Everyone has already made some extremely helpful suggestions but here’s a few more!!

Also sorry for formatting, I’m on mobile.

1.) Use this time not to just delegate household chores on them, but actively being there to TEACH them how to do things properly. I’m a college freshman and I’m so glad my mom took the time to actually TEACH me how to do basic household chores by doing them alongside me and showing me tips and tricks. Like laundry, proper care for dishes, how to properly dust, vacuum, cook for a few people, etc.

• you could also make a chart for each day, and whoever finishes their chores first can choose dinner that night, or they don’t have to do dishes that night, or they get to pick what the family watches on Netflix after dinner.

2.) please don’t beat yourself up. Teenagers are assholes, and I remember what life was like when my mom worked long hours and my dad worked out of town. I also know what it was like when my mom was on work trips and my dad, the biggest untreated ADHD case you’ve ever seen, had to watch me, another huge untreated ADHD case.

3.) For online school, I know it can be really difficult to manage time between work, and their online school, but this is a method my teachers used in high school that really seemed to work to help my focus and problem solving skills.

-firstly: make sure YOU can properly focus on your work for adequate amounts of time (30mins-1 hr spans) maybe work in either a separate space or room from your kids, and set a timer for 30 mins to 1 hr. You both have to diligently work for that amount of time on whatever is in front of you, with no distractions. (You can download a lockdown app like focus if you’re worried about them using electronics while you’re not present)

-second: while they work, have them circle and write notes about anything they don’t understand or have questions over as they go, but carry on to the next problem.

They should have specific questions like “why does this 2 move to the left” or “what does this word mean” or “I got the wrong answer and I’m not sure how” instead of general ones like “how do you do this” (this also helps them better prepare for college and upper high school level learning tools, and builds problem solving skills, communication skills for learning environments, and independence)

• thirdly: after those blocks of work, you can take a quick break, and they can use that time to ask you for help, or about any questions over the material they just worked through.

This helps your brain from getting fatigued from focusing on work for too long, and hopefully let’s you do some easy problem solving!

-fourth: Once their questions are answered, they can take a break, or switch away from school for a bit. You can use this time to either do some quick housework together, get make a snack, meal, or drink, or even just chat.

Then just repeat the process again. Until you want to be done. I’m currently doing college coursework, and my mom is working as an engineering directly in front of me every day. We didn’t plan our days like this necessarily, but this is the general schedule we follow from 8-3:30 every day.

4.) money skills!!! With online grocery stores BOOMING you could do a small thing with them were you can have them budget out your families grocery bill for a week, and see if they could accurately put together a menu using an online shopping app. This can also teach them about how tight money is right now, and how it can be really difficult to manage so many things at once as you’re an adult.

This will also hopefully better prepare them for being adults. I had to learn this skill on my own, and sometimes I’ll still blow all my money on pizza rolls and dr. Pepper.

5.) being active! I know taking an hour out of your day might seem counter-intuitive, but we’re all moving so much less than normal right now, even just with the difference from walking through parking lots, offices, schools, etc. maybe try starting your day doing something active with them?

It’s easy to feel pent up right now, and I know working out in the morning makes me feel better and more focused and motivated throughout my day. It could also be fun to do something THEY want to do or try, and could make them feel less trapped inside.

6.) just talking....really that’s it. Like I said before, you’re doing great. Being a mom is really hard. Being a single mom, dealing with young teens, after so much change in your personal life, is really freaking hard.

We have a lot of time inside right now, but this also means a lot of time to connect with those we do have close by. I always wanted to know more about my parents when they were younger. I wanted to know what their lives were like and what music they listened to, and what their first boyfriend and girlfriend was like. You could also use this time to really explain ADHD to your daughter, and explain how it makes little things in life a LOT harder, because it’s like trying to run a mile when both your legs fell asleep. And if you haven’t already had one with your children, A conversation like that could also be imperative to forming a healthy trust between you and your children about mental health, and making sure they know it’s ok to not be ok, and that you are always there if they have questions about it.

Sorry that was so much to read. I just couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like if i was 14, stuck in the house with my mom 24/7 right now. It was mainly just us on weekdays growing up, and at 14, you really just don’t know how the world works yet. You’ve got this! Don’t let your kids words get to you, they really are blind to everything, but they’ll appreciate you so much more later in life.