Dear Self, Why are you so tired? We are sleeping a reasonable amount and getting some exercise with the kids. We can't afford to squander working time. Signed, So very tired
I honestly can't take it anymore. I've tried everything. We offered to pay you for your schoolwork. The criteria was do it, do it well, and do it without a fight. It worked for a week. Now you're giving one-word answers on essays and screaming at us when we encourage you to write more. So, no money.
You were invited to apply for National Honor Society because your grades were excellent before school closed. All you need to do is fill out the application. I will help, but I'm not doing it for you. More screaming.
Put down the iPad - screaming. Ok, watch the iPad - screaming. I can't take it anymore. I'm hanging on to the last shred of sanity that I have, and you're about to sever it. You lie to the therapist. You torture your sister. I can't stand it anymore. Figure it out!!! Though I have to say, I enjoyed this morning's silent protest about school work until you finally erupted because I ignored it.
This is not a COVID/quarantine issue. It's been years. YEARS. The only difference now is that I have no respite while you're in school or at camp.
Love, Mommy who has been seriously investigating boarding schools.
Dear Mom and Dad -
Thank you for intervening. We just can't get along. It's been years of screaming, therapy (for both of us), medication... nothing is working. Hopefully a few hours of physical distance will help.
Love, Mae
Dear Trash Guys -
You guys shut down the dump and recycling center. I would gladly dispose of all of the cardboard myself, but there's nowhere to bring it. Our mayor said you would take extra stuff this week, so we broke down the cardboard and stacked it neatly next to the bins. I saw you throwing it in the truck, so I went out to thank you... and you screamed at me. WTF? So I very calmly said, "Well, if you hadn't shut down the recycling center, I would have just dropped it off myself. So... thanks for doing your job, I guess. Have a nice day." And then you dumped our recycling bin in the truck with the rest of the trash, instead of leaving it for the recycling truck.
Also, leaving a nasty sticker on the bin was overkill. WTF?
What am I supposed to do with a teenager during all of this? I have let him fish and ride. Now he wants to have a girl over that he likes. It is supposed to rain for days so no outside, plus she will need a bathroom. How long can you keep a teenager locked away? He does want to actually see a girl he likes in person? Just let him do it? I don't know. From what I know, her parents have not let her run amok, but are at the point I am with how long do you keep them apart.
Singed, any advise appreciated.
Dear foot,
Why do you have poison ivy? I have had at least socks on every day, maybe with flipflops, but still. This is not awesome.
I talked to my friend with the hubs who is intubating COVID patients. He said soon pick 2 families with whom you will start socializing. Do it outside if at all possible. And make an agreement that those are your new Quaranteam-mates. No one adds anyone new. It’s a larger bubble but still your bubble.
Since he is dealing with the crisis in real time, and his wife owns a rehab hospital for the elderly and is getting state updates daily from public health officials and the CDD, I trust their advice.
rere, I was going to suggest something like what mommyatty posted. Maybe let him pick a friend that you are comfortable with? Probably not "girl he likes" if they're not actually a couple, because who knows how that would pan out. But if you can get another family on board with being in your bubble, maybe that would help appease him for now?
Dear DD Thanks for doing the district work this week. The week is about service animals and how you explained why an owl would make a good service owl for you as a wizard in training was hilarious. I can't wait to see your compare and contrast model between owls and pigs on who would be a better service animal. I don't know if you are rebelling or just being out in left field but it is fun to see your wheels turning. Teacher mom PS your teacher found it super funny too and was so exited to get work turned in by a student.
rere, Could you tell him he can visit with her for X amount of time and it has to be around the firepit or set up an outdoor movie? I guess give a little but not let it be free for all.
Post by erinshelley21 on May 13, 2020 12:53:09 GMT -5
rere I would want more information on her family. What their jobs are, have they been following social distancing guidelines, are they considered high risk, etc.
Dear WPs, We had to do some lay offs today. It sucked. It directly impacted my team. I am still employed but my workload has now increased significantly and my team is reeling. What a shitty day. Ugh. Signed, Exhausted
Post by erinshelley21 on May 13, 2020 13:08:31 GMT -5
Dear BFF, I was legit starting to get worried you were mad at me for something. 2 whole days without hearing from you was strange. You're in the middle of a lot of life changes so I assumed that was it. Hope it doesn't rain allllll day Friday so the kids and us can see each other. Signed, You don't have to be superwoman
Dear SIL, I'm sure you're pretty irritated with me since your mom is prioritizing childcare for your brother and me, but you had exclusive access for almost 2 whole months so your kids can do school mostly since you don't have great internet and not because they need to be watched all day every day since the youngest is almost 11. Well, we need her back and need it to be safe. No one made you switch to working in the ER in the middle of a pandemic after 20+ years of being on a floor. Super grateful for those on the front lines, by the way. But my first responder H and me need some relief. Signed, your SIL who hopes your midlife crisis is over soon.
I’m so sorry about the layoffs on your team. But do not dramatically increase your own workload! You’ll just be teaching the company you don’t need those employees back.
I’m so sorry about the layoffs on your team. But do not dramatically increase your own workload! You’ll just be teaching the company you don’t need those employees back.
Love, Shakinros
As someone who took on 2 people's workloads while looking for replacements and still has no replacements for them a year later and now has my headcount taken away... agreed!
Dear WPs, We had to do some lay offs today. It sucked. It directly impacted my team. I am still employed but my workload has now increased significantly and my team is reeling. What a shitty day. Ugh. Signed, Exhausted
I can't be working around the clock. You can't staff me on deals in Asia, Europe AND North America. When am I supposed to sleep?!?!?!
Signed, Tired and Super Grumpy
Dear Parents,
While I appreciate that you help with the kids, whenever you are here to help with them, they just end up on the iPad. So....?
Signed, Frustrated
Dear MIL,
I really like you and I like that we have a very civil relationship, but please do not compare your work experience with mine and try to imply, in any fashion, that I should be able to WFH without being stressed out because you did so, because (a) your kids were older and were IN SCHOOL; (b) you had a solid 9 to 5 job; and (c) there was no COIVD-19!
Post by erinshelley21 on May 13, 2020 19:58:32 GMT -5
Dear SIL again, Thank you so very much for the 1 whole day we got before you completely ignored my feelings. The fact that you felt like it was OK to KISS my kid on any part of her body is exactly why I'm concerned about my kids being near you and yours right now. You are a NURSE. And yes, I need childcare every day. I work 5 days a week. Not all jobs are done in three 12 hour shifts. Your brother is gone 28ish hours at a time and we prefer to keep our kids daily lives on a routine. You never have so why start now. Signed, you aren't even nice to your mom and you are preventing my family from seeing mine
I’m so sorry about the layoffs on your team. But do not dramatically increase your own workload! You’ll just be teaching the company you don’t need those employees back.
Love, Shakinros
As someone who took on 2 people's workloads while looking for replacements and still has no replacements for them a year later and now has my headcount taken away... agreed!
I'm not overly concerned about this. I've talked to my boss about the expectations a lot and he's already concerned that it will be too much to add long term. He knows it's a very shitty band aid right now. I'm just still trying to wrap my head around it. I thought this was happening in a couple weeks, not basically overnight, so I've had no time to prep a transition plan.
Dear beaches in my town, please change your rules so that someone can sit down briefly. I'm fine with no chairs or umbrellas, but this 9 months pregnant mom with sciatica can't go to the beach at all if I'm not allowed to sit down.
Dear divanerd - Ah, I can't wait to enjoy a margarita again! Sounds perfectly rational to me.
Dear WPs, I'm on a panel on workplace mentorship in an hour. It's not something on which I'm an expert. Do any of you have any thoughts on the topic that I might want to share?
Dear DD Congratulations on finishing the Harry Potter series. I wish you would try and read something different instead of starting the series over. Mom
sdlaura, I wish they would open up the Oregon beaches. It is normally windy and chilly so no one camps out for the day unless you can find a big rock to hunker down behind. I find walking on the beach without shoes on to be so therapeutic. I would love to drive the hour to the beach just to walk in the sand for a couple hours, smell the air and listen to the surf and then drive home. Last weekend was pretty perfect on the coast and some towns actually blocked the roads to keep people out of town.
186momx, DD1 is already most of the way through the second book (she started reading the series like a week ago!) and is obsessed. I can totally see her re-reading as soon as she's done. I am a little worried about the ending though... She will totally cry at the sad parts as the series goes on.
One of our summer campus is going to be open!! I am so incredibly excited. It is a daycamp that DS is supposed to spend 5 weeks at. Now I just need to see what will happen with DD. And DS's other summer camp.
sdlaura, I am in Wisconsin. Our safer at home order was set to expire May 26th, but our state supreme court just decided that it was unconstitutional. So, things are a bit interesting here. It is a day camp, and they sent out this huge email that they have been certified as a day care provider for the summer, and are now allowed to open, with all of the precautions that they are planning to take, including potentially an additional location to further spread out the kids. I am so excited. DS's other camp (robotics) has been saying that they will open, but I need to email them to confirm. Now, to sort out DD.
twinmomma, DD barely made it through book 4 in 2nd grade. She wasn't emotionally ready to handle the sad and death. I was very surprised she was able to finish all 7. She did cheat and read the epilogue in book 7 and once she realized Harry doesn't "die" she seemed better equipped emotionally to finish reading the series but it was very touch and go at some parts.
My sister brought her the Fantastic Beasts and The Cursed Child books down to read today.
Unfortunately (Since I am a huge fan) DS doesn't really like Harry Potter. DD might. I put the last 2-3 books more in YA, so I am not pushing them in that direction.
I just wish they could have experienced the books originally and the excitement. The camp showed them the movies in aftercare, and that is why they decided they didn't like them because the movies were scary to them at that age. DS only likes sports and history anyway, but hopefully DD will like them when it is time.
Post by traveltheworld on May 14, 2020 16:47:29 GMT -5
DS read parts of book 1 of Harry Potter in kindergarten and found it too scary and refuses to go back to it, which makes me so sad. I'm hoping he'll come around when DD starts reading them.
twinmomma, have your girls read either the Wings of Fire or Story Thieves series? We all loved both. DS is also really into the Warrior series (there are like 50+ books so once they are hooked, you can just ride that for a while).