Anyone else nearing the end of their rope?

[Anonymous]

We have 3 kids and after being home with no help for over 4 weeks now DH and I are starting to lose it between juggling our demanding full time jobs plus 24/7 childcare. Anyone have good coping tips or strategies, or anything you've discovered to make life a little easier right now?

We have an 8 year old, 4 year old and 1 year old and the days are just grueling. While DH tries to be as helpful as he can be, he has Zoom meetings nearly all day long and his company is business as usual. This leaves me with much of the daytime childcare duties, but DH will take a break if I have a meeting or something urgent for work which has been happening more and more frequently. the biggest challenge is that I need to simultaneously help my oldest with school work, which is often not self-explanatory and requires undivided attention, while also trying to entertain my 4 year old and keeping my 1 year old from hurting himself (he is into everything these days). It's hard because none of the kids really play together and they are each constantly fighting for my attention. Add to all of this cooking/serving 3 meals a day, cleaning up the bare minimum just so the house if not a disaster zone. Then when the kids are finally in bed at 8pm I log on and do work for 3-4 hours just to get the bare minimum done there too. I get zero down time or me time ever because there is just no way to carve it out unless I sleep less.

Sorry for venting - I know most of us are in the same situation or have it even harder. I am just not sure I can take months more of this. It would be so much better if I didn't have work looming over my head and I have thought about quitting, but we really need the money.

[Anonymous]

If you're eligible take the family leave available. I really don't get employers who think this is business as usual. It's a crisis of unseen proportions. Yes there is work to be done but unless you're protecting the nuclear codes or dealing with the healthcare response it's just not that critical. And even if you are people who are burning the candle at both ends will make mistakes and noone wants that either.

[Anonymous]

Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to send my sympathies.

I’m a SAHM of 3 young kids and it is so hard trying to juggle the schoolwork and a toddler. My youngest is exhausting. I didn’t know staying home would be so exhausting. There are good and bad days. Some days feel like the kids are crying and fighting all day. I can’t imagine trying to juggle full time work with 3 kids at home. I am sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

We have a full time nanny normally - however she has a 10 year old son who has no school (single parent) so she has been home with him. We are still paying her full time so really cannot afford to hire someone else too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

This. I live on a fancy street. Few have let their domestic help go. I feel like an idiot sitting in my messy house paying my housekeeper to not come.

[Anonymous]

Enough with the I have three kid posts. You had more kids than you can handle and are not used to doing it yourself. Suck it up. You have three kids and need to care for them. Stop complaining and use birth control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

Not OP but in a similar situation. I'm not even sure how to go about doing this right now, especially trusting that the nanny will also be following the same measures we are where staying at home is concerned. Normally we're only paying daycare costs for our youngest as the others are school-aged and have after school activities. A full-time nanny for three kids is not affordable for us, but I'm seriously hitting a wall and ready to figure out how to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enough with the I have three kid posts. You had more kids than you can handle and are not used to doing it yourself. Suck it up. You have three kids and need to care for them. Stop complaining and use birth control.

You are a jerk. She has 3 kids and has a full time job to do.

It is hard enough to have the 3 kids at home all day without the job.

I’m the SAHM of 3 from above. I am about to lose my mind today. It is hard being home all day everyday with 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

We have a full time nanny normally - however she has a 10 year old son who has no school (single parent) so she has been home with him. We are still paying her full time so really cannot afford to hire someone else too.

I would have her come to work with the 10yo. Perhaps the 10yo could even help your oldest log on and do his schoolwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enough with the I have three kid posts. You had more kids than you can handle and are not used to doing it yourself. Suck it up. You have three kids and need to care for them. Stop complaining and use birth control.

Read again, PP... she said she also works full time. If you are able to work full time while caring for a baby, a preschooler and an 8 year old - you aren't working hard enough at your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

We have a full time nanny normally - however she has a 10 year old son who has no school (single parent) so she has been home with him. We are still paying her full time so really cannot afford to hire someone else too.

If you are already paying the Nanny have her come over and bring her son too.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry. Is there a day care center or home day care open in your neighborhood that you could send the 4 and 1 year olds to temporarily? I know there’s a few Kindercares where I live that are still open and I think a lot of the locations in the suburbs don’t have a waiting list for non-infants. It will be a money sick but it’s only temporary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

Not OP but in a similar situation. I'm not even sure how to go about doing this right now, especially trusting that the nanny will also be following the same measures we are where staying at home is concerned. Normally we're only paying daycare costs for our youngest as the others are school-aged and have after school activities. A full-time nanny for three kids is not affordable for us, but I'm seriously hitting a wall and ready to figure out how to make it work.

OP already has a nanny that she is paying to stay home with Nanny's 10 year old son.

Have the Nanny come over every day and bring her son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hire a nanny. Use essential childcare. More people are doing it than you think.

This. I live on a fancy street. Few have let their domestic help go. I feel like an idiot sitting in my messy house paying my housekeeper to not come.

OP already has a nanny but is not using the Nanny.