How is Everyone?

[Baby Beluga]

Until young couples stop expecting to have kids on year two of marriage, live in McMansions, join the best gyms, wear designer clothing, eat out weekly, take annual two-week vacations and drive new vehicles before they have paid off student loans, built nest eggs, saved emergency funds and earned some seniority at work, it probably won't last very long. When that died, so did the SAHM era.

Good point! ::

Also, as a mother of sons I don't want their wives at home full-time while they slave away and miss everything and are accused of never helping out or understanding. The wives would miss out learning to be self-sufficient and whole and will eventually resent it, anyway. An overworked husband cannot meet the emotional or social needs of a woman with no other people or activities in her life. Also, It feels amazing to know that if something happened to your husband, you can make it alone. I don't want to take that away.

I would love it if they could each simply work fewer, staggered hours so each has time alone caring for their children and home, then they could have their nights and weekends as a family. A true marriage and partnership.I mean, if they let me run the world and all. ::::

Can you make this happen? :: I see the benefits on so many different levels.

[CenterTeacher20]

SO READY FOR A 4 DAY WEEKEND! happyface

[Annalee]

Until young couples stop expecting to have kids on year two of marriage, live in McMansions, join the best gyms, wear designer clothing, eat out weekly, take annual two-week vacations and drive new vehicles before they have paid off student loans, built nest eggs, saved emergency funds and earned some seniority at work, it probably won't last very long. When that died, so did the SAHM era.

Also, as a mother of sons I don't want their wives at home full-time while they slave away and miss everything and are accused of never helping out or understanding. The wives would miss out learning to be self-sufficient and whole and will eventually resent it, anyway. An overworked husband cannot meet the emotional or social needs of a woman with no other people or activities in her life. Also, It feels amazing to know that if something happened to your husband, you can make it alone. I don't want to take that away.

I would love it if they could each simply work fewer, staggered hours so each has time alone caring for their children and home, then they could have their nights and weekends as a family. A true marriage and partnership. I mean, if they let me run the world and all. ::::

Yes, yes and yes!

[kidsncats]

I feel really guilty BUT I am loving life right now :: The pandemic is scary as hell and I worry and cry about it on ocassion (so many deaths ) but I am loving how simple life has gotten for us. I am off and can tend to the kids, make lovely dinners, plan a garden and I feel much less day to day stress. There is still the stress of this crappy situation but dealing with parents day in and day out was definitely affecting my mental health. Now I feel like I am on an extended vacation with ZERO expectations to do or go anywhere. It is a weird sort of bliss.

I don’t think I will be opening back up once this is over. Don’t want to give this up. Also not one parent has asked how I am doing since I closed 3 weeks ago so pretty sure they couldn’t care less about me! Lol

I'm with you.

This might actually turn out to be early retirement for me. I've been closed down since March 13th, and I've done a lot of cooking/cleaning/sewing. Things that weren't always an option when caring for 4 kids under age 2 1/2.

Stay well, and take care out there!

[Sunchimes]

I am doing ok. I closed on March 25 after my doctor told me I must. I am older with a risk factor. Because my handbook says that if I am closed, they don't pay (boy will that change!), Mom won't pay. The original plan was that I would stay open until forced to close, but since she is essential, I would still be working. I was so glad he said that.

I lost my husband in January after a really hard couple of years taking care of him and these kids. The hours, the stress, the grief were taking a toll on me. I feel better, and more contented that I have in a couple of years, when he first got sick.

I haven't been paid in nearly a month, and I am doing ok with just my social security. I would like to find a part time job and close the daycare. I can make almost as much in 20 hours as I am making in 60 hours now. Without wanting to be home with my husband, I don't see any reason to re-open. Except. Small town. Few jobs, especially after this. I suspect people will be fighting for jobs. And I have been self employed since 1980. I don't even know how to apply for a job. But, I think I am burned out, and ready for a change. I'm not making a decision now, and will probably open up long enough for her to find new care. Which is probably impossible in this town.

As for me, I am as happy as I expect I will ever be without my husband. My happiness level was always a 9 or 10. When he started getting sick, it dropped accordingly. By Christmas, it was a 2. After I lost him, it was a zero. I went back to work 4 days later, because dcm needed me. But, since I closed down, even though I am here alone, I am very contented. I would rather have my husband here, as he was 3 or 4 years ago, but I have to be thankful that he isn't having to deal with what would be a nightmare for him right now.

I have been cleaning everything that was neglected the past 2 years. You no longer have to leap backward when you open a closet. And I am just getting started. I don't see myself doing this past summer at the very latest.

[Josiegirl]

wanna hear sweet? We had a parent bring in a case of girl scout cookies today "Cause I appreacate you guys" then she looks at me and says "make sure the boss shares". It was funny! The funny thing is her kids not even the naughty one

That's so nice

[Josiegirl]

Sunchimes :hug::hug:
Sending you thoughts of continued strength and courage, hope and contentment.

[Cat Herder]

:hug: Sunchimes.

I kind of want to punch your DCM in the throat, though.

I hope you find a wonderful job somewhere like Hallmark store where most days are fun because the customers are there shopping for things that make people happy. I hope you don't have to see the whites of that DCM's selfish eyes ever again.

You are so strong. lovethis

[flying_babyb]

omg! On the topic of parents who suprize you, one of our parents showed up today with a pile of homemaid masks for all of us!

[Josiegirl]

omg! On the topic of parents who suprize you, one of our parents showed up today with a pile of homemaid masks for all of us!

lovethislovethislovethis

Yep, this crisis will definitely help you all determine the true characters of your dcparents!! It separates the good, bad, and ugly with a deep chasm, doesn't it??

[Josiegirl]

I'm excited because our 3 adult kids will be video-chatting with us tomorrow(Sunday)!! We haven't seen them since Christmas. It's incredibly difficult having them live so far away. Okay, 1 lives just across the state but still, people(adult children ) get busy and just don't have the time for their parents anymore.

[Ariana]

:hug: Sunchimes.

I kind of want to punch your DCM in the throat, though.

I hope you find a wonderful job somewhere like Hallmark store where most days are fun because the customers are there shopping for things that make people happy. I hope you don't have to see the whites of that DCM's selfish eyes ever again.

You are so strong. lovethis

THIS!!

Thinking of you during all of this and wishing you the best :hug:

[Ariana]

lovethislovethislovethis

Yep, this crisis will definitely help you all determine the true characters of your dcparents!! It separates the good, bad, and ugly with a deep chasm, doesn't it??

I keep getting narcissistic texts from one mom with pics and videos of her kid doing so many wonderful amazing things (all developmentally appropriate things ) and not one word from my other two families other than “do you have any lunch ideas” and “what is your daily schedule”.....I think this is the first time they realized their kids actually do things and eat things at my house

[flying_babyb]

lovethislovethislovethis

Yep, this crisis will definitely help you all determine the true characters of your dcparents!! It separates the good, bad, and ugly with a deep chasm, doesn't it??

I was shocked too, cause this is a parent that is a real pain. Like chewed her kid out for leaving his hat on the playground (causing him to cry), chewed me a new one cause the kid had dirt on his chin (we were on the playground), ect. super picky parent (this woman took her child out of state, then came back asking us to make sure we documented when the child washes his hands)

[Cat Herder]

2 weeks later. Two to four more weeks to go? :confused: Ugh.

I am still open with full attendance and full payment. I still do the morning health check before drop off and monitor for symptoms. Same cleaning, disinfecting routine. I am so glad I did not close. No one here who did has had any income assistance according to all of our Facebook pages.

I have enough cleaning supplies for another couple weeks then I will have to start getting creative. I am so glad I had just filled my monthly order for March when this thing hit. I have been making it go further by using bleach and all-purpose Lysol liquid for a few more things around the house than usual and saving the Odoban for the playroom, only. I have been trying for two weeks to find some with no luck. We could only find the Clorox Fragranzia handsoap and I am trying to get used to my hands smelling like floor cleaner (to me). The scent is so strong.

My DH is making store runs once per week. We stocked the freezers really well for winter so that has held out pretty good. I am missing the farmers' markets for fresh veggies and plants, though. Late frost killed my few seedlings so I am having to start over in the garden.