A lined, washable-wool pencil skirt? What kind of magic is this?
For those heading back to more formal offices, a pencil skirt is a wardrobe staple. This version from M.M. LaFleur is as classic as you can get, but with some very practical features — there are darts and a yoke in the back so it sits comfortably on your hips (no more constant tugging or adjusting). Also, the lightweight, machine washable wool is perfect for year-round wear.
The Cobble Hill Skirt is $225 and comes in sizes 0P–18. It’s available in several colors as well as other fabric options (like M.M. LaFleur’s very popular Origami Tech fabric). Some are even on sale!
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…
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – The Half-Yearly Sale has started! See our thoughts here.
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – Up to 50% off everything
- J.Crew – Extra 50% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Loft – 40% off dresses; 30% off full-price styles; extra 40% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – Up to 40% off your order
- Talbots – Everything is buy 1 get 1 50% off
- Zappos – 28,000+ sale items (for women)! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- J.Crew – Extra 50% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ camp styles
- Lands’ End – Up to 40% off your order
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off summer pajamas; up to 50% off all baby styles (semi-annual baby event!)
- Carter’s – Summer deals from $5; 40% off new baby essentials
- Old Navy – 30% off your order; $13 kid/toddler jeans
- Target – Up to 60% off PlayStation games; kids’ summer styles from $6; outdoor toys from $3
Nanny Dilemma says
Our after-school nanny is leaving us after 4 years (moving to a different state) and we need to find a replacement. Aftercare at school or an au pair are not options for us. I was on the phone with a nanny agency yesterday that told me the demand for after-school care is so high that I will have to offer a full-time position if I want to find someone. Has anyone else faced this dilemma? I’m not crazy about paying for 40 hours when I really only need 15 hours. And if you’ve employed a full-time nanny when the kids were in school until 3:30 every day, how did you fill the nanny’s time during the school hours? TIA.
Anonymous says
That is insane. Surely there must be college students, etc. who are looking for a part-time situation. I would try other means of recruiting, possibly through your local colleges.
If you have the means and the need you could try hiring a full-time person to be a housekeeper during the day and watch the kids after school, but it might be hard to find someone who is willing to cook, clean, and care for kids.
anon says
The people I know who use afternoon sitters ended up hiring college students and paying very well. Due to schedules, they often need 2-4 students to cover all of the days (or they are okay with gaps). It ends up being very complicated to manage a cadre of sitters, but is the most affordable option.
anon says
It also seems like the sitters tend to change every semester, and then again for the summer. Plus a gap during college spring break, etc. It ends up being a bit of a mess,but affordable.
NYCer says
+1. We still have a full time nanny, but this is what I have heard from all my friends who have older kids and just have an after school nanny/babysitter.
Anon says
That’s the same response I got 6 months ago when I was looking for part-time help from an agency to tide us over while DH was recovering from an injury. The agency wouldn’t even take my money. Good luck to you. DH is just starting to be able to handle DD and I just whiteknuckled through. Hopefully you only have another month or so of school? Is you working from home and letting the kids be feral an option? Or shifting hours earlier for that next month?
Anonymous says
Wow, I believe it but that’s crazy. And likely the case up here. Could you find a parent that needs daytime coverage and nanny share? Eg. nanny works 9-2:30 for Family 1 and 3-5 for you guys? And/or, depending on why afterschool care isn’t an option for you, could you offer to add a schoolmate that would normally do after school care? Maybe there’s a neighbor kid that could do after school at your house instead.
Again depends on your kids, but maybe it’s time to think about letting them stay home alone. If you’ve had the nanny for 4 years you’ve got a kid that’s at least in 3/4th grade. My 4th grader stays home after school without issue for a few hours. It’s not all day every day, but she gets off the bus and calls or texts me [if i’m not home; i WFH a lot now], makes a no-cooking snack, unpacks, reads/slugs/watches TV, gets herself ready for any sports [with text reminders from me]. She has an after school activity 2x/week that she gets a ride from a friend. DH or I do pickup for her and the friend. She’ll have a playdate about once a week at a friend’s house. We have lots of summer playdates, weekend sleepovers, and when i’m WFH an after school playdate over here.
FWIW I have a K kiddo too who does after care but i think next year she will come home with my nearly 11 year old 5th grader. TBD.
anon says
I know a family that organized a nannyshare with a nanny to a toddler. The nanny watches the toddler solo all morning and through nap, and then meets the other family’s older kids at the bus stop around 4 PM. They all have a snack and play at the playground until family pick up at 5:30-6 PM. The nanny makes more for 4-6 PM with extra kids. The parents of the toddler get a big discount for the time with extra kids.
For example, the toddler family pays $25/hr for 8 am – 4 PM, then $10/hr from 4-6 PM. The older kid family pays $25/hr for 4-6 PM.
Anonymous says
This is a great idea. I’ll have to ask around the neighborhood families to see if there’s anyone that could be a good fit.
Anonymous says
That’s not possible everywhere. Where we live, elementary school kids aren’t allowed off the bus unless an adult is at the bus stop to pick them up. If there’s no adult, they get taken back to school and a parent is called. Even with middle school kids, you risk a visit from CPS if they are under 12 and anyone finds out you are leaving them home alone.
Anonymous says
I was the one with the suggestion to leave them home. In our area you have to be in 3rd grade to get off the bus solo, unless with an older sibling.
If OP has this issue, perhaps a neighbor can be the one to meet the kids.
Anon says
If you work from home, it’s definitely fine. You don’t need to be actively supervising the child, just in the house.
Anonymous says
I was miserable trying to WFH with an elementary school kid in the house. Constant interruptions and complaints that I was not paying attention to them.
Anonymous says
@11:06- really? How old? Mine come home and only bug me for snacks and rides.
Spirograph says
Yes, but not if you want to actually get any work done. My kids get home an hour before what should be the end of my work day, and it is almost never a productive hour. Even with my husband in the house ostensibly wrangling them, they feel the need to consult me about snacks and whether they can go to a friend’s house, show me their artwork from school immediately, etc etc. I often throw in the towel and finish up work after they go to bed.
Anon says
I meant “fine” from a legal perspective. CPS isn’t going to harass you because you’re ignoring your kid or letting them have too much screen time. They only care about a child being home without any adult in the house.
Whether or not it will actually work for your family is kid-dependent and probably also job-dependent. I can organize my work so I don’t have to really concentrate between 3 and 5 pm but I know not everyone has that option.
Anonymous says
@11:27, third and fourth grades.
anon says
FWIW, we definitely couldn’t have left our kid home in fourth grade. He absolutely did not have the maturity level to handle that.
OP says
I love that you used slug as a verb! I have an 8 year old and 5 year old. The 8 year old might be able to be a latchkey key or chill out by himself with minimal supervision from a parent WFH, but the 5 year old will definitely need adult supervision.
Spirograph says
I was so confused about that for a second! In the greater DC area “slugging” is a type of commuting… basically people carpool on the fly to use the HOV-3 lanes; riders form a line at the designated pick-up/drop-off spots and you just hop in with strangers in the next car that pulls up.
Anonymous says
My first thought was slathering Vaseline on one’s face.
Anonymous says
It is a common term around this house! Yeah, 5 and 8 is not going to work to have them home alone. You are close, though!!
Hmmmm says
Have you tried care dot com or something similar? I think that nannies who work through agencies are more likely to be looking for full time positions. I do believe care is hard to find, but I wouldn’t take the agency’s word on this.
Anon says
+1
anonamommy says
Yeah I believe that the nannies who are working with agencies only want full-time work, but you need to expand your reach. Local FB groups, care dot com, sitter city, etc.
If you do end up hiring a nanny full time, reframe the job as a household assistant or something similar and in the non-kid hours you could have them do laundry, meal prep, grocery shop, clean, other tasks. Also going into the summer months, is it possible that you really will need someone full time for the next few months?
OP says
Thanks! The kids are already signed up for summer camp (which starts and ends at roughly the same time as regular school), so similar needs for childcare over the summer.
anon says
I would also suggest care dot com. This seems to be a better place to find people who want part-time arrangements.
Are there other aftercare options beyond the one offered through the school? In my area, at least, many of the daycares have aftercare programs for elementary kids. The kids are bussed from school to the center.
I’m sorry, OP! This is hard.
Anon says
I just got the note that we didn’t get a lottery spot in our elementary after or before care (literally 50 slots for the school…)
And between that and paying for a daycare spot I can’t use because of illness, quarantine, and such… I’m feeling so crushed… and that’s on a $250k HHI where I have the luxury of throwing money at it.
Cornellian says
I don’t think agencies are the place to look for full-time nannies. I think you’ll need to do more legwork and find a couple of college students that can cover the days you need, unfortunately. The market is tight, though… a student I’m friendly with from a few years ago says she’s getting 30/hour now, including for her travel time to and from.
Anonanonanon says
In my recent experience, we could not find anyone–even college students–willing to accept part-time on the books. College students wanted under the table so their financial aid didn’t get messed up.
If you can afford the 40 hours and have to go that route, some ideas to fill the day:
-Light housekeeping (unload and load dishwasher, kids’ laundry, straighten kids’ rooms, etc.)
-Run errands for you (drop off/pickup dry cleaning, mail returns, run by Trader Joe’s)
– accept your weekly grocery order and put groceries away
– If your kids have after school activities, have her make sure they have their uniform and equipment and it’s all clean and packed up
-Go through your mail, toss junk mail, shred credit card offers, put your actual actionable/personal mail in designated place
-Research ideas for or prep weekend activities (she can find a craft and pick up the supplies for you, check the weather and pack you a picnic on Friday to take to the park Saturday, etc.)
ANON says
We were able to find someone to do this but only b/c we already had worked with her full-time during COVID. Preschool teacher who worked until one and then was our after-school sitter from 315-6:30. In this situation it was a win-win because it supplemented her salary at the preschool. I don’t think we could have found anyone to take this schedule if we’d had to start a new relationship. That said there may be other preschool teachers who work part-time and are open to working those hours.
anon says
I personally found college students to be more work than I could manage, between school breaks (our local state school is off for 6 weeks at Christmas), exams, etc. I think it’s doable if you’re willing to cover, but I couldn’t handle it. My nanny works 11 to 7 or 12 to 8, and does light housekeeping and errands before school lets out (3pm, with one early dismissal at 1) – laundry, groceries, returns, dry cleaning etc. She also does extracurricular activities that we don’t want to (hockey practice etc), which is why she works late. And sometimes she volunteers at school.
Hakaa newbie says
Looking into the Hakaa pump – does it stimulate supply or just collect the milk that would otherwise have leaked everywhere? I’ve had issues with oversupply so want to be careful, but would be great to use this for collection to start a stash.
Anon says
I think it can do both depending on how strong you set the suction when you attach. If you do have oversupply, be careful it doesn’t fill up and fall off. I had that happen a few times and wasn’t worried so much about the waste but it’s a huge mess.
Cornellian says
+1. To get it to stay you have to have a decent amount of suction, which must stimulate supply a little bit. But you can toggle it a bit, and I think it’s a good way to start a stash.
Anon says
Some people love it but I’ve used it with two kids and I’m kinda meh. Maybe I’m using it wrong? I basically use it to catch milk that is let down on the other side from where I’m nursing. I get 1-1.5 oz of foremilk each time. I don’t have an issue with supply so I’d rather spend the 5-10 min with a manual pump to make a bottle when I need it or pump 4-5 oz worth to freeze for a stash.
Anon says
+1 I had same meh experience. Never had a great suction and it caused too many messes. The Elive “catch” looks like a nice alternative to wear on the other breast while nursing. It looks way more secure given it can fit in a bra.
Anon says
+2 I hated it. I used it a few times, only caught a little bit of foremilk and managed to spill it most of the time. I decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.
GCA says
For me, it mostly just collected milk, but because of the suction, it probably drew out more milk than would have just leaked into a pad. It was useful for starting a mini stash (I would get maybe an ounce or two at a time) and I didn’t feel like it stimulated supply.
Anon says
+1 But I tend to leak a lot at the beginning and I didn’t like just sopping it up with a towel, so the haakaa was as much for my comfort as for building a small stash. I’d get 1-2 oz on a side while baby fed off the other.
I found it worked best in the first month/6 weeks while supply was regulating. After that I didn’t collect much
anonn says
+ this was my experience too. Since they’re only around $15 worth it. I took it on a flight when babe was 12 months thinking I could use it in case I got uncomfortably full and it did nothing. It only worked if a baby was on the other side. I quit using it around 4 or 5 months because babe would kick it off.
AwayEmily says
So, I never found the regular Hakaa very useful — it was just awkward. But for this last baby I got a Hakaa Ladybug (basically a little cup that suctions onto you and can even fit inside your nursing bra). I use it on whatever side she’s not nursing and it has been AMAZING. I also have an oversupply so really didn’t want anything that would encourage milk supply, and this just passively collects milk. I don’t soak through a million burpcloths, and I collect ~4oz of milk a day (I didn’t bother using it during night feeds; I just used a towel then). I freeze the extra milk and use it to top up bottles, though honestly the Ladybug would be worth it even if I didn’t save the milk.
Cornellian says
Thanks for that tip! Will be trying one of those later this year…
Anonymous says
I always found it way too awkward to manage.
Anonymous says
Found out yesterday I am having my second miscarriage. Waiting for the office to call me back to schedule a D&C. The doctor told me yesterday that we will make a plan to do some tests to try to figure out if it’s just bad luck or if there is something else going on. It seems I can get pregnant really easily but it doesn’t stick. Anyone been through something similar?
HSAL says
Oh I’m so sorry. I hope you get some helpful answers from the testing.
Anon says
I’m so sorry. I was the same — got pregnant easily and my first two were miscarriages. I wasn’t able to do testing because I miscarried at home. I went on to have three great, perfectly healthy kids. Don’t lose hope. Sending you a big internet hug. Let yourself feel the feelings.
anon says
I am so sorry you’re going through this. Big hugs.
FWIW, my sister went through this. Got pregnant easily, but they wouldn’t stick. After a couple of miscarriages, her OB ran a bunch of tests and they eventually figured out she needed more progesterone during early pregnancy. She was able to start supplementing as soon as the test turned positive and didn’t have further miscarriages after that. It might be something to ask about.
Anon says
I have been through similar. It could be a whole host of things, including just bad luck, as you said. I agree with doing basic blood work with your OB, but then consider moving on to a reproductive endocrinologist who deals with this 24/7 and will be able to be more thorough and complete with their assessment. A RE’s job is to literally get you pregnant and keep you pregnant through a good chunk of that first trimester. There are some very well-intentioned OBs who waste far too much time trying to play RE when that’s genuinely not their area of expertise.
Consider posting your location and someone on this board is bound to have a recommendation for an RE if you end up needing one.
AnonIVF says
Also – given current Roe v Wade implications, I’d get started with an RE sooner rather than later, and if you are in a red state, consider finding one in a blue state.
Anonymous says
I work in this field, and I don’t think we’re there yet. There are real potential implications for IVF but I’d say they’re at least 6-12 months off for even the worst states (except maybe Louisiana). Just don’t want to add to the panic of someone experiencing a miscarriage.
Anon says
I will add…. mine was not just bad luck and was in fact something quite technical. Had my OB just prescribed progesterone or something based on the blood work they would have missed my septate uterus, identifiable via a procedure done by an RE as part of a very standard set of RE baseline/new patient workup. Basically, I have a heart shaped uterus (a very deep “v”) and embryos presumably were attaching to the septum/divot, which is non-blood flowing, so any embryo that attached there would initially implant, registering me a positive pregnancy test, but eventually fail. No blood work would have revealed that. Taking pills and trying for 6 more months wouldn’t have yielded any different results other than more MCs and stress and lost time – I just needed surgery.
I will also add what I hope is understood but will say here: I am so terribly sorry. Take whatever space you need at work, at home or otherwise to process this. I’ve found this community here so supportive during my own fertility issues. I hope you have outlets in the real world, but we’re here for you, too.
Anonymous says
I’m so sorry. I did go through something similar, and I know how physically and emotionally draining it is.
I had a LOT of bloodwork to check for a number of things (thyroid, various clotting/coagulation issues, probably some other things that I can’t remember). I also had an HSG (forget what it stands for, but it’s an ultrasound to see if there were any issues with blockages or if anything was shaped abnormally). I ended up being diagnosed with endometriosis based on that, had surgery, and then got pregnant with my now-toddler about a month later. Not sure if the endo surgery did the trick or 4th time was the charm. My doctor also said that there’s anecdata that people often get pregnant after an HSG because it basically flushes everything out.
Anonymous says
I should add that my insurance required me to do all of the basic bloodwork and HSG with my OB before it would approve the prior auth for an RE. YMMV, obviously.
busybee says
I had multiple miscarriages. Blood work revealed not only Hashimotos, but elevated levels of some odd antibodies. I was put on an autoimmune protocol for my next transfer and my daughter is now almost seven months old. I was not able to get pregnant easily which is why I was doing IVF, but you could be on an autoimmune protocol for a naturally conceived pregnancy as well. I was on intralipid infusions, presnisone, lovenox, and aspirin.
Anonymous says
Thanks everyone! This is all super encouraging. I was emotionally prepared for this since it happened before, so it’s less that I’m feeling sad or disappointed and more just annoyed that I’ve been constantly nauseous for the last month for no good reason! I love my doctor and trust her to take appropriate next steps. And fortunately I live on the border of a red state and a blue state, so no worries about that either. I don’t even know how far I’d be willing to go in the process anyway. Really appreciate everyone sharing how things played out, anecdata is very helpful.
Seafinch says
I am really sorry. It’s terrible. I have had six miscarriages (five between 10-13 weeks, one at eight weeks). I also have four kids so it’s been a crap shoot. I echo a lot of what has already been said. Start the work up with your doc, the fact she will do it now as isn’t insisting you wait until a third loss is a good sign. You could catch what is going on but it is frequently missed. Essentially, causes of miscarriages come down to anatomical, underlying conditions like PCOS/Endo (silent Endo is missed very frequently) egg quality, immunological, or clotting issues. A lot of the basic OB workout will miss subclinical presentations of these. I second the lining up of an RE. Shoot at the closest target, rule those things out and then reach for the more obscure stuff.
EP-er says
I am so sorry. This is very hard. I have been in your shoes — two miscarriages, one at home/one D&C. I was able to have one very early preemie/one not as early preemie. For the D&C, they did genetic testing to identify what was wrong. But I went to a MF specialist who ran more tests when I got pregnant the next time. (blood tests for genetic issues/clotting/etc) For my fourth pregnancy, I was put on progesterone shots which helped with the preterm labor somewhat. All the internet hugs to you.
Anon says
I had three early miscarriages before having my daughter. Initial bloodwork with the RE didn’t give us much insight. We were exploring IVF, when I started taking Vitex and baby aspirin at the suggestion of several women in my local online moms group. The next pregnancy stuck. I have no idea if the Vitex and aspirin regiment helped, but it might be worth trying.
HSAL says
Two bag related questions:
Has anyone used a reusable drink holder? I’m seeing a few online but would love a personal recommendation. Looking for something that holds at least two water bottles upright in my Lo & Sons city day tote. Not concerned about leakage, just space.
I think I’m ready to go with a fanny pack for quick summer outings. I’m not sure if that makes me extra old or finally on-trend. I’m eyeing the Lo & Sons or Athleta, but I’m very open to cheaper (or better) suggestions.
AwayEmily says
Topo Designs has super cute ones that are on the more expensive side. Jansport ones are very affordable and come in a lot of options.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
+1, I LOVE my Jansport one, it holds a ton of stuff, and I got it in a super fun print.
Anonymous says
How big a fanny pack do you need? I really like the LLL Everywhere Belt Bag for my large Lo & Sons wallet, iPhone, and keys. It doesn’t hold much more than that, though. If you had a smaller wallet you could probably fit sunglasses.
Lily says
I just got the freshly picked “classic park pack” and I love it so far! I’m leaning into the dorky mom look.
Mary Moo Cow says
My fanny pack is A New Day from Target. I think it was about $12 last summer. I use it all the time. It fits phone, keys, a card or some cash, mini hand sanitizer or lotion, lip balm and roll of dog bags.
GCA says
Fanny pack – mine is Dakine and fairly bulletproof, and I got it online for about $15 or $20. It holds my phone, sunglasses, lip balm, kleenex, hand sanitizer and small snacks.
Anonymous says
My husband went into the office today for the first time in more than two years. I have the house to myself for four whole hours. Wheeeee! Too bad I have to work.
This is also the last time he will go in before the building is literally demolished, so I will never be alone again. Sigh.
Anonymous says
Whee! That would be a good excuse for me to take a last minute half day off, but at least you get to enjoy working alone. My husband’s been in the office full time forever, but was recently authorized occasional telework and I’ve had to share the house once a week. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was wfh alone.
EP-er says
My husband’s office also permanently closed. I have been going into the office occasionally, but really miss being home alone. Especially since I get holidays he doesn’t…before I could do what I wanted in the house — now there are all of these questions! :)
Anon says
I have no office anymore and my husband is a professor who is home except for about 10 hours a week of teaching from August to April. I’m seriously debating going to HIS office just to get some peace and quiet.
Anonymous says
My twins are 15 months and still in bucket seats. They’re 50th percentile for height and weight. Would you switch them to upright rear facing seats or let it ride til they’re too tall to fit any more? I have an Odyssey and a 5 year old with the widest convertible seat on the market, so I’d probably have to move him to the back seat.
Anonymous says
Consumer Reports says a rear-facing convertible seat provides more head protection in a crash, so personally I’d switch. I also find it easier to strap kids in to a convertible seat than a bucket seat, but YMMV.
HSAL says
I can’t imagine carrying 15 month twins in bucket seats. You must have Linda Hamilton arms. Mine were average weight but tall and we switched at 9 months because carrying the seats became too difficult.
OP says
I’m dying re Linda Hamilton arms! I actually leave the buckets in my van and load them up right there. Then I transfer them to a stroller. They were about 4 months old when they got too heavy for me to carry both. We also never go anywhere but the doctor.
Anonymous says
I stopped taking my singleton’s bucket seat out of the car at 4 months because carrying it left huge bruises all over my legs.
Anon says
My son is 13 months and 50% and has outgrown his bucket seat, so please check your measurements! It is outgrown when they meet the height (often around 30”) OR weight limit, OR when they have less than an inch of car seat above their head. (The exception is if you have something like the Chicco Fit2 that is meant for up to 2 years).
I would move to a RF convertible seat; you’ll need it before long even if they technically still fit in the buckets. You could get your oldest a Chicco MyFit if you want to keep them all in the middle row (I’m doing three across right in my odyssey right now)
Anon says
Yeah, my tall kid outgrew around 10 months by height. I was very surprised a 50th percentile kid would be ok at 15 months. The only kids I know who stayed in bucket seats well after a year were TINY.
Anon says
Yeah, I just checked my records for my average-height kids and they were 30″ at their 15-month checkup which looks like it’s 36th percentile, but some infant seats are good up to 32″, so that’s probably what the OP has.
OP says
Thanks but they’ve not outgrown them: I’m pretty militant about car seats. What do you have? A Chicco myfit and what else?
Anon says
We have a Chicco NextFit and a Graco SlimFit3 LX (the new one that is truly slim, not the old version). I saw that Chicco also just came out with a three-across-friendly seat, though I don’t recall the name.
My oldest is almost 7 and we’re moving him to the back soon, anyway, since he and his brother get a little bicker-y lol…but we’ve been able to make it work until now.
(And no offense meant with my “check your measurements” comment – I wasn’t aware of all the ins and outs of car seat safety until recently!)
OP says
So are you doing just 3 ChiccoMyFits? Sorry, if that’s a dumb question. I feel like all the car seat web sites don’t account for the fact that some (or all) of your kids might be the same age!
Anonymous says
If your 5yo is still in a harness, two SlimFit3 LX or Cosco Scenera Nexts for the twins and a Chicco MyFit/Graco Tranzitions/Cosco Finale for the older kid would probably work. Or if your 5yo is 40 lbs and can sit still, maybe transition to a booster which opens up more slim seats. You can’t do 2 MyFits because they’re not convertible.
Snacks for daycare says
Can anyone help me think of daycare snack ideas for a toddler? He needs four items a day and it is hard to think of things that pack easily, take minimal effort, and aren’t choking hazards.
Mary Moo Cow says
Cheese slices (cracker cuts or cut your own); prepackaged apple slices; apple sauce pouches; goldfish (pre-bagged or bag your own); bell pepper strips; carrots sticks and hummus; fresh berries; starfruit slices; pirate’s booty; This Saves Lives Kids’ bars. If you can send in hot snacks in a thermos, a Super Pretzel cut up or Super Pretzel bites, cut up waffle. 4 a day is a lot!
AIMS says
– Yogurt pouches. I freeze them and send frozen so no need to refrigerate (they thaw by eating time)
– Cut up fruit/berries (slice blueberries in half, etc.)
– Raisins, other dried fruit. My daughter loved the TJ freeze dried strawberries
– Puffs/Cherrios/etc.
– Granola bars/muffins
– Cheese
Anonymous says
I switched my similarly-sized kid to a rear facing upright seat around 13-14 months because I’m too short to comfortably get her into a bucket seat when it’s in my car and I strained my shoulder lifting her in the bucket into the car.
Anonymous says
Threading fail, obviously. Facepalm.
Anon says
We do a formula of carb+protein for snacks and just choose from a list. We don’t use much – one of those half cup togo containers is more than enough for a snack at that age. My kids are a little older but this might give you ideas.
Carbs – grapes, cherry tomatoes, peeled cuties, snack peppers, cheerios, granola bars, pretzels, cheese its, dried apricots, applesauce, popcorn, That’s It fruit bars, fruit snacks
Protein – babybel cheese, yogurt tubes, string cheese, yogurt bites, yogurt covered raisins, teriyaki beef, hard boiled egg, sunbutter mini-cups, hummus, cold edamame beans, mini clif bars
Anon says
I’d do a fruit, a veggie, something with protein, and something crunchy. I would not get kid used to pouches or berries as an everyday item or your grocery budget will be out of control. Some ideas:
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers – can cut in aticks or give those smaller cucumbers (I think called Persian) and kid will just eat the whole thing
Baby carrots
Frozen fruit (will thaw during day)
Oranges or clementines
Yogurt in single container or pouch (can freeze and will thaw during day but still be nice and cold)
Apple slices with nut butter
Crunchy snacks – goldfish, cheddar bunnies, veggie straws
Bean salad
Rice cake or cracker with nut butter or cream cheese
Cheese stick
Veggie slices or crackers or pita chips and dip – hummus, bean dip, or yogurt based dip (Trader Joes has lots of good options)
Trail mix
The Kids Eat in Color blog has lots of great kid snack ideas
anon. says
Same problem.
Gogurt, veggie straws, pirates booty, apple sauce pouches, occasionally cut fruit if I get my act together, chickpeas with salt, goldfish….
Anonymous says
I bake a double batch of the Cookie and Kate “healthy muffins” as mini muffins, freeze them, and stick them in the bento box. They defrost by lunchtime.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Fun question. Want to get a book as a gift for my teenage niece (she’s ~15-16) who lives abroad. Any suggestions? When she was younger I got her classics that I loved as a child, like A Little Princess, which she relished. Now I cannot remember what my bookworm self read in my teenage years…I am tempted to go the Beverly Cleary route…
Anonymous says
Omg not Beverley Cleary! I was reading Outlander. I’d get her a current book- check Grace Atwood or Reese Witherspoon out.
avocado says
Yes, Beverly Cleary is for like 7-year-olds!
What are her interests? My 15-year-old is currently into books based on classical mythology–Circe, Elektra, etc. If she likes sci-fi, the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers (warning, tame and positive “adult” content) and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series are great. If you want something more classic, the illustrated Pride and Prejudice with annotation by Patricia Meyer Spacks is lovely.
avocado says
One more suggestion–several of my daughter’s friends are enjoying Agatha Christie.
Spirograph says
Oooh this is a good one, I love a cozy mystery. Along those lines, modern murder mystery series I love: Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling), and Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn
anonamama says
Perhaps a graphic novel?? I would check with library/book store for some good recs. I love this idea – being an aunt is so much fun.
Anon says
Beverly Clearly seems way too young for a teen. Are you thinking of Judy Blume? (I always confuse them for some reason even though the books are…very different.) Honestly I would get her a gift certificate (local bookstore is great if you can get one, otherwise Amazon). I’m a big reader so people always think of getting me books but usually get me things I’ve already read or have no interest in. I really prefer to shop for books myself.
Anonymous says
Even Judy Blume is too young for a 16-year-old, and very outdated.
anon says
I loved some Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume growing up, but I cannot even imagine today’s teens reading them. They were pretty outdated even by the time I got to them.
Anon says
I agree, but closer than Beverly Clearly which I think I read when I was in first grade!
OP says
BAHAHAH I totally meant Judy Blume. Good catch, glad I’m not the only one. Thank you for this reminder. She’s in India, so this is more of a treat vs. a gift that I’d like to give a gift cert for.
Anon says
I’m glad I’m not the only one too! It’s weird but I just can’t keep their names straight.
Anonymous says
If she is American, To Kill a Mockingbird.
anon says
What about Jane Austin’s novels? You could also do SciFi like the Divergent series or Dune. Tolkein could be another option. Or Margaret Atwood.
SC says
I like the idea of a Jane Austin novel plus a modern YA spinoff. Think, Pride and Prejudice plus Ibi Zoboi’s Pride.
I also loved Isabel Allende when I was in high school–The House of the Spirits is the classic, but Daughter of Fortune was my favorite.
An.On. says
I like Allende’s Zorro best!
AIMS says
I read I Capture The Castle both as a teen and as an adult and it is a lovely book for that age (it’s about a teen girl living in a falling apart castle in England, falling in love, etc.).
Another idea is Catcher in the Rye. I wouldn’t do it in the US because I assume it’s assigned reading for most high schoolers (although maybe I shouldn’t), but it’s such a classic for that age. You could also do Pride and Prejudice or something else from Jane Austen. Or maybe a modern retelling – I thought Pride by Izi Zoboi (set in gentrifying Brooklyn) was really fun and well done.
If she’s into sci-fi, the Abhorsen books are also really good (and entertaining enough for grown up me).
Anne-on says
I just bought all the Abhorsen books (and there’s a new one out!) as an early birthday present for myself. They’re so comforting to re-read and the world building is excellent!
AIMS says
You just made my day! Had no idea about the new book.
Anonymous says
I strongly recommend against Catcher in the Rye. My friends and I all found it misogynistic and self-absorbed.
Anon says
I loved it when I read it in high school but my mom hated it for the same reasons you did. I think it’s very polarizing.
AIMS says
I think it’s always been divisive and somewhat controversial. But I don’t think that’s a reason not to read something. It’s also told from the perspective of a teenage boy. I don’t think it needs to align with my values as a 40 year old woman (or a 16 year old girl) living over 50 years later 100 percent. I’ve re-read it as an adult too and it’s such an interesting experience to see how my perspective on some things has changed with age.
There is also a part when Holden goes to the Museum of Natural History that I think about at least once a week – where he says how he wishes you could just stick some things in a case and they would always stay the same. It’s just such a good paragraph. I still have my high school copy with it underlined.
Anonymous says
AIMS, I think it’s worth reading for the reasons you state, but I wouldn’t give it as a sentimental gift because so many people find it so awful. When I give a kid a book, my goal is to create the shared experience of enjoying that book. That doesn’t preclude books that are challenging, but I’d pick one that didn’t have the same potential to be off-putting and downright offensive.
Anon says
Yeah I think “worth reading so it has a place in high school English” and “good gift from a relative” are not synonymous. I wouldn’t want to give a kid a book they’d hate, even if it has literary value.
AIMS says
I guess I just don’t assume someone would hate it. No book is sure to be loved. Know your relatives.
Anon says
I mean, you said yourself it’s divisive and controversial. I think it’s not a good book to gift for that reason. Not everyone is going to love every book, sure, but there aren’t many books I read that I find offensive and I would avoid giving someone a book I thought might offend them.
EP-er says
I think that there is a very narrow time-frame of growing up where this book resonates. Too early? You don’t “get” it. Too late, Holden is whiney and self absorbed. :)
Anon says
What kind of teen is she? Romantic, scifi, adventure, etc? A couple options for a 16 year old.
Romantic/Historical – The Lady Janies series. My Lady Jane is a retelling of Lady Jane Grey, My Plain Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre
SciFi/Mystical – The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue about an immortal woman, or Aurora Rising series about intergalactic heroes.
Mythological – Legendborn is an awesome King Arthur retelling, Circe is a fabulous Greek myth retelling
Adventure – the Legend series by Marie Lu. High adventure in a future dystopia.
Emotional – The Fault in Our Stars. It’s a modern classic for a reason.
Spirograph says
I was devouring the Harry Potter books as they came out, but I’m sure she’s already read those. :)
This is harder to remember than I thought it would be! The Jane Austen suggestion is a good one. Tolkein if she likes fantasy, I remember liking a lot of the required reading classics (A Separate Peace, 1984 and other Orwell, Tale of Two Cities, Farenheit 451), but she’ll probably get those in school. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Any of Khaled Hosseini’s books?
GCA says
What about YA-suitable fantasy – Naomi Novik, Kelly Barnhill, Diana Wynne Jones? At that age I was also enjoying Jeffrey Eugenides and Margaret Atwood.
Anne-on says
What type of books does she like? I was heavily into scifi/fantasy/plays/classic lit/poetry at that age. I would have loved a set of Shakspeare’s comedies, the Bell Jar, Awakening, Edith Wharton, 100 years of solitude, a set of poetry by Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Neruda or Plath’s poetry, or a box set of F. Scott Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Yes, I went through a real ‘bad boys of the jazz age’ phase, I know they’re problematic.
Anne-on says
My school did a pretty terrible job teaching female authors so I’d also lean into some classics literary authors – A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Beloved, Mrs. Dalloway, The Bell Jar, The Color Purple, etc.
Anonymous says
Third rail, politically, but I really liked Ayn Rand’s books in late HS/college. Or at least I had a lot of Thoughts about them
Anon says
Ugh no
anon says
Just chiming in so you know you aren’t the only person who went through an Ayn Rand phase. I thought I was such a rebel grasping truths everyone else couldn’t handle, lol.
(I did grow up to be a libertarian-inflected political misfit, but not a Randian at all.)
Anonymous says
I was reading adult books by that age… maybe one approach would be a current adult book with a younger hero/ heroine, to make sure it’s relatable? If you have a good bookstore nearby I would ask them for ideas.
Anon says
Agreed, I read adult fiction exclusively (except when assigned for school) from the age of about 12 or so. I would get a recent, popular adult book, like one of the Reese or Jenna Bush Hager book club books, not a Deep Thinking book that would be assigned in school.
Anonymous says
+1 to not a Deep Thinking book that would be assigned in school. Think of comfort reads.
Anon says
When I was 16, I read a lot of John Grisham, Scott Turow and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, which were my favorites. Basically, I read what my parents were reading. So I would get her books you like, being mindful of s3xual and violent content if her parents care about that (mine didn’t).
Anon. says
When I was that age, a beloved aunt put together a whole package of classic literature for me. She knew I was ready for a challenge and was worried I might never be exposed to them by my tiny not great rural highschool. It included Pride and Prejudice, Tale of Two Cities, Death of a Salesman, and others I’m forgetting. Some I loved, some were not my style but it was a very cool gift and opened doors to literature for me that I hadn’t explored before. I went on to read basically all of Austen and Dickens. I still have that copy of Tale of Two Cities 25 years later.
Mary Moo Cow says
I was a nerdy, voracious reader teenager who loved The Scarlet Pimpernel and the Bronte Sisters, but also, weirdly, P.G. Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster series and Agatha Christie, especially Poirot. Jane Eyre paired with Wide Saragasso Sea really intrigued me in high school. You might also do a search for bestsellers or local bookstores in her town and see what’s popular there. A nice touch would be books you’ve picked out plus a gift card to a local store.
Anonymous says
I’m going to say no to classics, especially if she attends an American-style school. Speaking as someone who went to one, we were assigned all the American classics on top of the classics from the local country so it was a lot of painful reading.
However, I enjoyed reading escapist fun stuff at that age, so I definitely second the suggestion of modern YA writers like Naomi Novik, Garth Nix, Marissa Meyer, Gail Carriger, The Magnolia Sword by Sherry Thomas, Katherine Addison, Richelle Mead, 13 little blue envelopes by Maureen Johnson, Jennifer Donnelly, Sarah J. Maas (although some of her more recent stuff leans adult), etc.
If you want to go classic YA writers, then Diana Wynne Jones and Mercedes Lackey would be my suggestions.
AwayEmily says
Naomi Novik is a GREAT idea. Get her Uprooted and Spinning Silver — modern retellings of classic fairy tales that hover somewhere between YA and “regular.” She’s a wonderful writer.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Thank you all! Truthfully this was an inspiring list even for my own reading.
I settled on – with help from what this list reminded me of – The House on Mango Street and The Color Purple. Both were incredibly formative for me as a teen, and while this gift isn’t for me/I don’t think I’m a narcissist, I hope to pass on the lessons I learned from these books to my niece and better understand her thoughts/feelings.
Anonymous says
Now those are perfect! Books that were formative for you and that she is likely to enjoy.
K. says
High school English teacher here! The books my students have loved the most are Born a Crime (if you are worried about the language, there is a youth edition, but my juniors and seniors read the adult version) and The Kite Runner. My students also read John Green novels on their own and there are a ton of graphic novels that are now popular. Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds are really popular with teens now also. To be honest, a lot of the books recommended here would not sit well with young people these days–for a range of problematic reasons.
Anonymous says
Not helpful for the OP’s purposes, but I highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook of Born a Crime. It’s one of my top 3 favorite audiobooks ever. Trevor Noah tells his story well.
Cornellian says
I just made my last daycare payment for my son ever!
Of course, now I’m pregnant. But, still, a short reprieve!
Anon says
How exciting! 16 months for us and I definitely have a countdown going.
Cornellian says
woohoo!
Cb says
3 more months of nursery (£700 a month) for us.
If you know, you know says
OMG how can you afford that on your tiny salary, Cb?
:)
Anon says
hahaha
Cornellian says
I almost made that comment hahahahha
I still have months of summer camp which is more expensive for less care, but it somehow seems final to pay the last daycare invoice.
Anonymous says
I was sad when day care ended because summer camp + after-school care were no less expensive and so much more complicated.
Cornellian says
I’ve heard that before, but my daycare has never had summer coverage so I’m used to the camp rigmarole and 3 months of camp is about 4 months of daycare so I’m coming out way ahead. This year has been way easier for camps because he’s 5. It is slim pickings for the sub 5s.
Anon says
No less expensive in the summer months, but definitely less expensive on a year round basis.
Anonymous says
For us camp is more expensive than day care and after-school care is almost as expensive as day care, so it comes out even.
Anon says
If school age care is as expensive as daycare you must have had very cheap daycares or extremely expensive summer camps. We were paying almost $13k for daycare the pre-K year. 10 weeks of summer day camp is $2,500 and aftercare is about $2k for an entire school year. Even if we needed camp for every single week of summer (which we don’t because vacations, visiting grandparents, etc) it would be a cost savings of over $8,000 a year for us.
Anonymous says
I did the math and our last full year of day care cost us $300 more than the following year’s summer day camps + break camps + after-school. We had moderately priced day care that was $75/week more than after-school, and half the cost of day camp.
Anonymous says
$2K for an entire school year of aftercare? Wow! Ours was $125/week ($4,500/school year, not including breaks) in a LCOL area.
Anon says
Yeah our aftercare is only $50/week. But it’s terrible. I wish I had the option to pay more for something better.
I can definitely see how the price gets comparable once kids are doing expensive camps specific to an interest, or sleepaway camp, but I put that in the activity bucket more than the childcare bucket, since its’ not strictly necessary. And you usually don’t do that stuff before age 8 or so so there’s a few years in there where it’s just cheap day camps.
Cb says
Ha! But honestly, between this and my double life (with rent in work city) we are saving so little at the moment.
DLC says
Congrats!
Our three kids are spaced out far enough + pandemic that we only ever paid for one child in daycare at a time. I don’t know how we would have managed two kids at a time, let alone all three!
DC Hotels? says
Hi all – My search skills are failing me! Can you all give me some good hotels in downtown DC for two weekday nights with a 2 and 5 year old? They’re both very flexible travelers and I think we’d only need one room. We won’t be in the hotel much, spending most of our time with family and friends but want our own sleep space due to early mornings.
Spirograph says
Is there anything in particular you want to be close to? Mall? Zoo? neighborhood where your family and friends live? downtown DC could mean lots of things :)
Anon says
Growing up we always stayed at the Crystal City Marriott that has the metro in the basement and took metro where we needed to go (or friends met up with us there). Agree with the above that you should look for something central to where your friends and family are. If white house and smithsonian area is convenient, the W (Hotel Washington I think?) is very nice and an easy walk (I drive past it when I am in our DC office and have stayed there on occasion). I hear good reviews about the Hay Adams but haven’t stayed their personally.
anon. says
Thanks, all. I lived in DC for awhile years ago, so I’m familiar with it and comfortable with walking… just want to be within like a 15 minute walk of the mall. Was thinking Embassy Suites if anyone has experience with that.
NOVA Anon says
We stayed at Embassy Suites (six years ago when our floors were being redone so it’s been a while) and LOVED it. We had a separate sitting room, kiddo thought indoor pool was awesome (but cold!), it was super convenient to everything, and they had a nightly happy hour.
Anonymous says
No recent experience with DC Embassy Suites, but they tend to be pretty good for traveling with children. Plus the breakfast is usually pretty good.
Anonymous says
The wharf is really fun and super close to the mall and public transit! My friends with twins stayed at the Hyatt Extended Stay which they liked because it had a separate bedroom with a door, and a rooftop pool.
Anonymous says
Fine, I will share my hidden gem with you :) Stones throw from Mall, stone’s throw from Whatfz great rooftop bar for when the kids are asleep. Safe and quiet. The Hyatt at 400 E Street SW
Anon says
grandparent help. my dad is currently visiting and he is SO excited to be here and my twins are downright mean to him. it didn’t used to be like this, but basically starting last August when my twins became total threenagers literally overnight it started. i never make them give hugs or sit on someone’s lap or anything like that. but they dont want him to play with them or push them on the swing or sit near them at the dinner table. i know they are kids, and he does too, but i think it kind of hurts his feelings and i can’t blame him that it does. i can’t decide if I should try to talk to them about how it is ok not to do those things but that they should at least say it nicely rather than shouting “no, you can’t play with me.” any ideas?
anon says
Would it help to separate them? Your dad takes one twin to the park while the other takes a bath, helps you with dinner, etc. Then you can switch later? At least then they couldn’t gang up on him.
I also wouldn’t let them be overtly mean, but you also can’t make them play with him.
Anon says
+1. Three people is always a bad dynamic in my experience, even two kids and one adult. I would try for him to get some one on one time with them. And agreed you can’t make them play with him, but you can tell them not to say mean things.
Anon says
We talk about how not to be rude a lot with my now 4YO (but we started at 3 because so much sass). Saying mean things is very different from bodily autonomy (IMHO). “You don’t have to give Papa a hug but you do have to say hello and goodbye and not yell or run away and hide”.
My dad benefitted the most from being left alone with DD (like if I went to take a shower and my mom took a nap and DH was gone, Papa was the only option and she was forced to interact with him). We also designated him keeper of the sweets (and now coins for my little moneybags) and so DD knows that he is the one who will “cave”. We have more of the trouble via video (in person she is fine with my dad now, but over video it is still touchy) and sometimes it works if we engage in pretend play to warm her up (e.g., she pretends to be a monster and roars at my dad who acts super scared until they are both laughing). I also find playing games good for warming them up in close proximity but not necessarily interacting (candyland, chutes and ladders, hi ho cherry o, sneaky snacky squirrel, now monopoly junior and pretty pretty princess).
startup lawyer says
+1 on bribes. we let grandma be the holder of chocolate
OP says
yes i think it will be better once they are interested in/willing to play games. they are very into pretend play which is just not his thing. they used to be obsessed with him so it is just weird and hard for me to watch bc they love my inlaws (which is great), but my mom passed away a few years ago, so i want them to like someone from my family too!
anon says
I think you should talk to them (because it’s not too early to instill empathy), but also agree with the holder of the chocolate.
Anonymous says
We hired a cleaning service to do a “deep clean” of our house, and they estimated 3 hours . . . the coordinator just called and said it’s going to take 6 hours because there was a lot more to do than they initially thought. Oops! I guess we have a very dirty house. Which I basically knew, since that’s why I ordered a deep cleaning. Oh well.
Anon says
That was my experience too. I thought I had been doing a really good job cleaning (far better than my previous service) but the new service did the deep clean (which took twice as long as expected) and every week they make my house sparkle in a way I was not able to make happen even when I was spending 3-4 hours every weekend on cleaning.
Anon says
I think it always takes longer than they say it well. That’s why they always charge hourly for the first cleaning.
Anon says
+1. I think they almost HAVE to make it take longer than they say it will. If it took less time than the estimate, most people would be worried they didn’t do a thorough job. This way, if you come home and find a rogue fingerprint on a tucked-away basement ledge, your thought will be “Yikes, glad they didn’t clean this deep, they’d still be here!”
Anon says
how far in advance do you have to sign your kid up for extra curricular activities? registration for activities for my preschoolers for the fall starts next week. this was their first year in school and they didn’t do any activities last fall so i guess this is the norm? but it seems so early to me. curious as to if this is the norm
Anon says
For preschool activities that are like a 6-8 week session, usually a month or so before the session starts. Sometimes the day before the session starts even, if there’s still space. But for an activity that lasts all semester or year it makes sense to me that you’d sign up farther in advance. Fwiw, I would actually like a very early sign-up because we travel a lot and have a lot of visiting family and knowing the activity schedule allows me to plan for it when booking those things.
Mary Moo Cow says
It varies; school sponsored are the season before (for example, fall sports and after school clubs would open up in mid-later summer) and community are a full season to season and a half (so, summer sports open up for registration in February but registration is open for clinics and camps all the way through end of August.) This is one reason we haven’t done many community based extracurriculars: how am I to know in March that they’ll like dance in October?
Spirograph says
It depends on what you’re looking at. Some of our county’s parks & rec activities fill up really quickly, so you have to stalk when registration opens. For things that have rotating 8 week sessions like non-competition gymnastics and ice skating, we do a month or so out if we’re on the ball, but have signed up as late as the week before with no problem. Casual after-school things will announce registration with fliers sent home from school in the fall. My son’s travel sports team had try-outs for next year’s season already, but we don’t have to finalize registration yet. Now that you mention it, I’ll have to check on ballet — not *all* of the classes will fill out early, but our first-choice times might. We joined mid-year this year and had limited options. PreK sports like soccer and little league have registration a month or two before practices start.
OP says
thanks all. sounds like this is on the earlier side for activities for 4 year olds
Anonymous says
I already signed my kids up for half their fall activities. The others will be done before summer starts.
Postpartum says
I’m just shy of 6 months postpartum. The past two days I literally want to cry about everything. Like no particular reason. I had PPD with my son 5 years ago but it was when he was very little. Looking for commiseration or ideas on how to snap out of it.
Anon says
Are you sure it is not PMS? Mine came back around 6 months (even though I was BFing exclusively well past that) and the hormonal swings were way harder than pre-baby. Weaning hormones also hit me super hard if you’re doing that right now.
Anonymous says
+1. I didn’t get PMS until I started weaning, but the combination of the two hit me really hard for about two weeks. I think either one alone would’ve been really rough.
Anonymous says
Yup the first cycle after baby is crazy!
Anonymous says
Did your baby recently start solids? I found that my PPD/PPA started around the 6 month mark, and I think it was because of the shift in hormones, but also because the baby’s milk needs changed, and I think that impacted my supply/estrogen. Good luck, get support now! I wish I’d started antidepressants earlier, they made me a better mother (and healthier human!).
EDAnon says
I had this happen and it did resolve. I think it was just hormone adjustment BUT I recommend talking to your doctor now to get it recorded as a baseline if things don’t turnaround.
Anon says
My husband and kiddo got me this box of chocolates for Mother’s Day and my 4 year old has been eating a ton of them and won’t stop talking about how good they are and how it’s the best candy she’s ever had. I finally tried one today and ummm they’re definitely rum balls. #parentingfail
Cornellian says
I did a spit take haha
Anonymous says
I got into some rum cake around that age, and I’d like to think I turned out ok. I thought it was chocolate cake. To make things even better for my parents, when I was a little older, I told some of their coworkers that my parents gave me rum cake.
HSAL says
I am crying laughing. That is spectacular.
Anon says
There’s a family story floating around about how my aunt/uncle threw a party and didn’t want to waste beer left in the keg so they emptied it into whatever empty bottles they had lying around. Then when my grandparents were babysitting my cousin after daycare, they filled his sippy from the bottle for days not realizing it was stale beer and thinking it was apple juice.
He went to an Ivy and is incredibly successful
Aunt Jamesina says
Sooooo my teetotaling evangelical great grandma LOVED rum balls. I think you can apply great granny logic here and say that it doesn’t count when you eat it!