I am seriously about to lose it....I am so drained and dejected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you go back to work? You say if you could flip a switch, you would - but can you take actual steps to do that?

I’m not trying to be dismissive but there are so many posts like this and it seems like the posters never do anything to change the situation they hate.

+1. You could absolutely find a job as a tutor or pod leader, then put your kids in daycare. Or teach, I think DCPS and MOCO are both hiring. You can flip that switch, OP. It’s absolutely doable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you go back to work? You say if you could flip a switch, you would - but can you take actual steps to do that?

I’m not trying to be dismissive but there are so many posts like this and it seems like the posters never do anything to change the situation they hate.

This. It’s very obvious that the solution is to return to work. Don’t spend all day with your kids. But there’s always an excuse. Many times it’s the cost of childcare. Doubt OP will actually take any steps to return to work and improve her life. This seems to be a common trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you go back to work? You say if you could flip a switch, you would - but can you take actual steps to do that?

I’m not trying to be dismissive but there are so many posts like this and it seems like the posters never do anything to change the situation they hate.

+1. You could absolutely find a job as a tutor or pod leader, then put your kids in daycare. Or teach, I think DCPS and MOCO are both hiring. You can flip that switch, OP. It’s absolutely doable.

There are a million things OP could do. But she’s always going to have a reason as to why she can’t. She just wants to complain.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe I'm missing something, but why isn't your husband's office in your bedroom? That seems like it would solve one of your problems immediately.

[Anonymous]

Blame the schools they are too lazy and have no regard to anyone but the teachers comfort of half working and sleeping in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blame the schools they are too lazy and have no regard to anyone but the teachers comfort of half working and sleeping in

Except her kids are 2 and 4, so not school aged...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you go back to work? You say if you could flip a switch, you would - but can you take actual steps to do that?

I’m not trying to be dismissive but there are so many posts like this and it seems like the posters never do anything to change the situation they hate.

+1. You could absolutely find a job as a tutor or pod leader, then put your kids in daycare. Or teach, I think DCPS and MOCO are both hiring. You can flip that switch, OP. It’s absolutely doable.

There are a million things OP could do. But she’s always going to have a reason as to why she can’t. She just wants to complain.

That's ok, we all do. It's called listening and being compassionate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you go back to work? You say if you could flip a switch, you would - but can you take actual steps to do that?

I’m not trying to be dismissive but there are so many posts like this and it seems like the posters never do anything to change the situation they hate.

+1. You could absolutely find a job as a tutor or pod leader, then put your kids in daycare. Or teach, I think DCPS and MOCO are both hiring. You can flip that switch, OP. It’s absolutely doable.

There are a million things OP could do. But she’s always going to have a reason as to why she can’t. She just wants to complain.

I will never in a million years understand this attitude. Yes, maybe OP should look into returning to work. But surely you can see how "flipping that switch" right now now is hard? Even if she starts the process today, it will be weeks or possible a couple months before her kids are in childcare and she is at work. And getting there will take bandwidth (getting some leads, applying or sending out resumes, researching childcare options, interviewing those options, figuring out the financials) that it sounds like OP doesn't have right now. But instead of offering a modicum of empathy, you are acting like she's a drug addict who won't go to rehab (which is a person I think also deserves empathy, actually).

OP, you have every right to complain. This is incredibly hard. I think the pandemic was easier for SAHMs at first but has been much harder on them as it's continued and the normal supports (like SCHOOL) have not returned even as all the responsibilities of daily life continue. I have a job AND childcare and I'm still at the end of my rope because we were not planning to pay for childcare this year and the realization that school is really and truly not opening this year.

It's also hilarious how many people think you can pay for childcare for two kids with part-time tutoring or a temporary sub teaching job. Anyone that dumb isn't worth listening to.

[Anonymous]

OP you sound like a great mom. Those are really tough ages and you have no time to yourself. I'm a "class mom". I sign my kids up for everything! Definitely sign up for some winter programs through your county! Maybe consider a part time babysitter. I don't have great answers but want you to know you have GOT THIS - you just need a little help and that is ok.

[Anonymous]

I live in crazy Florida where things are generally very open but surprisingly the Covid infection rate is quite low after a big surge in the summer. I can’t imagine the strain of being in lock down for almost a year. The damage that it is doing to peoples psyches is worse than the economic damage. Little kids need to be in school and day care needs to be fully open.

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM of similar aged kids. It gets difficult sometimes for sure. For me the almost-2-yo is the harder one right now. I am actually still taking my 4 yo to swim lesson, dance lesson, and a weekly indoor playdate with one friend (same one). We also get a babysitter every 4 weeks so my husband and I can eat dinner out. So, I think it helps to take a few risks for sanity.

Anyway, I was thinking the other day about how much easier it was when my oldest one was a toddler and I could take her to story time, children's museum, playdates, etc. Now my son is just around the house most of the day destroying things. We go outside in the snow for an hour everyday, and he takes a nap, but that still leaves a lot of time in the rest of the day.... It's also harder with the toddler because I feel like I can take my daughter places with her wearing a mask, but I'm uncomfortable taking my toddler places since he would be maskless.

I don't think it's fair when people say the solution to SAHM woes is to go back to work. I don't need my son to be in daycare. I just want a break once in awhile, like I used to have pre-pandemic. I would even love for us all to go on a vacation together.

[Anonymous]

When my kids were a similar age, I first tried therapy and then started anti-depressants. Yes, it was years after post-partum stuff was supposed to be over, but I felt like my hormones never really got back to normal. It didn't suddenly make life perfect, but good gracious was it more manageable. My doctor also said I needed vitamin B and D, which are both linked to mental health.

[Anonymous]

If they were in part time preschool before, why not look for another one now? Or if they're too hard to find or cost prohibitive (ours increased price substantially), find a pod or nanny share situation. I see postings for both of those looking for kids your children's ages all of the time in my neighborhood parent groups. It's been a year of this, if it's getting to be too much, then nothing wrong with figuring out a new plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of 3 and we're struggling too.

The lockdowns are worse than this virus, IMO. We're going to lose way more people as a result of the lockdowns. We just don't know it yet.

+1 I know of 2 suicides this week, and a murder suicide.

Go on with your life OP

Omg worldwide suicides have hardly changed. Stop with the fear mongering

And again, what lockdowns??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in crazy Florida where things are generally very open but surprisingly the Covid infection rate is quite low after a big surge in the summer. I can’t imagine the strain of being in lock down for almost a year. The damage that it is doing to peoples psyches is worse than the economic damage. Little kids need to be in school and day care needs to be fully open.

OP is a SAHM to a 2 and 4 year old. There is no daycare or school in this arrangement

Our daycare is in fact open.

Little Gym is open. The mall is open. I don’t understand OP at all. I feel like she is some anti-lockdown troll, when there isn’t even any lockdown. Sure class sizes at Little Gym are small and the library is closed, but there are a lot of options. I mean, was she really going to the Smithsonian daily?