It's Thursday, right?

[mwhip]

I'm kind of loosing track of what day it is...not leaving the house.

How is everyone?

[mwhip]

Evie is still asleep. I'm enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee in silence. H left for work early.

Obviously no plans today. I might try to get to the grocery store at some point, for a few things that I need. But I don't HAVE to have them, so it isn't a big deal if I don't go.

[guster]

Rumors of high 50’s here today so I plan to spend a lot of time outside!
I’ve been a day ahead of myself all week. I know it’s Thursday but it feels like Friday and every day functions as a Sunday so I’m totally at a loss.
Kids are playing, mh just went upstairs to get his digital learning for the day in place, and I’m
prepping the table for Josie to do some writing.

[kim22]

Good morning. I have a virtual staff meeting and then a virtual training on a new math program. I like the program by teaching my students how to use it virtually is not going to be fun.

MH had a filling come out yesterday and he’s in pain so his dentist is meeting him to fix it today. I’m not usually a nervous person but I don’t like that he is leaving this little bubble world we have created even just to go see 1 person 2 blocks away.

I was down 5 pounds today since March 1 so that was good.

[chrisy01]

I’m getting ready fast so I can start work. Our SAP team just cancelled a PO request which I don’t understand since I literally copied one they approved 2 weeks ago.

[wedding]

Dh is home today so I put him in charge of distance learning. He is realizing you can’t get anything done.

I will say seeing all of his classmates and hearing all the kids sing and answer the teachers questions is really cute.

[nam2013]

Morning. School is done for the day, we painted and made bread. During outside play I hid a few animals in the sandbox, they had a blast searching for them, I recommend it 😉. I’m not feeling it today, I’m exhausted. I got laughed at this morning saying I was hoping schools would start back up May 11th, which I know might not happen, but please just let everybody have their hopes, its not like I said April 6th (which is for now the time they said).

[klong11]

mwhip I found out Smokey has still been going in, so I'm going to email her to turn on my computer.

We got this weird email from the head partner (the one who threw a tantrum about closing the office) and he said the title company is still open because they are "essential" which means HE is essential too, so he's going to go back to the office to work starting today. One of the partners emailed back basically saying good for him, but everyone else will be staying home. We texted the receptionist and told her she better not go in. The order is in place and the office manager said we are following that order. Stay home.

[sing2phins]

Mar 26, 2020 6:34:13 GMT -6 nam2013 said:

Morning. School is done for the day, we painted and made bread. During outside play I hid a few animals in the sandbox, they had a blast searching for them, I recommend it 😉. I’m not feeling it today, I’m exhausted. I got laughed at this morning saying I was hoping schools would start back up May 11th, which I know might not happen, but please just let everybody have their hopes, its not like I said April 6th (which is for now the time they said).

I did that the other day - buried stuff in our (fallow) garden and let the kids go crazy digging them up. They had a great time.

Is no one else here closed for the year? The governor here made that announcement on Monday. I was at the grocery store when I got the news and I nearly sat down and cried. (I hope it goes without saying that I understand the need, although like flamingo I wish they'd take it in shorter increments.) The situation - two parents required to telework full-time while also caring for and educating two young kids - is just not sustainable. All 4 of us get short shrift. I hate having to use screens to get any kind of quiet to do work, I hate getting interrupted 1000 times for help (I'm happy to help, and if I were just off work, they wouldn't even be interrupting me, I could just be their teacher, you know?), and I hate being with 3 other people 24 hours a day. But most of all, I hate having to say, "I can't right now, I'm working," 1000 times a day to my kids. That can't be good for them, and it's painful for me to say it.

This weekend, DH and I decided that we will each take off 1 day a week for as long as this lasts. Luckily, our bosses approved this plan; now I'm totally free on Wednesdays, and DH has Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off (selfishly, I wish he'd just taken a single day, but at least this way, the kids get some undivided attention guaranteed 3 times per school week). Yesterday was my first day of the new plan, and it was so great. It wasn't without its frustrations, but I was so much calmer and less stressed. And I know the kids appreciated it.

Benjamin's school is planning to to reopen soon, but with a strict 10-people-per-classroom limit, which includes the teacher. There are 10 kids in his class. The plan is to give priority to kids of essential workers and then have a lottery for everyone else. I don't know if we'll bother. And who knows if that will even happen at all.

Honestly, my biggest concern right now is whether they will cancel summer camp. I cannot take 5 months of this.

[joelies]

Morning! It's a beautiful day here and J just took the boys out for the first (of likely mainy) times this morning. I swear they spent a good 2 hours out yesterday and it wasn't even nice out. But it sure was quiet in here. Working from home has actually been fine and I've actually been super productive, even without working extra (i.e., late) hours like last week.

Colin's teacher is gradually providing more assignments and he is getting less engaged - not a great combination. Some of the assignments are word or math games, but he gets sidetracked and wants to play more immediately vs. finishing up his other assignments. That would be fine but I only have so much time in the a.m. to sit with him and make sure he finishes up. A couple of the assignments have been to re-write nursery rhymes. He did "Row, row, row your boat" in a football theme and chose Cars for "Mary had a little lamb". That seems to entertain him enough to hold his interest but seriously, everyday feels a bit harder.

Aaand Chase apparently pulled a steak knife out of the drawer to play with yesterday. It happened shortly after I went upstairs and after I had to physically remove scissors from his grubby little paws. Fortunately J was not thrown but YIKES.

In other news, we cancelled our April trip to FL yesterday. They're telling people coming in from NY to self-isolate for 2 weeks (I think?) which probably doesn't jive well with quality time with a cancer patient... I'm bummed but we've agreed to head down this summer, assuming things are back to normal. I have credits to rebook my flights and I'm getting my deposit back for the rental, so we're not really out anything. My parents seem okay with it as well. I think getting good news earlier this week makes them feel like we have time and don't need to rush given the circumstances. Silver lining, for sure.

[flamingo]

sing2phins yes, we are in your state and it was a tough pill to swallow. I think mwhip’s state did the same. Since I already SAH it’s technically ‘fine’, but man, just kill my hopes and dreams, Northam. My heart goes out to working parents.

[mwhip]

klong11 That guy sounds like he's trying to make himself out to be a martyr, but he sounds like an asshole. I'm glad everyone else is still working from home. Hopefully he doesn't push people into feeling like they should come in as well.

joelies Sorry you had to cancel your trip. It's such a bummer, even though we realize it's the smart choice. We are still holding off on making a decision about our trip, since it's the very end of April.

[mwhip]

sing2phins Yep, KS announced all schools were closed for the remainder of the year, last week. We were shocked.

[joelies]

I get it, sing2phins. One week without child care made me wonder if I'd have to take a leave from work or completely destroy my marriage via working late into the night and on weekends, just to maintain some semblance of productivity. We're so lucky to have J to help - she's my co-worker's daughter so I know very well that she's either here, home, or en route at all times - while all the colleges and universities are closed. It's still somewhat of a risk but a calculated one, and probably worth the sanity it's saving. I love your plans to each take a day off though, that seems like an excellent way to mitigate the stress. Sadly I can't see my husband agreeing to do anything like that, so instead we're double paying for care for the time being.

What is everyone doing on the weekends to keep the kids busy? It's so hard to make those days much different, aside from us not being stuck in front of our laptops.

[mwhip]

Our weekends look the same as usual, just no shopping. Entertaining ourselves with games, outside on the swingset, walks around the neighborhood, cleaning, etc.

[mwhip]

Evie had a temp of 99.5 this morning, so 3rd day in a row of waking with a fever. I just gave her Motrin, which will bring it down.

MIL asked if I've called the dr yet. Um, no. Yes, it's the 3rd day, but Motrin takes care of it, plus it's been low grade. Do I need to be more concerned? There are no other symptoms. I don't want to subject her to other germs when her body seems to be fighting whatever it is. Am I being too laid back about this?

[flamingo]

Mar 26, 2020 8:04:42 GMT -6 mwhip said:

Evie had a temp of 99.5 this morning, so 3rd day in a row of waking with a fever. I just gave her Motrin, which will bring it down.

MIL asked if I've called the dr yet. Um, no. Yes, it's the 3rd day, but Motrin takes care of it, plus it's been low grade. Do I need to be more concerned? There are no other symptoms. I don't want to subject her to other germs when her body seems to be fighting whatever it is. Am I being too laid back about this?

I don’t think you’re being too laid back. If she starts having other symptoms, sure, but for a low-grade fever I’d KOKO.

[peachsmama]

I can't remember if I told you all this. So skip over if it sounds familiar lol. A friend of mine who is a nurse, reached out to see if I was still interested in watching kids. Her co workers baby sitter quit when they started shutting everything down. They came Sunday so we could all meet and today is their first day here. It's just 1-3 days a week depending on their schedules. Both parents are nurses and obviously have to keep working. After about a half hour everyone settled in and were playing nicely. And like my boys, the kids were craving social interaction lol. N is 4, boy. L is 18 months, girl. They are very sweet!

[wineallthetime]

Mar 26, 2020 8:04:42 GMT -6 mwhip said:

Evie had a temp of 99.5 this morning, so 3rd day in a row of waking with a fever. I just gave her Motrin, which will bring it down.

MIL asked if I've called the dr yet. Um, no. Yes, it's the 3rd day, but Motrin takes care of it, plus it's been low grade. Do I need to be more concerned? There are no other symptoms. I don't want to subject her to other germs when her body seems to be fighting whatever it is. Am I being too laid back about this?

Would not call the Dr for that.

[sing2phins]

Mar 26, 2020 7:57:29 GMT -6 mwhip said:

sing2phins Yep, KS announced all schools were closed for the remainder of the year, last week. We were shocked.

Yeah, I knew that from FB AND from reading yesterday's thread and I still forgot. Whoops. And I thought flamingo was in VA like me, too, but wasn't for sure.

[wineallthetime]

I'm home, MH is at work. I can't stop yawning! We need to get outside ASAP.

[nam2013]

joelies I’m sorry about your trip, hope that during the summer it will be just as nice and more relaxed.

[klong11]

Woohoo, Smokey turned on my computer!
Now to remember not to shut down when I'm remote.

[wineallthetime]

Ugh, now my niece has bacterial pnemonia. I feels so bad for them.

[inthekitty]

wineallthetime, geez. Your poor niece. I hope she finally starts on the mend soon.

mwhip at this point I wouldn't call. If she starts coughing then I would.

Our days look similar. The weekends we don't focus on school although Cass will voluntarily do some of the learning apps (she loves Teach Your Monster to Read), but otherwise we're here, hanging out. We might go for a long drive this weekend just to have a change of scenery.

It's obviously harder to be as productive as I'd like with everyone home, but I much prefer it now because it has decreased my anxiety about COVID-19 exponentially. I'm no longer worried about being sick and spreading it or contracting it and bringing it home. Plus my house is so much cleaner.

sing2phins, I'm really glad you and your husband came up with a plan. Try to release the guilt about telling the kids you're working. If they were at school they would not be getting constant attention. They'd be 1 out of 25 and told to go sit down and do their work if they kept interrupting. It's a struggle for everyone, kids included to come up with the new normal. After setting the girls with a task, if I have something important to do for work, I set out a red folder and tell them when that's out don't interrupt me unless it's an emergency. It's not foolproof, but it helps.

[trtlcrzy]

Morning. I’m ready for this week to be over. Poor S’s ear drained all day yesterday, so much fluid. Then at supper time she went to the bathroom and told me her pee was “hot” so off to urgent care we went. She really, really didn’t want to go pee while we were there but we finally got a sample and sure enough she has a UTI. So now she’s taking an antibiotic and doing ear drops. Today is going to be the same as all the other days. I wish the rain would go away so we could spend time outside.

[inthekitty]

Nothing much going on here. I think I'll have the girls do a Scholastic activity today. They can help MH build a cell for his bio class. Maybe an art project of a spring mosaic.

I finally got Cass set up on Google Classroom...and there's nothing on there. Her teacher is an old and I don't think she understands the tech. We left a note on there and if we don't hear back I'll search for her teacher's email address to give her a status update. Her teacher keeps emailing from some "do not reply" email so we can't respond.

Maddie's teacher only has had 1 assignment a week so far in Google classroom and it's been basically journaling with her. Maddie loves it and can write back and forth with her teacher.

[inthekitty]

trtlcrzy, oh man that sounds rough. I hope S feels better soon and you guys get a break from the rain. It's been rainy off and on here but having those little breaks to get outside has made a huge difference.

[klong11]

After listening to just 15 minutes of Cadence's class meeting on zoom I'm pretty sure her teacher deserves a raise.

[sing2phins]

trtlcrzy & mwhip I'm sorry your girls are under the weather; hope they both feel better soon.