Washable Workwear Wednesday: Asymmetric Midi Dress

How long does it take a 4 year old to adjust back from a big time change? We were on the opposite coast for two weeks and things are grim. Anything to do other than keep waking up at normal time and have a cranky tired kid till they can get themselves to bed at normal time?

How do you know if your child is on the spectrum or is just socially impacted and shy from the pandemic? My nearly 3YO son is an only child and was home until March 2021, basically never interacting with other kids from when he was 1.5YO to 2.5YO. He’s been back at daycare since March 2021. The teachers check off the daily report boxes for “peer play” and “parallel play,” but when I’m with him at the playground he keeps to himself. He also resists taking turns with me and my husband, and he doesn’t do much pretend play, opting instead to figure out the mechanics of things. He is also shy when he meets new people. Will these social concerns get better as he is more socialized this coming year? Or should I be concerned about ASD? Important note: he had an expressive language delay and is now caught up on that but continues to receive therapy for his articulation.

The late thread yesterday about the older kid at the in home daycare got me thinking – as a first time parent, as my son is getting older (almost 1) I’m thinking more and more about safety (in general but also grooming or related red flags like the thread mentioned). There are often things I don’t realize or consider until they happen (right now that’s mostly dangerous things around the house) or I read about happening to other people and think wow I never would’ve worried about that. Do people have any wisdom they can share about anything they’ve learned related to safety, grooming related or otherwise? I did read protecting the gift by Gavin de Becker which I loved.

My kid is going to kindergarten and I’m feeling anxious about it. It’s a half day program, so the logistics of getting kid there and back to child care are annoying. But also, I’m worried about the expectations of school for parents and for kids. The supply lists! The acceptable lunches! The insane amount of PD days! It just seems that school is not set up for two parents who work. I know in my heart of hearts that it will be fine – my kid has been happy at every child care option they’ve ever been to, but I can’t shake the anxiety I’m feeling about meeting the expectations school has of me. Anyone experienced this?

I posted above. DH is on business travel, kids are in school, and I am in an EMPTY home (no spouse grumbling at his office computer! No dual lunches to be made!) and it feels like heaven. I should add I have a local grandparent around for copious help, but even with additional responsibilities (e.g. the dog), it is SO NICE to have a break from DH and the constant togetherness of the pandemic.

Another Covid travel question. We’ve been invited to two weddings in October (3 weeks apart). We have one 7 year old who starts school next week. Would you go to these? We have to RSVP soon and my instinct is no for both, but then I feel like an antisocial curmudgeon. In non-covid times we would definitely attend both.

Wedding 1: Bride is a close friend of DH and I, requires a 90-minute plane ride to a low-vax state (not feasibly drivable in a weekend). 70 guests, with lots of small children. We will know maybe 10 other people there. Planning for outside but contingency plan for inside. We don’t have any local family or friends that we could easily leave kiddo with to go adults-only.

Wedding 2: Groom is a medium friend of DH’s, 45-minute drive. 120 people, indoors. We wouldn’t know anyone else there (maybe 2-4 people at most). High-vax city but bride grew up in a religious sect that is anti-vax (I don’t think she is still a member though).

A gift question: I have 10 nieces and nephews, all local. We still exchange gifts for birthdays, and I’ll confess that this seems to be getting harder as time goes on because of the sheer number! I’ve tried to “template” gift-giving — like one year, everyone gets something featuring their favorite cartoon character, everybody gets books, everybody gets fun pajamas, etc. Problem is, I am running out of ideas. Or it’s getting harder to accommodate the older ones, whose tastes are becoming very specific. I try to stay in the $25-30 range. This is a bigger pain point than I’d like it to be, mainly because 7 of the 10 have birthdays from September through December! So I need to get on top of it. Or maybe I need to drop the template altogether? Not sure if that would make it easier, or not.

8 year old loves journalism and reporting. Like, knows the names of the white house press corps and asks to watch Face the Nation on Sundays. Child loves creating their family newsletter and texting it to close family members.
What to buy for their birthday?