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I’m going through all my kids’ summer clothes and need to add some shorts to my shopping cart.
I can see my youngest wearing these denim shorts from Old Navy on repeat this summer. These unisex shorts have a built-in drawstring for a perfect fit, and elasticized waist and stretch fabric for comfort. The pull-on style is much appreciated by potty training parents everywhere.
These jean shorts are on sale for $10 at Old Navy and comes in sizes 12-18M to 5T.
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- 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 – 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
Anon says
Where can I find maternity suits? I have a trial scheduled for when I’m 27 weeks pregnant. Although I don’t know how big I’ll be at that time, I want to start finding options so I don’t have to worry about it last minute. I work for the government, so am looking for something on the cheaper side. I would like to stay under $150 if possible and ideally under $100 since I don’t expect to wear this more than once.
Mary Moo Cow says
I would see what your rental or local B/S/T or consignment options are, or, let go of the idea that it has to be a matchy-matchy suit and look for a dress with blazer or pants, nice shirt and “close enough” blazer to wear on top. I’m a government attorney, too, so I feel your pain in having a business formal dress code in a casual world, but that stage of pregnancy can be an exception. When I was pregnant and going to court, I had one suit from Motherhood (it was cheap and it looked it) and a black and white dress that I wore with a black blazer. I tried to keep styling simple with good, solid, classic jewelry to elevate it.
Anon says
I never found maternity suits that looked court appropriate. I ended up getting dark maternity dresses and putting a sized up non-maternity blazer over. (The quality of non-maternity blazers is better than anything in the maternity section.)
Anon says
I’ll add that the sized up blazers were nice to have for when I returned to work. It took me a while to fit back into my pre-preg clothes so they plugged a gap.
busybee says
I was in court daily throughout pregnancy and didn’t have a suit. I did sheath dresses (seraphine had a decent sale but still more expensive than I would have liked) with a regular blazer over top. I just used blazers I already owned and didn’t button them.
NYCer says
This is what I would do too.
Anonymous says
Same. And at 27 weeks you should be showing enough that people will cut you slack.
anon says
+1 this is what I did during my pregnancy when I was at a Big 4, nobody batted an eye, especially when you’re visibly pregnant.
TheElms says
I had a few unexpected business formal client meetings pop up when I was 34+ weeks in both of my pregnancies. The Calvin Klein starburst dress (Macys and Amazon tend to have it) in a size up from my usual size worked well. It was stretchy enough to accommodate my bump and I’m 5’3″ and carried pretty large, so unless you are tall (which might make it too short with a big bump – with my enormous bump it was about an inch above my knees) I think it would likely work for most people. I wore it with a MM Lafleur jardigan and with a regular suit jacket open.
Anon says
I did a two week jury trial at 32 weeks pregnant. I had been doing dresses with non-maternity blazers, but I couldn’t do tights at that point in my pregnancy (it was December). So, I had dress pants in gray and in black. I alternated non-maternity blazers with those pants. I did have to size up on the blazers from my pre-pregnancy size but this worked really well for me. I didn’t feel the need to have a matched suit and I was obviously pregnant and figured the jury and judge would cut me some slack.
Anon says
It’s a federal jury trial. Do you still think it’s ok to wear non-matching blazer and dress? I’m worried how the jury will take that
Chl says
A- I had an Isabella Oliver maternity blazer that I LOvED! B- I know this is the tip of the iceberg but is our society so messed up that a pregnant woman wearing a non matching dress and jacket is enough to sway the outcomes of our justice system? (Esp given that half those jurors will be wearing some sort of novelty or obscene tshirt or sexy therapist sandals?). tgif. I think whatever you put together will be great!
Anonymous says
I am in state court, not federal, but if you are really worried about it wouldn’t same color, different texture be sufficient? I don’t think most jurors are savvy enough to demand that the dress and blazer actually be made of the same fabric.
Anon says
I don’t know how you’re going to find any suit for less than $100. That seems like an unreasonable price point.
Summer Reading Programs says
FYI, because summer reading programs came up recently, Papa John’s and Barnes & Noble are both doing summer reading programs with prizes. My kids brought the info home from school. Papa John’s has a log and a coupon, and if you read a number of books over the summer, you can turn in the log for a free pizza. B&N has a list of suggested books for grade levels and if kids read and log a certain number of those books, they can turn in the list for a free book.
Anon says
Are these programs sign up in person only? Searching for Papa John’s summer reading just takes me to library programs, and B&N just seems to have a list of popular books in their summer reading section.
Mary Moo Cow says
Hmm. I don’t know. My kids brought home paper flyers with paper logs.
Anonymous says
For B&N, you go to the store and get a paper form.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
I love this! Thank you for sharing. I didn’t read the original thread but I LOVED the one my city library did growing up. Unfortunately it is now online which is great for accessibility but doesn’t bring me the same excitement level – it’s just one more thing for a parent to track…
B&N brings back so much nostalgia for me and this Papa Johns move reminds me of Book It! from the 90’s (IYKYK). Thank you for making me smile this morning!
Mary Moo Cow says
My library is reintroducing a paper log for summer reading for the first time in three years!
I bought my daughter the American Girl Book It Set for her birthday! I think I enjoyed it more than she did. Where’s the petition to bring that program back?!
Anon says
It still exists. It didn’t go anywhere. It turns 40 next year (like me).
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Ok this set sounds like a dream. Team Molly!!!!!!!!!!!! While also a nod that I’m so glad they’ve diversified – young me could not even imagine there would be a Kavi Sharma – my Grandmother’s maiden name – doll and series.
Anonymous says
I am still quite disturbed by the fact that my childhood has been turned into a historical character. When I was a kid Molly was the most recent historical character and her story was set well before my mother’s childhood.
Anon says
Right? The 80s “historical” doll was bad enough, the 90s doll is downright offensive.
I always thought Molly was basically my mom’s age (my mom was born in 1952) but apparently Molly was born in the 1930s! As a child I definitely thought of them as the same age though.
Anon says
My library still has a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza as a prize for summer reading.
Anonymous says
But where is there a Pizza Hut where you can sit down and order a personal pan pizza and play those weird table video games?
Anon says
Book It still exists!
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
OMG You’re right!!!!
https://www.bookitprogram.com/
Spirograph says
This brings me joy. I can picture the big circular hologram pins we used to get: Blue background, stars shooting out of an open book. I loved Book It so much!
Cb says
Our library is doing something this summer, and I’m excited!
anonM says
Happy Friday!
We are starting OT for my oldest, and at the very initial meeting, the therapist said DS (5.5) may have motor processing difficulties, which may be impacting our concerns (excessive anxiety/worry and hard time following directions). We are going to meet with her for a parental education session but would appreciate any insight from anyone who has dealt with this. Any questions to ask or things to look out for?
Anon says
Motor processing difficulties is pretty vague. I guess I’d say that it’s great if it helps your kid, but I’d go into it with a healthy dose of skepticism. We saw an OT a couple years ago with a slightly younger child. The therapist was a lovely person and my kid really enjoyed going there, but in hindsight I don’t think it accomplished anything that wouldn’t have been accomplished simply by my child growing up and emotionally and physically maturing. And it did start to feel fishy to me that every time one problem seemed to be improving, they found another thing to work on and the problems didn’t always seem to be very related to the issues we were seeing. I think OT is overused in the US today and my pediatrician shares my opinion. On the other hand, OT doesn’t have any real downside other than the cost and time, so if those things aren’t burdensome to you, it may be a “why not do it” situation.
Anonymous says
The “why not do it” is that waiting lists are so long that if your kid doesn’t really need OT, you are taking a spot from a kid with a legitimate need.
Anon says
That’s a good point. I was thinking of the risks to her kid/family and it doesn’t have the same downsides unnecessary medication does.
But I think this also probably depends where you live — waiting lists are not long for OT in my small city even though we only have one peds OT practice. We normally wait much longer for MDs (we had to wait 9 months to see an ENT).
anonM says
I don’t think you meant this in a mean way, but how exactly am I supposed to know IF my kid has a legitimate need if I don’t get the eval recommended by my kid’s preschool teacher (a very experienced teacher who repeatedly recommended this)? And if I can’t rely on a professional to determine the “legitimacy” of the need, how do you decide? I’m certainly not trying to take a spot from a needy child if that is what is implied.
Anonymous says
I think you know in a situation like Anon at 10:42 describes where new “issues” that you don’t think are real issues keep cropping up as you are about to discontinue therapy.
TheElms says
DD#2 is 15 months and has her entire life gotten bad diaper rash that turns into a yeast infection. Now that its getting warm, her diapers are additionally starting to chafe her thighs to the point they bleed. We’ve tried different sizes and brands of diaper and different diaper creams and nothing seems better than anything else. We change her super often, except over night when she goes a full 12 hours generally. Our pediatrician has suggested we seriously consider attempting to potty train as early as possible – specifically at the end of the summer when she will be 18 months. This sounds nuts to me.
We didn’t potty train DD#1 until she was 2.5 and seemed ready. It worked really well and she was fully potty trained in a weekend with almost no accidents during the training process or since.
Has anyone ever successfully potty trained an 18 month old without it turning into a months long ordeal? Any suggestions? I’m skeptical she will even have enough words at that point to tell us she needs to go potty. Also we’d have to use a little potty right? (With DD#1 she just used the regular potty and it was never an issue and in my view it eliminated the transition from little potty to big potty which I appreciated). Also taking suggestions for magical diapers, diaper creams, or ways to prevent diaper chafe.
Anon2 says
In Montessori families it’s very common to begin toilet training (learning) between 12-18 months, and to be complete by age two, so you may want to do a Google search along those lines for advice and process. I have seen it work so it isn’t THAT crazy. And since this is a medical issue that is impacting her life, it’s worth considering.
Alternatively, “airing out” aka going bare bottomed is great for healing rashes. You might consider getting some cotton cloth diaper prefolds, loosely putting those on (with a device called a snappi or pins) and letting her wear those around at home.
Cerulean says
I would also look up elimination communication. Not that you’ll use that method, but from what I know, it works on ways to communicate with a young child about going to the bathroom and associate going with a toilet.
Anon says
My friend is Chinese and they potty train their kids really early, younger than 18 months. It can be done. It doesn’t seem fun but neither does your current situation.
I wouldn’t worry much about the little potty. It will solve your issue, so who cares when she ditches it, and she’ll figure it out eventually. I tend to think the concern about that is overhyped (I had a kid with extreme anxiety about the potty who toilet trained late and switching from little potty to regular toilet was comparatively no big deal).
anonM says
This sounds really challenging! Maybe given all these issues, she will be happy to be diaper free? I’d also start now getting her on the potty/trying at key times like before bed, so when you try to “train” at 18 mo it may not be as much of an issue? Also for chafing, maybe a natural ingredients runner’s anti-chafe stick/balm?
TheElms says
The anti-chafe stick is a good recommendation I hadn’t thought of, thanks!
Anon says
+1 to anti-chafe. I would try the Monistat brand.
Also, I know you said you tried different diaper creams, but have you tried Calmoseptine? It’s in the adult section, not the baby section. Our ped recommended it to us after our daughter had diaper rash that broke the skin. They told us to apply that and then a thick, thick layer of plain Aquaphor over top. Worked incredibly well.
Anonymous says
I don’t think you really potty train an 18-moht old. You mainly train the parents to run the kid to the potty.
Anon says
I don’t think it’s impossible! I seem to recall seeing data at some point that the age of potty training increased with the rise of disposable diapers (makes sense to me, if I was washing dirty cloth diapers all the time I’d be rushing my kid on too!) so maybe even a generation ago it was around this age. I know only a handful of kids who have potty trained at that age but since I know more than one, I think it sometimes works! Good luck!
Anonymous says
Cloth diapers make it easier for kids to feel when they are wet, too.
Cerulean says
Yup, I have an 18 month old who’s in cloth most of the time. She’s now patting her bottom and running over to the changing pad on the floor to ask for a diaper change after going. I’m not super interested in pushing training, so we’re kind of waiting and seeing how she does. My mom said I was fully trained by 19 months with little effort, which sounded bonkers to me, but apparently can happen.
Anonymous says
I think feeling a wet diaper after the fact and knowing that she’s about to pee are two very different things.
Cerulean says
Of course, but feeling the wetness helps them make the connection.
Anon says
In the 1960s and 70s, the average age of potty training was 18 months. Idk how or if it was advisable, but it can be done…
Anonymous says
I have boys but that sounds nuts. I guess you could try it though. For us, Resinol is the best diaper cream. It has resolved some really bad rashes (including one that was bleeding after amoxicillin diarrhea).
Anon says
One of my kids started telling us when she pooped very early, like 14 months. I think they know. Whether or not they care enough to use a potty is another matter.
For diaper chafing, I use aquaphor around the edges. Baby powder is no longer popular but maybe worth a try to make sure nothing in there is damp?
EDAnon says
We used this diaper cream: https://www.weleda.com/product/d/calendula-diaper-care-cream
It was amazing and no other diaper cream was nearly as good. If you haven’t tried it, it might help in the meantime.
An.On. says
For the times that it looks like the diaper rash is turning into a yeast infection, at the suggestion of our pediatrician we use a thin layer of lotrimin which is basically athlete’s foot cream and then apply a thick thick layer of A+D cream (usually “treat” not “prevent”) over it.
HSAL says
We live on a cul de sac with a dozen kids all between 3 and 7. Our kids have a little “big wheel”-type vehicle they got last year. Without fail, every time we try to drive the car around at least one or two other families come out and the other kids are asking for their turn. I don’t mind letting the other kids use it, but I’m also trying to balance with letting my kids have all the turns they want – after all, it’s their car. Honestly, it makes me get it out less often because it becomes so much more of a production.
What’s the best language to use? “You can take a turn when they’re done”? One kid would not stop asking for his turn and I semi-snapped and told him my own kids hadn’t even all had a chance to drive yet, so he needed to be more patient. I’m also open to occasionally asking the parents to keep their kids inside if they’re only coming out because the car is out – we get along well and I’m confident they’d understand.
Anon says
Can you take the car somewhere else? Go get ice cream or something like that?
Anon says
It’s totally fine to say they can have a turn when your kids are done — or even to say “we’re taking a quick walk today, another day you can have a turn.” As the other parent I would totally understand that (I’m not big into forcing “sharing”). And if the other parent then has to deal with a screaming kid while you ride away, maybe they will proactively keep their kid back
Anonymous says
“No, no turns today, maybe another time”. Do not ask parents to keep their kids inside. You can say not to a small child. You are an adult I have confidence in you.
Anonymous says
This. Or take the thing somewhere else to play with. I would be a little annoyed with the other parents, though. If my own kid were demanding to use another kid’s toy I would tell them to cut it out.
Anon says
Agreed – but just saying for the record that I would be SO angry if you asked me to keep my kids inside so yours could play with a toy that they didn’t want to share outside.
Anonymous says
I would be angry about that, but I also wouldn’t be letting my kids demand to ride on another kid’s toy.
Anon says
For sure – but I would want the neighbor to signal to me or my kid that you want my kid to back off. If you are letting my kid have a turn whenever they ask, I’m not going to assume you are silently seething about it. I can definitely help my kid to understand a “no,” but I’m also not going to discourage my kid from asking for a turn for something. For all I know, her kid brought out the toy because her kid wants to play more with other kids.
Anonymous says
Really??? That is shocking to me. Kids playing in a public area are expected to interact and that often means playing with each other’s toys.
Anon says
I think you need to be less grumpy. Those cars are super attractive to kids. They get excited. Use it in your backyard or be prepared to share.
If it’s upsetting you, then have your kids lead the negotiations. They’ll sort out taking turns amongst the kids. Or maybe pull out sidewalk chalk and kids can put their names on a waiting list? You can put your kids’ names first on the list.
Anon says
Agree on letting the kids negotiate it. It’s an important part of their development to learn how to do this and it’s 100% normal. You can intervene if things go south.
Anonymous says
I support this in theory but you would need to be there to encourage your kids to be assertive. In this situation mine would end up never getting to use her own toy.
Anon says
This is how kids learn to be assertive. If they want to use it, they’ll figure out how to get a turn.
Anonymous says
Not my kid. She always lets other kids push in front of her and then comes home and cries about it. She doesn’t want to assert herself because she’s afraid of hurting other kids’ feelings. Some kids can’t develop assertiveness on their own without coaching. If left to their own devices they will turn into doormats.
HSAL says
I like the idea of leaving it up to the kids. It’s tiring managing double the usual number of requests.
Upset would be a strong word – I’m actually probably more annoyed with the kids who insist on running alongside or in front of it, but honestly I probably need to let their parents deal with that.
Anonymous says
I would be super annoyed at the parents for allowing that.
Anonymous says
I would not let any other kids near one of those battery-powered cars, especially without a bike helmet. I wouldn’t want to be held responsible for their falling out, getting run over, etc. Maybe I’ve seen too many episodes of AFV.
Anonymous says
What the heck. I’m annoyed on your behalf. Your kids shouldn’t have to share their toy just because they leave the confines of your home and your neighbor kids come running out to demand their turn. I like the language – no not today, maybe another day! Just keep repeating until they get it. Hopefully they’ll complain to their parents and the parents will tell them to knock it off without you having to do any more.
Anonymous says
“Today we’re spending some time walking as a family. We’ll play as a group another day.”
Anon says
+1
HSAL says
Oh, I like this.
Anonymous says
Your language suggests that this particular toy is more important to you than you or your children’s relationship with your neighbors. That seems a little sad to me, especially if you’ve chosen to live in a cul de sac.
To be brutally honest–I would never get my kids a vehicle like this, because I associate them with spoiled kids and rich parents and it’s just not my parenting style. I’m guessing at least some of the other parents are thinking something along those lines when you drive by. I would just keep that in mind.
Anon says
I agree with your first paragraph but the second is baffling to me. My kid has a car like this and so do about half the kids in our neighborhood. And we earn a lot less than many here and have a pretty modest lifestyle in general (no country clubs, private schools, luxury vehicles, etc). They start around $150 at Walmart and you can buy them for a lot less used. It’s not exactly out of reach for a middle class family. I’m not sure how this kind of car makes kids spoiled and/or rich.
Anonymous says
I see where this comment is coming from. I don’t think you have to be rich to afford one of the cars. But nearly all of the parents in our neighborhood whose kids have these cars also happen to be a$$holes who don’t supervise their tiny kids playing in the street, park a zillion cars and other vehicles on the street instead of in their driveways or garages and make it difficult to drive down the street, have loud backyard parties late into the wee hours, etc. The cars are a reflection of a certain loud, self-centered mindset that I don’t care to project. Plus that I like to park my actual car in my garage. So we will never have a battery-powered toy car no matter how much the kids beg.
HSAL says
Ahahahaha. That is…very specific.
I’m also on Team All Cars in the Garage, but I’m one of the few people on our street who does.
Anon says
That seems like a lot of projection. And fwiw we have room for it in our garage even with our cars in there and we don’t have an especially large garage.
Anonymous says
I think it may be specific to a certain type of person who lives in our SEUS subdivision. My husband also refuses to play cornhole for the same reason, ha. We have thought more than once about moving to get away from them because they are not fun neighbors to have, but the devil you know and all that.
anon says
Are you my neighbor? Because this tracks.
OP, just say no!
Anonymous says
Re. All Cars in the Garage, this is why you can’t get your toy car out easily. I would prioritize the grown-up cars and dump the toy car. If you want to use the toy car a lot you will probably need to start parking your car in the driveway, which is something I would not be willing to do.
Anon says
We use our toy car at least weekly and still park in the garage… It’s really not that big a deal.
busybee says
I’m guessing that none of the other parents are thinking this.
HSAL says
I guess it’s easy to be snotty about this. If you have those associations I probably wouldn’t want to be your neighbor either. We have fantastic relationships with all our neighbors and their kids. They’ll happily play for hours at multiple houses. And I’m perfectly happy to share, but not every time and not when it means my kids get less time with a toy that only comes out a few times a summer.
Anon says
I’m so jealous of your neighbor situation! It sounds great.
HSAL says
It is! Our cul de sac used to be all older people but in the last 7-8 years a lot of the houses sold and families with young kids moved in.
Anonymous says
Hi, “brutally honest” poster here–sorry this sounds harsher than I intended. I just wanted to flag that some of the lack of involvement you’re seeing from other parents when their kids ask for a turn could be due to thoughts along these lines. Not saying that you deserve those thoughts, but it’s the context I would bring here.
And I stand by the fact that this is a “spendy” toy to have–we live in a million dollar house etc etc but I cannot fathom spending more than $100 on a toy. Even $50 seems like a lot!
Anon says
I actually associate them more with the “keeping up with the Jones/momfluencers” low to middle class crowd…people living paycheck to paycheck but who want their kids to have lots of STUFF, get daily Starbucks and make weekly Target runs, etc. People who have one kid driving while the other sits next to them using an iPad.
I DO NOT think OP is like this, to be clear, but I am finding it funny that we all harbor intense and different stereotypes.
Anon says
Yeah, I agree with the poster at 1:50. I would guess that past a certain (not terribly high) income point there’s probably an inverse correlation between money spent on toys and annual income. Money talks, wealth whispers and all that.
We live a fairly modest lifestyle on a low six figure household income in a small, non-fancy Midwest city, and we have one as do many of our neighbors. My kid loves it and has used it a lot, so it was worth the money for us. We also tend to be about one big gift vs lots of smaller things that would add up to the same cost, which I think is a factor. I would much rather my kid have a $150 toy that’s going to get used all the time instead of a bunch of $25 that are going to get played with once and forgotten about.
Anonymous says
There is a kid on our street who literally texts while driving a battery-powered kiddie Vespa. With no helmet and no shoes.
Anonymous says
I absolutely look down parents who buy those battery-powered cars, but I think rich people who insist that they would never spend more than $100 on a toy are equally pretentious.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Anon at 1:50 – totally separate of the actual reason for this thread – I’ve always wondered who many momfluencers speak to (I’m SO fascinated by them) – and you put it so well. I’m always like “who goes to Target/Walmart/other big box store this often??? Isn’t everyone just getting stuff delivered or doing curbside?” and “Starbucks isn’t even good!” (and yes, I still go there often and have used the app at different intervals).
I feel like my MIL would have been squarely in this space when she had kids in the house – single mom in the 80s-90s with limited budget/time, was/is still obsessed with STUFF (girl, why do you have 73928 sets of china when you don’t cook/don’t host), but had enough exposure to higher income friends/colleagues – the very wealthy doctors at the practice she worked with – to aspire to have certain things. Income inequity, man…
Anon says
Well, well, well. I look down on you all!! The buyers of things, the judgers of things, and judgers of the judgers! (just kidding)
Anon says
No one thinks this
Anon says
I mean, I kind of do. Not in such a strong way, but I much prefer my kids to bike, scooter or walk while outside, and I’m not storing a huge toy in my garage to enable them to be sedentary for even more time each day. My conscious self doesn’t openly judge, but my subconscious definitely does.
HSAL says
I’m not too worried about the one hour they get it out every month.
Anonymous says
Maybe the answer is to get it out more often? Then it won’t be such a novelty to the other kids.
Anon says
I’m with you on the sedentary point (at least as it pertains to my own kids – we only have one because grandparents bought it) but that’s pretty different than thinking people are rich and spoiled just because they have this kind of toy.
HSAL says
Very fair point – I’d like to get it out more, but I physically can’t get it out on my own, so that limits it to when my husband is also available. And it’s a pain even then. And also that would require me to remember to charge it more.
Anon says
Yeah maybe you should bring it out more. You have three kids, right? I imagine they can’t all fit so they won’t be that sedentary if they’re having to take turns riding and walking/biking.
Anonymous says
If the car is difficult to get out, attracts nuisance hangers-on, and is a pain to charge, it sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. That’s a big reason why we never got one. I have learned the hard way that stuff that is difficult to get out or to put away just doesn’t get used. We use our toys more when we have fewer of them.
Anon says
+1 to bringing it out more, or figuring out how to store it so you can bring it out. It quickly loses the novelty. We have one, and it barely gets used anymore.
Also, to assist your kids on a broader level, before you bring it out, give your kids the words to use “Thanks for asking for a turn, but I’m still using it and my [sister/brother] has already asked for the next turn.” Then, you can back your kid up if the neighbor kid asks again – “Hey, our kids are taking their turns now, and we’ll let you know when we are done”. You’ll empower your kids to speak up for themselves – I have a kid who needed a lot of coaching to not just say “yes” whenever a kid asked for a turn.
Regarding whether it is a status thing – I will say that all the adults of a certain age (over 40) would always say whenever it came out that they so badly wanted one back in the 80s. We all have a good laugh b/c I agree! My sister and I REALLY wanted one. So much so that she was the one who actually bought it for my kids — in part because we both wanted one so badly as kids!! We’ve loved using it, and I’ve never thought twice or cared if it sends some secret signal to my neighbors. Also, my kids are now older, and after 10 years of pretty regular use, my sons now periodically take the motor apart and rebuild it to learn about electronics. So, all in all, it’s been a good thing.
Anon says
I’m amazed that multiple people here have sedentary little kids. I appreciate when my kids aren’t constantly zooming around.
Anon says
Agree. No one thinks this, and if they do, you should 100% ignore it. You cannot go through life worrying about who is judging you for stupid stuff.
Anonymous says
Agree. We have the jeep and I make my kids drive around the yard picking up weed piles with it then they drive the weeds over to the woods, take the bucket down into the woods to the compost pile, walk back to the jeep and drive to the next pile.
They also haul rocks and plants in it for me.
Anon says
Why do you feel the need to judge her kids’ toys in that way? Does it really matter what toy they’re fighting over? There’s always going to be something a kid wants that another kid has, whether it’s a power wheels vehicle or whatever wonderful and sophisticated toys you allow your children to play with.
The kids in our neighborhood are always in each others’ backyards and it is sometimes great and sometimes really annoying.
Anon says
I would give each kid (that includes your kids) a 5-minute turn.
Anonymous says
No, that’s obnoxious. It’s her kids’ toy. They can share it or not as they please. I would also be worried about letting other kids use it without their parents’ permission. They may have a helmet rule etc.
Anonymous says
Take the car on a walk away from the house. The kids will stop following once you get past their roaming boundary.
Spirograph says
First, I am really entertained by the Strong Opinions about these cars! I wanted one of them so badly when I was a kid (and never got one), but they are not a thing where I live and my kids probably don’t know they exist.
I have a similar neighborhood & relationship with my neighbors, and hard no on asking other parents to keep their kids away from your toys; although I’m sure they would understand, there’s no way to say this without it sounding grinchy and that’s not the vibe I like to put out to my neighbors. I agree with the suggestion to take a walk with the power wheels and tell the neighbors they can have a turn when you get back.
Anonymous says
Same except I wouldn’t give the neighbors a turn after the walk if you don’t have the energy. “Sorry, we are putting the car away now!”
Anonymous says
CB are you the university that is striking over giving students grades so they can’t graduate?
Anon says
I think a lot of universities in the UK are striking. My husband is a professor in the US but is currently visiting colleagues in Cambridge and has been hearing all about the strike drama.
anon says
love the anti-union angle, anon! JK
Anonymous says
Not OP, but I have to say that a teacher strike when I was 12 made me anti-union for a good part of my life. Punish the business owners for treating the workers poorly, but don’t punish innocent students (or patients, in the case of striking medical workers).
Strike q says
How should teachers or medical workers strike, then?
Anonymous says
They shouldn’t.
Anonymous says
How should they bargain for rights then?
Anona says
This is making me laugh. We had a teacher’s strike when I was that age and my thought was that it was awesome not to have school, not that the evil teachers were punishing us. Different strokes!
Anon says
Ha yeah I can’t imagine many 12 year olds being sad about a teacher strike. We used to have a 5 minute rule where we could leave class if the teacher was more than 5 minutes late, and we would anxiously watch the clock when they were a minute or two behind.
Anonymous says
I hated it because we still had to go to school and sit in the cafeteria or the gym all day doing nothing, with several hundred kids being supervised by like two adults.
anon says
Maybe be mad at the employers for offering such sh*t at the bargaining table that people felt that had to strike????
FYI, in many states certain/all public employees cannot strike. It’s BS — they have actual bargaining power but it is artificially stripped of them.
Anon says
Friday afternoon happy stories/mom wins? My 5 year old just finished a week of dance camp complete with a mini performance today and it was cool to see how much progress she’s made even since the recital in April. We do it because she enjoys it, but it’s nice to see that it’s actually helping improve her balance and coordination. And they gave the parents a cute picture frame each kid had decorated with a photo of the kid dancing. 🥺
avocado says
Little ballerinas are the cutest thing ever! Pre-ballet taught my daughter to skip, for which I am eternally grateful because I didn’t have to do it myself.
My most recent mom win is that my teenager spontaneously decided to walk the dog, which she ordinarily refuses to do, because she “did not want to sit around in my room with the blinds closed.” I now have some hope for the summer.