Make My Life Easier Thursday: Collapsible Grip & Stand for Phones

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Popsockets Ghost MarbleSince women’s pants often don’t have functional pockets, I often find myself trying to balance both a squirmy baby and a slippery phone — and I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve ended up dropping the phone. Or I’m trying to catch a cute photo moment and miss it while I’m fumbling with my phone. This accessory attaches to the back of your phone and collapses down when you’re not using it, to avoid bulk. When you pop it out, it becomes a “handle” to hold your phone steady while you’re reading or taking photos. It also can act as a stand so you can feed your baby while they watch a cartoon… um, not like I’ve ever done that. Ha. PopSockets Collapsible Grip & Stand for Phones and Tablets This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
  • J.Crew Crewcuts Extra 30% off sale styles
  • Old Navy – 40% off everything
  • Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs

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Holy sh!t, I would freeze out that friend. For a while. Man. Posthumous hugs for you on handling that one.

You certainly don’t have to have a shower. But if you want some sort of celebration, a small brunch or tea is a nice way to mark the occasion.

Putting that aside, you sound sad about not having friends. Do something about it! I think it actually becomes easier to meet new friends after you have a baby. Sign up for a moms class. Do baby yoga. When you meet someone you like, take her number and be proactive about scheduling a walk or lunch. Don’t feel shy — most women would be so flattered to be reached out to in this way. And don’t forget the friends you do have — be sure to email/call/text often and see them whenever you can.

This is actually how I met my best friend. Met her randomly in the lobby of my apartment building, thought she was cool, got her number and then invited her to come over one day. Five years later, we are life friends.

I often see posts about people lamenting how hard it is to make friends. I think the key is making a lot of effort when you meet someone you click with. Many of my closest friends were made in my 30s.

RE: language immersion, I find this to be very common among upper middle class families (across all races) in the east coast of the US. And in all cases I know, none of the parents speak the language.

I find this to be very common among upper middle class families (across all races) in the east coast of the US. And in all cases I know, none of the parents speak the language.

We did 3 day potty with our daughter about a month ago when she was almost 2. I would not say that it went well. She seemed to get it after the three days but once she returned to daycare she started having between 1-5 accidents a day but she doesn’t really have accidents at home. She wears a pull up for nap and nighttime. Not sure if I have any advice – I had hoped it would click and be done after the three days but that was not the case for us.

My husband launched a company two days after I gave birth to my second and was traveling a lot for work. Not ideal timing. The only way we made it work was my mom flew out for several months to help. However, if your husband will have an hour with more flexibility and less hours, that sounds great compared to 90 hours a week (yikes). Have him negotiate a considerable gap between jobs so that he can be at home and help with baby.

Just wanted to share some good news with folks who get it. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and my personal goal for this year was to do more of it (both work related and not). A couple of months ago, I posted here that I wanted to start doing parenting-related writing and asked for suggestions where to pitch it. I finally finished my first piece this weekend, submitted it to Scary Mommy, and less than 24 hours later it was accepted!

Lighthearted question: 4 months PP with my 2nd baby and I’m going to a 40th birthday party in NYC saturday night. None of my clothes fit. I have no idea what clothes are cool anyway. I haven’t worn a real bra in months (even though I’m back at work). I’m not bringing my pump into the city so risking some leakage but I think it will be mostly discomfort….. what the heck do I wear?

In my mind, sleep will be the biggest issue. A night nurse could be hugely beneficial here, and enable him to take the job.

DH is in a stable job, though in an industry that could see a lot of changes in the next 4-8 years. We both work, but he is definitely the breadwinner. He was not seeking new opportunities, but was contacted by a recruiter and is now in the interviewing process for two opportunities. I am due with twins in about 7 weeks, and am very anxious about the idea of him switching jobs shortly after they are born. He is being very cognizant of my feelings and said that whether he switches jobs is a joint decision. I do not think he fully appreciates how overwhelming it will be to be a first time dad and how much easier it will be to be in a job where they already know that he is a rockstar vs. starting at a new place and having to establish credibility while extremely sleep deprived. At the same time, I do not want to be too short sighted and have him pass on what would be a great opportunity if it came 6 months later. It is hard to know if these opportunities are unicorn type jobs. He works in finance, and these firms he is interviewing with do not hire often and are not always hiring at the right level and I do realize as he becomes more senior it will be harder for him to switch. His current job requires him to work 60-90 hours a week and these other options would probably provide a better quality of life. However, he is VERY well respected at his current firm, receives top ratings in reviews and could probably get some leeway in the months following our twins birth, while obviously a new job doesn’t work like that.

I just wanted to see if anyone has any words of wisdom or thoughts as these are our first kids and we do not totally know what our life will be like.

Thanks to rainbow hair for posting that article yesterday. I guess it was honest and real enough that I could barely make it through reading it. I didn’t nurse my kid because I couldn’t handle the way it made me feel. Like an animal. Sub human.

The irony is that that’s also how other moms will make you feel if you don’t. Like a monster. One friend even asked me, half joking: what’s it like not to love your baby? A family member called me disappointing as a mother. It’s enough to make me err on the side of not having another baby.

The social stigma is so bad that the only people willing to be honest about it are the women who managed to sustain b-feeding for at least some period of time. And that makes me angry. They get to blow the whistle but they never had to deal with the level of criticism and garbage I went through and go through.

I know there was a thread about this a few years ago, but wondering if there might be some new info/opinions…I already have a travel system with all the bells and whistles, but am wondering if I should also register for an umbrella stroller? If so, any recommendations on which one?

I was supposed to send something to our state tax agency a few months ago to get a small check – it required me to call and send some documents. My husband handles our taxes but this piece was in my name, so he asked me to do it. I let him know I’d called and that the check should be on its way.
Since then he’s asked a couple of times where it is and I said ‘you know I thought I sent the info, let me call and find out’ – I’d meant to do this over the last few weeks and didn’t yet. Last night I came upon the folder which contained the documents – I’d never sent them. I said to him ‘oh crap, it looks like I actually didn’t send this, I’m sorry! But it’s good we have it, will send now.’ He reacted by looking away and sighing deeply, saying, “G O D,” and rolling his eyes.
I was so startled – it was the kind of reaction you’d get ABOUT someone, when you’re irritated; not something you generally do in their face. It’s almost the kind of reaction you’d have about a bureaucratic mistake or something, at a faceless entity – but this was his irritation directly at me. In front of our two small kids, no less.
It felt disrespectful and hurtful. I brought it up later and he basically rolled his eyes again, saying this was something he’d been asking me about and he can’t believe I was upset with him.
I imagine this sounds minor but I’m trying to figure out if I’m being unreasonable and whether I should better learn to let things go, or if instead this is objectively disrespectful and thus merits more than a tossed off, irritable non-apology. We’ve gotten into fights much bigger than this that actually haven’t bothered me like this – I think it’s the fact that I was apologetic and his eye-rolling came off as contemptuous.

I’m pregnant and due 3 weeks before Thanksgiving. It’s our first and we’re trying to navigate how to handle holidays and people wanting to visit the baby. My mom will probably come up for a week or two after baby is born. DH’s parents are divorced so those are two other visits. Is it crazy to think we can host a low-key Thanksgiving and Christmas, with maybe 8-12 guests, with a newborn? Obviously letting family cook and potentially getting catered. We often host holidays and love it. How did you navigate all the visits after your kids were born?

Has anyone here tried it? Was it successful for you?