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I'm crashing into a phase of burnout that I think a lot of people will be hitting in the next two weeks. A thread about having kids in America right now.
My kids have been at a cyber school this past semester, so like many parents, I became a WFH parent with kids schooling from home all day, every day. I manage pushing them through their schoolwork during the week, and then catch up on my work on nights and weekends.
This means like lots of parents right now, I don't get many breaks. When I do, I'm wiped and exhausted and can't do much more than scroll through Twitter or nap or stare at the TV. I bounce between work and teaching and the days blur with constant tasks.
The kids finished their work early last week, because it's cyber school. Yes! An extra week with them on break, a week where I can do work without also monitoring their school. I was thrilled, and today I had a day off with nothing on the schedule. Amazing.
So I decided to do a few tasks. Called some doctors to make appointments I hadn't had the energy to make with all the rest of what I was doing. I started thinking about next semester, planning out what to do with my 5th grader who we're pulling out of the cyber school.
As I went through the day, I began to flag. I got the 5th grader scheduled, got a few things done for my own medical maintenance, but I kept getting more anxious and upset. Why? I'm on break! I have an actual day off! I should be feeling good!
After I sat and poked at myself a bit, I realized: I didn't let today be a day off. I spent all day getting tasks done. Necessary tasks, but I was planning for what was to come instead of enjoying the present. And this feeling? It's burnout.
So many parents are going to be here as their kids' semesters end and we scramble to try and do what WE need to get done. American parents have been running on empty for so long. It'll be tempting to take winter break to catch up.
But making medical appointments isn't self care. Revamping your exercise routine isn't self care. Meal planning or finally cleaning the disaster closet or organizing the piles of paper around the house because you have time IS NOT SELF CARE. It will burn you out further.
I'm looking forward to time off when my kids go to their dad's. And every morning, I will have to remind myself NOT to accomplish tasks. Because it's not good for me. It's not good for anyone. I hope other parents can find time to rest too, but I know many won't be able to.
Our society sucks. It shouldn't be asking us to work like this, because it's killing people, more casualties on top of the covid death toll.
Be kind to the parents in your life.
Be kind to the parents in your life.
Because I'm the next month, we will all be realizing that we're only halfway through this hellacious school year.
And we're all already months behind and pushing the stalled sedan down a gravel road.
Pertinent meme: https://twitter.com/AlejoP_47/status/1338043166830845952?s=19
