief, now shaken, that schools will be open in the fall.

I don't know what to do, or if there is anything I can do. I just have this horrible uneasy feeling all the time and I feel like this year it really will break me. My DH and I have talked about what we'd do and neither of us want me to quit my job (and it would put us in a real bind financially) but I just don't know that I can be the point person for childcare most of the week and work and still function anymore. Even if he takes time off so he can stay home some days, that's finite -- he still has a job and if they say he has to do it in person, that's what he has to do.

Is anyone else in this place? It's really hitting me this week as I start pulling together stuff for school and I just feel like "What is this even for, this isn't going to happen."

Just me?

Don't borrow this stress, PP. Politicians heads will roll if schools don't stay open, so I'd wager that they will. Have a little faith - the problems you worry about haven't arisen yet and probably never will in a city where almost all adults are vaccinated. I'd focus on feeling less burned out for now and leave it at that.

Unfortunately there's not much we can do to plan ahead for this. If we get shut down again, I'm hoping we will be able to team up with another neighborhood family for support. That worked well for us last year (we have no family nearby).

If there are long-term shut-downs, the various 'learning camps' that ran last year will just open again. Which people will have to use because we have to return to in-person work. That'll just mean spread. My hope is that public health officials realize that if their goal is to mitigate spread, full school closures are unlikely to do that now (versus before, when employers weren't making people come in).

For exposure quarantines, I've talked to my boss and my friends and neighbors, and we've agreed to help each other out when those potentially happen.

That's as best as I can do right now.

[Anonymous]

Try yoga. And I'm being serious.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you’re dealing with anxiety and panic… I would try DBT workbook for anxiety and emotion regulation skills along with yoga and meditation and therapy if you can afford it. if your husband knows you don’t think you’ll make it, he is in a better mental headspace and he will have to do it. Talk to him about how bad it is for you right now. Your kid has two parents so you’re not in this alone. Your worst fears aren’t likely to come true in the here and now as other posters have said but your brain isn’t regulating, likely because last year was such a sh— show. Your worries are valid but they are overwhelming your whole body system and only you can regulate you.

[Anonymous]

We are going to continue to pay for a daycare spot as backup.

[Anonymous]

If VDH modeling is correct, which is a huge if, the wave will be over by early October, like a September wave.

Pressure your school systems to not drag their feet the rest of the school year making excuses like they did in the past. When numbers are low, school should be OPEN. If that means school in July, then you have school in July. Schools historically closed for summer because years ago we had no air conditioning. Now, we have AC.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. For many parents & teachers this isn’t a matter of buckling up or Plan B. I just received a clinical diagnosis of PTSD- based on events from last year. And before anyone jumps in- I ran back to IPL in December, so it’s not about being scared of the virus and not wanting to teach.
When people say it’s too much for them- take them at their word. Yes, yoga is great! I am a yoga teacher too & I can’t sun salutation my way out of this.
18 months of fear for your children, of losing your job, or deciding between your kids and your job. And yes- of being called garbage/lazy as a general practice when we have zero power in the decisions that were being made. It’s all too much.
Mother’s took this pandemic the hardest. First responder mother’s are in a group all to themselves. Get your plans B-Z, and get yourself actual help and healing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. For many parents & teachers this isn’t a matter of buckling up or Plan B. I just received a clinical diagnosis of PTSD- based on events from last year. And before anyone jumps in- I ran back to IPL in December, so it’s not about being scared of the virus and not wanting to teach.
When people say it’s too much for them- take them at their word. Yes, yoga is great! I am a yoga teacher too & I can’t sun salutation my way out of this.
18 months of fear for your children, of losing your job, or deciding between your kids and your job. And yes- of being called garbage/lazy as a general practice when we have zero power in the decisions that were being made. It’s all too much.
Mother’s took this pandemic the hardest. First responder mother’s are in a group all to themselves. Get your plans B-Z, and get yourself actual help and healing.

Thank you and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to continue to pay for a daycare spot as backup.

How will this help if the issue is continuous quarantines b/c of exposure? Will your daycare really allow your kid to attend if they've been exposed?

I have said this on other threads but I'll say it again here: I really don't think we are at a serious risk of having schools shut down 100% unless a new, far more dangerous variant than delta emerges. But there is a significant risk of constant quarantine periods, and very few ways to account for that risk unless you have an on-call nanny or family willing to take the risk of being around a kid potentially exposed to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. For many parents & teachers this isn’t a matter of buckling up or Plan B. I just received a clinical diagnosis of PTSD- based on events from last year. And before anyone jumps in- I ran back to IPL in December, so it’s not about being scared of the virus and not wanting to teach.
When people say it’s too much for them- take them at their word. Yes, yoga is great! I am a yoga teacher too & I can’t sun salutation my way out of this.
18 months of fear for your children, of losing your job, or deciding between your kids and your job. And yes- of being called garbage/lazy as a general practice when we have zero power in the decisions that were being made. It’s all too much.
Mother’s took this pandemic the hardest. First responder mother’s are in a group all to themselves. Get your plans B-Z, and get yourself actual help and healing.

I don't take issue with any of this except that you seem to be implying that teachers were first responders, which I am sure was a mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. For many parents & teachers this isn’t a matter of buckling up or Plan B. I just received a clinical diagnosis of PTSD- based on events from last year. And before anyone jumps in- I ran back to IPL in December, so it’s not about being scared of the virus and not wanting to teach.
When people say it’s too much for them- take them at their word. Yes, yoga is great! I am a yoga teacher too & I can’t sun salutation my way out of this.
18 months of fear for your children, of losing your job, or deciding between your kids and your job. And yes- of being called garbage/lazy as a general practice when we have zero power in the decisions that were being made. It’s all too much.
Mother’s took this pandemic the hardest. First responder mother’s are in a group all to themselves. Get your plans B-Z, and get yourself actual help and healing.

I don't take issue with any of this except that you seem to be implying that teachers were first responders, which I am sure was a mistake.

I am pretty sure she meant first responders as in doctors and nurses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. For many parents & teachers this isn’t a matter of buckling up or Plan B. I just received a clinical diagnosis of PTSD- based on events from last year. And before anyone jumps in- I ran back to IPL in December, so it’s not about being scared of the virus and not wanting to teach.
When people say it’s too much for them- take them at their word. Yes, yoga is great! I am a yoga teacher too & I can’t sun salutation my way out of this.
18 months of fear for your children, of losing your job, or deciding between your kids and your job. And yes- of being called garbage/lazy as a general practice when we have zero power in the decisions that were being made. It’s all too much.
Mother’s took this pandemic the hardest. First responder mother’s are in a group all to themselves. Get your plans B-Z, and get yourself actual help and healing.

I don't take issue with any of this except that you seem to be implying that teachers were first responders, which I am sure was a mistake.

** yes, that was a post after another sleepless night.
Should have said essential workers and first responders. We (teachers) are obviously not first responders.