Anonymous wrote:This is OP. currently, our kids have school work to complete and spend about four hours per day either on the work or on video calls with teachers. We figure out the rest of the time. But once "school" is over, that will leave a daily hole. Unfortunately DH and I are in adjacent fields, so our hours are similar. I appreciate the ideas you guys are coming up with - more chores, more exercise, etc. Sometimes it's hard though with 7, 9 yos to let them roam free here in the city. Guess I'll have to learn some free-range parenting this summer.

I’m in a similar spot. DP is essential and I’m teleworking. School takes about 4 hours/day and I figure out the rest.

Not sure why posters are being such assholes about this??

So come June (July/August) yes, I’m looking for constructive ideas to help my kids fill about 4 hours per day. Bribing them to do educational apps or chores so they can have time on video games is one idea... I don’t have much of a yard so that won’t really work for us... I’ll check out Outschool. Other ideas?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

so, neither of you are working a full day. And what happens when your husband has calls in the afternoon and evening? or you have to have calls or something comes up at 9am? you just don't do it? This is great if you and your spouse both have complete control over your schedules, but that's not the case for most people.

You all want to stomp & shout about how unfair this is. It sucks- as mostly for the folks who aren’t working at all or died.
Make a schedule. Does stuff come up? Yes! All the time! But it’s not always & we manage. The lack of executive functioning skills on this board is alarming.

Lack of executive functioning? Is that what you call it? Are you nuts?
Look around - everything is closed. No libraries, no playgrounds, no sports, no pools, no playdates. No babysitters. Grandparents are staying away because they're vulnerable. We are in the middle of a global pandemic in which all most of society outside of the virtual world has ground to a halt and you think parents who are at their wits' end trying to care for children and work full time month after month a question of executive functioning?!!?

Assume you are some kind of horrid troll.

This is OP. currently, our kids have school work to complete and spend about four hours per day either on the work or on video calls with teachers. We figure out the rest of the time. But once "school" is over, that will leave a daily hole. Unfortunately DH and I are in adjacent fields, so our hours are similar. I appreciate the ideas you guys are coming up with - more chores, more exercise, etc. Sometimes it's hard though with 7, 9 yos to let them roam free here in the city. Guess I'll have to learn some free-range parenting this summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

so, neither of you are working a full day. And what happens when your husband has calls in the afternoon and evening? or you have to have calls or something comes up at 9am? you just don't do it? This is great if you and your spouse both have complete control over your schedules, but that's not the case for most people.

You all want to stomp & shout about how unfair this is. It sucks- as mostly for the folks who aren’t working at all or died.
Make a schedule. Does stuff come up? Yes! All the time! But it’s not always & we manage. The lack of executive functioning skills on this board is alarming.

NP. The lack of compassion is even more alarming. "Be a parent"?? WTF this is not what any of us have ever had to deal with, SAHMs included, in our lives and is completely unprecedented so please excuse a little bit of panic. Be a parent. We are all trying our best.

I couldn’t agree with this more. Kudos to you if you are able to devote 100% of your time to taking care of your kids or have a work schedule that is completely self-directed. Many of us are not in that position. For some, the nature of their job simply does not allow them to be unresponsive for hours on end during the business day. I am someone with a job like that. What’s hard about this situation is the “village” we have built to help us balance work and home has completely evaporated. No grandparents to help, no friends to watch your kids in a pinch, no school, camps, activities...the list goes on. When all that evaporated and you are left with your same stressful, not 9-5 job, it is super difficult. I love my job and am good at it — but I need a support system in order to manage everything and that support system is gone.

Now, imagine how hard it is for low income, single parents who have either lost their jobs or are forced to endanger their health by continuing to work? Would you be as callous with your criticism of their inability to parent 100% of the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move to MD. Hogan just announced they are extending the closure through May 15. Which may give way to the possibility of maybe limited groups coming back .....like high schoolers can have a graduation ceremony.

You are living in a fantasy world. There’s not going to be an in person graduation ceremony. Maybe virtual.

I could be wrong, but I believe Hogan is only authorized to act in 30 day increments. Look for another announcement for MD in a few weeks.

30 day increments? WTF are you talking about?

What are you doing with them now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

so, neither of you are working a full day. And what happens when your husband has calls in the afternoon and evening? or you have to have calls or something comes up at 9am? you just don't do it? This is great if you and your spouse both have complete control over your schedules, but that's not the case for most people.

You all want to stomp & shout about how unfair this is. It sucks- as mostly for the folks who aren’t working at all or died.
Make a schedule. Does stuff come up? Yes! All the time! But it’s not always & we manage. The lack of executive functioning skills on this board is alarming.

NP. The lack of compassion is even more alarming. "Be a parent"?? WTF this is not what any of us have ever had to deal with, SAHMs included, in our lives and is completely unprecedented so please excuse a little bit of panic. Be a parent. We are all trying our best.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

so, neither of you are working a full day. And what happens when your husband has calls in the afternoon and evening? or you have to have calls or something comes up at 9am? you just don't do it? This is great if you and your spouse both have complete control over your schedules, but that's not the case for most people.

You all want to stomp & shout about how unfair this is. It sucks- as mostly for the folks who aren’t working at all or died.
Make a schedule. Does stuff come up? Yes! All the time! But it’s not always & we manage. The lack of executive functioning skills on this board is alarming.

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

+1

Put up an add for a high school sitter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

so, neither of you are working a full day. And what happens when your husband has calls in the afternoon and evening? or you have to have calls or something comes up at 9am? you just don't do it? This is great if you and your spouse both have complete control over your schedules, but that's not the case for most people.

Anonymous wrote:Time to move to MD. Hogan just announced they are extending the closure through May 15. Which may give way to the possibility of maybe limited groups coming back .....like high schoolers can have a graduation ceremony.

You are living in a fantasy world. There’s not going to be an in person graduation ceremony. Maybe virtual.

I could be wrong, but I believe Hogan is only authorized to act in 30 day increments. Look for another announcement for MD in a few weeks.

15:41
Sounds like you’ve identified the things in your life that need to change. You set your a life totally dependent on 2 incomes & away from all family. Sounds like choices have consequences...

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

It was going to happen in June anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm, be a parent and take care of your kids...

That’s super-helpful advice for how to occupy kids while both parents are trying to work at least eight hours a day, thanks.

Ok- try this
My husband works 6am-1 pm. I work 12-7 (DS is on screens from 12-1).
See how that works?

NP here. This is what I'm doing too, but you have to realize that it's not feasible for everyone. I'm lucky that my husband and I both have jobs that can mostly be done on our own schedule with minimal meetings. Many other people can't just declare themselves unavailable before noon, even if they're teleworking.