Parents of small children - how are you managing RTO?

[Anonymous]

My oldest was born in 2011. Full time nanny, preschool, then aftercare.

You know...this is not new. I have always worked for nonprofits. The nanny was more than half my salary, but I knew staying in the workforce and contributing to my retirement was worth it to pay the nanny and keep working.

No family nearby. Multiple cross country moves. You just make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

How do you think people got to work prior to COVID making everyone feel entitled to WFH? Do you think people were flown into work on the wings of angels? Are commutes a brand-new thing that just occurred a few weeks ago? I can see where you feel it sucks that the gig is up, but this is not impossible to navigate. It just may be impossible to navigate 100% on your terms.

Before Covid, people had years to make childcare plans. I was given 3 days notice to RTO. That makes it difficult for some to figure something out that covers the extra time spent commuting, especially mid school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

Why oh why do 35 year olds not understand that there was a life before Covid. We had commutes then, too, sweetie pie. Sometimes over an hour. We figured it out, you will too.

Hon, I'm 47 and have WFH for 10 years. I'm just not a heartless witch who can't empathize with people scrambling to figure out senseless RTO overnight. And I'm also in touch enough to know that childcare options have changed drastically since covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

How do you think people got to work prior to COVID making everyone feel entitled to WFH? Do you think people were flown into work on the wings of angels? Are commutes a brand-new thing that just occurred a few weeks ago? I can see where you feel it sucks that the gig is up, but this is not impossible to navigate. It just may be impossible to navigate 100% on your terms.

Before Covid, people had years to make childcare plans. I was given 3 days notice to RTO. That makes it difficult for some to figure something out that covers the extra time spent commuting, especially mid school year.

With three days notice, I would just bring the children to work with me until I found a daycare to put them in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Others are managing RTO without a village just like any other parents who work in person and don’t have a village. Having kids always has been a sacrifice for most people. You just had a reprieve for a few years.

Yup. Did you not factor all this in before having kids? I waited till I was in my late 30's so I could pay off our student loans to afford children.

[Anonymous]

I commend you for making a difficult decision OP. It’s what I would have done too. I have always worked, but I am clear in my mind that if I didn’t have grandparent support and an easy commute/flexible hours I would stay home and we would cut our budget. Time with kids and a happy family life is more important than a ton of disposable income IMO. (Not everybody has that choice of course)

[Anonymous]

Unless you worked at a company that outright banned telework and required you be on site 42.5 hours per week, monitored by badging out with time cards that are a felony to misrepresent on, I don’t want to hear how you managed pre covid. Jesus christ, people. Your quite cushy lives in 2019 are not comparable in this situation. Not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you worked at a company that outright banned telework and required you be on site 42.5 hours per week, monitored by badging out with time cards that are a felony to misrepresent on, I don’t want to hear how you managed pre covid. Jesus christ, people. Your quite cushy lives in 2019 are not comparable in this situation. Not at all.

I did work in this situation pre-Covid. The difference then was that there were plenty of daycares. My kids were in from 8 am - 6 pm every week day. Now daycares etc are harder to find, but hopefully they will restart with everyone RTO.

[Anonymous]

It sucks, it’s always sucked. The last few years were an anomaly.

[Anonymous]

I hate these posts so much. Parents have been dealing with both working outside the home for 50+ years and now all of a sudden these folks can't figure this out? It's so annoying and petty. Stop being a crybaby and figure it out like literally everyone one else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you worked at a company that outright banned telework and required you be on site 42.5 hours per week, monitored by badging out with time cards that are a felony to misrepresent on, I don’t want to hear how you managed pre covid. Jesus christ, people. Your quite cushy lives in 2019 are not comparable in this situation. Not at all.

I did work in this situation pre-Covid. The difference then was that there were plenty of daycares. My kids were in from 8 am - 6 pm every week day. Now daycares etc are harder to find, but hopefully they will restart with everyone RTO.

There are hundreds of home based daycares that are fabulous and certified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you worked at a company that outright banned telework and required you be on site 42.5 hours per week, monitored by badging out with time cards that are a felony to misrepresent on, I don’t want to hear how you managed pre covid. Jesus christ, people. Your quite cushy lives in 2019 are not comparable in this situation. Not at all.

Every defense contractor requires badging in and out. Nothing was cushy and nothing is new or harder for you. Timecards are as old as time. Get over your stupid self.

[Anonymous]

My kids were 9 when the pandemic started, they are 14 now, for 5 years I was fully remote and now back 3 days a week. This is something I am extremely thankful for in life, I remember how rushed and stressful the years prior to 2019 were for us. I wish more working parents can be given flexible hours or WFH arrangements, it’s good for the society when children are with their parents instead of spending long hours in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids were 9 when the pandemic started, they are 14 now, for 5 years I was fully remote and now back 3 days a week. This is something I am extremely thankful for in life, I remember how rushed and stressful the years prior to 2019 were for us. I wish more working parents can be given flexible hours or WFH arrangements, it’s good for the society when children are with their parents instead of spending long hours in daycare.

This!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, OP! It is really hard. Another vote for staggered schedules and a nanny. We also lived in a tiny condo close in to minimize commute and this time away from kids. I used pretty much every second of leave I had between sick days and doctors appointments.