From our makeshift home studios in closets around northern Virginia, I'm Michelle Cordero.

And I'm Tim Desher, and this is Heritage Explains.

Hello. That's the sound of my new reality.

Video conference calls.

During this period of work from home, if I'm not on one, my husband is, which is tons of fun

since schools are closed and the kids are home too. Our kitchen table has been transformed to my

husband's new desk. I usually bounce back and forth from a quiet room where I can hide from

our four and six year old to the living room where I can hide from our four and six-year-old to the

living room where I can monitor their activity, answer emails, complete my daily tasks, all while

making sure they don't actually kill each other. On top of that, tack on Google Classroom

Daily Assignments. My oldest was smack dab in the middle of learning to read,

so we're taking that on too. By 5 p.m., I am multitasked out. You guys, I am dead, tired.

I've completed the job of a full-time employee, a mother, wife, and teacher. And if I'm being honest, I'm not doing the best job as a teacher.

And the day's not done. Someone has to cook dinner and give baths. But I know I'm not alone.

Millions of parents across the country are in the same boat.

And really, who am I to complain?

In March, the economy lost over 700,000 jobs.

The U.S. Surgeon General said that this week would be the hardest and saddest for most Americans.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, and I am healthy, my family's healthy, and I'm employed. And while my kids are sad that I won't let them go outside and play with their friends,

we're still finding joy in each other's company.

I pray every day that that doesn't change, and I constantly worry about when this will all

end.

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