Anybody else overwhelmed by all these lists of things to do?

[Anonymous]

I’m getting emails from friends, family, colleagues and they’re all over social media. Giant lists of virtual experiences, activities, educational websites. It’s overwhelming me. I’m trying to work remotely and parent three kids, including a toddler. Now I feel like I’m not maximizing the opportunities. Maybe I need to set aside planning time each night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m getting emails from friends, family, colleagues and they’re all over social media. Giant lists of virtual experiences, activities, educational websites. It’s overwhelming me. I’m trying to work remotely and parent three kids, including a toddler. Now I feel like I’m not maximizing the opportunities. Maybe I need to set aside planning time each night?

Yes, very overwhelmed by all the activities, but I think that’s due to my ADHD

[Anonymous]

Yes. And now I’m ignoring them. I wrote down Mo Willems doodle because one DD likes art. We will also watch the Cincinnati zoo safari. Everything else will just be what the school provides.

I don’t have time to curate an educational line up every day. I need to work.

[Anonymous]

The activities are ludicrous. I have a 1 and a 3 year old. They’re just unrealistic.

[Anonymous]

As time moves on, these curated lists of precious activities and mommy brag social media posts will diminish. As if semi looking st some virtual tour of a second rate zoo accomplishes anything. Read widely and do math worksheets.

[Anonymous]

It would be great if all I did was be a SAHM who homeschooled. I’m trying to stick to one simple activity a day. One day, we made banana bread. Another day we will make bracelets with beads. Etc.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you! You’re making me feel better.

[Anonymous]

I'm ignoring most of them. I was homeschooled for 3 years as a kid and I'm basically pretending I am my mom and doing what she did, which was 100% manageable for her and us. She sat down every Sunday evening with her curicuulum guide (which I don't have, but I'm winging it) and wrote the entire week for each of us on a spreadsheet-type thing. We went through it and did our work each day, and then we played. The way she tells it, the free play and boredom were as valuable as the 1-3 hours of structured learning.

[Anonymous]

Huh, I don't find them overwhelming, but I just don't have time to look through all of them. We've done the yoga that was helpful, plan to do the Mo Willems doodle time. But I went on a long list of activities and each one was like a "tour" that was just a small picture of a stop on a hike, so I'm not doing that. I'm just flagging most things to think about later. It's only day 2 now, and who knows how desperate I'll be next week for something to do!

[Anonymous]

Yes! I’m suddenly supposed to replies our daily activities? I just say “thanks, yep we’ve got a lot to do!” and move on.

[Anonymous]

YES and I’m a stay at home mom!

The Cincinnati zoo thing is REALLY cool.
So is mo Willems.

[Anonymous]

I'm not aiming for my kids to do everything, every day. Each evening, the nanny and I talk about what was a hit vs a miss, and we plan one fun thing and one educational thing for each kid in the morning and in the afternoon.

Maybe it's the same for each kid, maybe it's not.

[Anonymous]

I am making a list of all the sites. My list is broken in different categories (Math, Science, History, Art, Geography, Activities). I add to it as I see new stuff. I am planning on looking at them over the weekend and seeing if there are any that I think will be worthwhile. I am on the Thanos Plan, work half my time at the office and half my time at home. DH is responsible for day to day things at home for DS. I will have things to do with him when I am home and have the time, my work is actually more flexible when I am at home.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it could be kind of fun if I wasn't working, but dealing with a stressed out, out of routine kid while teleworking SUCKS.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm ignoring most of them and am staying off social media. This thing is a marathon, not a sprint, and our mental health is so important. I have list of things to do daily, but it's along the lines of walking the dog, reading, having snacks, etc. I'm trying to decide what few things per kid to focus on (e.g., reading for the kindergartner), but we're so early into this process.