I wish I knew. I will actually have a much more flexible and part time work schedule, but I was planning on sending my oldest to half day camps and my youngest to his daycare part-time before all this happened. I am still paying daycare full tuition to hold our spot until it seems safe to go back (it's a small, family run in home daycare that has stayed open, but I have no idea who is actually sending their kids and I don't feel right sending mine since we aren't essential workers). But I was planning on transitioning him to a preschool in the fall (already signed up). I can't decide if I should just cut my losses and withdraw from daycare for good, and hire a part time sitter to help with both kids this summer. But then what if preschool doesn't open in the fall but the daycare is open? I will really need some sort of childcare at that point and the odds of the daycare staying open are greater than the preschool opening, I think. This uncertainty sucks.

Anonymous wrote:I know it seems impossible, but it's very likely you won't go back to "normal" work until the fall or even next year.

This wont happen. Fall latest. Any longer than that and the side effects of all this social distancing will be worse than what we are trying to prevent.

My prediction is August- may still have august camps.

Pp, are you one of those people who are independently wealthy and aren't effected by any of this? Because I feel like those are the people who are getting some sick joy in telling people this is going to last into 2021.

Hire a babysitter. You have no other option but to quit your job.

I know it seems impossible, but it's very likely you won't go back to "normal" work until the fall or even next year.

If social distancing is still required, you won't be back at work.

Find a nanny.
Hire a teen or a college kid.
Send your kids to grandparents.

Or have one parent quit and stay with the kids. Life isn’t always easy.

I assume (I know what they say about people who assume though) that parents won't be back to work in large numbers if daycares, pools, and camps are closed.

But I would think you could get a college or HS kid babysitter if they don't have other employment options with camps & pools being closed - if you need one.

If daycare is still closed, pools closed, camps are off but parents are back to work and social distancing has eased what do you do? Just let your kids roam until you get home? What if you can’t afford a nanny or taking extended leave without pay? This whole situation has been horribly unbalanced for those of us who work and have kids. I have a 3 and 5 year old. I can’t realistically let them roam the neighborhood by themselves.