Man this is all getting a bit much. Parenting a 2yo and 5yo while both of us try to work full time is taking its toll. Everyday is a battle with the kids and it’s exhausting.

We’ve managed to settle on some semblance of routine, but discipline is falling apart. The 2yo cries to go out everyday, and the 5yo needs her friends (and of course doesn’t want to study, which is near impossible anyway with both of them).

I am able to dedicate less than half my time normal working time to my job, which is now just fire fighting. Distance teaching and trying my best to support students who are also struggling obviously takes priority

Although I’m not much of a lab person, research activity has halted nevertheless. I can’t write papers and/or grants, just trying to keep my head above water. This is a source of mounting panic.

It’s hard to avoid the probably erroneous feeling that while I am paralysed, others will be leaping ahead.

The prospect of creating more online teaching, no possibility of respite (e.g. grandparents, childcare, holidays etc), no end in sight, and then an email today from university management about possible job losses, it feels like the floor is falling out from underneath us

Lots of people have things much worse (LOTS). Family members are seriously ill and worse. Early career researchers facing turmoil. Older people more at risk. Loneliness. Mental health problems.

This just adds to an feeling as an imposter. How can I feel sorry for myself when people are working on the front line putting themselves at risk every day? When people have it much worse?

Women and mothers have been hit especially hard. I’ve seen a lot of posts about the difficulties for working mothers, and they break my heart. Solidarity

In that vein, I wanted to give a shout out to all the dads with small kids struggling right now. We are traditionally expected to be pillars of strength, but it’s OK to find this hard.

In any case, this pity party must stop, and normal service for tweets about fossils, fish, phylogeny (and occasionally Eurovision) resumes shortly. End.

Addendum. In some senses Twitter has become an easier way to communicate because I can read 280 characters before a child jumps on my crotch, a fight breaks out, or I need to prepare the next activity, or another urgent email comes in.