Family Friday: Kids’ FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle
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Even though we have water bottles spilling out of our cabinets, my oldest insists that we need this one.
This stainless steel, insulated, 16 oz. bottle comes in a rainbow of tween-friendly colors and fits easily in a backpack. For parents, it has a leak-proof lid, wide opening for filing and washing, and is BPA, lead, and phthalate-free. The convenient carry loop also doubles as a lock so the bottle doesn’t accidentally spring open.
Owala’s Kids’ FreeSip Water Bottle is $24.99 at Target.
Sales of note for 3/2:
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off the Weekend Collection + extra 30% off sale + 30% off your purchase with extra 15% off $200+
- Banana Republic Factory – 40% off + extra 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Up to 70% off clearance + 25% off select jewelry
- Express – 30%-70% off everything + $69 all Editor pants, jeans, and chinos
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + extra 70% off clearance + 40%-50% off the Weekend Shop
- Lo & Sons – End of winter sale, up to 50% off — reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
- M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Nordstrom – 4,000 new markdowns for women!
- Talbots – 25% off entire purchase
Is it helpful or annoying to follow up if you don’t get a response to your RSVP for a kindergarten birthday party?
Context: class party at a play place. I don’t know the family (my daughter is not particularly close to the birthday girl, but excited to go). I texted the mom to RSVP as requested on the invite & didn’t get a response. Not sure if I should follow up in case she needs a firm headcount & didn’t see it or if that would come off as obnoxious. Curious what others would do.
Piggybacking off the water bottle question. My 3 yo just drinks out of a water bottle — no cups. She *can* drink out of a cup, but if we give her one, she goes to find her water bottle. This is fine, right? She only drinks water – no milk or juice.
Novel incoming!
We applied to one of the more elite private schools in our major city (not like top top tier, but in the realm). It’s PreK-8th with kids typically matriculating to the strongest high schools in the city.
DS #1 (currently at our neighborhood public school) got in for 3rd grade. DS #2 got waitlisted for K. We found out a few others we knew applying got rejected for K; the school reached out and let us know that it was an unprecedented year for applications in K and 1st and there just weren’t a lot of slots after they had re-enrollment numbers. I believe this because there is also a lot of state drama with the school districts in and around the city, resulting in declining enrollment to the public schools. We’re hoping that after the other admissions decisions are released for other area private schools a slot may open, but also need to have a good plan B. We also know other families who were rejected without a waitlist spot, so it makes me think the waitlist isn’t a soft rejection.
They also said if we wanted, DS #2s application could essentially roll over for 1st. We want DS #1 to attend, so really the decision is about K for DS #2. Here are our options – am I forgetting anything? Anyone have any advice from similar experiences? Understand we are in a fortunate position to have these options.
About DS #2 – Turned 5 in Dec. Had some minor delays that we intervened and are behind us now. He is starting to read (like, Elephant and Piggie, not War and Peace), loves math, and also has things he needs some help with (e.g. using scissors). He’s still a bit emotionally immature but within the realm of normal and improving – we still deal with big feelings/tantrums, big reactions to small things, etc. Definitely has some sensory sensitivities that don’t derail but he needs help with (e.g. he gets super annoyed when his shirt gets wet, so we have to problem solve together – letting it dry, getting a new shirt, etc.). No complaints at school, he seems to get on with other kids well and has friends.
1. Leaning towards – DS #2 does K at his current preschool/daycare. The K class is typically a combo of TK/K kids (some years it’s a ton of kids doing K the following years, some years its a ton going to 1st, but it’s usually a mix). Small class, a place DS #2 absolutely loves. We know the teacher is fantastic. Logistically makes sense (en route to DS #1’s future school). Great coverage (more than the standard school calendar, no spring break, etc.)
2. Other option – DS #2 does K at our neighborhood elementary. It will be ~25 kids/class, no aide, and is a Title I school with great community. Logistically not far, but in the opposite direction of DS #1’s future school, plus we’d deal with the school year calendar which mostly but not completely aligns with DS #1’s future school. District is closing down other elementaries and is under state takeover, so despite the school being great, lots of unknowns.
What are good news sources for kids? Like 10 and 11 year olds. I was going to get them This Week Jr but my kids told me they have it at school and it won’t cover things like Iran or elections. But I don’t really see handing them a newspaper and just letting them go to town. We discuss a bit, but I think getting news from a news source might be good. Does this make sense?
I’ve been musing about how parent-child relationships sometimes go downhill over a lifetime. My baby is 6 months old. I don’t have a good relationship with either parent; my father is totally absent. I know my mother loved me when I was a baby and I know she continued to love me in her own way. It just didn’t translate into treating me in a loving way.
How can you love someone so completely and criticize everything about them? How can you find so many things to criticize? How does love get so lost in translation from what you feel to what you do? (Please don’t suggest therapy. I’ve therapized all I care to about this. In my therapist’s words, you have friends right? So here you go, friends. I’m sure some of you feel this way too.)
And somewhat related – DH thought I would be the strict one and he would be the fun parent. He’s finding that I’m a lot more permissive than he is when it comes to the baby. It’s going to be interesting to see how that develops.
My baby has worn a lot of hand me downs from Primary and I’d like to find some good options for similar style-stores (bright colors, good basics, no logos) that are a little more durable now that he’s harder on clothes at his toddler stage. I’m planning to go to Target soon and can order anything else. Any suggestions? Especially on the lookout for pants that won’t wear through immediately in the knee but that still have the comfort of sweats.
What chores do your kids do, when do they do them, and how did you get them started? My kids are 3, 5, 7, and we aren’t doing great in this area. My husband vastly prefers to just do things himself (I mean, don’t we all tbh), so I need to find a way to make this organized and as simple as possible.
What is your water bottle/cup protocol? Do you have 1 per kid and wash them every night? Multiples you switch out? My kids are always losing them and leaving them around, I feel like it’s a circus trying to keep track of which one is clean.