Checking in with myself from about a month ago. I feel like I fairly accurately predicted my own situation, where it feels like I am doing both a disservice to my kids because I am constantly trying to work, and a disservice to my work because I am constantly taking care of my kids. Work life balance has gone out the window, where I work from getting up (~7) until my kids get up (~8), then spend all day taking care of them which involves tons of TV time so I can continue working at 50% capacity, then get them ready for bed around 9pm, then work until 12 or so, then go to bed and repeat. Need to work on stuff weekends as well, since the workload is more designed for people without kids distracting them. It never feels good to tell a toddler you have a meeting as you lock the door to the office while they cry outside because they want to play. When going to the office I would end work 5-6 and just be done, full work, then full family time.Honestly, just dreading trying to work from home with young kids around for such a long period of time. No time to take a break or relax, just children and cleaning (since they will spend more time at home making a greater mess) while they are up, then working when they are asleep until I fall asleep. We cannot even go anywhere for obvious reasons like we can for a normal weekend to do anything to keep them entertained, so they will get stir crazy and disruptive. Difficult ages where they are not old enough to occupy themselves, but too old to do be content doing nothing. After the weekend I tend to look forward to getting back to work to socialize with other adults and be able to sip some coffee in peace, having 4 hours with them a day around daycare is just the right amount, 15 hours or so every day is draining.
Substitute "wife" for "toddler" and I'm right there with you.It never feels good to tell a toddler you have a meeting as you lock the door to the office while they cry outside because they want to play.
I get that.
Hang in there man. A bunch of the neighborhood women here have been taking long walks together. Supposedly they are socially distant, but not based on what I've observed.I get that.
Honestly, I'm more irritated than usual. I expected my SAHM/wife to be more involved with the kids. Instead she's taking 2 hour walks and hanging out with friends who "don't ever see anyone else so they definitely don't have COVID" every Wednesday night. I'm doing more with the kids while working full time from home than she is lately.
I'm closer to filing for divorce than ever.
How goes it northern neighbor? Spirits up? Need anything?Getting worse. As I mentioned in the small business thread, I am going to run out of money soon, got denied unemployment, and have no way to figure out how to get it approved. There is no way to communicate with anyone (switchboards are flooded, can't reach anyone, can't leave a message, can't show up at an office).
We are all passed out more.Finally - I’m sleeping so much more.
Kids complicate things.Thanks
I'm really trying to consider that maybe my expectations are too high, that I don't see everything. That even though she's a SAHM, raising kids takes two. All that, but man I have no idea what she actually does. She pays attention to the youngest two but for the other 3 she doesn't seem to do anything. #1 and 3 are pretty much with me whenever I can, #2 is a bit of a recluse but makes videos for church and is studying for his AP exams.
Last year this time I was home with the older 4 while she was at St Jude's for 4 months with #5. The 5 of us did just fine without her here.
It's possible we're both dealing with pent up crap, neither of us sleep well, she's decided to sleep on the couch (it is comfortable) and we haven't been physical in months, like maybe twice in the last 18 months. She says she gets yeast infections every time, so that kills things. But I'm just frustrated with all of it at this point.
The job is stable, the boss keeps telling me he's trying to get me a promotion (federal job so it's not just his call, it gets complicated with numbers, slots, etc). But we're in a place we won't leave, happy here and settled for the first time in our adult lives (I retired from the Army a few years ago).
Just venting....
This has been happening in our neighborhood, where there will be a gathering of 6 or so parents hanging out on a lawn while a bunch of kids play together almost daily. I feel antisocial not joining them, but that is not social distancing.Hang in there man. A bunch of the neighborhood women here have been taking long walks together. Supposedly they are socially distant, but not based on what I've observed.
Our neighborhood is a ghost town. Not that it is ever overly crowded. I guess the bright side is we were perfectly set up for this. I work from home, she's retired, empty nesters. And our county had their third straight day with zero deaths. We stand a good chance of coming out of round 1 unscathed. Unless we kill each other that is.This has been happening in our neighborhood, where there will be a gathering of 6 or so parents hanging out on a lawn while a bunch of kids play together almost daily. I feel antisocial not joining them, but that is not social distancing.
PM me your number, I'll fax you some edibles.This all ####### sucks. And I shouldn’t have anything to complain about - new home, still have my job and I’m a homebody anyway but the stress is just too much and I’m drinking too much.
Thanks for checking in. Still waiting in the queue to get unemployment. Running on fumes at this point. If I hear the line “we have tens of thousands of people to deal with and we are doing the best we can” one more time, I may have to hunt that person down and smack them.How goes it northern neighbor? Spirits up? Need anything?
I’m with you, kind of. Not working from home, but after an initial frenzy, going to the hospital hasn’t been bad at all. Availability of PPE and testing has improved interactions at work tremendously.Just saw this thread. Im an optimist in general, so take this FWIW but ...
Im loving this. First, I’m learning how much I truly don’t like people. Like, I don’t need to be around them. I don’t miss them, not one bit. Now, I do enjoy chatting with the 0-1 friends I have, or a couples remote game night, but overall not much. I’m good with my kids, a little wife, and lots of working out and electronics.
Next, I get a #### more done WFH. Not having to look people in the eyes feels more efficient. I’m a pretty organized person so with others being remote, folks seem more responsive to planning. Add to this being able to run out to easily get a chore done, it’s great.
Finally - I’m sleeping so much more. I guess part of this is I can’t get up early to swim, but the other part is I don’t have to go anywhere for work. As long as I keep my outlook planned out, I can sleep till 8-9 am if I want.
![]()
If you get in a bind, dont hesitate to reach out to some random ifriend. We are all in this together.Thanks for checking in. Still waiting in the queue to get unemployment. Running on fumes at this point. If I hear the line “we have tens of thousands of people to deal with and we are doing the best we can” one more time, I may have to hunt that person down and smack them.How goes it northern neighbor? Spirits up? Need anything?
Just got notification today that all my unemployment stuff was approved and payment for all prior weeks should be deposited into my account on Tuesday. That should keep things afloat at least in the short term.If you get in a bind, dont hesitate to reach out to some random ifriend. We are all in this together.
You got this. Its just a mental game, one day at a time. Each time you look at a day there are the good things and the not so good things. However, each day brings you a new challenge. If optimism was easy, everyone would be doing it. Head up GBDallasDMac said:Work and COVID are taking a toll on me. 14 hour days. Missing meals. Not sleeping due to stress. Feeling totally overwhelmed. On top of that, wife blew up at me this morning for... I don't know. I am just beginning to feel totally powerless in my own life, as much of one as I have right now. Not sure how long I can continue to cope. Hopefully things slow soon or I may have no choice but to see if I can survive on what I have saved for retirement. I can honestly say I have NEVER felt anything remotely approaching this in my life, including my time deployed over a 20 year military career.
Hang in there. Tough times no doubt, but everything is temporary. Perspective is everything. You will get through this. We all will.Work and COVID are taking a toll on me. 14 hour days. Missing meals. Not sleeping due to stress. Feeling totally overwhelmed. On top of that, wife blew up at me this morning for... I don't know. I am just beginning to feel totally powerless in my own life, as much of one as I have right now. Not sure how long I can continue to cope. Hopefully things slow soon or I may have no choice but to see if I can survive on what I have saved for retirement. I can honestly say I have NEVER felt anything remotely approaching this in my life, including my time deployed over a 20 year military career.
Trying. Daughter text me yesterday. My son and his new bride (they got married by a JoP four hours away from here last Friday and we didn't go due to the lockdown) are in town. They wanted to pick up dinner and the four of them (him, his wife and my other two kids) come over for a get-together. My wife and I have not seen her kids or grandkids since this started because we all take the lockdown seriously, so I had to say no. I can't tell her family no and then break the rules to have mine over. So just felt like another kick in the nuts. But we have to do what is right to not get this, so I hope they understand. The time will come when we can all get together safely.Hang in there. Tough times no doubt, but everything is temporary. Perspective is everything. You will get through this. We all will.
Fwiw, my brother and his family have been having dinner with our mom a couple time a week the last few weeks (after they all were symptom free for two weeks).Trying. Daughter text me yesterday. My son and his new bride (they got married by a JoP four hours away from here last Friday and we didn't go due to the lockdown) are in town. They wanted to pick up dinner and the four of them (him, his wife and my other two kids) come over for a get-together. My wife and I have not seen her kids or grandkids since this started because we all take the lockdown seriously, so I had to say no. I can't tell her family no and then break the rules to have mine over. So just felt like another kick in the nuts. But we have to do what is right to not get this, so I hope they understand. The time will come when we can all get together safely.
My mom (85 yo) lives about an hour from me. We’ve been talking about doing something like that with her. We probably will when there’s a nice weather day when we can sit outside.Fwiw, my brother and his family have been having dinner with our mom a couple time a week the last few weeks (after they all were symptom free for two weeks).
My mom sits in the house behind sliding glass doors while my brother and family sit on the deck. They bring their own food, plates and silverware...but they get to spend time in the same place and talk without screens (other than the insect screen door). We zoom with them while they do this... I know my mom really appreciates seeing them. She also has been going on hikes with my nieces, keeping socially distant, but again getting to share time, talk and removed space together.
Mt brother visits my mom daily (they are collocated in my small Ohio hometown). My sister, who works at the Pentagon, thinks this is fine as she has visited once or twice on a weekend. I told her, I think it is an unnecessary risk but, like most people, she seems to take it much less seriously than I even though she is nearly 60. Of course she believes as her beloved leader tells her too, so that may tie in to it. While I appreciate my brother making the effort, I think it puts my 90 year old mother at unnecessary risk. But I get it, it is tough to balance concern and feelings for family with doing what is smart. And admittedly the infection rate in their county is small so I don't press it. But it just serves to test our commitment to keep doing what we know is right when no one else around us seems to be.Fwiw, my brother and his family have been having dinner with our mom a couple time a week the last few weeks (after they all were symptom free for two weeks).
Youre not bipolar, your normal. Or ... maybe we both are bipolar? Nah - completely normal.I feel bipolar sometimes. At times I feel depressed and hopeless and then right after im happy and hopeful. Im depressed about how this is impacting my son who wasn't the best student before this all started and will miss out on 5th grade graduation and yearbook signing and all that fun stuff (although he doesn't seem to care about that).
Im depressed about no little league or travel baseball which is a huge part of our lives. Im sad he doesn't get to see cousins or friends except on facetime or fortnite.
Im happy to have a job. Im happy my wife still has her job. Im happy we can both work from home. Im happy to be able to sleep until 8 every morning. I've definitely gained weight but work out on elliptical every day and started running again. I do miss seeing my friends at work.
We were supposed to redo our kitchen before all this started but now I'm thinking about shifting that money towards a pool for the summer especially if we will be stuck home all summer.
even candied orange peels are good ...and she likely didn't have any sugarYoure not bipolar, your normal. Or ... maybe we both are bipolar? Nah - completely normal.
My great-grandmother who lived to be 101 told me stories about living through the great depression. Until im eating orange peels, Im good![]()
They're sold out of the Moonlight. WTF!!!!
I live with a view of a golf course. More and more people are taking walks on the course and not watching for golfers. every day I'll see 4 mothers talking in one area and a bunch of kids riding their bikes right in front of guys trying to tee off. It's the total lack of awareness by the adults that ticks me off.This has been happening in our neighborhood, where there will be a gathering of 6 or so parents hanging out on a lawn while a bunch of kids play together almost daily. I feel antisocial not joining them, but that is not social distancing.
I don't but spoke to my mother yesterday (90 in July, cancer survivor) as my brother visits daily (see post a few up). I told her I was a little worried about that, but she said my brother is high risk so only goes to the store, wearing mask and gloves. So he is doing his best to be safe, in spite of the excessive visits. She said when he comes, she sits in her chair and he stays on the couch, which does give them the six foot distance. I guess other than the danger of something he touches being infected and her later touching it, they feel safe enough. But their county has barely been touched, so they likely can get away with it. I was happy to hear my mom talking about it and what she does PPE wise. Basically, she IS serious and does what she can to be careful. So I just have to hope it continues to work out.For those of you with older parents, at what point do you risk visiting them (after quarantining yourself for 2 weeks)?
I'm here too. And truthfully, this is a place we're all going to have to get to.I’ve been tired of living in semi-fear. I was never like that before and I’m worried that some level of it with stick with me. Lately I’ve had more of a “if I get it, I get” attitude - I haven’t changed any social distancing behavior but just trying to not be afraid of getting it.
I'm getting to that point also. Still taking all precautions, but I was in super germaphobe mode a few weeks ago when going to the store. Now not so much.Lately I’ve had more of a “if I get it, I get” attitude - I haven’t changed any social distancing behavior but just trying to not be afraid of getting it.