Make My Life Easier Thursday: Compression Travel Backpack
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Sales of note for 9/23/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off tops and sweaters
- Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 15% off
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles with code
- J.Crew – Extra 30% off sale styles, plus up to 50% off layers they love
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything + extra 60% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Nordstrom – Fall savings event! Also get 15% off select beauty items and 6x points on beauty.
- Talbots – Anniversary event! 25% off entire purchase, plus fresh fall classics from $34.50
What are you having for dinner tomorrow?
My 5-year-old is in private 4k (born just after K cutoff so one of the oldest in the class) and has started complaining about being bored at school. It’s play-based, but this year, there’s been a shift to more focused learning activities with a decent mix of free play time. The teacher has said that kid is taking a long time to do things, like wrap up free play activities or finish lunch/snack. Per kiddo, wrapping these things up right when the teacher first asks means waiting for everyone else to do the same. During group learning activities, there’s also a lot of waiting for other kids to have their turns. How do I help kiddo cope with the fact that waiting is a part of life? At home, she wants to help and be involved in what we’re doing, like yard work, making dinner, taking the dog out, etc. (unless she’s playing by herself), so while we’re working on being more patient in general, there’s not the same amount of forced downtime at home.
My 4 year old is going through a phase where he is asking us for facts about things that he knows are incorrect and then getting upset/on the verge of tears if we don’t agree with him that his (incorrect) fact is correct.
For example: “DS: Mommy, is a T-rex an herbivore?” “(Me): Hmmm… I think he’s a carnivore!” “(DS: NOOOOOOO! He’s an herbivore!!! [tears]” … Repeat this exchange until I agree the T-rex is an herbivore.
I’m trying to figure out developmentally what’s going on. He has always loved fun facts & quizzes and has sometimes gotten a kick out of giving out incorrect info & then getting to show he knows the right answer. However, the emotion behind this is new and I am just … puzzled. I can’t figure out how to respond in a constructive way. Anyone else go through a similar phase? Welcome any ideas, please!
My ten year olds teeth are kind of yellow. I know teeth whiten as they get older but we have four kids and hers are more yellow than her younger siblings. Probably a question for her dentist but she’s mentioned it – have any of you noticed this? Would it be wrong to let her use whitening strips? She’s never had a cavity and brushes well. And isn’t drinking sodas or coffee or anything like that. Writing this out is making me realize this is probably a dentist question!
Loads of interesting screen time questions today! I thought this podcast episode had an interesting perspective: It’s the ‘Why Other People’s Screen Time Annoys You’ episode from Culture Study.
This is probably an impossible question but here goes…what are live action kids TV shows that are NOT the Disney-esque tween stuff? My kids get a bit of of TV in the mornings after they get dressed and we are reaching an impasse because the 3.5yo wants animated stuff and the 9yo is (understandably) over it and wants to watch something with “real people” (the 7yo will watch anything).
So far the 3yo has liked Inbestigators okay…other ideas? We’d also be open to movies that they can watch 15 minutes at a time. They all liked Mary Poppins, so they’re fine with older stuff.
Lots of screen time questions today so I’ll add one. Has anyone given up their smartphone for a flip/dumb phone?
I’m thinking of doing this and I actually think I would love it. My current job doesn’t require constant email access the way my old job did, so I think it would work.
The two things I can’t figure out are 1) camera- I know you can buy cameras, but is there anything as easily transportable that takes photos as well as the iPhone? And 2) my work Authenticator app.
Has anyone actually managed to make this work?
Have you ever had a friend who makes little comments about your parenting that you’re certain are meant to push buttons or imply that you’re making a mistake, even if it has nothing to do with her? How do you respond?
Another screen time question: do you consider parent screen time to be kid screen time too? DH and I like to watch TV in the evenings. We’ll all cuddle on the couch and watch great British baking show or whatever — something family-friendly but not specifically kid-oriented. Baby is 12 weeks and is starting to notice the TV.
If we want to be a no/low kid screen time household, do we need to change our evening habits? I’m pretty against the idea of letting the TV/tablet be the babysitter. But I also think there’s a time and place for passive entertainment, and family snuggles before bed seems appropriate to me. I know there’s research suggesting that ANY screen time for babies is bad; is this the kind of thing they’re talking about?
I know most moms here place limits on their kids’ screen time. When your kids have reached their limit, do you end your own screen time? Do you put your phone/laptop/whatever away? I find that the only time DS asks for his IPad is when he sees one of us looking at our phones.
Our school has spirit days this week and my second grader has 1) remembered all the themes and 2) planned her own outfits. Very exciting parenting milestone! ;)