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I am loving this breezy yet business casual dress from H&M. I like the two-tiered flutter sleeves that give coverage but still are light, and the split neckline that draws the eye up and down. The defined waist is nice, with ties on the side. The blue pattern is my preference, but it also comes in solid green. I also appreciate when dresses are lined, especially light summer dresses. This dress is $34.99 and is available in plus sizes L–4XL and straight sizes XXS–XL. Flutter-Sleeved Dress
Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear.
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Sales of note for 5.5.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase (ends 5/12); $50 off your $200+ purchase (ends 5/5)
- Banana Republic Factory – Spend your StyleCash with 40-60% off everything, or take an extra 20% off purchase (ends 5/6)
- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles and up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Shirts & tees starting at $24.50; extra 30% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – 40% off full-price styles & extra 15% off; extra 55% off sale styles
- Nordstrom: Nordy Club members earn 3X the points on beauty; 30% off selected shoes
- Talbots – 40% off one item & and 30% off everything else; $50 off $200 (all end 5/5)
- Zappos – 27,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – 40% off everything & extra 20% off select styles with code
- Hanna Andersson – Friends & Family Sale: 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Crewcuts – tk; extra 30% off sale styles; kids’ styles starting at $14.50
- Old Navy – Up to 75% off clearance
- Target – 20% off women’s clothing & shoes; up to 50% off kitchen & dining; 20% off jewelry & hair accessories; up to $100 off select Apple products; up to 40% off home & patio; BOGO 50% off adult & YA books
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anon says
The summer camps near us are all slowly closing for the summer. My husband and I finally decided that we would hire a summer nanny/babysitter to help with our 5 year old son while we work. This is the first time we’re hiring someone to help, so I have so many questions! What kind of questions are you all asking potential babysitters about social distancing? What is your favorite payroll service? And, this seems like a silly question, but do you feed your babysitter while she’s at your home caring for your child? We’ve only ever had date night sitters, and we do pay for their dinners. Anything else I should know about going through this process for the first time? Any insight is appreciated!
anne-on says
Are you going to be home while the sitter is there? If not, I’d also make sure they are aware that you’ll be running a background check and checking their driving record (if they’ll be driving your kiddo). I also required sitters to have 2 references, and be CPR certified. You’ll probably want to CLEARLY outline your rules (we have au pairs, so I have a loooong ‘family bible’ of our household rules, ideas for meals, activities, maps of the area, where we have memberships, etc.). Au pair mom has a really good template for that. I found it really helpful when my kid was smaller to list out 3-5 ideas for lunches and snacks.
Re food for the sitter – I basically keep the house stocked with cold cuts, tortillas, shredded cheese, bagels, and bread plus raw veggies and fruit. Lunches most days tend to be sandwiches, quesadillas, or leftovers from our dinners (if you’re ok with that!) plus raw cut up veggies or fruit.
anon says
We use Poppins Payroll. We don’t feed our nanny during the day – she brings her lunch.
UPF Shirts for Kids says
Favorite long sleeved UPF shirts for a 4.5 year old? Size is 4T-5T, or the 4-5 some brands carry. Looking for something lightweight and not a rash guard, which I find much to heavy if it won’t actually be getting wet. This is for hikes, etc. Thank you!
AnotherAnon says
Columbia.
octagon says
I’ve been really happy with the Target Cat & Jack ones with a zipper, which makes it easy to get on/off. Also Hanna Anderson has good pullover ones.
AwayEmily says
we had a hand-me-down patagonia capilene that I LOVED when our toddler was littler. They’re not cheap, though — I’ve kept looking for them on sale in bigger sizes but without luck.
anonn says
+1 my daughter loves the Patagonia capilene tees year-round, they wash up so well too. I found them at an end of season clearance sale last August for around $15. She currently has 3 in her rotation, 12-18m, 3t and 4t, she wears a 4T in everything else.
Anon says
Patagonia shut down before they were required to to protect their workers and are economically hurting right now. If you can swing it, I’d buy it full price. (I am going to.)
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
I love Patagonia, going to buy some stuff now!
Anon says
we are planning on sending our daughter back to daycare soon, but this one mom keeps messaging the other parents about how she is so excited the kids are going back and wants to have everyone over to her house to swim (they have a pool and also two older kids) to celebrate. this seems like a bad idea on so many fronts. the whole reason that daycare is implementing certain safety protocols and procedures is to minimize mixing between the adults. for those of you who either have sent your kids back to daycare/summer camp or plan to – do you also plan on having playdates and sleepovers, etc?
Anon says
You’ve certainly got to take your own circumstances into account, but personally, we (in a low-hit area, without any really high-risk people in our general circle) would be fine with this. There are obviously no guarantees, but the evidence seems pretty strong that pools are very low risk (outdoors + heat + chlorine + sun).
Anon Lawyer says
I mean but the adults will probably be standing around together drinking if it’s a party. She’s not proposing small play dates for swimming.
Anon says
OK.
Anon says
They’re still outside in the heat and sun. I consider that a reasonably low risk. You can make different choices.
AnonLaywer says
That’s fine for you, but it’s not really that relevant to point out the chlorine or that “pools are fine” in that case. The pool isn’t the key part; the fact that it’s an outdoor party is.
Anonymous says
I think we’re about ready for some outdoor play with other kids. Not big parties, but another family here and there. Adults will probably distance reasonably well, while kiddos are free to play. My kiddo is 4.5 for reference. Our area has largely flattened after being a small hot spot. Also neighbor kids, where the adults aren’t really involved – the kids just meet up outside and do their thing. Kiddo is going back to daycare 6/8.
anne-on says
We’re going to do camp once it opens in our state (late June/early July) and at that point we’ll try to limit our other exposure to compensate for the increased transmission risk of camp. So, small (1:1) play dates outside with the kids he’s in camp with – sure. Sleep-overs, play dates inside, going to indoor play spaces, eating inside restaurants – those are a no. We’re not going away on vacation and have given our kid a heads up that a lot of the things he’s dying to do (trampoline park, arcade, bowling and pizza party, etc.) are just not going to be feasible for a bit.
I also feel like it will be a while before I feel comfortable offering to feed someone’s kid, or accepting someone else feeding mine, so I think we’ll be bringing our own snacks/water to the play date and asking others to do the same.
Anonymous says
Why? Food is basically a non existent transmission risk.
anne-on says
You’re right in that handing the kids pre-packaged snacks/juice boxes are fine, but we (and a lot of friends) normally prepare (or buy) and serve communal foods like fruit salad/chopped up veggies/homemade cookies/etc. It’s the touching of platters/preparation aspect that worries me. It seems easier to say ‘we’ll bring our own’ than ‘I don’t entirely trust outsourced food prep right now’.
Camp is also requiring all food/water be brought from home and no communal snacks/single-serve cups/etc, I presume for this reason.
Anonymous says
All of what you just described is a non existent risk.
Realist says
With you, anne-on. I haven’t had food that wasn’t prepared by me or DH since March 10. Just because outsourced food is low risk (according to the experts, but even they are still getting a handle on this thing) doesn’t mean it is no risk. I’d rather not have to worry that somebody coughed or sneezed in their hand, or wiped their face, and then touched silverware or fruit or a juice box that was then handed to me or my child. The virus can and does exist on food, food prep, and eating utensil surfaces.
Anonymous says
That’s actually not true. The experts have definitely indicated that you can get together with precautions (masks, 6’+ distance, etc) but that sharing from communal dishes is a transmission risk. I’ve seen that all over lately.
Anon says
re communal food – people are also naturally more likely to linger over the food table and be close to one another so it also leads to less social distancing
Anonymous says
Anonymous at 10:19, this is contrary to what I’ve read in several sources. Communal food, especially serve-yourself-from-a-communal-source is a risk. I assume it’s more due to fomite transmission than because ingesting the virus is a concern.
Anonymous says
Planning to avoid play dates if kids are in summer camp. Less contact means less risk. They are around their friends all day, they don’t need outside play dates in addition.
If I can’t get summer camp spots then we will probably have a sitter and allow some play dates.
Anonymous says
If you don’t want to go, don’t! End of story.
AnotherAnon says
We are sending our kid to day care but not opening ourselves up to socializing yet. But I also try not to judge what other people are doing. I’d politely decline the invite.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Caveat that we weren’t very social people before, so never did any huge get-togethers with a large family or group of friends, but I’d be fine with meeting up with one other family for our kids to have a playdate, preferably outside. My older one has a good friend from daycare that lives nearby who we plan to spend time with, and yes parents will be near each other chatting. Also planning to see other friends with their kids, maybe at the zoo or park. We’re planning to send the kids back assuming daycare opens.
anon says
It seems that it would be possible for adults to socially distance (>6′) while watching kids swim. I would probably be fine with a 1:1 swimming playdate if the kids were already together all day at daycare. I would probably decline a class party. Too many people.
Anon says
We’re still in a hotspot area, so daycares aren’t opening for at least another month (and probably longer). We have recently started having outdoor playdates with one other family–we’re always outside, we all only socialize with each other, but it means the preschoolers can run around the backyard, play in the water table, splash in the pool, etc. and get a little socialization. Plus as parents it is amazing to sit outside (several feet apart) with a drink on a weekend afternoon and talk to someone who isn’t our spouse.
Anonymous says
Exactly this. Video chat social meet ups don’t do it for me, they feel like work. Chatting outdoors with neighbors is saving my sanity right now.
Anon says
There’s virtually no outdoor transmission and kids in the same daycare class I figure are already sharing germs. I’d be fine with play dates but I’m scared to ask because I don’t want people to judge me.
Spirograph says
At this point we just have to accept that not everyone has the same risk calculus. Some people are more or less comfortable with gathering than you are. I think an outdoor pool party is a substantially different transmission risk than all the adults bringing their potential germs into a closed, indoor environment, plus the kids are already bringing you all into the same germ circle anyway. I’d probably go to the pool party, but I wouldn’t judge anyone who stays home.
My county is still under a stay at home order, so daycare and summer camp aren’t an option for me. If/when they are, my kids are going. I’ll work from home, avoid restaurants and crowds, etc, but once the local regs allow it, we’ll be socializing outdoors with small groups of like-minded local friends. One of my kids has had a major personality change in the last two months, and his mental health is more of an immediate concern for me than covid (my household is not high risk, and we have no regular contact with high risk individuals).
ifiknew says
Fun gifts for a friend’s 2.5 year old as she became a big sister? Totaling $20-$30?
anon says
Saw this suggestion here (I think) – disposable camera? Or kid friendly digital camera in that price range would be fun.
Nanny taxes says
For those with a nanny, how do you handle taxes? Do you do them yourself or pay a service? We have a part-time sitter who is crossing the threshold into an employee due to covid and we obviously want to pay her on the books. Homepay seems fairly expensive for part-time temporary help.
CHL says
If you live in Chicago, I recommend the Nanny Tax Company. Actually, maybe it doesn’t matter where you live.
Schools says
For those of you with school-aged kids, do you know what school in your area will be like next year?
Ours is now going to start 2 weeks early and have built-in distance learning ( = not learning anything) time. This year was a disaster. I am not optimistic about next year going well unless maybe kids are in the building with a live teacher.
avocado says
As far as I can tell, our school district has done zero planning for fall. I asked about fall plans during a parent videoconference with the school, and the answer was simply “We are working with the school district.” Friends who are teachers have gotten zero communication. The school year officially ends in two weeks, and teachers don’t return to work until the week before school opens in September. If teachers haven’t been briefed or trained on safety protocols or distance learning technology by now, there is no way there will be time to prepare them for anything other than a full, business-as-usual reopening in the fall. We are is in serious trouble.
Anonymous says
Why are you assuming that the school year won’t start with a resumption of in person classes?
avocado says
It will. After a week or two someone will test positive, and the school won’t have a plan to react. An entire school, or more likely the entire district, will be shut down for some period of time without any distance learning alternative.
The district doesn’t even have a good track record of handling simple, predictable weather emergencies. There was once a tornado warning, and the reaction was a disorganized mess. Conflicting messages to parents about where the kids were, whether they should be picked up, etc. Some kids huddled under their desks until 8:00 p.m. with no food or water. Parents were irate. Another time, they decided to close school because of a few snowflakes after the buses were already in the process of transporting elementary kids to school. They turned the buses around and took the kids back home, but by that time parents had already left for work. There is just not a lot of advance planning or clear-headed decision-making going on here.
avocado says
Also, even with in-person classes, some safety measures will have to be implemented. This requires advance planning. They can’t just announce a week before school starts that masks are required and expect everyone to be able to find them, or that no lunch will be served (could happen in our high school because it does not participate in the federal lunch program), or that schedules are shifted.
Anon says
I agree that they can’t have meaningful remote instruction without the teachers doing a lot of advance planning, but I don’t think following safety precautions requires the degree of planning you think it does. My daycare and many others opened on ~2 weeks notice, with lots of new safety procedures implemented (masks, temperature checks, different drop-off procedures, different lunch procedures) and it’s been fine. My understanding is that the decisions and plans were all made by the director (which would translate to school superintendent or principal) and the teachers were just given instructions on what to do. It didn’t require a lot of hands-on “work” on their part. I think they would likely announce things like mask requirements farther in advance, but honestly everyone should have a mask already (because they’re required in lots of places and it’s pretty obvious schools will require them too) so to say in August “they’re not giving us enough advance notice to purchase a mask” seems like a really thin argument, and like you’re just deliberately wanting to blame the school.
Anonanonanon says
Safety precautions for elementary require a lot of money and advanced planning. Sitting children 6 feet apart likely means splitting kids into half-day shifts. Social distancing on buses means acquiring a lot of new school buses (our district is saying they need at least 800 more to avoid putting kids 3 to a seat). The ability to quickly shift a class or school to remote learning if they have to quarantine after a positive result in the school requires acquiring a lot of equipment to make sure every child has equal access, and, ideally, integrating the use of that equipment into daily lesson plans while in school so children are prepared to use the equipment at home with minimum supervision. If they try to keep kids from leaving the classroom, they need to figure out how they’re going to offer things like art or music or PE, or even IF they’re going to offer those things. They may need to apply for certain federal waivers if they’re reducing the amount of instruction they’re providing in certain areas or changing the length of the school day. If the school system offers before/after school care for working parents, they need to figure out how that will operate.
Anon says
Avocado,
You should get your county’s flu pandemic plan (it should be available to anyone who asks for it). NYC is still using the flu pandemic plan for defining future closures. (ie How many sick kids = class closure, building closure, etc). You should also reach out and find out if the school district has an emergency manager or business continuity person (they might in a large urban district). Otherwise, I’d recommend reaching out personally to school board members and ask about the CDC guidelines.
avocado says
This is helpful–thank you! I have been drafting a letter to the school board, and these ideas will help me to frame the discussion. Given the district’s handling of previous weather emergencies, I’m skeptical that they have an emergency manager. We are a small-ish suburban district.
Realist says
This is great info, thanks
Tea/Coffee says
We don’t know yet but I suspect it will be a complete circus (Maryland – DC suburb). We are online through the end of this year. They seem to be toting with the idea of physical attendance AM/PM, 1-3 days / week or even 1 week /2-3. All of which sound like nightmares.
My 3rd grader has handled distance learning fine but admits that she has not learned a single thing since mid-March. This is understandable, but not really acceptable to me.
I suspect we’ll attend school in the building through Sept, maybe Oct, and then have to shut down again. My rising Ker will be screwed… he really needs the energy and interaction of a room full of 5YOs, not just mom. Who has her own job to do. And while it appears reasonable to review fractions on zoom, teaching kids to read on zoom sounds like a nightmare.
At one end of the spectrum, I am stocking up on some workbooks, novels for DD, and wine. At the other end of the spectrum DH and I have discussed pulling both kids and officially HSing next year. Which would probably require me to go to 3/4 or 1/2 time at work (while ES education is not my metier, i am a heck of a lot better at it vs DH). And lots more wine.
I sincerely hope that we are wrong.
anon says
We are also in the DMV. Our school district has already said the most likely scenario is online learning in the fall. They are looking into a hybrid in person model with at least some in person days, but they think that solution will be “too complicated” to implement. They’ve also said they can’t make any plans because it’s up to the governor to make the call–a totally ridiculous position. Of course this is the same school district that basically threw in the towel for learning this spring and didn’t try. Their lack of effort this spring means they have just about zero experience with online learning at this point. We have a full learning curve to traverse.
Teachers go back only one week before school starts and will have no other prep time. Not all kids have devices or internet access and the district has already said that no instruction can begin unless all kids have access. My guess is that they spin in circles for the month of September and start distance learning in October/November. That will be at least a full 7 months since the last instruction, so I expect that the fall will be review and teaching the prior grade material. We’re purchasing a curriculum and planning to teach grade appropriate material ourselves. It’s a huge fight to get my kid to do school work that is “too easy” and not worth the battle. It won’t be full on homeschooling, but I can’t have my kid go 9 months with no learning at all.
Anonymous says
I’m in the same area as you and most of my friends with grade-schoolers are leaning towards officially homeschooling. My kids are younger, but if it’s still distance learning in 2 years we’ll be homeschooling as well.
anon says
Right now I’m planning to keep her registered because I think there’s a reasonable chance that they’ll keep kids from a class together in the fall. She really enjoys the social interactions with her classmates, so I’d plan to let her continue to have that as much as possible. If the teacher won’t differentiate, I’m hoping her teacher will work with me so I can supplement. If not, I don’t really care if I get scolded or a bad report card for not making her do busy work during a pandemic. I just want her happy and learning.
Tea/Coffee says
Okay I don’t know if I feel better or worse, knowing that other parents also expect a circus sideshow. IRL nobody is optimistic either.
I have three weeks to come up with a workable “summer camp” plan and then 10 weeks to come up with a reasonable, fairly-low-prep way to handle essentially homeschooling two kids at different levels. I really can’t continue to spend all my 1:1 time with the Ker, it doesn’t seem fair.
On top of it all I really don’t know what my work schedule will be like this summer/fall. My employer has been ahhhhmazingly flexible but at some point I’ll be going to the office, I’m sure. I am super good at planning but all the variables are open at this point…
Spirograph says
I have a rising K and rising 2nd grader both registered for school next year. Also DC-adjacent MD, still under a stay home order, and distance learning has *not* been a success for the older kid so far.
I cannot homeschool and work simultaneously and refuse to try. DH will likely need to be back in the office by the time the school year starts. If school is remote, we will need to hire a nanny and part of the job description will be working through an age-appropriate curriculum with the older kids. If daycare still hasn’t opened, the nanny would also need to simultaneously wrangle the preschooler. I’d be looking for a unicorn, and probably paying an arm and a leg for it. I’m trying not to think about it too much now… there are still a few months for the school district to get a reasonable plan together.
avocado says
Does your state offer free public schooling through K-12? Ours does, although I am hoping only to have to use it for a couple of subjects I can’t get elsewhere.
Anon says
Some moms I know are discussing doing a gap year for their elementary school kids. Not sure if it is even legal. If the kids were going to be 3rd graders, they would basically no-school them for a year and then have them return to 3rd grade the following fall. The moms that are discussing it have kids who are friends so they would still be in the same grade together. It sounded crazy when I first heard it but the more I think about it, it sounds less disruptive than some of what the school plans or trying to home school.
Anonymous says
It is not legal.
avocado says
A “gap year” seems unnecessary to me. Very little actual academic instruction happens in elementary school. You could teach your kid all the math and language arts they are supposed to learn from workbooks in about 15-30 minutes per day. I wouldn’t want to, but it could be done if necessary.
anon says
I studied education in college. We had to do a shadow program at a local school, and I chose an elementary school in a highly rated school district in a wealthy suburb of a wealthy city. I was young and naive, but I was absolutely shocked at how little academic instruction happened in a typical school day at an elementary school.
Anonanonanon says
This. I will be officially registering my 5th grader as being homeschooled, at least for a semester. We already abandoned the voluntary distance learning after a disastrous rollout. Khan Academy for math lessons with weekly tests administered by me, reading assignments with associated writing assignments that I proofread, and then he corrects them and any misspelled words get added to the week’s spelling words which I test on. Grammar worksheets for things like “they’re vs. there vs. their” “your vs. you’re” etc. Haven’t gotten to science yet, but I’m planning to continue through the Summer so we can spread it all out since I still have to work full-time. Continuing this will be much less stressful for us and our child than dealing with altered schedules, last minute closures, etc. this fall. Every family/child is different, but this is what is going to work best for us.
Pogo says
Kiddo is a rising pre-k (3) and I am actually amazed about how much he learns from Khan Academy! Not that I expect him to be reading and writing anytime soon, but I suspect by the end of the summer he’ll know all his letters. That app is the best.
Anonymous says
This is basically exactly my plan for the same reasons. I need to get DH on board with this (but I’ve been the one doing all the homeschooling so whatever), and the other complication is that the neighbors and friends in our circle are itching to send their kids back and are planning no schoolwork this summer. Which means my kids are getting messages that they shouldn’t have to work either. But I think going back in the fall – no matter how they plan to do it – is guaranteed to be much more stressful and disruptive than just keeping course with the schedule and plans we’ve implemented for our family so far.
Anonymous says
We’re relocating in a few weeks to an area that is still under stay-at-home orders. There is zero information on the school district’s website about the start of the new school year. Distance learning for our first grader was a joke in our current district (no instruction at all for the first three weeks; suggested daily lessons that took 15 min for my kid to complete for the next seven weeks; ended school a week early. Kid learned a lot during this time…because my husband became her teacher). I’m really hoping the new district finds a way to manage in-person school because I cannot do all the lesson planning and teaching my husband did while working.
Anonymous says
We are in NYC and no one knows yet. My husband is a teacher, and he hasn’t heard anything either. Our school year doesn’t end for ANOTHER MONTH! I’m ready to poke my eyes out.
Knope says
In DC proper. The mayor is considering a bunch of different plans, none of which involve a full time return to school in person. This seems disastrous for kids in younger grades. And I don’t get how some of the plans, such as only 1-2 in-person days/week, really mitigates risk. Parents are going to have to find other childcare options for their kids (at least for younger kids) on the distance learning days, and few are going to be able to afford nannies just for their own families. So, either 1) kids will be with a lot of other kids in a daycare-like setting on the off days, and thus exposed to the virus and will bring that exposure into the classroom anyway, or 2) kids will be unsupervised at home while their parents work and more at risk of injuries.
I really think that on balance, considering the compensating measures parents will undoubtedly take if the schools aren’t open, the safest option is to re-open the schools with safety precautions in place (teachers wear masks, space apart desks, limit classroom mixing). The district should ALSO offer DL for any family that wants it, which may make DL more effective because there will be fewer kids to have to deal with in virtual lessons.
I have not come up with an actual plan yet in the likely event that the mayor does not fully reopen schools, though.
Anon says
The risk is almost entirely enclosed spaces with lots of people breathing heavily. Choir practice and gym are risky, sitting 6 feet from someone and both being masked is not. Outdoor transmission are really low and mostly due to sports/cycling/ jogging.
Having half the kids in a building at a time will be less risky than a lot of things.
anon dc says
Also in district proper and agree about how disastrous the plans being considered are. There is (apparently) a survey being shared to parents? I haven’t received it yet, but some of our friends at other dcps schools have.
Our principal is suggesting a 2 weeks on 2 weeks off schedule and I hope if they don’t do full/normal school, they’ll do that.
Realist says
My guess is schools in the fall will be a complete, unmitigated disaster. Schools with the least resources are going to be crunched even more–we haven’t hit the municipal level effects of unemployed families not able to pay their property tax bills that are due (which fund schools). My own community’s school staff is mostly over age 50. I’m not seeing the level of planning that would need to take place to even begin to have a sense of normalcy for students and parents for schools to return in the fall. I’m really worried about vulnerable students that rely on school as a safe and stable place, I’m really worried about vulnerable staff members that perhaps will be thrust into the path of Covid with no resources or plans to keep them safe and mitigate risks, I’m worried about all the working moms that will continue to be stretched thin as we twist in the wind without reliable schools or childcare. The old white men in charge aren’t thinking of these issues, let alone trying to solve them. I feel like I’m watching the ocean suck back, back, back from the beach, as a tsunami of disaster heads our way. The California state university system canceled fall for a reason, at great cost to their system. Life does not begin to return to normal in the fall. Local schools are not getting the national guidelines, resources, and support they need to even begin to manage the fall. The CDC “guidelines” are such a joke and so unattainable for most schools. I’m resigning myself to homeschooling with possible distance learning help through our school, though I know it will still knock the wind out of my sails when the official announcement comes.
Legally Brunette says
In California, kids attend private school. Our head of school says that all children will physically be back in school on September 1. And not just some days of the week, but every day Monday through Friday. I’m crossing my fingers that it happens, we’ll see. The tentative plan is for kids to stay in the same class all day (right now they are rotating to different classes for music, art, etc.).
Outdoor furniture says
Any recommended brands of outdoor patio furniture? Mostly focusing on a sectional or conversation set. Any recommendations between the various types of materials – aluminum, wicker, iron, wood, etc. Thank you!
lsw says
Sounds like this might not be your style but I love Loll. It’s completely maintenance free, made (domestically, I think?) from recycled milk cartons, and super comfortable. It’s expensive but indestructible.
AwayEmily says
We have the wirecutter-approved Ikea Applaro and we like it. Looks much fancier than it is and has held up well. To be fair we have it on a covered porch (tho in central ny, so weather is tough)
Anon says
I want this, but IKEA seems to be having major distribution issues lately. Stores around me aren’t open for pick-up and you can’t order things online.
Pogo says
You have to check back like every day. Keep what you want in your cart and refresh constantly.
Anon says
Thanks for the tip!
Anon says
We have a table of chairs from this line that are 17 years old. I just refinished them with IKEA’s stain/sealer , which is super simple and took less than an hour to do. They look nearly as good as new despite sitting outside since 2003.
Anon says
Table AND chairs
Pogo says
Oh I have the bench on order for our front patio! This makes me happy to hear. The reviews all seem great. Husband was all “but it’s IKEA” so this is good to know.
CHL says
We ordered the Langdon from Yardbird as we heard good things. Has been good customer service and the timing is exactly what they said (assuming the freight company delivers between 1130 and 1:30 tomorrow). I’ll report back. We also have the Standish conversation set from Target and love it, very comfy. We also have the Halsted Threshold wicker convo set and loveseat from Target and it not super comfortable. Consider your climate and how diligent you will be about covering up.
Realist says
Pier 1 is going out of business. I’m really sad about it, but maybe you can scoop up a deal. I really like having metal outdoor furniture as it seems to hold up better. I am not a fan of cushions because they always seem to get destroyed unless you store them inside, which is a pain (though I did that for a few years with a nice set, I just got tired of dragging everything in and out and watching the rain forecasts so closely).
Anon says
+1 on the cushions. We got teak Adirondack chairs last year as they seemed like the best option that didn’t require cushions to be comfortable. We’ve been happy with them.
Anon says
We got from Costco some “fakewood” adirondack chairs, maybe the brand was leisure line? We leave them outdoors in the Mid-Atlantic uncovered all year and they are still as bright and cheerful (we have red and blue) as the day we got them 4-5 years ago, and super comfy without cushions. Assembly was pretty quick and easy. If I were to get cushions, I would splurge on sunbrella (which is why we don’t have cushions because those prices are ridiculous).
Anon says
For the entire duration of quarantine my 2 year old has refused to go up the stairs by herself and asked us to carry her. I figured it was just one of those weird quirks of being two or maybe she needed extra physical contact due to the current situation. On Monday our cleaning service came for the first time since February (hallelujah!), and yesterday she was up and down the stairs all day without asking to be carried. I said, “Hey, you’re doing the stairs on your own again!” and she looked at me as if I were an imbecile and said, “Cleaning service make stair clean. Now I no get dirty on stairs.”
MY TODDLER WAS JUDGING THE CLEANLINESS OF MY HOUSE. And the sad thing is, she was not wrong.
Anonymous says
Omg I love this so much.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Hahaha. Love this story! Kids are nothing if not honest… And I know we’re all doing our best here with the cleaning, etc., but I have to say that having our cleaners back for the first time last week made me feel so much better about being home!
Pogo says
That is adorable and hilarious.
Cb says
That’s incredible. The toddler judgement is intense.
lsw says
I am dying. This is amazing.
Anon says
This is amazing. I don’t think I will be comfortable with cleaners coming back for a while – our big thing is to alternate visits every two weeks with the grandparents while we are still WFH and no preschool, so in order to make that work, we’re still staying very locked down.
AnotherAnon says
I’m simultaneously dying and questioning whether my kiddo has been doing the same. Guess I will go sweep the stairs…
Anon says
omg this totally made me lol. this is so so cute.
LittleBigLaw says
LOL!! This made my day! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous says
lol, I love your daughter.
Our housecleaner came last week for the first time since February. It was glorious to have the whole house clean at one time, even if it only lasted 10 minutes.
ALC says
My cousin, early 50s with two kids in middle/high school, just had major surgery, and I want to send them a food box. Any suggestions? They are in Raleigh. Thanks!
lsw says
Do her kids/husband enjoy cooking at all? The box of Reuben sandwiches from Zingerman’s is great. It takes care of an entire meal. (It has really detailed instructions but does require baking parbaked bread and frying a sandwich.)
AwayEmily says
I was going to suggest Zingermans too. They have some great ones. I also appreciate Harry and David boxes — it can be nice to get fresh fruit (and probably even nicer these days when getting to the store is tough).
Anonanonanon says
I’ve sent some stuff from Zingerman’s during COVID (cinnamon rolls, brownies, etc.) to people and everyone has been very pleased.
Anon says
I really want a reuben sandwich now.
Raleigh says
Consider supporting a local business in her area. A quick search online brings up Gingham & Posh, Ladyfingers of Raleigh, Fresh ‘n Lean. Or get a giftcard to a restaurant that is doing curbside pickup or delivery.
Anonymous says
Ashley Christensen, who is the Beard award winning super chef in Raleigh has a weekly meal service. Someone would need to go pick it up (edge of downtown), but the meals are absolutely amazing. Google ClubHouse from AC Events. You can get 1 to 3 meals. Each come with salad and dessert. This is the one super shining star during covid for me!
Anon says
Following up on the above thread, tips for how to explain to my soon to be 5 year old that even though daycare is reopening, we cannot have the bowling bday party he had hoped to have. (it is technically allowed in our state but our governor has thrown caution to the wind and we are definitely not comfortable with it) and more generally do not plan at this point on having him attend other indoor bday parties at gymnastics and other play places at this point. even though it is permissible, it just feels irresponsible to us given the state of the world. we do plan on celebrating at home and talking to daycare to figure out a way to celebrate there.
Anon says
Could he have an outdoor party with daycare friends? That seems a lot lower risk than something indoors like bowling. I feel like “we can’t do bowling, we have to do XYZ outdoor activity instead” would be a much easier conversation than “we can’t have a party.”
anne-on says
+1 – there are lots of outdoor bowling sets. Or an outdoor sprinkler/water play party?
I agree on the indoor gyms, I truly just do not see how you can possibly keep them clean enough (can you even clean those soft foam block things?!?) and we will be avoiding them for quite a while.
Anonymous says
Sorry we can’t do that because we might get sick! We are doing xyz in stead.
Emily S. says
Solidarity. I have to have the same convo with my soon to be 5 year old. I’ve been talking up what are we doing at home to celebrate (special dinner! cake! presents!) instead but that’s not cutting it anymore — today she asked what guests she could have at her party.
Is it feasible to have a tentative plan to have an outdoor party with a few friends from daycare in a few weeks? (This is my hope, as DD will be going back to daycare in two weeks.) This gives him something to look forward to.
Regardless of what you do, I think lots of hugs and allowing him to feel the feelings.
Anon says
Y’all! I just heard from my cleaning service and they are gearing up to come back! We set a date for June, when my kids should in theory be at their compliant day-camp and my husband and I can vacate for a while and MY HOUSE WILL BE CLEANED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME! I am perhaps inappropriately happy about this.
Anonymous says
It is the best day!
newlypreg says
Found out I’m pregnant over the weekend, in the middle of a pandemic hotspot. Very much planned but now kind of freaked out (already have an almost 2 year old who’s been out of daycare since March). Can’t tell if we are crazy for going for it or not!
Anon says
Congratulations! I’m in the same boat but a little further along than you. Definitely conflicted about it but now that I’ve had a little time to process I’m really really excited on the whole. OB visits are different but honestly on the whole it’s not terrible, especially since I’m not a first time mom so am not freaking out over every weird pregnancy thing that happens. Working from home aside from hating the isolation as a total extrovert has its perks (don’t have to tell people I’m pregnant or deal with people trying to guess whether I am, can freely get up and pee, can take naps when needed, healthy snacks are easier to stock, etc.). I’m a little worried that we won’t be able to see people after the baby is born for a while but we’ll manage. Ultimately no one knows how long this whole situation will last so I’m really glad we’re doing this and didn’t hold off.
Anon says
Congrats – we had another negative test this weekend (so all the margaritas instead), but we are trying even in the middle of a pandemic!
Anon4This says
Hi! Early in pregnancy (due in late December). It was a surprise in many ways, so you’ll have some company here. We’re not in a hotspot, but somewhere that can easily turn given the re-openings.
Anon says
A bit farther along than you, but I agree – when we found out we were pregnant, there were a lot of mixed emotions.
While it’s been hard (all day sickness) while working and taking care of a 2 year old myself, it’s been such a nice distraction and something for our family to look forward to.
Telco Lady JD says
Congratulations! 17 weeks here…did our embryo transfer on February 18 – and then the world ended. I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen a global pandemic to be the time when I couldn’t have a margarita…and it makes me sad that my husband can’t come to prenatal appointments/ultrasounds….but other than that, it’s been ok.
Anon says
The various daycare threads over the past week have made me curious: how many of you live somewhere daycares/summer camps are open vs are still under stay-at-home orders?
Daycares aren’t open yet in Maryland (except for essential personnel) and my DC-adjacent county is still under SAH orders, so we’re anticipating many weeks yet before daycare is an option again.
Anon says
where i live (TX) they are open, but we actually use a nanny. in fact, the date the governor made the announcement he said they could open that day (the announcement was made in the late afternoon, so not sure what the point of saying that was) but once things started to open here they have just continued opening without any waiting on data to move to a next phase. in fact, over MDW a water park opened, even though they were not allowed to be opened yet and the governor’s response was – let’s now open all water parks. as i’m sure many of you saw on national news, the same thing happened a few weeks ago with hair salons. i’m not even sure what the point of any guidelines are if the governor does not plan on enforcing any of them
Anon4This says
+1 in TX as well. Our daycare is open (technically never closed but was open for essential workers only and then slowly expanded). This week they’re fully re-opening, including food service. They’re taking the precautions (masked staff, temps taken at dropoff of kids/parents, staff temps taken daily, no mixing of classes, etc). Barring a surge (which could happen – see idiot Governor in post above), we plan to send DS back June 8th. I’ve gone back and forth about it but after reading this board and recommended articles (e.g. Emily Oster), conferring with my Ob/Gyn (first trimester pregnant with #2. Fingers crossed!), I feel comfortable logically. If this WFH situation with toddler underfoot goes on, I’ll be putting work performance on the line at a new job, which given pregnancy and the economy is a big risk. Plus DS needs to be around other kids, and I agree right now is generally a “lower risk” time, and I think we may all be indoors again come Fall/Winter.
Boston Legal Eagle says
In MA, we’re under a “Safer at Home” advisory now, with some businesses opening up now in Phase 1. Day camps I believe are supposed to start opening in Phase 2 – early June, although daycares are still ordered closed until June 29. Which feels like a longggg way away.
Anonymous says
MA is still closed for summer camps and daycare. Summer camps are in our “phase 2” reopen which would begin at the earliest on 6/8.
Daycares currently are closed until 6/28. Ive been working as a parent advisor with our daycare (all of our kids went there and our youngest is a toddler there now) and she said she has no idea what reopening will look like and they have gotten NO communication. She’s doing parent surveys to see if parents will even want summer daycare if she can’t open until midsummer.
Anon says
Yeah, we keep getting emails from daycare that basically say “we want to give you an update on re-opening but we have no idea when that will happen or what it will look like”. I think it’s super frustrating for the centers, as well as the parents.
Anon says
My state never required daycares to close but a lot of them did. The stay at home order was lifted on May 1, the state is gradually reopening, and most of the daycares that closed reopened as of yesterday. My daycare is run by a university and is closed until August (the university is one of the ones that is planning for on-campus instruction in the fall but obviously that’s TBD). It’s so frustrating to me, because I feel like May to August is a relatively safe time here, what with the summer weather, everyone spending a lot of time outside and the decreased population in our town with all the students gone. I’m just hoping the fall shutdown will be more correlated to cold weather and the end of outdoor activity like flu is and will happen more like December/January, not September/October, but I’m not that optimistic about it. The silver lining is that since my kiddo is not in group childcare we’re comfortable visiting with my parents (once the SAH order lifted), so they were just here for two weeks and plan to come back regularly throughout the summer, which is really nice for all of us.
FVNC says
We’re currently in a midwestern state that is slowly opening up. Our county’s case numbers are rising slowly, but number of deaths has not increased for several weeks. Our 3 year old’s daycare reopened two weeks ago but we chose not to send him back because my husband can watch him and our six year old without impact to his job. Outdoor summer camps are opening.
In a few weeks we’re relocating to an area in the PNW that was a hotspot but that has done a really good job of controlling spread. They’re still under stay-at-home orders and haven’t announced information about public school or summer camps, but our son’s future daycare has remained open (it’s affiliated with a hospital) and he’ll be attending when we relocate. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it right — there haven’t been reported cases in his soon-to-be-school.
Clementine says
My daycare is opening 6/1. Our state has phased regional openings, but daycares are open earlier than day camps and schools.
We’ve already gotten the list of protocols and they’re bringing staff back early to train, but I think they could techically open 5/29.
Emily S. says
In VA. We’re under a “safer at home” order with phased re-openings that vary across the state. Daycares can open; some are open to essential personnel only, some to “working families” only, and some to all. (Ours shut down for the month of April but we have kept our kids out since March 13 and won’t be sending them back until the original stay at home order expires on June 10.) Summer camps are hit or miss. Some private camps are going virtual/online; I believe one outdoor day camp will open. It looks like the YMCA day camps will be open.
Anonymous says
Do you know what counts as “working families”? It looks like MD might implement something similar in phase 2 of our reopening, but no one really knows what that means.
Anonymous says
my Guess would be two actively working parents (ie not furloughed, not off for the summer etc. like you really need care to do your work). Not sure where someone unemployed would fit. Normally I’d say being unemployed is a full time job as you should be job seeking but this scenario is a bit different.
Just a guess though.
Anon says
I wonder if working remotely counts as working under those orders. I think in my state, at the start of the stay at home order, daycares were only open for essential personnel working out of the house.
Emily S. says
I can’t find a definition, but it might be purposefully vague.
Anon says
Daycares are open in Colorado with precautions in place. Very thankful. My daughter is currently running through sprinklers with other kids for “water day” and the thought of her actually having real summer fun makes me so happy.
Anonymous says
IA. Our daycares were never required to close, but parents who were working at home were told to keep their kids with them. At our daycare, the overwhelming majority of parents complied. We’re in various stages of reopening now. Our kiddo is going back 6/8. The director told me that most kids are going back 6/1 or 6/8.
AnonLaywer says
They can open in Oregon if they meet certain safety requirements (but I haven’t looked into details since my mom is retired and decided she wanted to watch the baby during the summer at least). I think it’s like adults not going in, temperature checks, etc.
The Portland area is generally still under stay-at-home orders but the rest of the state is on later phases of reopening.
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
In NC. Have not been tracking daycares but we have some summer camps opening June 1 with precautions. We will probably send our kids starting mid-June.