Parents struggle with deciding whether or not to send their kids back to school

It’s a decision many parents have to face right now — whether to send their child to school or keep them at home. But what about those who are left feeling like they don’t have a choice due to their job?

A lot of parents, specifically mothers we talked to, say if their job wasn’t a factor, their decision might be a little easier. They would try to keep the kids home, but doing that would mean cutting back on their work or even quitting, which is not really a good option.

So now, they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Three working moms, all faced with a tough decision: doing the very best they can for their kids.

“That’s my biggest fear is that my daughter is going to be exposed to it after all we went through,” said Lauren Scheach.

What do you do if you have to juggle a job and kids?

“My youngest son has a learning disability and for him to be home with me, it’s constant attention during school hours so again, it’s pushing my work hours even further,” said Christine McConnelee.

Do you take an unpaid leave like Scheach so you can monitor your children in virtual school?

“I’ve been a single mom for a long time. My entire life has been sacrifices for your kids,” she said. “So maybe I don’t have my job of my ultimate career, but I work overnight stocking shelves somewhere that’s just something I’ll have to do.”

Or do you send them back to school like Sera Sakara because you also have to worry about paying the bills.

“We originally were going to try to do the virtual school through Lee County. The potential plan was that my mom would be able to help with that,” she said. “Then this past summer she was diagnosed with breast cancer…and we can’t really afford to do one person working and the other one stay at home because we are a dual-income household, so we don’t have any other choices.”

Or you let them go back, but constantly worry like McConnelee.

“I feel like we’re all in that impossible situation,” she said.

An impossible situation where each family must make the right decision for them.

“We’re all in the same storm, we’re just on different boats and I thought that was the greatest quote. So you’re just doing the best you can with that boat,” she said.

Now, these parents have already made that incredibly tough decision, but in Lee County, many have not. If you don’t register by 8 p.m. Thursday, the default option is face-to-face instruction.