Anonymous
Post 03/17/2020 09:28     Subject: Re:How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

I realize that those of us that have leave and can work from home are lucky, but does anyone else think it is INSANITY to expect parents to watch/school their kids, work, and if they, can't, use leave? S**t policy.

It's nowhere near as bad as not having a job or having to report to an essential job with childcare issues, but that doesn't mean it's a good policy.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 22:04     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

Anonymous wrote:everyone posting to let their kid's sleep in, or to get up and work before your kids are awake is making me so angry! Sleeping in for my kid is maybe 7:00 a.m. Usually 6:30 a.m. That doesn't solve our problems!

Today was a long day.

Also to answer someone else's question up thread, no I am not going to the grocery store, and yes I would wear gloves if I had to pump gas. Which I don't, because I'm not driving anywhere.

Telling my 5 year old he couldn't play with his friends was the hardest part of today.


I had to tell ours not to pet the dogs we encountered on our walk, and announce it ahead don’t he owners didn’t feel like they had to stop. It felt mean. We lasted about 6 blocks.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 18:50     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

everyone posting to let their kid's sleep in, or to get up and work before your kids are awake is making me so angry! Sleeping in for my kid is maybe 7:00 a.m. Usually 6:30 a.m. That doesn't solve our problems!

Today was a long day.

Also to answer someone else's question up thread, no I am not going to the grocery store, and yes I would wear gloves if I had to pump gas. Which I don't, because I'm not driving anywhere.

Telling my 5 year old he couldn't play with his friends was the hardest part of today.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 15:14     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

P.S. this thing is worth it's weight in gold.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gorilla-Gym-Kids-Package/48601518

Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 14:13     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

Why is everyone assuming OP is a woman? My husband is currently home in the same situation with kids the same age. Heck, he might have been the one who posted!

For OP - we put together a schedule for the kids with educational content mixed with "recess/outdoor time". Depending on how busy DH is at a given time, the schedule has options for screen-time things (computer games and apps), play together things for kids-only (board games, older child reading to younger child, building toys), and adult-guided things (actual curriculum-related things - both our ES and preschool provided high-level things and lots of links). And obviously there's time built in for meals, free play, tv shows/movies, arts and crafts, etc...
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 13:57     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

Get up early to start work and finish later in the evening if possible and let them sleep in till they wake up.

Plan easily half supervised activities where you can keep an eye on your computer while they do something at the table:
slime making
pinecone bird feeders
plant seeds in mini flower pots
cookie making where they just mix the ingredients
print out some easy activity sheets from online, cutting and gluing activities, art
pick up some pint your pottery supplies (helps local businesses and you just pick up and drop off the items)
DIY apple/potato stamps
tv and learning computer (can find lists of sites online)


Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 13:46     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

A 7 yr old is TOTALLY old enough to both play outside without a parent AND to work independently. Give them a schedule and tell them to do it.

Sell the 4 yr old for Clorox Wipes and toilet paper. Problems solved.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 13:39     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

both of us teleworking with an active two year old and it’s a shit show.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2020 00:08     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

I'll work as much as I can, but definitely won't get anywhere near 8 hours a day. I have three kids between 2 yrs and 8 yrs. old. This is obviously a special situation and not something I can control. Unless you're billing hours, I would just let it go. Do what you can and the rest can wait.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2020 23:55     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

Kids ages 4 and 7 can definitely play outside alone.
In fact, they should.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2020 23:12     Subject: How will you juggle full time telework and preschool/young elementary kids w/out nanny/family?

Everyone expects your kids to be visible at some point on a conference call. Stop fretting and just dig in.