I’m planning to leave my 10 and 6 yr old alone too, OP. It’s not illegal where I live, so if CPS calls, I’m not worried. My sibling and I have same age gap, and I used to be left alone and in charge of him every summer starting when I was 10.

I would make sure your 10 yr old knows how to handle emergencies, a fire extinguisher, poison control, etc.

I'm in a borderline situation. Got a 7 and 9 y.o. My job is on the line if I can't consistently show up. No support net that can watch the kids 5 days a week. I'm disheartened when I read stuff like "teachers won't return to school unless there are 14 days straight with no new cases"...dear lord, my kids and I will be homeless before that ever happens.

I am worried about a 10 yo being home alone for a year. If there’s any way to get at least two days at a friend’s house for that 10yo, I would try. Just for social reasons.

This post is EXACTLY why schools should be pulling out all.the.stops. to make in school learning available for K-5 for those who need it. Or even SOME type of free or highly subsidized care (like the aftercare program but all day) to supervise online learning (as best they can, which don’t be great at the younger ages)

If they aren’t going to do that, parents under a certain income level should be provided $$ for childcare and some K-5 teachers should be furloughed (particularly specials teachers who really don’t do anything for online learning) to be free up the funds if need be.

This entire scenario is just ridiculous on all levels TBH. There are millions of parents in OP’s situation.

You're in a tough situation, OP. Is your boss the understanding kind? Are other coworkers in the same situation? Could you band together and pay for a sitter to oversee the kids at the office?

I am so sorry that you have been put in this situation OP!

I think your 10yo will be fine at home , even if it isn’t ideal.

Any chance the 6yo could come to work with you?

Could 6yo pair up with a classmate with a SAHP? Some might like the company for their child (especially if any only)- or might be willing to trade off (maybe you watch theirs on evening or time on the weekend) or accept a small amount of $.

IF I were you, I’d start putting out feelers with every parent you know in 6yo’s class. Just a “hey- what is everyone planning with distance learning?” This is not a strange thing to do- everyone seems to want to chat about this right now. You May just get some good ideas, based on what others are doing!

I could see scenarios where SOME 10yo/6yo would be fine alone for 1-2 hours. But yeah- definitely not all day

Boys and Girls clubs often offer sliding payment scales - worth looking at. Also, would not surprise me if a number of in-home daycares pop up (unlicensed) targeted to the young elementary set. Keep an eye on Craigslist etc.

Anonymous wrote:Any teenage or college relatives that could move in?

HMM, dorms are closed for many upper-classmen, so you could offer a free room with the promise only to be home during yur work hours (they don't even have to babysit - just be present and make sure kids are safe). its inviting Covid in to your house, but it's a very cheap solution. If you ar ein a two-bedroom, the kids will have to move into your room though.

You can leave the 10 year old and then just worry about finding something for the 6 year old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there older TRUSTWORTHY possibly retired neighbors that can keep a keen eye on things from a distance? I was a latch key kid and that is how we were managed when I was growing up.

On that note, I would seriously consider adding several Ring type cameras to your house so that you can check on them several times a day. You will probably want some kind of intercom system, like an Amazon Echo, so that you can yell at them remotely.

I didn't know you could do this with echo. Thanks for the tip.

Yup! Put the app on your phone, and then you can use the app to tell them to KNOCK IT OFF RIGHT NOW.

If I had no other choice, I would put security cameras in every room of the house, and check them regularly.

I'm sorry you're in this position, OP.

Oh and check to see if the state will be covering essential worker child care like at the ymca like they did in the spring. The state paid it all. Or ymca may be inexpensive anyway.

Any teenage or college relatives that could move in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there older TRUSTWORTHY possibly retired neighbors that can keep a keen eye on things from a distance? I was a latch key kid and that is how we were managed when I was growing up.

On that note, I would seriously consider adding several Ring type cameras to your house so that you can check on them several times a day. You will probably want some kind of intercom system, like an Amazon Echo, so that you can yell at them remotely.

I didn't know you could do this with echo. Thanks for the tip.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. Other parent has a mental health problem that bankrupt us 3 years ago. He is out of the picture. We are in VA. Money is tight which is why I have been desperately searching for cheap day camps. I know I’m not alone but I sure feel lonely. This keeps me up at night.

Contact your 6yo friends’ parents. See if 6yo can join them during the day, either with a parent or in-home childcare. Whatever your budget is, make it clear that you appreciate it and ask if you can do something else in addition to paying. If it’s with a sitter or nanny, you need to make sure they’re ok with the arrangements too.

I’m so sorry OP. I hate how the society has basically broken down and left middle and lower income working people with kids in the lurch. This may not be the solution you want to hear, but it looks like FCPS is going all distance learning. Probably all year. Can you send your kids to live with relatives elsewhere? Do you have parents or siblings who can WFH or are retired who can lightly supervise your kids DL? Maybe they could come home every weekend - they aren’t having any school on Mondays so you get a 3 day weekend every weekend. Something to consider. Good luck’