So overwhelmed by parenting + working FT from home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am just BURNT out. I just have this deep rage now and scream at my kids over little things. One moment I'm Mary Poppins (a teleworking full time one) and then I'm just the Hulk. I don't know what is wrong with me but I can't deal. My 1.5 and 3 year old are just too much. They need a new activity every 15 minutes and they don't like TV. I'm saving my leave for if/when we get it, plus it's my only connection to the outside world. At night I just can't sleep. Last time I went in at 9:30 and it was after 1am by the time I got to sleep. I've taken benadryl too. I basically just want to drink until this has all passed by.

All of our savings were in the stock market, so we definitely need our jobs too.

Now may not be the time to save your leave. Maybe take a day off per week if you can. Your kids are at the age where they will need a lot of entertaining.

[Anonymous]

This is unsustainable. We are two weeks into this because my kid was sick for a week before the schools closed, probably with the coronavirus, and it’s just not sustainable. It’s going to drive me to the brink of insanity.

[Anonymous]

Where is the working parent bailout package?! Should we be writing our representatives??

[Anonymous]

I am so grateful for this thread. DH and I both work. Because of DH’s role, the Coronavirus is actually giving him more work than usual. He’s swamped, I’m trying to keep up. We’ve got two Elementary school kids and a toddler turning 2 next month. This is unsustainable. I’m going to have a mental breakdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so grateful for this thread. DH and I both work. Because of DH’s role, the Coronavirus is actually giving him more work than usual. He’s swamped, I’m trying to keep up. We’ve got two Elementary school kids and a toddler turning 2 next month. This is unsustainable. I’m going to have a mental breakdown.

Us too- I have so far managed to not scream when our company’s single millennials complain about not dating or having no new shows to stream but it is only a matter of time before I snap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so grateful for this thread. DH and I both work. Because of DH’s role, the Coronavirus is actually giving him more work than usual. He’s swamped, I’m trying to keep up. We’ve got two Elementary school kids and a toddler turning 2 next month. This is unsustainable. I’m going to have a mental breakdown.

Same. At this point I am hoping to get corona virus and go to the hospital. I have a 3 year old, 5 year old and 6 week old. I am in misery.

[Anonymous]

I feel everyone in this thread. I am in big law and there is a lot of pressure for everything to be "business as usual" and my husband is in consulting. We have three kids -- 5, 2, and 10 months. We have an au pair, but she can't handle all three on her own (she normally just has the 10 month old and the 2 year old half days). It is a disaster with help I can't even imagine having no help. I love my kids so much, but have never ever had a time in life where I wish I was single and childless!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our CEO explicitly said that this is the time to get long-term projects done, prepare for intensive certification exams, etc... because we all have more hours in the day since we are not commuting! He is so clueless.

That's terrible. The message all the way down my organization has been to take care of our health first, use good judgment to identify the work that must be done, and let the rest wait. Needless to say, I'm a loyal employee.

[Anonymous]

Agree 1000 percent that this is not sustainable. Something’s gotta give and I think for me it is my job. Going to explore going part time for a bit. Not sure I can; but also don’t see how my kids needs are met if I don’t. I’m the primary parent and that just is not going to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree 1000 percent that this is not sustainable. Something’s gotta give and I think for me it is my job. Going to explore going part time for a bit. Not sure I can; but also don’t see how my kids needs are met if I don’t. I’m the primary parent and that just is not going to change.

I'm so glad to see this and know I'm not alone. I work full-time and am the primary breadwinner AND primary parent. I feel sick to my stomach every time I'm stuck on a call instead of working with DC. I'm going to talk to my supervisor this afternoon to see about any wiggle room in my schedule. I'd even take LWOP at this point, but I need to be released from my work obligations, at least in part.

[Anonymous]

I saw a post about a couple of kids offering to do online tutoring during this time (it was listed under elementary school aged kids). Maybe they would just do reading practice or some game-like activity that would give you an hour break.

I thought of emailing them myself about that, but I don’t want them to think I am just asking for free babysitting (which it kind of is asking them to do). Maybe they are so bored they wouldn’t mind😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel everyone in this thread. I am in big law and there is a lot of pressure for everything to be "business as usual" and my husband is in consulting. We have three kids -- 5, 2, and 10 months. We have an au pair, but she can't handle all three on her own (she normally just has the 10 month old and the 2 year old half days). It is a disaster with help I can't even imagine having no help. I love my kids so much, but have never ever had a time in life where I wish I was single and childless!

With all due respect, there’s no reason the au pair can’t handle all three while you work. SAHMs do this every day. She should be able to manage while you work, that’s her job! You aren’t demanding too much. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two choices: quit or hire help

Why woukdcsomey rusk their life to help a hopelessly lazy parent?

[Anonymous]

One parent quit a job and take care of the kids or hire a high school or college student to watch the kids.

[Anonymous]

OP don't quit, as suggested. Don't worry about schooling your oldest. It doesn't matter. DH was on a call today when a guy had his toddler run in. He said "gotta go" and left the call. Just do that if you need to. Ask for forgiveness later. If you and DH can schedule calls at different times you can cover each other. It's not ideal but someone can work 6-2 while the other works 2-9.