How is Everyone?

[Cat Herder]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Got any new recipes? Starting a garden? Whats new with you?

[Annalee]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Got any new recipes? Starting a garden? Whats new with you?

Off two weeks! Parents fine now that the grant will gradually allow me to refund/credit them.....only one really upset (to my face) before I was given this information.

Am working on getting things in order in my own home. Over the past several months taking care of my mamaw, many things was left alone and I need to deep clean. Hopefully, my time will be used wisely but I do enjoy just relaxing as well.

As for recipes, I have now had the chance to use my instapot and I love it. Have had it a long time but never took the time to use it. I am just placing a little of everything (meat and vegetables) so far, it's all been good.

Cooked a fresh-killed Turkey Sunday with some onions, wild game seasoning, and bacon laid on top along with some broth and butter to avoid the turkey being dry.

I got all my sons graduation invitations sent even though he probably will not march....

So, just moving forward with what I can!

[Former Teacher]

Parents wanted me to be self quarantined for 14 days. Then they told me last Friday that I should be okay to come back to work on Tuesday

Texted today to confirm...it's all good for tomorrow but they will let me know about Wednesday.

After I felt better....I rearranged the pantry and cabinets. I don't know what else I can do ::

[happymom]

Hey friends,

As you know, I am not a provider but just a mom with kids in daycare. After schools closed on the 13th, I kept my preschooler home from daycare.

I think daycare (4 large centers) announced official closer from March 26-April 6. When the owner made the announcement, it was also stated that we would not be expected to pay while they are closed. It is very helpful as my hours have been cut at work. But we are much better off than some, we still have 1 1/2 incomes.

Last week, all families received an email basically "polling" to find out how we feel about sending our kids back. After that, the closure was extended to at least April 17. I don't think I would send my children back that soon...but am prepared to start paying for daycare again whenever they open. Providers are really in a pickle.

My kids are doing well. Adjusting to all of this pretty well. My 8 year old is always coming up with "cures" for coronavirus. My 4 year old just keeps asking "when is coronavirus going to be over" (I'm with him). We celebrated my 8 year old's birthday last week, alone.

They are both on high alert about the word coronavirus. Now they talk about it in commercials on TV frequently.

I've got my garden going (inside, since we still have freezes). Tomatoes, lettuce and bell peppers! Just starting small.

I cleaned a storage area in my house and FOUND A BAG A FLOUR. I was so excited. Need to find some toilet paper next!

[Lil_Diddle]

Good days and bad days here. All but one of my families have at least parent working from home. I encouraged those that could a 50% discount to keep their kids home. And expressed concerns for health. I have one family that has been difficult, they finally put in their notice. It’s rough financially, and it’s another spot to fill for next school year but it’s probably for the best. I’ve also had some really amazing parents that pay the 50% no questions asked and we text back and forth checking in on eachother.

With only one kid besides my own, the days move slowly. The loss of income has been stressful but still manageable as I have no real need for expendable income at the moment. I watch almost all teachers kids, this time of year is when I start advertising for next year but I haven’t started yet as the timing does not feel right. And I wouldn’t feel comfortable having meetings and interviews.

I have a middle school child, her school has done little in terms of any direction or sending work. So we’ve just been doing our own things. She’s aware of what is going on and hasn’t been complaining about not seeing friends or going places. She has also been a great help with her preschool age brother and keeping him entertained. He’ll occasionally ask about his daycare friends. But hadn’t been too concerned.

I worry about the health of my parents as my dad has cancer and my mom works at a wholesale grocery retailer that is being hit hard by the public. I worry for my husband as well. Someone in the building he works at was tested positively recently.

It’s nerve wracking on so many levels. But I pray everyday and am grateful for each morning that we all continue to wake up healthy

[Unregistered]

I am still open. But instead of two working locations, I have one with 5 kids. Every day we have an online circle time (about 1 hour) and then an individual online lesson(about 30-45minutes) for my 4,5-5yo kids. One- two lessons every business day.

[Second Home]

When schools closed for the first two weeks all of my families decided to keep their kids home , 4 are teachers and the other family was self isolating ( both dcm and dck had been sick) . Now school is closed for another month and they are all staying home until we see what happens with school. I don't think schools will reopen until next school year .

I had one past family who is a paramedic ask if I could take their child while school is closed , so I said yes .

MD closed all daycares unless you applied for a essential personnel license to operate. So now the only way to open for this family was to apply for the essential personnel license. I got approved but I will have to wait until who knows when to get paid by the state.
So this is the beginning of the 4th week without pay.

My college daughter is having a hard time having to stay home , her work was forced to close so that really tough for her because she loves her job ( she teaches tae Kwon do).

My son is doing ok , he gets his school work done when the system is working . The school is being lenient with dates on the assignments because they know the system is overloaded.

My oldest daughter is in her first year of teaching , that is hard enough without having to figure out how to teach online.

My husband has also been working from home . We found out last week that his hours are going to be cut along with his salary.
So things are starting to stress me out.

We've been doing a lot of baking things from scratch. Playing games , basketball and walking more .

I went to pick up dog food and also came home with baby chicks. Gotta do what makes me feel good right.

[flying_babyb]

My college daughter is having a hard time having to stay home , her work was forced to close so that really tough for her because she loves her job ( she teaches tae Kwon do).
I went to pick up dog food and also came home with baby chicks. Gotta do what makes me feel good right.

Could she do a online tae kwon do class? Mabey even a free thing to keep the kids active?

[flying_babyb]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Got any new recipes? Starting a garden? Whats new with you?

Still open, still got most of my kids. I hate this, I moved her last month after two years of living 5 hours away. I was so excited to see my family monthly (im a hour away), I havent seen them since the day I moved (thanks covid 19). I did find time to start a 20 gallon fish tank, and clean the storage area. Though the whole covid 19 thing means I cant donate any of the junk!

[BumbleBee]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Open but low census (1-4 kiddos), many days with no kids. Current state order in effect only allows us to provide care for dependants of critical infrastructure workers. Order is set to expire on the 13th but will likely be extended.

Some parents are asking when I can take their kids again. Others have seemingly fallen off the face of the earth. Employee is wanting to come back. Not enough kids to deem it necessary so we wait.

Family...my 68 year old mom won't stay home. We've argued about it more than once. 66 year old dad is a paramedic. High exposure potential + crappy health = not good.

[Josiegirl]

CH, how are YOU doing in all of this?

It's encouraging and disheartening how it's all playing out differently for everyone. I guess we all cope the best way we know how; other alternatives wouldn't be good.

I've been kidless since end of May so no adjustments there. I'm a bit of a hermit anyways so not much different there either, except now that I *can't* go wherever whenever, I feel the need to do exactly those things now. It's been nicer here lately so have been getting stuff as I can, to start planting seeds indoors. Maybe it'll bring a sign of hope. Every time I drive by a patch of yellow or purple in someone's yard, I can feel my heart lighten up a bit. We video-chatted with our ds and his gf Friday night which was very nice; he works in a Home Depot and is usually in a small back corner room with only 1 other person but due to employee changes he's been brought onto the floor. Not a happy mom. Both our dds are now working from home TG, because 1 lives in Seattle and the other in NC. I feel I can worry a little bit less. I had been providing respite care to my sister for her dh who has dementia but that has decreased immensely. From maybe 10 hrs. a week to only a couple. I miss our time together but it is what it is. I think I'm mostly worried about my ds and my sister/dh.

Been reading a Lot, doing jigsaw puzzles, cleaning house, playing lots of Scrabble when dh gets home from work(I worry about him too). I did start a cross-stitch project but wow, making such slow progress.
Just very stressful and different times right now.
No new recipes because I'm not much of a cook anyhow. And such a struggle staying on a healthy eating plan being a stress eater. :confused:

As you can see, I'm not the most exciting person to know. Lol

Stay well everyone!!
Happymom, your post about your children's comments, and finding flour made me chuckle.

[DaveA]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Got any new recipes? Starting a garden? Whats new with you?

Still open- one family is coming (both parents in healthcare). The rest have been great to work with and are still paying but working from home or otherwise waiting this out. Still waiting on finding out if/ when/ where DW will get recalled to nursing (probably through state of Illinois instead of Navy). Oldest DS deployed doing logistics/ material transport. Younger children doing ok with being home although DD HATES doing school work at home.

I hate to sound flippant about this, but honestly my life has not changed much. Between home based daycare and home based craft business I pretty much stayed on the property anyway. So just being a little more over the top on safety when I have to go out. Otherwise things are doing well all things considered.

[Gemma]

Still open? Closed? Parents working with you, against you? How is your family doing? Kids settling in?

Got any new recipes? Starting a garden? Whats new with you?

I'm still open but only 3 of my families are considered essential, the rest of the families are paying to save their spots. All my DCPs have been cooperative from the start, they're all great, I'm very lucky!

DH just got laid off, so on days that I have no kids we're working in the yard together, watch movies, play games....I had no idea how little time we spent together when we both worked full time. I can't help the situation, so I'm trying to stay positive, and actually enjoy the good things and live while I'm still alive.

[Snowmom]

Isn't it funny how most of us feel it's not a big deal to stay home, we do that anyway.

I'm open but low enrollment. Honestly, I really thought I would close. I still contemplate if I'm doing the right thing for my own family (and me with asthma).
I've lost a couple families but hold them no ill will. It was no fault of their own.

Then I have the typical three types of families left.

The amazing:
I have two amazing families that are staying home and paying me full amount without question. Actually, these are the moms on social media arguing about why you should be paying your daycare. I love them dearly! lovethis

The Complainers:
Then there are the ones who reluctantly pay you but not without a passive aggressive insult about how they don't want to. Even though it's their choice to keep their kid(s) home. Even though they still get paid their regular salary. I almost wish they would refuse so that I can, in all good conscious, say "too bad, so sad, you no longer have daycare. Byeee".

The IDK's:
I have several of those. They never tell me if/when they are coming. They pay, but wait to the very last second. They are untruthful about their schedules and communicate very, very little.

I think my view of people will be very different after all this is said and done.

[Cat Herder]

I've just been thinking about you guys and worrying. It got so quiet here and I knew that like me, when most are struggling, they get quiet. Just like the playroom, I only worry when the forum gets quiet.

Not much has changed here, really. I have an average of three kids per day, now. Each day varies in which ones. Many are actually planning family fun days for their kids mid-week, now, while juggling siblings and working/homeschooling so that is wonderful to see.

Of course, I miss my own adult kids, I have not seen their faces since February. I will miss all of their birthdays, DH'S and mine before we can get together again. :dislike:

I did start the garden back up but was unable to get seedlings so had to start everything from seed. I have exactly one little leaf peeking up, so there is hope, I guess. :: The squirrels and chipmunks won't stop digging everything up, though.

I joined a meal delivery service to learn some new ideas and how to cook for two. It has been fun, the food is amazing but I actually gained weight, the opposite of the goal, so... :::: Eh, whats three pounds in two weeks anyway.

I have been trying to read, but find my mind wandering too much. I will be glad when I have a little more control of my finances, again. Like the rest of you, I am sure. :hug: