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Sales of note for 6.25.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Designer clearance up to 70% off; limited-time savings on selected shoes
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full price tops and sweaters; extra 30% sale (both end 6/26)
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything plus extra 15% off purchase
- Eloquii – Semi-annual clearance, up to 85% off
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off warm-weather styles; extra 50% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 50% off your order
- Loft – $39 dresses and 40% off your purchase (ends 6/26)
- Talbots – 30% off all markdowns, summer favorites starting at $24.50 (ends 6/25)
- Zappos – 26,000+ 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 – Summer clearance up to 70% off; 50% off tops, shorts & more
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all dresses; up to 50% off all baby items
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 50% off warm-weather styles; extra 50% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 50% off all polos; 60% off steals
- Target – 20% off women’s swim; 50% off patio furniture, garden items & accessories; up to 30% off kitchen & dining
Anon says
Recs for lunchboxes with built in silverware that don’t get moldy? We’ve been using the munchkin ones and idk maybe none of these things are meant to last more than 3 years and we clean thoroughly by taking out the part that keeps it leakproof but it’s been icky.
GCA says
I can’t speak to the silverware bit, but stainless steel lunchboxes can be popped in the dishwasher and don’t get moldy; you could get a separate silverware set and case. We have the Weesprout ones.
Anonymous says
I got on fb marketplace and found someone giving away a bag of 20 pieces of toddler flatware. I send those in lunches because it doesn’t matter if they get lost. 7 years running, day care has yet to lose one. But we just use cheap lunch boxes (Sistema) and they go in the dishwasher nightly.
anon says
yeah, we also just send separate cheap toddler forks and spoons.
Anonymous says
At back-to-school time last year I bought several sets of plastic flatware with chopsticks in little boxes from the Target house brand. They are great and the boxes stay latched in the lunchbox. There was a matching leakproof bento box that was a practical size, but I didn’t buy that and can’t speak to the quality. I would expect these items to come back into stock within the next few weeks.
Having separate flatware gives you more choices of food containers. Snapware is my favorite leakproof container. I’ve had mine for years and the seals don’t get mildewed as long as you let them dry fully before stacking them. For lunches that don’t require a leakproof container, I like Easy Lunchboxes.
Anon says
What do you put in your kids’ (girls specifically) hair prior to swimming? I’ve got the post swimming covered but feel like i should be protecting their hair before since both Saturday and Sunday we spent 4 hours at the pool.
Anon says
I don’t do anything and it’s been fine but we’re usually only in the pool for 1-2 hours.
Anon says
Water at a minimum (pre-shower) so it’s already soaked and not absorbing.
Anon says
You can have them shower/wet their hair beforehand. Hair is like a sponge and if it soaks up fresh water to start, it will take on less chlorine. If they take a break midday and the hair dries, you can try doing it again before jumping back in the pool
Spirograph says
Water. We swim a lot too, and my kids have blonde hair so post-swim chlorine removal is key, but I don’t do anything before they get in other than make them rinse off and get their hair all the way wet with clean water.
Anonymous says
Water. It makes a huge difference. As a bonus, it won’t put strain on the filtering system of your public pool.
Anon says
A swim cap?
Anonymous says
Ewww. No.
Anon says
Why the ewww no reaction? I don’t use one, but I don’t see what’s bad about it, and it certainly doesn’t harm anyone else in the pool so the “ewww” reaction seems really over the top even if it’s not for you!
Anonymous says
I don’t get the eww but FWIW, caps do not keep your hair dry if you go underwater, so the only benefit would be sun protection and keeping stray hair out of the pool.
Anonymous says
Plus the great mid-forehead tan lines! Ah, memories from youth summer swim.
Mary Moo Cow says
Water is the ideal, but I’m lazy, so SwimCozy spray.
Anoon says
Isnt it just as easy to put water in a spray bottle?
GCA says
First day of summer camp and one kid is out sick, sigh. That is all.
Anonymous says
Getting out the door to our first day of camp this morning was rough! Hope it goes better tomorrow.
Anon says
Ugh summer sickness is the worst, for both kids and parents!
Anon says
Ha, we got everyone out the door to our first day of camp….but it was a HUSTLE. We live close to our elementary school, which doesn’t start until 8:50, and my kids are early risers and usually eat hot lunch, so our mornings are pretty low key. My kids are being bused this week to an adventure camp, and the bus pick up was like 30 minutes before we usually have to leave for school! Ahhh! My husband and I were in the mindset of “it’s summer! let’s have a nice relaxing morning!” and then suddenly all four of us realized camp mornings actually require a much higher lift, so we were all hustling to get some breakfast in the kids/make lunches/snacks/find bug spray. We got there, somehow, but I just put in a big grocery order of pre-packaged snacks to make lunches/snacks more streamlined.
Anon says
Yeah we live two minutes from elementary school and even the close camps are 10-15 minutes away. It makes a big difference.
Anon says
we are having the opposite experience. we have to be at our elementary school by 7:20am, and while it is closer than our camp, we don’t have to be at camp (which is ten min away) until 8:45, so our mornings are now more relaxed, though there is quite a bit of time at home
Anon says
That’s a brutal start time! My kid doesn’t even usually wake up until 7:30.
Thumb says
I just wanted to say thank you for the commenters here. I posted a month or two ago about my 6 year old still sucking his thumb and starting to chew his clothes and how I felt like a total parent failure for not nipping it in the bud sooner. I didn’t get to respond at the time but reread those comments multiple times. You all were so kind. It really helped de-escalate the situation in our house for me. He still sucks his thumb, but I truly think he’s gotten better about the clothes because I was able to talk to him and say it’s okay if he is having a hard time with the thumb but we need to not ruin our clothes, too. I got him some of the recommended chew necklaces as well, but he’s mostly meh on those. Sometimes it does help redirect when he’s really struggling so I consider this a win, too. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for your kindness, commiseration and lack of judgment. It’s such a good lesson in the power of empathy and compassion for me. Love this community.
Anon says
I missed the earlier thread, but I’ll add that there’s a wide variety of types of chew necklaces and my kids definitely each have their favorites, so it could be worth trying different kinds.
Smells like Teen Spirit says
When did your kids start to have BO and when did you get them deodorant? I have a 3rd grader who won’t be turning 9 till late Fall and she sometimes has the slightest whiff when it’s really sticky and humid out. But now seems young to me? I think my mom gave me a teen spirit stick when I was maybe 10? Curious how others approached it.
Anon says
My oldest got BO right before he turned 7! He’s been wearing deodorant since then. Usually Native brand, but sometimes for sports he uses his dad’s Degree. I think he also doesn’t spend enough effort actually washing them in the shower.
Being around many 3rd graders…there’s definitely a number with BO.
Anon says
With more information coming out about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (especially parabens and phthalates) and their impact on kids, I’d hold off on antiperspirant until after puberty starts. There are “natural” deodorants that admittedly won’t work well when things get dire, but for a nine-year-old where you’re only getting occasional hints of odor, they should be more than fine. I worked for a researcher who studied precocious puberty and the results were a bit eye-opening.
Anonymous says
Really I use Native and it works really well. The only time it wears off is after 24hrs.
Anonymous says
my daughters started getting BO in second grade. I took them to the endocrinologist and this is becoming more common – they didn’t have other signs of precocious puberty. The endo recommended Dove over Native – Native really wasn’t cutting it.
Anonymous says
I used to tutor a 9-year-old girl who had terrible BO, especially in winter when she wore warm clothing in overheated classrooms. The right time for antiperspirant is whenever they start to smell. Deodorant doesn’t actually help with odors; it just adds fragrance to the stink.
Anonymous says
Start with daily baths and hair-washing.
Anonymous says
Age 11 for my son. I and he are both using this, which is fairly effective at fighting odor (not wetness): https://www.amazon.com/Surface-Deep-Anti-Odorant-Dermatologist-Developed/dp/B094NXKBT6
Anonymous says
I have sporty kids. I got them using deodorant before basketball or lacrosse games where they are up in other peoples business wearing tank tops. That was around age 9, and it moved into “throw deodorant on before and after any sport” around 10, then daily by the end of 4th grade / 10.5
Anonymous says
I’ve heard 3rd grade is the year for boys. I’d def start with a natural deodorant (not antiperspirant) and then check in with your pediatrician.
Anoon says
Operations-brain mamas, help me fix the mess that is my kids’ ballet school recital dismissal. This is our third season with this sweet school (which is a nonprofit), so I feel like I am ingratiated enough as a parent and volunteer that I feel comfortable making some suggestions. How would you make this mess better?
Recital is at a local high school theater, and approx 100 kids participate. Right now, they station two volunteers at the interior hallway heading toward backstage. Check in is fine because the call times are staggered, but check out is terrible. The kids are all queuing in the hallway behind the table, the parents (and grandparents, and aunts/uncles/cousins– it’s gotta be 500 people!) are queuing in the same hallway, facing the other direction. The kids come up to the table one at a time and give their name to the volunteer who is supposed to match them with their parent, but the crowd is so dense with people shouting and waving “Maddy! Layla!” they ask the kid if they see their parent and then usher them off into the crowd. Making it worse is release at intermission, in which the kids in Act 1 are released to watch Act 2, but have to leave their bags, etc. backstage. So at Final release, the Act 1 kids have to swim upstream to get backstage to get their bags, then get back in the line to be released a second time. But they have already been “checked out” at intermission, so when they get to the table, there is no way to check them “out” because they never checked back in. It’s a total farce in terms of safety, I saw at least one kid crying because they we released to the crowd and couldnt find their parent.
The main limiting factor is this one, long hallway leading backstage. I imagine there are other emergency exits back there, but I dont know the floor plan (or permissions), so assuming we have only one point of entry/exit, how would you make this better?
Anon says
I’m not sure there’s a great way to do it. Our studio has all the kids on stage at curtain call and then releases them to parents from the stage, starting with preschoolers and working up in age. They ask that only one adult per kid comes to the stage for pickup; other adults wait in the lobby. It’s a bit chaotic but it works. The kids have no contact with their families during the show; they’re with their groups and chaperones and watch the show.
GCA says
We might have the same dance studio. Kids and their stuff are released from stage, one pickup person per family.
Anonymous says
I wouldn’t even bother. It’s a once a year thing. The most they could do is insist only one parent per child go to pick up.
Anon says
yea why are aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. also waiting in that hallway. can’t they wait somewhere else? another alternative which one of our dance recitals did, which is release half the kids from the stage and the other half from backstage
Anoon says
Yes, I was thinking an additional volunteer ushering everyone out to the main lobby so they dont all end up in the hallway– one parent per child and everyone else needs to move on. Half release from the stage is a good idea, too.
It’s twice a year, for whatever that’s worth. Mostly, I want to help because lots of parents complain and it reflects poorly on this little school that I care about.
Anonymous says
Can you make the parents wait outside the stage door? Either have the parents queue and have a volunteer call each child as the parent gets to the door, or have the kids queue and the parents wait in a corral to have their child’s name called. Have multiple volunteers switching off matching kids or parents to speed up the line.
Anon says
Talk to me about video baby monitors. My husband is somewhat against them after seeing a relative be literally obsessed with watching her baby sleep on it (to the exclusion of interacting with anyone else in the room for a week-long trip), but that was a sample size of 1. I personally think it would be helpful to have the video option, even in our small two-bedroom townhouse, since it seems like we’d run a bigger risk of waking the baby up if we go in there to check every time. Maybe one where you can turn the screen off and just hear the audio most of the time? We also might not use it at all at bedtime since the baby’s room will be about 2 feet from our room. What’s your experience been?
Anon says
We had one and I don’t feel I like it was necessary, but it also didn’t do any harm. We primarily used the audio, but having the screen wasn’t a negative and didn’t cause us to stare at it all the time (and I skew anxious).
Clementine says
I’ve had them and not had them. Both are fine. Relative sounds like they have other stuff going on…
Video was most helpful to me when kid was mobile and I needed to validate that kid was in fact fine and didn’t have like a leg stuck in the crib. With my oldest, we could see when he stood up and would say in a low voice over the speaker ‘LAY DOWN. GO TO SLEEP.’ He told us this was ‘God telling him what to do’. That got us through the toddler bed sleep transition. Didn’t work with any other kids though…
GCA says
We never had a baby monitor because we lived in apartments so tiny that the crib was in our room, but the ‘voice of God’ made me cackle…
anon says
i loved having it and am glad i did for two reasons even though we were in a 2 bedroom apartment. (1) we had twins and while i did eventually learn their cries, it was helpful before i did, and then (2) i liked knowing what the problem was if kiddo woke up. like was a limb stuck in the crib, did a stuffie fall out, did someone throw up or just crying for no reason. i most certainly did not stare at it all the time.
TheElms says
We have an audio only monitor and then a separate wifi video one tied to our phones (I know not everyone is comfortable with this). The audio one is on all the time but the video one is only if I want to check it. The video feed was very helpful when we transitioned to a big kid bed to see what was going on in the room and helpful at points during sleep training when I wanted to see that kiddo was ok and just upset without going in the room.
Anonymous says
I have one and find it helpful. My apartment sounds similar to yours (small two bedroom duplex apartment). For me, it’s helpful because I can tell if he needs us to go in or not. We didn’t sleep train so we do go in periodically to sooth him at night. Sometimes he cries out for a minute or 2 just while he’s looking for his pacifier or readjusting his position. If I go in, then it becomes a whole production/I risk waking him. Over time, you learn the baby’s behavior and can tell whether they need you or whether they are going to sooth themselves back to sleep. It’s easier for me to do this via video than with sound alone.
Also, there actually are places in our small apartment we can’t hear him without the monitor (we have really sound proof walls/floors).
I do not have a WiFi enabled monitor, so I can’t check it when I’m out with friends, etc.
An.On. says
Yeah, we have a monitor and when our kid was younger, we’d always check the monitor first to make sure kid was actually awake instead of just yelling in their sleep. Their bedroom door creaks when you close it too, so we didn’t want to open it more than was necessary. Also, for probably a year after they were born, I would wake up thinking that kid was crying out, and it would just be in my head, so having the video there to check immediately meant I didn’t have to get up.
Now they’re older and don’t start yelling as soon as they wake up anymore, I still use it in the mornings to see when they start moving so I can go get them. As for your husband’s relative, simply having a monitor doesn’t require you to check it all the time. Just like a phone, you can choose how much to be absorbed in it.
Anonymous says
We used the Nanit when our kids were little. For baby #1, when we were still newbie parents, I liked having the sleep data and found it helpful. It also felt essential to have video on my phone when taking the dog out.
We continued the Nanit with baby #2, but didn’t really use the sleep data. Eventually we transitioned to a very basic audio monitor, and we still use it today (kids are 5 and 3). Today it’s less about sleep and more about other kinds of monitoring. We keep the audio monitor in the hallway between their rooms so that they can play upstairs while I’m downstairs/ in the basement. We also find it helpful for babysitters.
I think your instincts are right that the video monitor can help you avoid constantly checking on baby, and instead let them self-soothe.
Anonymous says
We have one – Eufy bead, but it’s not WiFi enabled. It has a separate screen, so it is not an app on our phones. You can turn off the screen and just have audio.
We wanted the video option, but didn’t want a WiFi one/app on anything for a few reasons. First, we ourselves would have to install and make updates to the app on the grandparents’ phones (they are not very tech savvy). We also had a nanny. Today, I would jump in front of a bus for that woman, but starting out as first time parents, we didn’t feel comfortable with anyone having 24/7 video access into our home.
Same goes in that some of my mom’s friends who have grand kids do check in on the video monitor. I guess that works for them, does not work for me. I’d feel the need to change the password afeee each time they babysit. Finally, we just didn’t want another thing where we had to use an app our phones. So the separate monitor (we call it “Kid TV”) works for us. The picture is fine, but not high quality by any means.
We do have a WiFi video camera monitor for when we travel. The picture on this one is WAAAAAY better than the Eufy and it lets you store/share videos. I have never felt a need to store or share videos of my kid sleeping. YMMV. I
Anon says
I was against video monitors for the same reason as your husband. We got a non-WiFi one because I worried I would look at my phone too often, and some security concerns. We were in a small 2-bed condo with the first baby. We did cry-it-out, and I found it reassuring to confirm baby was safe and okay, despite the crying. We’re in a 2-story house now and I check on my kids LESS often because I can verify they’re fine. Now with a 3 yo, he can play in his room and I can be on a different floor of the house without worrying. When the 18-month old cries in the night, it’s helpful to check if she’s sick or scared or just awake. She can calm herself down quicker if I don’t go in her room and leave again. I leave the audio off at night now that we’re past the newborn stage because I’m confident the kids will be loud enough to hear if something really is wrong. We don’t talk over the monitor because my husband thinks it’s too creepy (although I’m sure they would be totally fine with it!)
Anonymous says
We have a non-Wifi Eufy and find it incredibly valuable. My child has “talked” in his sleep basically since birth, and it’s so helpful to be able to tell if he’s doing that v. actually awake and/or needs help. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure we’d be going in and waking him up from an actual sleep on the regular.
Anonymous says
Same, I also have a sleep-talker.
AL says
We have the Nanit, and surprised by how much we love it. First, i thought it would be annoying using my phone, but it’s not. I liked that i could look at baby in the mdidle of the night (even when he still slept in my room) and know if he was awake and chatting, or just in active sleep. I also like the feature where you can leave the sound on in the background, which we use every night. To solve the problem re: caregivers, nanny, grandparent, etc, we use an old ipad downstairs, that has all apps/email/text/etc. blocked except for the huckleberry app and the nanit app, and our nanny uses that throughout the day. we share a password for that and don’t worry too much about anyone accessing the baby from outside our home (of course, wifi networks can be hacked). We don’t use the Nanit for any sleep analytics, but we do love it for basic sleep tracking, and love that it tells you how long each nap is so i can quickly look at the monitor, know if i have time to run down and change over the laundry, etc. Especially in those early days of sleep deprivation, not having to remember when we put baby down, or when he last woke up, was amazing! I’d say Nanit is one of our favorite baby items, and I definitely thought i was being over the top when i bought it.
Anon says
Thank you! These responses are helpful.
Anon says
I feel so depressed today. Anyone else?
AwayEmily says
I hear you. We learned on Saturday that our kids have emergency half-days (which means they will only be in school from 8:30 – 11) for three days this week because temps are so high and the school doesn’t have A/C. Add that to the Juneteenth holiday and the whole week feels shot already.
Clementine says
Lol – we learned this an hour ago. Oh, and no aftercare. I am fortunate but I just sent an email to a few of my staff who are parents in the district with young kids that just said, ‘I’m pre-approving any requests off for afternoons this week.’
Anon says
I posted last week about summer being tough so yeah, right there with you. It’s better for me this week because my husband is (briefly) home, but I’m already dreading his next trip which is only a week and a half away.
Mary Moo Cow says
I’m a bit down. My 9 year old asked when I was getting out for summer from my job. I was like, we’ve been through this for 8 summers now, why is this coming up and you aren’t being cheeky? I have noticed she’s been more clingy this summer (the 1.5 weeks so far.) Also, DH and my kids made sure I had an excellent birthday this weekend but I feel DH didn’t have a great Father’s Day because of work/life stressors that are hanging over his head. So that made it hard to look forward to today.
Commiseration. I hope your day ends better than it started.
Anon says
i’ve been feeling kind of anxious/depressed lately. summer barely started, yet ours is so short this year i feel like it is already over and hoping we get good teachers next year at school bc our district is in turmoil. awaiting results/meeting from neuropsych eval for one of our twins. two trips coming up with extended family which can be fun, but also stressful. sometimes feel like making friends as an adult/building community is like being back in middle school. maybe my ssri just isn’t working as well at it once was and i should find a psychiatrist and get new meds.
anon says
Yep. We’ve been doing fun summer activities; the problem is, they haven’t actually felt fun to me and I don’t know why. My sleep patterns get really screwed up every June because it stays light SO LONG that I’m sure that’s part of the problem. Even when I’m tired, I have a super hard time settling down.
Anon says
This is a real thing! I went to Iceland and was basically completely unable to sleep because it never got dark. Even with blackout curtains, my body just didn’t think it was time to sleep even when I was incredibly exhausted. It’s obviously not as extreme in the US, but I still struggle with shorter nights this time of year.
Anon says
Update – I’m the poster from last week who was debating when to tell my boss I’m about 20 wks pregnant. I told her in our check in at the end of the week, and she had no idea. I mentioned that I’ve lost weight, am wearing smaller clothes, due to suffering from HG, and a lot of people replied that everyone surely knows. So that was an interesting data point.
She seemed happy for me but shocked. She asked if I’m quitting and will I return. I assured that I am fully committed to returning.
She asked how I would like to tell the rest of the small team. We’re talking 3 more people. Should I inform them individually? I can’t recall a colleague ever telling me they’re pregnant. Usually I would just hear there’s a baby shower being planned.
Anon says
Well, many people are polite enough not to say “uh yeah it was obvious.” I’m glad it went well, but I wouldn’t assume someone had no clue just because they acted like they didn’t know.
If your team is only 3 people I’d probably say something to them directly, rather than leading them find out through the rumor mill. I don’t think it matters if you tell people individually or at the beginning of a team meeting.
Anon says
If they are truly going to pretend they don’t know, then does it matter if they’d figured it out? Who cares at that point?
Anon says
No, I don’t think it really matters whether people figure it out. Some people will figure it out even if you tell early, but that doesn’t mean you need to tell before 12 weeks.
I do think it can get really awkward if you wait much later than 20 weeks to announce, but that has to do with people not having enough notice about your leave, not people figuring out that you’re pregnant.
Anon says
If you are at all overweight, it is entirely possible that people can’t tell. I’m a size 16, and People were surprised when I told them around 22 weeks. But I was still in basically the same size clothing, and my body shape had not changed yet.
Maybe thin women can’t hide it. But some women can
Anon says
I know this seems like a big deal to you, but this is just a blip in your co-worker’s lives. They will congratulate you, adjust, and get on with their day. I would just mention it in your next team meeting, and maybe let your boss know you’d like to bring it up ahead of time.
Anon says
+1 you’re overthinking this. They’ll smile and say congrats. It’s not a big deal to them.
Anon says
Thanks for this perspective! Given how stressful my job is, it’s not surprising I’m overthinking.
Anon says
I’m a bit behind you in gestational age and only my immediate supervisor already knows. I’m planning to tell the rest of my small company after 20 weeks. However, I HATE HATE HATE the “big reveal” and all eyes on me so I’m planning to ask my supervisor to just put it out in the grapevine for me. Maybe that’s an option.
Anon says
You might consider casually dropping to your colleagues that you don’t want a baby shower, if showers are common and you don’t want a big reveal situation. It could be in the same conversation as your announcement. “I want to let you know that I’m pregnant! I’m due in [month]. I’m excited, but no need for a shower or anything. As I get closer to [month], I’ll start communicating a transition plan.”
Anon says
Saying “no need for a shower or anything” at work feels really presumptuous to me, unless some has asked you directly if you want a shower.
Anon says
I kind of resent when people ask if a mom-to-be plans to quit after having a baby. I’m sure very few dads-to-be are asked. Why can’t supervisors just reframe the question as, “let’s discuss a plan for transition”?
I’d tell your colleagues at a routine meeting, unless there’s a major transition plan necessary (like someone becoming the first chair of an upcoming trial) such that it makes sense to do a one-on-one.
Anon says
Yeah, my jaw would have dropped if my boss asked if I was planning to quit. And I’m not someone who is particularly ambitious or career-focused. But from what OP shared about this workplace in her previous post, it sounds like it’s very hostile to working parents in general.
anon says
I’m sorry – she asked if you were quitting? What the what????
Anon says
OP here – yes, she did. I wasn’t expecting that, so I assured her I’m fully committed to the company and intend to return. She seemed happy about that.
I agree no one would ask a man if he’s quitting!
It’s true I am job searching privately. My workplace is pretty toxic, with fully half my team having quit and no positions rehired, meaning more and more work for those of us left. But I’m the primary breadwinner. I can’t financially afford to quit, especially given my work offers no paid leave, and we can’t bank or otherwise use our “unlimited PTO”, at all, during leave.
Anon says
I had a similar experience where people on this board and the main board were adament that everyone already knew. But when I told them at 20+ weeks, it was clear they didn’t know (and not just in a polite, not faking it way). I think there are 3-4 people here who are very tuned into who is pregnant and think everyone else is too
Anon says
OP here – yeah, I think this can really vary. I’m in several FB groups with women with due dates in the same week, and everyone else seems to have bumps of varying sizes. Not me.
I’ve told some close friends, and they communicated surprise. I’ve asked if they could tell, and they couldn’t. One said he noticed I’ve lost weight, which made him even more confused. I’m plus size and tall. I’m wearing workwear that hasn’t fit since pre-covid due to losing 2 dress sizes from HG.
I do water aerobics in a swim suit, and I have no bump. I carry my weight in my hips and butt, relatively flat stomach. I’ve told several friends as well as the instructor. They were all surprised too. I find it hard to believe everyone is feigning surprise.
Anon says
Anyone who is looking to the belly for the first sign of pregnancy doesn’t have much experience with pregnancy. It’s always obvious in the face and boobs way before any visible “bump.”
Anonymous says
It’s not about the bump. Your face gets wider. It also shows in your legs but that can happen from hormonal BC too. If you are losing weight that might counteract it.
Anonymous says
The utter obsession on this board with claiming to know the second a woman is pregnant is the weirdest flex.
Anon says
I agree!!
Anon says
Late to the party here but one million percent agree.
Anon says
Remind me of the light at the end of the tunnel….my 7 month old has been in daycare (big daycare center setting) since 4 months old. It feels like he’s been sick non-stop. He’s been home with a fever at least 1 day a week every 2-3 weeks. I’m pumping round the clock to give him as much breastmilk as possible to boost up his immune system the best I can. I have a 4 year old, and I recall she was sick as a baby. But she was an infant at the beginning of covid when everyone was washing hands a lot, cleaning all the time, and masking, so it was a lot less often than this. Any anecdotal takes on when the infant illnesses taper off?
Anon says
The rule of thumb our ped gave us was that the # of illnesses would get cut in half approximately every year, and that mostly proved true for us (with the caveat that my kid’s second winter in daycare was 2020-2021 so there was basically no illness due to masks and social distancing). The first winter was definitely the worst by far!
Anon says
Sigh. Kid camp home from camp today telling me it was horrible and she doesn’t want to go back. I probably should have known this wouldn’t be a great fit (it’s nature camp and she’s NOT an outdoorsy kid) but I guess I thought there would be more nature-themed art and science activities, like looking at bugs with a magnifying glass and stuff like that, rather than just hiking through the woods all day, which is apparently what it was. It’s only one week so I think she can tough it out but it’s not a great feeling to have an unhappy kid. :/
Anon says
Last summer i had a kid who was excited about camp and ended up not liking it at all. A lot of the activities were up her alley but she said there was a mean counselor. Every day after she was all smiles but within an hour informed me she was not going back the following day and every morning with lots of tears. It was torture for me, especially since we were on vacation and a bit hard for me to enjoy myself thinking about this. A few things that helped were (1) telling her after this session she never had to go back, (2) hiding something in her lunch every day (a sticker, a Hershey kiss, etc). I also find it hard to believe that they literally hiked all day- it perhaps felt like a long time to her, but i highly doubt it was all day and maybe tomorrow will have different activities
Anon says
Thanks! I like the lunch treat idea. She did say they had some breaks and I know it wasn’t nothing but hiking, but from looking at the photos they sent it does seem a lot more intense and less fun for her than I had expected. There were also some issues that we can remedy (e.g., she didn’t have a lunch because she was being picked up at noon, but apparently they eat at 11 and she felt left out) so hopefully tomorrow will be a little bit better.
Anon says
Oh she’s only there for half day? I bet they do the hiking in the morning before it gets too hot and maybe do other activities in the afternoon