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Now that we’re well into December, a blazer doesn’t really cut it anymore for a comfortable work commute.
In the winters of the Before Times, I would often pair a cozy sweater like this one from Banana Republic with my sheath dresses. The flattering shawl collar mirrors a traditional blazer lapel, and you can slim down the boxy fit with a wide belt. It’s made from a warm alpaca blend that will keep you comfortable on your way to and from work, or to and from just about anywhere.
This cardigan is $160 full price (but be on the lookout for frequent sales). It comes in heather oatmeal (a cream color) or toasted praline (a golden brown in lucky sizes only). It’s available in regular sizes XS–XXL and petite sizes XS–L.
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.
Sales of note for 3.26.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything plus extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off all workwear
- J.Crew – Annual Spring Event: 40% off sitewide; extra 40% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 10% off your order
- Loft – 50% off Lou & Grey; 30% off new arrivals
- Nordstrom: Spring Sale: Up to 50% off
- Talbots – 25% off your purchase, including markdowns
- Zappos – 37,000+ 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 10% off your purchase with code
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 30% off swim; up to 30% off HannaJams
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; extra 40% off sale; 50% off kids’ styles
- Old Navy – 50% off Easter deals
- Target – 20% off Easter styles for all; up to 30% kitchen & dining; up to 25% off TVs; BOGO 50% off shoes & slippers for the family; $100 off select Apple products
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
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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?
Toddler Stocking Stuffers says
DS is 18m and we aren’t planning to buy him any big gift this year because he has tons of stuff and family is gifting him even more toys. I would like to get him some fun little stocking stuffers to open Christmas morning. Any ideas?
Cb says
Some little wooden animals? I had some from Janod that were super cute and stackable.
Anonymous says
Or some of the medium size Schleich animals? My kid is 6 and still plays with those. I think we started getting them around 2.
buffybot says
I think a toddler will enjoy unwrapping anything, truth be told (and might have more fun with the wrapping and ribbons), but here are some thoughts: small musical instruments like shakers/maracas, crayons, flashlight, small (but still age-safe) cars or animals, fruit snacks or some other treat, cute band-aids with characters.
GCA says
Set of stackable wooden cars or push cars; play food set; rainbow crayons or dot markers, bubbles, bath toys/ crayons/ color drops?
Anonymous says
Our 16 mo loves shakers (the Skip Hop owl/fox/hedgehog), puzzles with big pieces, her hairbrush, shoes and socks (hers, mine, it doesn’t matter), and her new dino snack cup (also Skip Hop). Surprisingly, she has not been at all interested in wrapping paper. Is his stocking stretchy enough for a small board book? Some of the Sandra Boynton books might fit.
anon. says
Consumables – stickers, bath crayons, bath paint, etc.
ElisaR says
finger puppets!
Anonymous says
TJ: whee did you get your favorite finger puppets?
ElisaR says
we have a bunch of different ones. the paw patrol ones got a lot of love and traveled around the country with us…. i think i got them on amaz*n. they were plastic and went into many pools…..i bet etsy has some cute ones too that aren’t branded or plastic. we do have one that felt which is cute too.
BlueAlma says
We got a couple felt sets from IKEA. Very compact and easy to carry around.
TheElms says
Kiddo was 18 months last Christmas and by far her favorite stocking stuffers were a set of wooden cars/trucks/planes and some masking tape that had a road printed on it. We made a road on the floor through the house and she happily pushed the vehicles along it. The other thing she liked were triangle shaped (as opposed to round) crayons.
https://www.amazon.com/PlayTape-Black-Road-Children-Birthday/dp/B00GZ8UE2K/ref=asc_df_B00GZ8UE2K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312112109274&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1746903355843148952&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061285&hvtargid=pla-522734363024&psc=1
Anon says
Bubbles, crayons, stickers, small bath toys, tiny plastic figurines of his favorite characters (I keep these in a zipper pouch in my purse for entertainment outings). I also put practical items in my kids stockings (toothbrushes, socks, new cups, etc.). They’re just thrilled to open stuff, honestly.
Anon says
My kid loves Tempera paint sticks and little trucks, especially any truck that has articulated motion like a digger with a moving shovel.
Need help from moms in cold weather climates says
Visiting our inlaws for a week in New York, coming from SEUS and just realized I don’t have either warm socks or shoes, which could really be a bummer on our visit. Could y’all recommend warm socks I can get at Target or on Amazon quickly? (Don’t have to be wool!) Also shoes that would be better than sneakers unless you think those are fine for non-snow weather with the warm socks. I don’t think we need snowboots. Thanks so much – I’m overwhelmed by the options.
EP-er says
Are you looking for yourself or kids? Sneakers will be fine as long as it is dry. Do you have rainboots, which you could layer with heavier socks? I would check online for Smartwool, Merrell, or Darn Tough socks — you should be able have them delivered from Amazon or REI.
Anon says
Sneakers are fine.
Anon says
Good socks and gym shoes will be fine. My preferred brand is smartwool socks, but the ones on Amazon don’t ship quickly and Target doesn’t carry them. Do you have an REI or Duluth Trading Company or a sporting goods store near you? That would be my suggestion.
Me says
Nordstrom has them too
Anonymous says
It’s been in the 40s to 50s here, so good socks and sneakers are fine. I’m very sensitive to wool so I always get Wigwam Silk Wool Hikers, but for my kid I just buy any wool socks on Amazon that are greater than 50% wool and just hand wash them. Recently bought her “ANTSANG Kids Wool Hiking Socks” six pack. Some of the patterns would arrive in Brooklyn tomorrow.
Frozen Bostonian says
You are fine. My kids lobbied to wear shorts today (high of 50).
OP says
Thank you, all! I won’t go on a boot buying spree :)
Anonymous says
Keep in mind that warm socks are much thicker so make sure they will fit in your sneakers! I have the target copy of smartwool socks and they aren’t as good but they are pretty good. Outdoors stores like REI usually have wool socks too, if there’s something like that near you.
upper west side recos? says
I’m visiting friends on the UWS and not familiar with the kid friendly stuff in the neighborhood. What’s a good place to grab lunch with two kids under 5? We don’t mind indoors (one child is vaccinated, the other is in a trial and has it even though not 5). Thanks.
buffybot says
UWS is generally pretty kid friendly. There’s a bunch of restaurants along Columbus or Amsterdam. In particular, there is a Shake Shack right by the Natural History Museum if you want quick and fast foody. Parm is also good. We took some toddlers to Carmine’s a few years ago and that was successful but there’s been some Carmine’s related drama in the last couple of months so people might be avoiding it (also the food is only OK). Breads Bakery and Epicerie Boulud are good for grab-and-go.
UWS says
Old Johns
Playa Betty
Pizzeria Uno
The Smith
Many of the restaurants on Amsterdam in the low 80s depending on what cuisine you want
Anonymous says
The Ribbon on 72nd St is overrun with kids at brunch on weekends (or at least it used to be, pre-COVID). I’d make a reservation if you go.
I’d second Shake Shack or Parm.
Anonymous says
Someone mentioned earlier this week that they got their 4yo vaccinated…how does that work? Does your kid now have a CDC vax card with the wrong birthdate on it? I’m tempted to vaccinated my 4y11m kid, but it seems like the hassle of having incorrect id will be a major issue down the road for school, etc.
anon says
The child is so close to the right age, can you call the pediatrician’s office and see if you schedule the 5 year well check now, if they’ll go ahead and give the first jab?
Alternatively, can you schedule the first dose for exactly the child’s birthday, so there’s no delay?
Anonymous says
Our ped isn’t discouraging seeking it out from other sources, but can’t legally do it in her office until age 5.
Kid turns 5 on a weekend, so we’ll have to wait until the following Monday to do it at the ped office. I haven’t yet figured out a way to make a pharmacy appointment ahead of time–when you put in the correct birthdate it won’t let you schedule anything, even if the kid would be 5 at the time.
Anon says
You can input the wrong birthday online and then correct it when you get to the pharmacy in person. You might want to bring ID for the child just in case. Several friends did that in early November when the pharmacies hadn’t yet updated their online schedulers to account for the fact that 5+ was now eligible.
Anonymous says
Good to know, thanks!
Anon says
It’s only a day or two to wait, it’ll be ok. :)
Anonymous says
Oh yeah, I’m not worried about the day or 2 in Jan, other than that it’s easier to do it on a pharmacy on a weekend rather than pull my kid out of school the following Monday.
Anonymous says
That was me. FWIW if she were turning 5 in January I think I would have waited. Mine is a young 4 and it seems like March or April is the best case scenario for 4 year olds being eligible and it’s possible it could be as late as the end of June. The odds of getting infected before then are very high, especially with Omicron looming, and my child does have an underlying health condition.
We live in a state that has banned vaccine passports, so travel is really the only instance in which she’ll need a CDC card and there’s no urgency on that. Right now our plan is to eventually re-vaccinate her with the lower 2-4 year old dose as a booster (probably six months after her second 5-11 dose) and then we’ll get a card with the correct birthday and destroy this one. If data comes out that suggests boosters aren’t safe for kids, we’ll reassess but I think that’s very unlikely given that some countries are now safely boosting teens, who have higher rates of myocarditis than younger kids.
Anonymous says
Thanks for the details! We may just wait the next month, but with the way cases are skyrocketing here it’s been something under consideration.
Anonymous says
I get it. Omicron is scary and seems like there’s some evidence it may be worse than Delta in kids. Just so you know, if you go to a for-profit pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS, you will have to lie and say you don’t have health insurance, which I wasn’t comfortable doing. We went to the community health department, since they don’t ask for any insurance info. I believe free community clinics (in my area they have some at libraries and museums) shouldn’t ask for health insurance either. My child is tall for her age and no one questioned whether she was 5. She hasn’t had her second dose yet, but she had no side effects from the first dose and it’s a huge relief to have her even partially protected.
2 Under 2 says
Best slippers for a 2-year old? I know bare feet is best at home, but our house is old and drafty and the floors are cold in the morning. I’d like her to have the option to wear something on her feet in the (early) mornings. We could just wear socks but then she’ll pull on her shoes and ask to go out … over and over again.
Anon says
LL Bean Toddler Wicked Good or Animal Paws slippers (we’ve had both at various ages and stages starting around two, kiddo is now 4).
EP-er says
I always loved the Haflinger or Giesswein boilded wool slipper boots. They stayed on nicely and didn’t slip. I would just keep buying the next size up during the end of season clearance.
CCLA says
We found the cheap estamico ones to be super user friendly for that age (ordered some pricier ones too, I don’t recall the name at this point, but the estamico ones were easy for kid to put on herself). The key was the stretchy back heel part.
Anon says
+1 to these, though don’t expect them to last more than a single winter.
FVNC says
Any recommendations for a gift card for a 3rd grade, mid-50s male teacher? Unfortunately I know almost nothing about him (still no parent-teacher social interactions due to covid protocols) but I’d like to get him a small year-end gift. Target? Visa? Starbucks? Thanks, all!
DLC says
I usually do Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.
TheElms says
I’d do Target, assuming they are conveniently located in your area. It’s more flexible than Starbucks and I thought some of the Visa gift cards had fees associated with them.
Anon says
We did Barnes & Noble for our male teacher
anon says
Target gift card is great because they sell so much, including extra school supplies if your district puts school supply buying on teachers.
Mary Moo Cow says
Target or Amazon. I’ve also done a grocery store that had a gas station attached that was 5 minutes from school.
FVNC says
Y’all are awesome, thanks!
Anonymous says
Amazon.
Pogo says
Does anyone else feel like this winter is like the first winter of daycare all over again? I don’t think we’ve had 1 day of someone snot-free in this house for over a month now, and both kids have had antibiotics for lingering sinus and/or ear infections. It makes sense since there was a whole year with very little contact, but it. is. killing. me.
I do enjoy the efficiency of telehealth at our ped – I was able to stay in the car for the consult over the phone and just pop in the back door (they quarantine the sick visit area – why did it take a pandemic for us to get there? brilliant) for her to listen to baby’s chest and confirm his ear infection, quick swab up the ole nose to rule out COVID, and it was all done in about 20min.
avocado says
My kid is out of day care, but several of my staff have kids in day care and early elementary and they are having the same experience as you are. I don’t think we’ve had a single Zoom meeting that didn’t include at least one sick kid since September.
Anon says
It’s miserable. DS is in daycare. I have called out sick from work every three weeks. I am surprised they haven’t fired me yet.
where to buy kids ties? says
Where’s a good place to buy ties for a 6 yo boy? Just got DS his first suit and I think he’d like a tie, maybe holidayish? But apparently that’s not so much a thing from my online searching!
I’m seeing a lot of bow ties but he definitely wouldn’t want too cutesy!
Yet another teacher gifting question… says
For folks with kids in elementary school- how do you handle gifts for the Specials teachers? Or do you even? My kid loves her specials, but she has four teachers there. Plus she has two regular teachers… so it’s all adding up.
The PTA does do a staff lunch that we can contribute to so maybe that is enough?
Also- is holiday gifting still a thing in middle and high school?
Anon says
This year in particular I want to include the special teachers. I’m going to get $10 gift cards (Dunkin’ donuts maybe, with a Barnes & Noble for the library teacher). I do $25-50 for the main teacher(s), and I do the bus drivers, too. Public school so this is really my only “cost” and the teachers/staff seem so exhausted and weary this year.
anon says
I think it’s lovely to think of the specials teachers. That said, I give to any group gifts others are organizing, but I don’t do anything independently. That means nothing for the specials teachers, usually.
I may be grinchy, but I really hate all the stuff parents (mothers, it’s always the mothers) are expected to do even if they don’t really want to. Have women do more labor to recognize women that society doesn’t sufficiently compensate! Ugh.
Anonymous says
Re: specials – we don’t. IIRC there may be some kind of mechanism within the PTA to funnel some class gift money (which is all collected by room parents) into a cluster teacher pool, but I’m not sure if that is true.
Re: middle and high school – my husband teachers high school and often gets a few gifts, but not $ (which is what elementary teachers get here) – a box of chocolates, a coffee thermos, etc. He appreciates them but does not expect them at all.
Mary Moo Cow says
We give gift cards to each teacher ($25 if they have one of my kids, $50 if they have both). I buy a bunch from Target when they offer 10% off and stash them to use at holidays and end of the year. I write a short note about why each kid likes the class because I think the specials teachers tend to be overlooked, not just in gifting but in recognition by the school and parents.
Other parents I know give $10, especially if they have multiple teachers to buy for.
I’m on the board of the PTO at our school, and the PTO is buying the teachers’ lunch. So if you have contributed to the PTO this year, chances are, you’ve contributed to lunch. :)
Mary Moo Cow says
Oh, and middle school gifting is a thing at my school because the middle school is attached to the high school (K-8). Because they transition to all specialty teachers, tho, most families dial it down and give $10 plus a card. I don’t recall giving any gifts to my high school teachers and now I wonder why we treat elementary school teachers differently: is it because they are with the kids all day?
Anonymous says
Yeah, high school teachers don’t stay with the same group all day. They are all like special teachers.
Anonymous says
I’m late to the game (elem school kiddo’s last day before Christmas is Friday) but am planning on gift cards for his two main teachers ($25) and smaller gifts ($10) for bus driver and specials teachers. Also hoping to do gift cards for extended day staff, either $5 or $10 depending how many people it is.
Anonymous says
Our Christmas break doesn’t start until 12/24!
anon says
Vaguely related, first year in elem school–can I give Visa giftcards to a public school teacher or do I need to stick with Target or Amazon?
Anonymous says
Depends on your school system. Ours allows either but must be under $100/year/family per teacher/employee.
Anon says
I think the dollar amount is much more relevant than where it’s from. Any gift card is considered a cash equivalent, and there’s often a limit on cash equivalents for state employees. Source: I work for the state but not a public school system.
AwayEmily says
Anyone have kid “fashion” (i.e. not snow/rain) boots that they like? Preferably a pretty low price point. Right now my 5yo has only heavy winter boots (Bogs) and sneakers (Sauconys), and she said she was interested in some warmer shoes as well. Ideally something comfy (not too stiff, she’s picky about shoes). I see Target has some cute chukkas in the boys section…
TheElms says
We have the Target girls Chelsea boots. They are in the $20-$25 range, but I your daughter might think they are stiff. They do break in but it took several wears. Some versions have a section of elasticated gore on the side which might help? A lot of friends have the Target Ugg look a likes and seem happy with them, so that might be a better option if she wants something cozy.
CCLA says
Agree re: Target Chelseas, we have them in a couple of toddler sizes. They checked the box for family photos or a quick trip somewhere, but were very stiff for quite a while and also I did not find the grip to be great. We got some from the Gap a few years back that were much better, though I bet other Target styles would be a good option.
Anon says
Agree they are stiff. We’ve had them in toddler girls size 6 up to size 13.
Anon says
we have the target ugg look alikes, as well as a boot sneaker from the boys section ‘Toddler Haider Boots – Cat & Jack,’ which look adorable on my twin girls (idk why they have to be for boys)
anonamommy says
The Cat & Jack Mila boots are shearling lined and warm, and ridiculously cute in the multicolored glitter. I hit them with Scotchguard for a little extra weather protection and they are just delightful on a small girl.
Anonymous says
Recommendations for rain boots for 6 year old, size 3, with lots of sensory issues re shoes? Previously he had LoneCone boots but they don’t last all that long before getting holes (previously feet were growing so fast it wasn’t an issue, but they’ve slowed down). His last pair were Primary, which it looks like aren’t made anymore. Just tried Crocs boots because he loves his regular Crocs, but he can’t even stand to have them on for a few minutes indoors. Any other ideas, ideally not $$$? We live in a very rainy area so he definitely needs solid rain boots that are fully waterproof.
Anonymous says
Is he motivated by light up boots? My son loved the Western Chief light up rain boots when he was about that age.
Anonymous says
Thanks. The western chief ones we had once had little heels that were unacceptable but maybe we’ll try again.
Anon says
Totes Cirrus ones at Target are my kiddo’s favorite. They are very lightweight, so not sure if that is helpful or not from a sensory perspective.
Anonymous says
Oh maybe we’ll try! Do they hold up? Previously he was going through multiple shoe sizes a year but now it’s really slowed down…
Anon says
Yes. My kiddo (4) is rough on shoes and has been in her 12’s for a good year plus now (we buy them big). I just got her the next size up (they are either 13s or 1’s, but they come in big kid sizes too). Mostly she likes them because they are very pink (they come in other colors too!), but they seem really comfy and I cannot stress how lightweight they are compared to other rainboots her friends have. I am half of a mind to get a pair for me (they come in adult sizes too) for days when I don’t feel like wearing my very heavy hunter boots.
Ashley says
+1
Anonymous says
I know you said not $$$, but Polarn o Pyret makes the best kid rain boots. I try to buy them on sale, but they’re durable (even for forest school) and waterproof.
Anon says
Would he wear waterproof hiking boots? I hate rain boots, they’re so stiff.
Allie says
Maybe try the Cat and Jack ones from target? They’re kind of cheap and loose so I don’t know if that would help and not help with sensory issues but my girls really love them.
Anonymous says
I have been happy with Joules and Hunter. I have been eyeing some roll up/packable Joules boots on Zappos.
Daycare gifts says
What do people do for daycare teacher gifts? I’m not sure which staff people are in her room (different people are in the morning/vs afternoon shift) so individual gifts seem complicated. Do people give gifts at all? This is what gift baskets are for, right?
Anon says
Pre-Covid, I’d get a small gift for the main teacher (usually a handwritten note, drawing from the kid(s) once they could scribble, and a small gift card) and then bring in donuts for the whole center. Maybe skip the notes and do donuts plus coffee one morning?
Anon says
I would not give gift baskets. They want gift cards or cash. Is there any kind of group collection? Our daycare does a cash collection for all staff. In past years we’ve contributed to that and given Target gift cards to her teachers. This year I’m not as big a fan of her teachers and the student:teacher ratio is much higher, so we’re just contributing to the group collection.
Anonymous says
You give a card with cash. In a HCOL city, around $100 per main teacher would be my minimum.
Anonymous says
Noooooo, give cash in a card. Ask the owner for a list of names and make an envelope for each. We divided one week’s work of “tuition” among the teachers.
CCLA says
Yep, standard is $$ and card. It seems unusual that at a daycare it wouldn’t be clear who is primarily in your kids’ room, but I would just email the director if you’re not sure. I think we did $100 to each main teacher last year (there are 2 in each room) but this year plan to give at least double, because it’s not a burden for us and they are all incredible and I’m so grateful for them. Tuition for us is ~$1300/mo in a VHCOL area.
Anonymous says
Seconding the reccs to ask for a list of teachers and give cash or cash-like gift cards (Target, Amazon, Visa, MC) to each teacher/staffer individually.
Anon says
Ask the director – it’s a very common question this time of year! I’m giving the 2 teachers $100 Target gift cards and $50 for the floater.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Adding to the chorus: card plus cash. We give more to the main teachers, a bit less to the floaters.
AwayEmily says
Yup. Sincere card, cash.
Anon says
Echoing the cash comments.
We are at a large center and our kids (2 and 4) with 15 teachers plus a cook between the infant/toddler side and preschool/PreK side. Our kids move classes 1-2 times a year based on age and the teachers all float to provide coverage (staggered hours, breaks, lunches, etc.).
So we just give equal amounts of cash to each teacher. In this case, it’s $30 each which feels paltry but is $450. I’d really like to give the “main” teachers more but there are still too many.
Next year our kids will only be on the preschool/pre-K side so the pool will drop in half and we can give them all more.
Anyway, not even really all that applicable to the question but I just wanted to share for those that are at large centers.
Anonymous says
If you live close to one side of the family, and the other side of the family visits for the holidays, do you mix the groups? It’s very clear to me that we can’t do this, even on something like Boxing Day, because MIL is very sensitive to the fact that we have chosen to live near my family. She would have a complete meltdown if she were to see my kids excited to see my parents. What’s the normal way to handle this?
AnonATL says
My family is local. Husbands family is a 2 hour flight. Pre-Covid we would have one big dinner when my in laws were in town and invite local family. Our parents get along well enough, and I think it’s nice to keep everyone in semi-regular communication. Of course kids are going to be more excited to see local family they have a relationship with.
Anon says
I think mixing groups is pretty normal. My parents are good people but eccentric and kind of anti-social, my SIL and BIL are fine for the most part but my SIL can be really self-centered, my MIL is sweet but painfully shy and my FIL is a raging narcissist who makes everything about himself and throws toddler style tantrums when people don’t cater to him (a relative of my MIL’s – who I have never seen be anything but sweet and polite to other people – apparently once PUNCHED him at a Thanksgiving dinner, to give you a sense of how much he pushes other people’s buttons). We’ve had all of them at our house for Thanksgiving several times now and it was definitely kind of awkward, but we all survived. People generally avoided each other and mostly played with the kid.
My parents have chosen to live near us part-time and my daughter is extremely close to them (sleeps at their house regularly, etc), but we were actually surprised last month that she preferred the company of her other relatives at Thanksgiving. I think my parents are “boring” to her now because she sees them for 1-2 weeks every month, and the new relatives were much more exciting. My parents were actually a little hurt! Although they handled it fine.
AwayEmily says
We live very close to my mom. Our two sides get along wonderfully, but we still do pretty limited mixing when my in-laws visit (usually just one meal together). I figure that they came all this way to spend time with the kids and we want to maximize that. My mom has no problem with this; she gets to see the kids every week.
anon says
I grew up in a family like this and we never mixed. Dad’s family got Thanksgiving. Mom’s family got Christmas day. We did (and still do) a dad’s family Christmas party the weekend before Christmas. Weirdly enough, Mom and dad are from the same hometown and, despite the fact we lived an hour away, we really only saw the one side of the family on their given gathering day. Maybe I was a kid and out of the loop, but never seemed problematic and frankly I really loved the arrangement.
Now, DH’s family is a plane ride with a connection away. We now have a 3.5 year old and I really struggle with the idea of not waking up on Christmas morning in her own bed/house, especially during the Santa years. COVID has helped us stay home last Christmas and this one, too, but some kind of fixed arrangement like what we had is probably going to end up being how we get through (realizing this was not your question at all but I think about it a lot this time of year..).
Anon says
Nope. But that’s because I barely tolerate my (local) MIL and wouldn’t wish her company on anyone, and for better or worse, my lovely (local) FIL who adores my family (and the feeling is mutual) gets the short end of the stick.
Mary Moo Cow says
My in-laws are 10 minutes away and my parents 8 hours, and my mom is very sensitive (she can be downright jealous, honestly.) We always include the in-laws for at least part of the actual holiday. For Thanksgiving, they came over about an hour before dinner to have appetizers and then stayed through desert. For Christmas, we give in-laws their gifts the day before my parents arrive, usually with an evening visit and dinner, and on Christmas day, they come over for presents in the morning and then leave and come back for dinner that evening. The rest of the holiday is just for my parents (for example, in-laws don’t see kids on December 24 or 26.) For birthdays, in-laws attend the actual party, and if the party isn’t on the birthday, we celebrate with them on the actual birthday. It hasn’t always been easy to manage my mom’s feelings, but I’ve tried to show her that in-laws are a part of our lives and I will not indulge sulking. We’ve never had a big talk about it, but I let her know ahead of time when in-laws are coming over and when they will leave and that she will have my kids attention for the rest of her visit. Good luck — it is wonderful to have close family, except when it is not.
Anon says
We will mix families but if my in laws come out to see us we’re not going to take them over to my family’s unless their visit was a last minute happening. If they live far and don’t get to come often, I think it’s nice to devote solid chunks of time specifically for just them to see the grandkids on their own. It’s a bummer to come by and have a million people around so there’s no chance for quality time.
Pogo says
We love close to my parents and they come over for a few hours on the holiday.
octagon says
Ugh, I had finally interviewed several babysitters to refill our depth chart and hired one for this coming weekend, but she just confirmed she hasn’t been boosted and her 2nd covid vaccine was in March. My kid is vaxxed and DH and I are both boosted. I’m struggling with whether to ask her to wear a mask in our house. My kid would have no issues wearing a mask around the sitter. WWYD?
Anon says
I would ask her to wear a mask even if she were boosted. Wearing a mask is really not a big deal and will keep your family safer. There were lots of breakthrough infections (including vaccinated people spreading it) even with Delta, and Omicron evades vaccine-induced immunity far more than any previous variant. I would have the kids mask too, except when eating and sleeping.
AwayEmily says
tbh for me it would depend on the babysitter. Thinking of the babysitters i’ve used in the past, if it were the college undergrad, then absolutely I’d ask her to wear a mask. The grad student in her 30s who lives with her partner? Eh, probably not.
Curious says
+1.