This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I tried Dove’s Daily Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner after a sweaty workout at a spin studio and loved it!
Dove products are all about moisture, and this lightweight, hydrating duo immediately smooths your hair without buildup. Over time, it will progressively nourish your hair from the inside out, keeping it healthy.
At this price, use it daily for soft, manageable hair.
This shampoo and conditioner set is $7.49 at Target.
Sales of note for 8.30.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 20% off
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lands’ End – 40% off sitewide; 50% off backpacks, 40% off kids’ apparel
- Loft – Summer sale, 30% off new arrivals; up to 50% off much more
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- Zappos – 28,000+ 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 – 50% off everything
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 40% off everything
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; extra 50% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 50-60% off; 50% off pants for the family
- Target – 20% off select clothing for all; up to 50% off home; up to 30% off select nursery furniture; up to 30% off kitchen & dining
Clementine says
Dear Self: It doesn’t make sense to quit your job. It doesn’t make sense to quit your job. Even though you really really want to be able to hang out with your kids all summer, it doesn’t make sense to quit it.
One kid has their last day of school today/tomorrow. Another kid goes for another (almost) 2 weeks with a holiday and a bunch of half days thrown in there. Littlest is still in daycare and I’m hoping that the teacher I don’t like because she seems to really not like him (or me?) hasn’t shown up in 2 weeks and I’m okay with that but also I wish he could just hang out with me.
Gah. I wish my job gave sabbaticals.
Anonymous says
I’m right there with you! Really trying not to quit but between having an older kid with a busy therapy schedule and patchwork of summer camps and being pregnant with my second (and so far not finding a daycare with openings less than 6 months after the baby will be born!) I’m sorely tempted. Plus DH’s new job only offers 3 weeks of combined sick leave/PTO, meaning I’m generally on the hook for sick day childcare. Seriously considering trying to go part-time when I come back from maternity leave, at least for a while.
Clementine says
Honestly? Temporary part time would have helped my new mom self’s mental health SO MUCH.
Anon says
Wow that leave bank is sad for anyone, but awful for a parent. I have turned down or left jobs with similar leave and told them why.
anon says
I like my job, but would love a sabbatical. That would be a dream.
NYCer says
+1. I would love to have July and August completely off.
Anon says
I posted on the main page about how I am now fixated on the idea of finding a part time career for myself. I have absolutely no desire to be a SAHM, but working 40 hour weeks 48 weeks a year is not what I want, especially in the summer.
Clementine says
I can’t quit this job because I really like it and I can see it’s a unicorn. Like, yes – I do work 50 hours/week, but I am able to flex it so I am 100% free 4-8PM at least 3 days/week and am able to make 80% of appointments and school day performances and Friday Popsicle Picnic type of stuff. I am high enough in my level that I can dictate the timing of internal meetings but not so high up that I am jam packed with outside meetings. I have an incredibly supportive boss who is a male who raised his kids with full custody (thus, he Gets It and there wasn’t a spouse who magically handled things for him) and this great staff. I have a tremendous amount of good will banked up and enough expertise that I am trusted…
And yet… Man do I wish I could just chill at the pool all summer with my kids.
anon says
Clementine, I am with you 100%. I never want to be a SAHM, except during the summer.
Clementine says
Do we just want summer vacation too?
anon says
Possibly so. Summer is my jam, and it bums me out to spend so many of my daytime hours indoors!
Also, summer care was pretty simple in elementary school when they were OK with doing an all-day thing through the Y or daycare. Once they start wanting to do specialty camps or things sponsored by the school district, transportation and coordination becomes a lot harder. And the hours are way less convenient for working parents. I burn a lot of vacation time driving.
Anon says
all of your kids must be more fun than mine (who are age 6) or maybe it’s because I do a lot of solo parenting or perhaps there is just something wrong with me, because while I love them, I don’t love the whining, bickering, sunscreening, trips to the bathroom, wanting a snack, etc. which at least in our house doesn’t stop just bc it’s summertime. I do understand the appeal of finishing work at like 2/3, but i still have no interest in being a SAHM even in the summer.
Clementine says
I used to not ever want to be a SAHM, but at ages 8, 4, and almost 2 – my kids are really fun. Also, part of it is that I could absolutely not be a SAHM in bad weather… cold ran where you’re trapped inside? Nope. I like my kids a lot when we’re outside and they’re actually at their best when we’re hiking or biking or swimming or just generally outdoors. My oldest makes PBJ sandwiches for the group, middle picks out snacks from the snack bins, and husband has organized the garage in such a way that we basically only need 5 minutes to pack the car.
but also… (and yes, I’m trying to talk myself into not quitting), I can’t let go of the stability and security that having a good job gives me. I know too many women (including my mother) who were forced into poverty when a spouse who would love them forever left or died or was disabled.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Yeah, I prefer to sit inside in the A/C in the summer during the week than be in the hot sun and constantly remind everyone to reapply sunscreen. I’m happy for my kids to enjoy camp with similar age kids and counselors, but I don’t want to be there. #funmom :)
Anon says
I’m the same but I also have a kid who prefers being indoors playing dolls or dress up or board games, so I do think I’d enjoy being a SAHM in the summers.
Definitely could not pay me to be outside the majority of the summer though; I hate the hot, humid weather and I’m not even in the south.
Anon says
I feel so seen.
Pogo says
Or we could live in Europe where their schools only close like 6 weeks and people actually get enough vacation to be with their kids for most of that time. Still trying to manifest that for myself.
Anon says
In much of Europe, everyone gets August for vacation and companies shut down for several weeks. I want that.
anon says
That’s the dream.
Anonymous says
Oof, I feel this so deeply. Very much debating some combination of leaving the workforce, finding a new job, moving to part time, and taking a sabbatical (which isn’t an offered benefit at my company, but one can dream). The point about rainy February days is a good one, though.
Walnut says
My quit my job fantasy land involves escaping to a Caribbean island for all of February.
Anonymous says
Yes to all, this is why I was thrilled to be laid off effective June 1 with severance pay through the fall.
People kept saying “I’m sorry” and I wanted to go celebrate! Hunger games salute to working moms of elementary school kids. Between camp logistics, my own pining for fun while stuck at my desk, and kids’ unmet (unrealistic) expectations it was always the toughest time of the year for me.
Anonymous says
Don’t you have an au pair who can deal with all the scheduling and transportation hassles and get the kids out of the house?
Clementine says
Yes and it has been INCREDIBLE for all these little half days and accommodating all the things. Our au pairs saved my sanity.
Only problem is that she gets to do all these fun things with the kids that I would love to do… maybe she can come referee meetings and I’ll go to the pool with the kids?
Anonymous says
I like taking the kids to the pool for dinner. Pack sandwiches or pasta salad or order a pizza to be delivered to the pool. Fewer hassles with overheating and sunscreen than going in the middle of the day.
Anon says
+1 I’m kind of paranoid about sun exposure, but we pretty much exclusively go the pool after 4 pm and it’s great. We love ordering a pizza to be delivered there.
Cb says
A vent to the universe…
We invited my inlaws to celebrate an early Christmas with us. We’ll get a Christmas tree, I’ll cook a big meal, they’ll get to open presents with their grandson. They said “Oh, not sure, we might have an event on!” It’s 6 months notice! You’re the one in charge of scheduling the event. His stepmum declined an invite for August because her shoulder is hurting…in June. They complain they don’t get equal time, but then don’t say yes, and then my husband feels rejected. My FIL left the country when we got married, and my husband is making the very long, expensive trip in autumn and his dad is complaining about having his 2 sons and 2 grandkids in the house.
My parents adore my husband and treat him like a son, but sometimes it places his own parents’ behaviour in a starker contrast, and he feels really sad. I think he needs to emotionally detach from them, but that’s hard to do.
Anonymous says
So much sympathy Cb. My husband’s family treats him like the black sheep, though he’s successful and takes care of several family members. It sucks. My husband has developed other secure attachment figures, but I still feel very defensive for him. But one and a half decades has showed me you can’t change people.
Vicky Austin says
Woof. I’m your husband. I have great in-laws and my own parents can be real stinkers sometimes. And even when they’re not being stinkers, my in-laws being so amazing makes me feel worse about them. I’m glad you said this, it’s given me some things to think about. Hope your husband feels better and your in-laws stop being silly about Christmas.
Anonymous says
I’m your husband in this scenario. It’s really hard. Emotional detachment is the only way, but that’s complicated.
Anon says
My kiddo is in K and the last day of school is next week. There’s a big text group with about half the moms in the grade and a couple of weeks ago, someone floated the idea of some kind of graduation party for the kids. Several people said it sounded fun and someone said to get in touch with her if you want to organize. A couple of days ago, she sends an email from herself and about 5 other moms to all parents in the grade that we’re going to have a class picnic after school one day, bring your own lunch (school gets out early that day) and then asks everyone to sign up to volunteer to bring snacks and drinks or set up or clean up etc. Is this weird that we’re expected to contribute to something that we never agreed to (I know we can skip, but its right after school outside the school, so kiddo will want to go)? And I assume I should contribute anyway if we’re going, so as not to ruffle feathers, right?
Cb says
I’d probably just bring something easy, a fruit tray or chips, or smoothies. It’s a bit presumptive, but also, I guess they assumed people were excited about it?
Clementine says
Oh man, there’s always the moms who want to make it *extra*. I have shifted my eye-rolling to being like, ‘Cool. You’re handling?’ I’d just grab some of those little kid-sized seltzers and say thank you so much.
Signed, apparently I’m supposed to Venmo somebody $10 for the actual ice cream truck to come because the kids don’t do an actual graduation for Pre-K 3 (because they’re… 3 and 4?) and they didn’t think the teacher just bringing popsicles was special enough.
Anonymous says
Honestly it doesn’t sound *that* extra, if everyone is bringing their own lunches. It’s just a casual picnic, but folks can contribute for drinks and/or help set up or clean up. Seems pretty low key on the scale of what could have been.
Anon says
No, this is the norm where I am. That or (venmo $x) I get these all the time. It’s always hard – K MIGHT be old enough to send kid with a friend and then you don’t have to take off work? I did that for all end of year parties this year!
Anon says
I’m not sure what alternative you’re looking for? She sent a text, several people said they were interested (and presumably four others volunteered to help organize), then she sent a broad invitation to the grade. The choices are to attend or to skip it, and I agree that if you attend it’s nice to bring something.
Anon says
+1 I’m not really sure what she did wrong here. You can skip it if you don’t want to go, but I’d go and just bring something easy.
Anon says
Thanks, I wasn’t looking for an alternative (Sorry if that wasn’t clear!). I was just wondering if this is a common way of doing this or its strange.
Anon says
Got it. It does seem common, in my elementary experience, though often it’s the PTO or class moms arranging it.
I am generally an eye roller at all this “extra”, too (looking at you, parents bringing bouquets of flowers for the 2nd grade choral concert in the school gym), but this seems like a nice gathering to me. Kids have a lot of steam to let off at the end of the year!
AwayEmily says
This sounds kind of ideal — super low-key, someone else organizes, and all you have to do is bring some juice boxes. And probably since school gets out early they assumed parents were going to be more available than on a day when kids were going to after-school, etc.
Anonymous says
Get over yourself. This is a nice thing.
Anon says
I hope this isn’t how you talk to your friends, or how you teach your kid to talk to theirs. I asked here because I wasn’t sure. Generally, with the group I roll with, when someone says they’ll organize something, that means that they are taking on the responsibility, not just picking a day and giving responsibilities to others.
Anon says
The 11:15 poster was a little blunt, but you sound kind of judgy of the other mom, and your expectations for this seem really out of whack. It’s totally unreasonable to expect a mom organizing a casual year end party to provide food for a whole class (grade?) of kids and their families. Of course it’s potluck.
Anon says
Thanks. I didn’t expect anyone to provide food for my kid (not sure why anyone got that impression). As I said above, my post was intended to find out if this is common or not. I just assumed that I would receive polite responses, not rude personal comments and I appreciate everyone who responded accordingly!
Anonymous says
This is an anonymous online message board. If you want to talk like friends talk… then talk to your friends? Personally I come here for the blunt feedback that I’m never going to hear IRL.
Blink says
I agree with the person you’re responding to. You expect someone to host a graduation party for the whole class while you do nothing? Big get over yourself territory. Just don’t go if you don’t want to.
anon says
This is how these things get organized. If you want a say, you have to be an organizer. Personally, I’m glad to let the other moms take the lead and allow me to just show up with very minimal effort. This seems too minor to get worked up over.
Spirograph says
Yes, this is an organizing vs hosting situation. I am always happy to contribute to things like this and appreciate when someone else takes the lead on organizing. It’s very typical for elementary school events.
anon says
I am on team “I’ll cater/pay for my party and you do the same unless it’s billed as a potluck.” However, I’m totally fine with a parent sending a sign up sheet for this kind of thing. My family isn’t going to go to/help with all of these events, but I’m glad our school has them and it wouldn’t be fair to put all of the expense and work on the few parents who spend their time organizing them.
It’s essentially a snack potluck and not the same an inviting people to a party at my house.
anon says
what is the issue?
Anonymous says
This is completely normal.
NYCer says
This seems like a totally normal way to organize a low-key after school picnic. I would just bring some juice boxes or a box of single serving snacks and call it a day. If you prefer to bring something other than food, bubble sticks are generally still a hit with this age kids.
Anon says
A group of parents at our school last year tried to request that each family contribute $50 to K graduation because it wouldn’t be a real event without caps and gowns for the kids, chair covers, a red carpet for them to process in on, etc. Low key playdate outside the school sounds great!
This year parents were concerned their kids would miss having a graduation party, so there was a playground meetup last weekend to celebrate the end of first grade. about 40/100 kids went, the rest skipped for various reasons, but it meant anyone who needed a celebration had the option.
Anonymous says
I think this dynamic is pretty normal: you’re never going to get every single person to weigh in so she kind of took the reins and ran with it. It’s a teeny bit presumptive to ask people to bring stuff but the party wouldn’t really work otherwise. That being said, I would probably not attend, just because my very social kiddo is usually done spending any extra time at school functions by the end of the year. If you do want to attend just see if you can bring plates/cups/napkins or something. It’s also fine to opt out. No one will judge you, I promise.
GCA says
Sounds normal, just bring your own lunch, and feel free to skip bringing a snack + just sign up to clean up – it’s just an after-school class picnic. Delegating is a completely normal part of organizing. NBD, and no one will judge you if you do not sign up. (I promise the organizers are just thankful if anyone does.)
Reading question says
My daughter is finishing first grade and has become a voracious reader this year. She loves going to the library, stays up as late as we let her reading, etc. However starting a few months ago she will only read graphic novels and says traditional books are too hard/boring. I don’t want to make it a Thing but do want her to be exposed to different kinds of story telling and more complicated plots, and there seems to be some research to support that. Any suggestions? I have started reading to her again at night from novels so she is at least getting exposure that way.
Anon2 says
Focus on reading frequently to her for that exposure, as you mentioned. Graphic novels seem to be a big phase that really helps kids fall in love with reading, and I’d be hesitant to push when she still so young. My oldest son is just now exiting it at the end of 3rd grade, and willing to pick up an occasional chapter book without pictures. But, he has been reading graphic novels for hours a day for years now, and scores excellent on all standardized measures (99%). I do read to him 30 min a night and we read all sorts of “great literature” then.
My current first grader is into the Narwhal and Jelly series, so he’s just starting out, but Im going to celebrate his love of reading in whatever form it takes. There are some great graphic novels out there, and research showing they expose kids to more complex vocabulary and story than basic chapter books because the space constraints mean they have to be tightly told.
Anon says
honestly, let her read what she wants to read and one day she will pick up books again. i was older, but i wanted to read baby sitters club books and my parents kept trying to get me not to and even asked my english teacher what to do and they said to leave me alone and let me read what i want. my parents of course didn’t listen and turned me off from reading.
Anonymous says
BSC books had words in them when we were kids, though.
Anon says
BSC books still have words in them….? I’m so confused by this comment.
Anonymous says
There are now graphic novels of the BSC books. At least the brain candy BSC books we had were all words.
Anon says
The regular books still exist, both the Little Sister series and regular BSC. We have tons of them.
GCA says
It’s a phase with my almost-6yo too, but really I am team ‘let the kid read what they want’ for avid, advanced readers. Also, graphic novels do encompass a wide range of storytelling and complex plots, plus different genres like fantasy expose kids to an astonishing amount of new vocabulary. If you’re concerned about variety, I’d ask a librarian for recs.
Anonymous says
Beyond reading to her, let it go! She will be forced to read a variety of things in school. I promise this will pass as her reading ability grows.
Anon says
+1
Anonymous says
I will be the voice of dissent and say that for strong readers, graphic novels are terrible. I understand that for kids who have trouble with decoding or comprehension, the pictures in a graphic novel can convey a more complex story than the words that they are capable of reading. For strong readers, however, graphic novels are basically brain candy, and a steady diet of them leads to laziness and a disinclination to read real books.
For the people saying that school will require her to read books other than graphic novels–very possibly not. In my daughter’s school system graphic novels are encouraged. Because only AP and IB teachers are allowed to assign the entire class to read a specific book, it’s entirely possible for a kid to get through school reading only self-selected graphic novels.
Anon2 says
I mean, my son loves the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series and has learned a ton about history that way. He and his brothers have started naming things after WWII bomber planes and he can tell you a lot about trench warfare. So I hard disagree that all graphic novels are brain candy. And as I mentioned above, he is branching out now at the end of third grade and has developed the confidence to read “regular” books. But, guess it’s a “know your kid” situation
Anony says
My son loves these too! I’ve learned a lot of history by reading them!
TheElms says
Would these be ok for a 5 year old?
GCA says
I’m not sure about this take on a couple of counts: one, the idea that graphic novels are somehow not ‘real books’ is a mistaken premise, and two, the text is the text; it’s the analytical work you do with it that matters. You could watch The Bachelorette as brain candy. Or you could watch The Bachelorette as a text about constructing female identity, the surveillance of women, or social media ‘celebrities’ and parasocial relationships. Likewise, graphic novels.
Anon says
I never thought of graphic novels as brain candy or experienced any disinclination to read real books; what a strange outlook.
Anon says
I don’t believe a kid could get through school reading only graphic novels — they’re reading real books in elementary school in our fairly generic public suburban school district so it’s really hard for me to imagine a high school where a kid could graduate without reading actual books.
But even if that were true, I’m not sure forcing a young kid who loves reading to read something different than what they choose has any real benefit. The biggest thing you should be doing in elementary school is trying to foster a love of reading.
Anon says
Even well ranked high schools sometimes only assign excerpts since that’s all you need to be able to read on standardized tests like the AP tests.
Anon says
OP said this has been for a few months which is not like a few years. Maybe by December she’ll decide she hates graphic novels and wants to read something else.
Anon says
Yeah this is kid is, what, 7 at the oldest? Most phases don’t last very long at that age.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Agree with everyone – let her read what she wants to. Reading is supposed to be fun!
Anonymous says
Also going through that phase over here. My only problem is my kids go through graphic novels so quickly, it’s hard to keep new-to-them books on the shelf! Recent favorites for the K-2 set, beyond Dogman:
Narwhal and Jelly series
Pea, Bee, and Jay series
Sophie Mouse series
Puggleton Park
Shark Princess series
Lunch Buddy series
Batcat
Peanut, Butter & Crackers
Kitten Ninja
Poppy & Sam series
Tig and Lily
Detective Duck
Beaky Barnes
Anon2 says
I’ve had luck going to the library and pulling things off the shelves. Ours has a pretty decent selection and remarkably we are still finding new hits after 2+ years (and flops, too). The 13-story Treehouse series is a step up from what you listed, with actual sentence format but tons of pictures
AwayEmily says
I think just keep giving her options until things stick. My second-grader was mostly into graphic novels, and while I fully supported that I also gave her lots of non-graphic options, which she mostly rejected. Then she found this “Myth-o-Mania series” on her kids Kindle, which is like funny retellings of Greek Myths, and she just devoured them, and from there moved onto Percy Jackson. I just think sometimes it takes awhile til there is the perfect fit between reading level and a book that really resonates — but it will happen.
Also: I strongly recommend the kids’ Kindle, I love, love, love ours. It’s a great way for kids to experiment with different books until they find one they love. We get most of ours through the library but the Kindle kids subscription also has a ton of options. And FWIW graphic novels are a lot worse on the kindle so it does tend to push them towards “real” books. Plus, it’s possible to make the text much bigger, which helped my kid especially as she was still working towards reading fluency.
Anonymous says
Thanks for the Myth-o-mania rec! I’m doing Percy Jackson as a read-aloud with my rising 3rd grader, and we love the Greeking Out podcast. Will add Myth-o-mania to our list.
Momofthree says
There are some really incredible graphic novels for kids (to say nothing of books like Maus). There’s the whole series of “Science Comics” that explain how things work, Geronimo Stilton teaches them about history and a lot of graphic novels do have words and more complex ideas. My kids ask me questions all the time about things they read even in books like DogMan (although they also do get the potty humor).
This is a bit more extreme than I actually feel, but is it a big problem if they don’t ever read “great” literature? And I say this as a parent who reads 100+ books a year myself and is a little sad I can’t get my kids to read some of my favorites. Is the argument that pictures remove some of the need for critical thinking & deduction? In some ways this feels a little like the “is listening to audiobooks really reading?”argument
Anon says
Scholastic that partnered with my library to do a workshop on graphic novels. They’re actually really good for kids to read. A few reasons that I remember:
– The vocabulary is harder and more complex than in a same-level prose book, because the illustrations help convey the meaning.
– Any reading is good reading, especially when it’s their own choice. Let them pick what they want to read.
– Most interesting to me, we are living in a very visual world. Understanding how to “read” images is incredibly important in our world of streaming ads, instagram/tiktok/social media, and constant signage. Kids who read graphic novels are intuitively learning how certain colors convey certain emotions, how different fonts can convey voice, how the slightest change in a picture can change an entire meaning. This makes them smarter and more discerning audiences, and helps them think more critically about the images they consume.
SC says
My son also loves graphic novels and complains that chapter books are too boring. He’s a good reader, but he enjoys having pictures. He also doesn’t like fiction all that much, which I find a little heartbreaking. I’ve found other types of books that interest him. For him, that includes DK and National Geographic science books, poetry (he’s into Where the Sidewalk Ends right now), illustrated chapter books, and choose-your-own-adventure books.
readers says
try The Wild Robot series. it’s a chapter book but each page is a chapter and there are lots of full page pictures. plus there is a movie coming out this year. My daughter’s 1st grade teacher was doing it as a read aloud, but we’ve checked them out from the library and she’s torn through them. Also, this is a phase and let her be. reading is reading.
Spirograph says
My 9 year old, rising 4th graders is still in the phase where she refused to read anything except graphic novels at home. She also loves listening to audio books, and listening to me read chapter books aloud. She must read real chapter books for school (and she has great reading grades and tests above grade level on standardized tests), but she is adamantly against it for fun-reading. it drives me crazy, but is not a hill I care to die on. I’m glad she loves reading and trust that eventually she’ll realize that traditional novels can be richer and are worth the effort.
I am doing a read-athon with my kids over the summer where they’ll be incentivised to read different genres, and graphic novels won’t count. We’ll see how this goes…
Anon says
My experience with both my kids is that learning to read starts out as work and kids have to get to a certain level before reading chapter books is something they want to do for fun. I think kids can test at or ahead of grade level, and be 100% capable of reading, but still lack the comfort and fluency to enjoy reading for fun.
OP, my first daughter hit full fluency and took off reading sometimes during spring of 1st grade. My second daughter just took off and is now reading lots of chapter books during spring of 2nd grade. My guess is that your daughter isn’t quite there yet and lacks the skills to really enjoy chapter books. Reading probably feels like too much work still without the help of pictures. It’s not that she can’t do it, but that it feels like work still.
I’d keep reading to her and see if she will transition. My first daughter took off reading when I stopped reading to her at a cliff hanger and she wanted to know what happened next. She finished the book that night and then read the rest of the series.
SC says
+1. I read 75-100 books a year, and there are days when reading a chapter book feels like work, including everyday this week. On those days, I usually listen to an audiobook. I also tend to read romance, fantasy, and mysteries during the week and save the heavy hitters (literary fiction, classics, nonfiction doorstoppers) for the weekends. I can sympathize with my kid that after a full day of school and homework and activities, he doesn’t want to read something that’s hard, even if he’s capable.
That said, during this past school year, part of his homework was to read for 20 minutes per day. For the most part, we discouraged graphic novels for that reading time, but we only made him read chapter books if he was reading for one of his book reports. I read to him most nights, and I try to read chapter books to him.
OP says
Thanks all! Appreciate all the recommendations
Anon says
I have a 3-year old who is an only and is not used to sharing his toys. We have family coming over for a barbecue this weekend including three kids younger than him. How do I prevent him from throwing a tantrum when he watches other kids play with his toys?
Anon says
Let him hide a few “special” toys and otherwise it will be good practice!
Anonymous says
Seconding this. Actually, we have my 3-year old hide the toys we think could be a sharing issue before playdates, and very often halfway through the playdate he decides to un-hide and share them. I think it’s easier for them when they get to decide v. another kid asking.
Anon says
Is he in daycare? My only child has her share of behavioral issues but has never thrown a tantrum because another kid came to our house and wanted to play with her toys. In fact she’s normally really excited to show them off and let others use them (and was even as a toddler). I kind of hate the “only children can’t share” stereotype and don’t think it really applies to kids who’ve been in daycare from a young age; they have plenty of experience with sharing toys.
Cerulean says
My only (2.5, also in daycare) is like this, too. She loves giving the newbies a tour of her toys.
Anonymous says
Same, my only (3.5) goes out of her way to try to share – to the point where she gets upset if her offer is declined!
OP says
Yes my son has been in daycare since he was an infant. I don’t think he has an issue with sharing at school, but sharing his own toys at home is another story
Anon says
He might surprise you. My only had no issues with it and she’s not an easy kid in general.
I do agree with hiding one or two special toys if he wants, although he may be a bit young for that.
Anonymous says
You don’t? He is just learning about guests and sharing and he may throw a tantrum as part of that. No one will judge.
OP says
I am asking the question because this situation happened a few months ago with a new Christmas toy and DS screamed and cried nearly the entire time. It was very embarrassing
Anon says
A new Christmas toy is pretty different. It’s hard to fault a 3 year old for tantruming when a brand new toy is immediately given to someone else to play with…that sucks! Presumably these toys are all things he’s had a while (and if there’s something brand new and special, hide it).
As others alluded to above, can you frame it for him as giving people a tour of the house and showing them all his toys? I think kids this age do better when they’re in control, and having him lead a tour and demo his toys may feel better for him than just watching people run up to his stuff and grab it.
Many 3 year olds are only children, even if they’ll eventually have a sibling, and many more just have a baby sibling who isn’t yet teaching them anything about sharing. I won’t say “no one will judge” because, well, people are judgy. But they shouldn’t be judging, and this is normal 3 year old behavior that isn’t about his lack of siblings.
Anonymous says
Agreed. They just need practice. It may not go well the first few times, but it will get easier.
An.On. says
If there’s anything you couldn’t bear to see destroyed or scattered to the four winds, hide it. We had a party with just four other kids and it was eye-opening to see the kind of chaos that multiple children bring. It was like a hurricane went through the house. Otherwise, if your kid is getting antsy about things, remind them about sharing. I agree that it’s more of a problem when gifts are being given, like birthdays or christmas, than on a normal hang-out day, and if the other kids are younger, your kid will probably end up being the de facto leader anyway.
Anonymous says
I just want to say that this is not specific to him being an only. I had kids later and often have my toddler at my friend’s houses and I have seen many, many tantrums from children ages 3 all the way up until like 7 when my toddler even approaches the room the toys are in. It honestly is possibly worse when they have siblings because they understand the chaos the baby can cause, haha.