Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

I do. My kids are 9 and 11 and I fully acknowledge that if they were toddlers and maybe even teenagers, this would be far more miserable for us.

I just cannot fathom how anyone with kids who works find this even slightly slower paced or relaxing. I have two very active boys that are six and eight. My job is relatively flexible but I am stretched thin every minute of the day and can’t remember the last time I was alone. My mental health is seriously in a bad place. I love my kids and my family but we all need some space and some structure.

Because we don’t have to rush in the morning getting ourselves and our kids, ready. We don’t have to deal (in person) with crappy bosses and co-workers, and we don’t have to come home supervise homework, and chauffeur our kids around to various activities, and on Saturdays we don’t have to be at some field at 8am, and haul along a snack for 15 kids. I can’t fathom how anyone can’t see how working from home, even with rambunctious kids, could be less stressful than the normal pace of life.

I don't see it. Even with the commuting and shuffling around to activities, I had significantly more free time previously. My schedule is packed now more than ever. I even get up 2 hours earlier now during the week just to try and get work done.

Our schedule:

I am up at 5:30 and at work by 6:30 (becuse my commute went from 75m to 30m.) DH is up by 7 and at his desk in the basement by 8. Kids get up at 7:30 and eat/shower/get dressed are are at their computers by 8:30. Kids know complete work assignments in the morning and then have live classes from 1-4. I get home around 4:30, DH stops working at 5, kids have logged off of school by 4ish. We go for a family walk at 5, come home and cook dinner together around 6, eat together and watch a tv show/play a game, kids can play video games 8-10 while DH and I watch tv/relax.

House cleaning is done on Saturday morning from 10a-12p - all of us know what we are responsible for completing. On Saturdays and Sundays we go on a long family walk, one day we also watch a movie and the other we play a board game. The rest of the time we can all do what we want together or individually.

Before this, I was up at 6, had to poke/prod my kids to get up and out the door by 6:45. I worked 7:30-4:00, got home at 5:30, hoped my kid made himself mac and cheese/pizza rolls for dinner so I could get him to sports practice by 5:45. While he practiced, I answered emails on my phone. If it was my turn to carpool, I would drop my kid off at home at 7:15 and pick up my other son for his sports practice. He practiced from 8-9, got home at 9:30 and either shoved someting in my mouth or just went to bed. Did this 3x/week.

Once this is over, I can't ask my kids not to play the sports they love and have been playing since they were 3y. So, we will go back to the grind.

Anonymous wrote:Gotta love DCUM. Women who post here and say they are having a hard time right now are told to quit whining, know they are privileged, and learn how to be a decent mother. Women who are able to find a silver lining are told it’s obnoxious to post about it while others are suffering. Why do you hate women, DCUM? I feel like we are mostly women here... so much vitriol against one another. It’s like no matter what perspective is offered, it’s always wrong. What should people be posting about then?

This is right on.

Op, I have a mix of feelings. Some are awful, some are a lot like yours. Every situation, especially a hard situation, reveals things to us if we let it. I am able to speak openly about this mix with a few select friends whose circumstances are similar.

We are enjoying it too. I have a 12 and 14 year old. Both are self sufficient when it comes to their school work. I don’t need to constantly hover over them. We are not rushing to after-school sports practices. They get along and are keeping each other occupied. They are both getting tons more sleep now. My 14 yo said she likes the quarantine because it isn’t as stressful as regular school.

Our family has been enjoying the family time, slower pace.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

I do. My kids are 9 and 11 and I fully acknowledge that if they were toddlers and maybe even teenagers, this would be far more miserable for us.

I just cannot fathom how anyone with kids who works find this even slightly slower paced or relaxing. I have two very active boys that are six and eight. My job is relatively flexible but I am stretched thin every minute of the day and can’t remember the last time I was alone. My mental health is seriously in a bad place. I love my kids and my family but we all need some space and some structure.

Because we don’t have to rush in the morning getting ourselves and our kids, ready. We don’t have to deal (in person) with crappy bosses and co-workers, and we don’t have to come home supervise homework, and chauffeur our kids around to various activities, and on Saturdays we don’t have to be at some field at 8am, and haul along a snack for 15 kids. I can’t fathom how anyone can’t see how working from home, even with rambunctious kids, could be less stressful than the normal pace of life.

I don't see it. Even with the commuting and shuffling around to activities, I had significantly more free time previously. My schedule is packed now more than ever. I even get up 2 hours earlier now during the week just to try and get work done.

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

Yes, I have 2 teens and DH and I are both working (me out of the house and him from home.) I think this 1000x easier with teens. I am minimally involved in their school work aside from reminding them that they have to do it or there will be consequences. I am finding it relaxing because I am not having to get my kids up and to the bus by 7am and after work, there are no sports practices to get them to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

No kids, but work a lot. Several nights from 830am to 730pm and 930pm to 1am. Definitely less stressful putting in those hours without a commute.

I need obviously makes sense in your case. But for the vast majority of us it is brutal and we have our kids’ sanity to consider as well.

If your used to working from home without kids then yes this brutal, but in my circle, I know people who were never able to work from home before this, and everyone is saying how great it is, we all have school aged kids ranging from K- HS. I honestly think a lot of it is the break from our kids extracurricular activities. Working full time out of the house and coming home to cleaning, making dinner, and shuffling kids around is so exhausting.

The only people I know who are not significantly struggling with this have older kids who are much more self-sufficient in terms of school work etc. Elementary and under is extremely difficult unless your job is not very challenging or you put your kids in front of the TV all day.

My kids are 12 and 14. I am working very hard, so unfortunately haven't had the time or energy to stay on top of their school work. That is their job now anyway, I feel. I am there to help if they need.
I will say I have enjoyed being close to them, even if it hasn't exactly been relaxing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

I do. My kids are 9 and 11 and I fully acknowledge that if they were toddlers and maybe even teenagers, this would be far more miserable for us.

I just cannot fathom how anyone with kids who works find this even slightly slower paced or relaxing. I have two very active boys that are six and eight. My job is relatively flexible but I am stretched thin every minute of the day and can’t remember the last time I was alone. My mental health is seriously in a bad place. I love my kids and my family but we all need some space and some structure.

Because we don’t have to rush in the morning getting ourselves and our kids, ready. We don’t have to deal (in person) with crappy bosses and co-workers, and we don’t have to come home supervise homework, and chauffeur our kids around to various activities, and on Saturdays we don’t have to be at some field at 8am, and haul along a snack for 15 kids. I can’t fathom how anyone can’t see how working from home, even with rambunctious kids, could be less stressful than the normal pace of life.

Then please send me your daily schedule because I am losing it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

No kids, but work a lot. Several nights from 830am to 730pm and 930pm to 1am. Definitely less stressful putting in those hours without a commute.

I need obviously makes sense in your case. But for the vast majority of us it is brutal and we have our kids’ sanity to consider as well.

If your used to working from home without kids then yes this brutal, but in my circle, I know people who were never able to work from home before this, and everyone is saying how great it is, we all have school aged kids ranging from K- HS. I honestly think a lot of it is the break from our kids extracurricular activities. Working full time out of the house and coming home to cleaning, making dinner, and shuffling kids around is so exhausting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

I do. My kids are 9 and 11 and I fully acknowledge that if they were toddlers and maybe even teenagers, this would be far more miserable for us.

I just cannot fathom how anyone with kids who works find this even slightly slower paced or relaxing. I have two very active boys that are six and eight. My job is relatively flexible but I am stretched thin every minute of the day and can’t remember the last time I was alone. My mental health is seriously in a bad place. I love my kids and my family but we all need some space and some structure.

Because we don’t have to rush in the morning getting ourselves and our kids, ready. We don’t have to deal (in person) with crappy bosses and co-workers, and we don’t have to come home supervise homework, and chauffeur our kids around to various activities, and on Saturdays we don’t have to be at some field at 8am, and haul along a snack for 15 kids. I can’t fathom how anyone can’t see how working from home, even with rambunctious kids, could be less stressful than the normal pace of life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

No kids, but work a lot. Several nights from 830am to 730pm and 930pm to 1am. Definitely less stressful putting in those hours without a commute.

I need obviously makes sense in your case. But for the vast majority of us it is brutal and we have our kids’ sanity to consider as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who find this relaxing - how old are your kids? Do you work?

I do. My kids are 9 and 11 and I fully acknowledge that if they were toddlers and maybe even teenagers, this would be far more miserable for us.

I just cannot fathom how anyone with kids who works find this even slightly slower paced or relaxing. I have two very active boys that are six and eight. My job is relatively flexible but I am stretched thin every minute of the day and can’t remember the last time I was alone. My mental health is seriously in a bad place. I love my kids and my family but we all need some space and some structure.

Anonymous wrote:And oh yes we know teachers are being paid while doing very little.
One of the teachers I know was off to Hawaii the next day they closed the schools. She had the audacity to post videos from there with fresh manicure.

And how do you feel about people who work in central administration who are doing the same thing. But are truly not expected to be doing anything at all now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And just to add, PP teacher, I don’t know anyone except teachers who is getting full salary for doing little work. I know lots of people who have lost their jobs or are furloughed with no pay, and lots of people who are expected to do all their work (plus, if you work in my industry) from home while watching the kids, but just you getting paid to do nothing.

Will add one. I am a teacher and working more! I don’t understand these teachers who are not working. I’m logging 4-5 hours a day of live teaching while parenting a SN kid. And I’m talking self contained SN. If teachers are working less- then they are likely not doing much during the year either. The need is so high right now! How can you do nothing??

Teacher PP here. What district do you work for? Are you still teaching new material and grading work? I belong to some teacher groups where there are teachers that are working quite a lot like you are. It really depends on the district. In my district, and in most nearby districts, we were told not to give new material, all student learning is optional, and that aside for students being able to bring up their current grade, there will be no future grades given. Yes, I do realize that in different areas, teachers are being expected to do a full day of zoom lessons. I’m curious if people in your area are complaining about how all the non instructional employees in your school district are being paid to do absolutely nothing. Or if those people are so far off the public’s radar that no one even thinks about it.

I just read the last of your paragraph, “If teachers are working less now then they are probably not doing much during the year either.” Um, HELL NO. I work close to 80 hours a week when school is in session. In fact, I’m working over 40 hours a week now (by choice), to try to get things ready for next year, so that I can hopefully have somewhat of a normal life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And just to add, PP teacher, I don’t know anyone except teachers who is getting full salary for doing little work. I know lots of people who have lost their jobs or are furloughed with no pay, and lots of people who are expected to do all their work (plus, if you work in my industry) from home while watching the kids, but just you getting paid to do nothing.

Will add one. I am a teacher and working more! I don’t understand these teachers who are not working. I’m logging 4-5 hours a day of live teaching while parenting a SN kid. And I’m talking self contained SN. If teachers are working less- then they are likely not doing much during the year either. The need is so high right now! How can you do nothing??

Teacher PP here. What district do you work for? Are you still teaching new material and grading work? I belong to some teacher groups where there are teachers that are working quite a lot like you are. It really depends on the district. In my district, and in most nearby districts, we were told not to give new material, all student learning is optional, and that aside for students being able to bring up their current grade, there will be no future grades given. Yes, I do realize that in different areas, teachers are being expected to do a full day of zoom lessons. I’m curious if people in your area are complaining about how all the non instructional employees in your school district are being paid to do absolutely nothing. Or if those people are so far off the public’s radar that no one even thinks about it.