So overwhelmed

Yes!! I am used to having 2 kids at school and the 2 that are at home napping for at least an hour a day. So I have an hour to reset, get stuff done, etc. But now all 4 are home all day and I am trying to help facilitate school for the older two, keeping the younger two entertained and away from the working two, cooking 3 meals a day, keeping the kids from bothering DH who is working from home. And grocery shopping for our house, my inlaws (who won't just give me a damn list, but ask constantly what store I am going to, even though I have told them numerous times to just tell me what they want from where), 3 older couples on our road, and another friend of my inlaws.

I'm also overwhelmed by the not knowing. There is a part of me that is not minding all of this. Not rushing around, spending lots of time together as a family, more cooking together. But I would like to know a date. I'm okay with it being 12 months, but I just want to know.

Hugs to you!!

I had to stop listening/checking in on the news so often. I can only control what I can control. Making a list of the things I CAN do make the overwhelm better

I would limit the amount of news you listen to. If anyone really important to you will hear about. There is no no to know every little thing that is said. You don’t need to know what every person thinks and feels. Don’t fill your day with Covid-19 details.

Try to keep information your kids hear to a minimum. They don’t need to hear all grim details.

Find activities that are fun and distracting for you and your kids.
This too shall pass.

It’s ok to not be ok.

I take in a bit of news daily to stay informed, but honestly I find all the “inspirational” type messaging from well intentioned articles and social media more stressful. Like we all need even more pressure to “grow” through this and be doing all these amazing new things with our lives, kids, house etc.

To me I guess it feels like slogging through the home front portion of an extended deployment. I give myself some time to worry, have a cry or two in the shower, and then shake it off and focus on the day to day. When the day to day is too much, focus on the pieces of the day. Some days are great, full of yoga and walks and chalk art and puzzles and smooth routines with the house and schooling etc. but most days are grouchy, stressed kids, bickering, dog barf in the freshly washed sheets and the dishwasher breaking for the 5th time in a month. It is what it is, and it is ok to not feel on top of it all.

Oh no! That's so much loss in such a short period of time. Thinking of you and your family.

I am so sorry for your loses. I'm sorry it's such a terrible time for you.

I am so sorry, Peabay. When it rains, it pours and it's been flooding for you. Sending you hugs and prayers to use as a lifeboat until the rain stops.

I do feel sorry for any parent who has little ones at home right now. This time is not like a summer vacation. Hope each of you gets enough rest.

I try to only watch the news ONCE a day.
And for them adding new symptoms, I take it with a grain of salt. They’ve been telling us about house same symptoms to look for, for weeks. So making the “official” on the news is too much.

I’m lucky because the other people in my house are old enough to be self sufficient. But I’m working from home, for a month now. I’m over it some days, and loving it the next.

And as bad as it is in NYC and other areas, it is not here. So I try to only focus on my part of my state, and go from there.

I’ve also started having total quiet time. Tv and radios off, and just being alone or reading. It’s making a difference to have this time.

I feel this way to. For us, this is an inconvenience, we're heathy and able to continue to work. I know for many, many others this is a nightmare. I'm concentrating on the fact that it hasn't hit us hard and what habits have I developed that I'd like to continue- meal planning which has always eluded me- has become a MUST do as I can't just run to the store for what I feel like making for dinner.

We’ve made the decision to stay in for another month at least.  My Trump-loving neighbor just posted a call for people to email our county board of supervisors to open things up.  We don’t agree.  I like staying home.  I have hobbies to work on.   My husband’s work is going fine from home.  He’s able to get to his plane which is in a little airport where almost no one is at.  So we just decided to let things play out.  I think people who come out now may pay a heavy price.  

Thank you so much. I don't feel heroic and am not posting for accolades--i hope I don't appear that way--but it is good to read different viewpoints here and I just want to share mine. You are so kind.
I have been so happy to see how kind the ICU nurses I've been working with have treated these patients. Compassion and competence both. So impressed with these nurses who aren't letting fatigue or anxiety equal less care.

I’m so sorry for the losses you and your family are experiencing at this time. Big hugs 💕

I think it’s important to focus on the things within your control, day to day, without trying to picture what things will be down the road. You can’t plan ahead, so just think about today. I agree with the others who written to stop listening to every news report; they don’t know anything new at this point, and even the experts don’t agree. Numbers are manipulated in the media to make a big impact, not necessarily ease fears (ex: 1 in 4 people know someone with COVID vs 75% of people don’t personally know anyone with COVID - just an ex not actual data). Do what you feel comfortable doing. If restrictions begin to ease in your area and you’re not ready to begin to resume a more normal routine, do what feels right for you and your family (unless a job dictates otherwise, of course).

Hang in there!

the epitome of selfishness.