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When I work from home, I want to be casual and comfortable but able to jump on a quick Zoom call without having to change.
Yes, this is technically a hoodie, but cashmere takes it from weekend to work-from-home. The two-ply cashmere for this warm and soft hoodie is sourced from Inner Mongolia. It features a full-zip placket and front pockets and comes in nine pretty colors. (I’m liking fig heather, a dark red, or cream.)
It’s perfect for those quiet Fridays in front of your laptop, and evenings in front of a cozy fire.
The sweater is $179 and available in XS–XL (some sizes sold out in certain colors).
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ 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 – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
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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?
Nanny questions says
We are hiring our first nanny and we’re complete rookies at this. We’d prefer to pay “on the books” but competition for nannies is fierce in our areas and I feel like most of them ask to be paid cash and we’ll have to go with what they want. Am I correct that this means I can’t use the dependent care FSA? (Looks like you have to provide the nanny’s SSN.) If we find one who agrees to paid “on the books”, any tips on how to do this? Some we have talked to say they expect a gross up if we pay on the books so the after tax is the same as their requested hourly rate.
Also, do you typically draft your own contract for them to sign?
TheElms says
Please please try to pay on the books. If you are a lawyer or in another industry that has a qualification similar to the bar exam you could be putting your license on the line if you don’t (also its the right thing to do). If you are paying on the books you can use your dependent care FSA, otherwise not. You can either do the taxes yourself or hire a service like Poppins Payroll or NannyChex. Poppins Payroll has a good explanation of the taxes and a sample nanny contract. Some states require a written contract. https://www.poppinspayroll.com/nanny-payroll-guide
Nannychex has similar information and also a gross up calculator here: https://www.nannychex.com/index.cfm/ID/42/PaycheckCalculator/
We did the gross up calculator (and use Nannychex) when we hired our nanny.
Pogo says
I offered to gross up because of the aforementioned competition. I also follow all labor laws around mileage reimbursement, overtime, etc. So it is more expensive for me to pay on the books, but her take home is comparable and she has unemployment protection, contribution to future SS earnings, etc. It doesn’t seem that hard, using Poppins Payroll as recommended on here. I have a friend who also provides reimbursement for her nanny to buy medical care on the exchange, and does that through payroll as well. I think you do need to offer these perks to get good nannies, and gross up for a competitive hourly rate.
RR says
Agree with this as well. Mileage reimbursement, overtime, and we have workers’ comp. We agreed to pay our nanny more in part so she could buy medical insurance. We pay her $25/hour currently and will probably increase that soon as we didn’t increase for the last couple years (we also paid her regularly throughout the 11 months that she didn’t come to our house because of Covid, so I feel less guilty about not having given her a raise during that time).
Anonymous says
Agreed— we had to pay on the books (and wanted to). We paid more per hour and used a payroll service (Homepay).
Anonymous says
Oh and definitely recommend using a contract. Our great relationship with our nanny was damaged when she left because of disagreements over several points (vacation payout was one). We used the Park Slope Nannies agreement. Highly recommend their nanny site as you start thinking about hiring someone. Really great resource.
Anon says
What’s mileage reimbursement for? Is it for if they drive your kid around or is it for getting to and from your place from their home? Just want to make sure we’re providing if we need to. Our nanny doesn’t drive our kid anywhere.
CCLA says
Mileage reimbursement should not be for getting to/from the regular work location, but should be for driving kid around, errands you ask them to run, etc. Basically they don’t get mileage for their regular commute but they do for any extra driving.
Anon says
Got it, thank you!
Pogo says
Yes sorry- our nanny drives our children as part of her job. She’s reimbursed for the driving she does of the kiddos, not her driving to my house or anything.
CCLA says
We also grossed up and paid on the books. We actually wanted >40 hours a week, so we figured out what her overtime rate would be for the extra hours, guaranteed them every week, and backed into a rate for 50 hours a week that was, on average, approximately what she would have received in cash. We provided paid sick days and whatever else was required, made sure we had workers comp through our renters insurance. We used Homepay, I know there are cheaper services but in the scheme of how much we were already shelling out it just seemed like a drop in the bucket and they made it so easy. I think we used the contract from the placement agency, but I reviewed it and tweaked it. It mostly covered pay, hours, termination provisions, etc., not like house rules.
RR says
Yeah, you won’t be able to use an FSA if you don’t pay your nanny on the books. We have to provide payroll records. I would highly recommend paying your nanny on the books, even more so if you are a lawyer. I know lots of people don’t, and I’m not going to judge, but it is illegal and a pretty easy crime to avoid.
The actual paying on the books is easy. We use Homepay, which is affiliated with care.com. We’ve used it for 3.5 years, and we’ve had nothing but wonderful experiences. There are other similar options–I just don’t have personal experience to recommend them.
We did not do a contract. I just laid out for her the general terms I was proposing–vacation, sick/personal leave, paid holidays.
Anon says
Yeah you should really pay on the books particularly if you have a license that can be revoked. We used Homepay for everything payroll so we never really dealt with that. I made a contract with a template I found online.
Anon says
We pay on the books (I’m an attorney, husband is DoD, so we don’t have any other option). We definitely had a smaller candidate pool/longer search as a result, but ended up with a WONDERFUL nanny.
You cannot use the dependent care FSA unless you pay on the books.
You will have to gross up so that their take-home is the same. We pay $32/hour (NYC burbs).
We use Homepay (care.com) for payroll. We also have worker’s comp and disability insurance (both required in NY, assuming required in other states as well).
We have a written contract (5-6 pages?). Sets out general expectations, grounds for immediate termination, notice for her or for us to terminate otherwise, 8 statutory holidays per year plus vacation days and PTO days, social media policy, etc. I drafted it (attorney) and then ran it by a L&E colleague for polishing.
Anonymous says
You pay them on the books and pay the gross up. You can’t expect to pay them on the books without grossing them up.
Anon says
Agree with what everyone else said. When I paid a nanny I used SurePay.
NYCer says
You may want to consider going through an agency if you are having a hard time finding a nanny who wants to be paid on the books.
Also, in NYC at least, if you are paying on the books, the only option is to offer a gross up, so the nanny’s take home would be the same as if she were being paid in cash. The vast majority of nannies in this area prefer to be paid cash (yes, I realize that is illegal), so you definitely need to offer to gross up if you want to hire a good nanny.
Anonymous says
+1. Around here some agencies will take care of payroll for you. You pay a fee up front and the top of the market per hour, but it might be worth it for the time savings.
AnonFTM says
Agree with everyone else. From the advice of this board, we pay on the books and use Homepay, which has been great. I don’t know if there’s any correlation but I think you get a better nanny by paying on the books and having a nanny who wants to be paid on the books (our nanny is awesome). She actually wanted a contract so expectations were clear and we used a template off of Poppins Payroll (which we actually signed up for initially and they have great customer service but they can’t handle multijurisdictional situations (i.e. your nanny lives in another state) whereas Homepay could) and then looked at a friend’s contract as guidance. We also do paid holidays based on what the federal government provides plus she gets 2 personal holidays and 15 days of PTO (which she can use for vacation or sick days). We also have workers’ comp.
anon says
We pay on the books and we don’t gross up – we asked the nanny to propose an hourly rate she was comfortable with all in, and that’s what we pay. The challenge with agreeing to gross up is that her take-home pay is dependent on how she sets up her deductions and her overall tax situation, and is affected by changes in tax law, so there’s variability over time in what amount would be necessary to make the nanny whole from that perspective. Much easier to just agree to an hourly rate that you can both accept, and we didn’t have trouble finding someone who would do that.
Ours had a proposed contract; we revised it lightly but on the whole it was excellent. You definitely, definitely want a contract. Make sure you fully address COVID-related issues (how exposures will be handled, whether she gets paid to quarantine, etc.).
anon says
I like this approach to the grossing up problem–I absolutely wouldn’t want to be responsible for the nanny’s overall tax situation (what if her spouse get s a higher paying job? or she gets a weekend job?).
Beyond personal risk to not paying on the books, I think paying on the books is the right thing to do so the nanny has access to the (meager, but vital) social safety net, including: social security contributions for retirement, social security disability, short-term disability and paid family leave if you live somewhere like California that has such a program (or you might be able to buy such coverage), workers’ comp (I don’t know if the coverage I bought requires an employee to be paid on the books, but it seems messy if not on the books), unemployment insurance, subsidies for an ACA health insurance plan.
None of these programs are terribly generous, but they can make a huge difference if someone without much savings needs them.
NYCer says
Sorry, that is basically what I meant too. I was not suggesting that you do a complicated calculation and come up with a precise gross up. I just meant that people who pay cash might pay around $20-25 per hour, but if you’re paying on the books, you will likely need to agree to pay significantly higher (e.g., $32-35 per hour).
Anonymous says
We got notice last night of a positive covid test in my kid’s class. A week before we were scheduled to visit my grandparents for the first time since Thanksgiving 2019, because of course that’s the timing. Tentative plan is PCR test today (regularly-scheduled weekly surveillance testing for the class), PRC test on Tuesday (day 5 from last exposure) before we leave, and daily at-home tests while we’re there. Depending on their comfort level, I guess we just hang out at the air bnb and wave at everyone through the window or yell across the yard at each other? I’m pretty bummed.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I’m sorry. We also got word of a positive case in our younger son’s class and so now he’s home with us through Thanksgiving. I hate Covid. For you, I think if you get negatives both times, you should be ok to visit the grandparents, but of course, understand if everyone wants to be cautious here, due to their ages. Maybe your family could wear masks for most of the time? Ugh, again I hate Covid.
Anonymous says
Thanks, I also hate covid. My grandpa is 96 years old and has a pacemaker and an O2 machine, so there’s very little room for error. My plan is to just be able to give them as much information & reassurance as we can and then defer to whatever they’re comfortable with. We were supposed to host dinner to give my grandma, mom and aunt a break from most of the prep, but I doubt that’s in the cards.
Anonanonanon says
I’m very very VERY COVID cautious but agree with those who said the grandparents need some say. If I was 96 with health problems, I might decide the (relatively low but not zero) risk is worth it to see my family since it’s not guaranteed I’d get many more chances.
Anon says
We had a lovely 92 year old neighbor who adored the kids and wanted to be everyone’s grandmother. She made the choice after the first few months that she wasn’t going to be cooped up, and we continued to visit with her even before vaccines. She passed over the summer (not of Covid), and I’m grateful every day that we got to spend the time we did with her, and that she got to spend her last year with people who brought her joy.
Anonymous says
My grandparents might make that choice, and I hope so! Whether other family members approve of their choice or at least disapprove in silence is likely another matter entirely. I’m waiting to say anything until all the class PCR tests come back tomorrow. To me, it would make a difference if this is an isolated one-off or if several more kids in the class pop positive.
Anon at 10:44, your neighbor sounds lovely, and I’m glad she lived her last months fully.
Anon says
This has been my worst fear for the last week. I’m so sorry. I think your plan is sensible. I believe especially in the Delta era your odds of getting sick are low if you’re still negative on Day 5 post exposure. Grandparents should definitely get boosters if they haven’t already.
Anonymous says
I mean ultimately it’s up to the grandparents but mine wouldn’t be worried at all if you did a test 5 days after exposure.
anon says
Same. We all got vaccines so we wouldn’t have to worry about this sort of thing. You do you, but we would carry on as usual
NYCer says
+1. My extended family would not be concerned if everyone tested negative today and 5 days post. They are vaccinated and would want to see the kids.
anon says
The CDC rule is negative test after day 5, but continue to quarantine through day 7. If still asymptomatic on day 7, then you can stop quarantining with a negative test. It’s not just a negative test on day 5. You still have to wait until day 7 and be asymptomatic.
Anonymous says
That’s nice. But nevertheless my family, and many others, would not be at all concerned about this after a negative test on day 5. Thankfully, I haven’t invited the CDC to dinner.
Anonymous says
God, can you imagine what having the CDC for dinner would be like? How long has this turkey been sitting at room temp?! When did you last disinfect this sponge?! How many servings of vegetables is that child eating?
NYCer says
Thanks for the laugh Anonymous at 10:27!
Anon says
But pointing out that family wouldn’t care isn’t really a helpful thing to say to someone whose family does care. My family would not want to see our unvaccinated kid a few days after a Covid exposure, and I would be really bummed about not having Thanksgiving with them. Again. It’s a reasonable choice for the grandparents to make and reasonable for OP to be sad about it.
Anon says
*that your family
Anonymous says
My comment was literally it is up to the grandparents.
anon says
It’s also possible to host Thanksgiving dinner on Friday so you are past the quarantine period.
So Anon says
Ugh. I’m sorry – it sucks! It sounds like you are being cautious and taking appropriate measures. Will you get more information about the number of cases? One case is less concerning than an outbreak at the school. My kids’ school is shut down for the week because of, at last count, 15 cases in kids, with a school population of about 180 kids. There was evidence of school based transmission and some of the cases were asymptomatic. If this were the situation you found yourself in and were about to visit elderly grandparents, then I would consider waiting the full 7 days plus negative tests.
Anon says
In my state/county this would require official 10-day quarantine. In fact, both my children are under state quarantine right now, one for a classroom exposure and one for a bus exposure. It feels overkill to me…but we are abiding by the rules of our state (NY). Just mentioning in case your state is similar… you may *have* to stay home
Anonymous says
NYC schools no longer automatically define kids in the same class as close contacts, and therefore they do not ALL need to quarantine when 1 kid in a class tests positive as I understand it. I’m not entirely convinced this is the right move, but FYI – it seems rules vary by locality, classroom layout, mask and vaccination status, phase of the moon, etc.
Anonymous says
NY does not require this. Idk where you’re getting the idea it does but you are wrong.
Anonymous says
First, I’m the mom with sick twins and I wanted to say thanks to everyone who offered encouragement yesterday. Now, can you help me re-sleep train? Twin B has woken at 3AM every night for the last six weeks. He’s been sick, but he’s feeling better now and is just waking out of habit (no discernible sound or light triggers). Pediatrician encouraged me to sub water for formula at night. Ideally though, I’d like him to get back to STTN (had been since 4 months). Any tips? He gets a full jar of baby food and a formula bottle right before bed so I don’t think he’s hungry. Bedtime varies from 6:30-7:30PM – is that too early? Too late? Any help you can provide is appreciated. He’s waking Twin A and his older brother (and us parents) and everyone is just kind of miserable.
Anon says
My kid would eat plenty during the day (more than the suggest amount) and still be hungry at night. 6:30 also seems like an early bedtime to me – unless you go to bed early I’d veer more towards 7:30. Could also be a sign to change the nap schedule and drop one, depending on where you are with that.
Anon says
Remind us of how old they are and what is the nap schedule? I’m normally not such a Facebook person but there is a fantastic sleep training group on there, Respectful Sleep training or something like that. I’d make sure you have the right nap schedule and then you’re probably stuck with CIO, though color try water for a few nights. I feel your pain- we moved into a new house yesterday and my 3 year old twins fell asleep fine, but one woke up after 4 hours and basically kept all of us up the rest of the night
OP says
They’re 9 months (7 months gestational age). He normally skips morning nap and naps 2 hours in the afternoon – 1PM-3PM. I want to do CIO but he wakes everyone else in the house so my sympathies for your rough night. Congratulations on your new home though!
Anon says
This is definitely an unusual schedule for a 9 month old. Is there anything you think you could do to get him to take a morning nap?
TheElms says
So I think he’s waking up because he’s overtired. I would try hard to get a morning nap — even if its only 45 min. At 6/7 months my kid was napping 3 times a day and somewhere around 9/10 months transitioned to 2 naps. So our day looked like this on 2 naps:
7:30am wakeup
10am-11:30am Nap 1
2:30-4:30 Nap 2
8pm Bedtime
I would do CIO and try moving the other twin out of the room while you sort out the sleep issues and turning up the sound machine for all the kids/babies not doing CIO to help them sleep through the noise.
Anonymous says
Seeking advice for how to best help a good friend who is going thru a divorce and has an 18 month old. She is in DC, I’m in Atlanta, so physically “being there” for her isn’t in the cards at the moment. Ex husband/dad is in the Midwest. He comes from lots and lots of money (like family has a private plane money), but seems to just like not really care about his daughter or establishing any kind of meaningful relationship with her. He has flown in for a few visits – getting in at 10:00 am to DC and then leaving to fly back at 3:00 pm that same day. I don’t know the details of how money was handled during the divorce, as they were only married for 3 years and no clue if there was a pre nup. So, what is the best way for me to be supportive to my single mom with a full
Time job friend? She’s currently living with her mom and her two brothers are close by and all get along, I just feel like I could be doing more but don’t know what that is. TIA!
Anonymous says
Ask her!
So Anon says
The best support I received going through my divorce was from my sister, who lives 1000 miles from me. She would call or text pretty much every day, and she set the expectation that I didn’t need to respond or pick-up the phone if I didn’t want to. She was just a constant presence in my life and let me know that she was there.
Practical advice: Don’t bash her ex. He is still the father of her child, and the person that she chose to have a child with. It doesn’t help. Let her talk, vent and cry. If you are looking to send something: A new sweatshirt that has zero association with her ex (if she wears sweatshirts), a gift certificate for her favorite restaurant, her a favorite tea, awesome facemask-things for her under eyes that decrease the puffiness, a fuzzy blanket to cuddle up in at night.
Spirograph says
How regularly do you talk to her? I live for my standing phone dates with my out-of-town friends, especially when life gets frustrating. Schedule some time to talk, and just be there for whatever she wants to talk about.
Anonymous says
What are you doing for holiday gifts for the 8/9 year old girls in your life? Need some inspo.
anon says
*following – I have a 9 year old niece and no idea what to get her!