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My youngest picked out these rain boots for me to feature, so this rec is from my four-year-old to yours!
These cute frog rain boots have a 7″ shaft to keep little feet dry, a flexible sole for puddle jumping, and handles for an easy on. Just rinse them off and wipe clean. And, since May flowers follow April showers, they work for gardening too!
Western Chief’s rain boots are available at Nordstrom for $35. They come in sizes 5 (toddler) to 4 (big kid). If your kids aren’t into frogs, consider these other options including glitter, unicorns, and 4-wheelers.
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ 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 – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
Summer Nanny Advice says
My kids (toddler, preschooler) are in daycare full time; we’ve never had a nanny or full time babysitter. We’re moving this spring and I want to hire a summer nanny/sitter to cover the gap until they start full time school/daycare in Sept.
I already have a few leads (came from references/other moms in the area) and am interviewing candidates over the next few days. All the candidates are teachers who are off for the summer. What questions do you ask? How do I secure them for the summer – do you pay them first week salary to ensure they don’t take another position? Do you pay off the books in this scenario?
This is new to me – thanks for any advice!
govtattymom says
We had a fantastic experience with this! I interviewed a few candidates on the phone and invited two over to the house to meet the kids. After checking references, I offered the job to a college student (she turned out to be an amazing nanny)! I paid her to work a few days while I was still watching the kids (maybe not necessary in your scenario, but I was still on maternity leave so it worked for us). We paid on the books and used Poppins Payroll (made everything so easy). We like our nanny so much we used her again the next summer. My biggest piece of advice is to ask about experience with younger kids. Some nannies are great with big kids but struggle with preschoolers (and vice versa). Good luck!
anon says
There’s no way to guarantee the nanny won’t decide to do something else after accepting the position. I think hiring someone who is specifically looking for a limited-term position for a specific reason (school starting in the fall, big trip planned in fall, grandchild to be born in the fall, etc) helps.
I think paying a first week salary well in advance could leave you with no nanny a one week’s salary less in your pocket.
Anon says
Favorite books on authoritative parenting? Open to a range of exact styles but want to avoid anything pointlessly strict or excessively “gentle.”
Anon says
A lot of the books that get mentioned here all the time fit that mold. True “gentle parenting” IS authoritative, while the Instagram version is more watered down and permissive. I like everything by Tina Payne Bryson and Dan Seigel, and How to Talk So Kids Will Listen. I read a lot of parenting books, and keep going back to those for the basics.
Anon says
I guess I mean that I don’t want anything that says that timeouts are abusive or that a parent forcing a child to brush teeth will scare them for life, for example. I’m sure there are other elements of gentle parenting that will be a great fit.
Anon says
Holding firm boundaries is a key part of true gentle parenting, and of these books. If something needs to get done, you can offer the choice for the child to cooperate/do it, or you gently restrain and get it done. None of the books would disagree with that. Janet Lansbury is BIG on boundaries and projecting confidence in your authority.
I take your point about timeouts in that many of the books may advocate for “time ins”, but as AwayEmily says, modify the system for your own kids and instincts. I don’t think you’re going to find a book that gives you an exact roadmap and doesn’t challenge *any* of your own thinking. You must be wanting to learn from experts for some reason!
Anon says
Right, but you must acknowledge that the phrase “gentle parenting” has come to encompass a lot of permissive parenting, regardless of what its underpinnings were. If someone says they’re not interested in that style, they’re more likely than not responding to that trend. Words and definitions change over time and people disagree on them too.
Anon says
I do acknowledge it, and that is why I initially clarified that these older books, which are classified as gentle parenting, should not be tossed out with the bath water that is Instagram GP. They ARE among the original authoritative parenting texts.
Anon says
+1 this is one of my pet peeves. Gentle parenting IS authoritative parenting. Influencers have totally warped it into permissive parenting.
Anonymous says
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and the Lisa Damour books are the only ones I have found useful. Lisa Damour is mostly about the big-picture issues involved in parenting older kids, though. How to Talk has some nice strategies such as using a single word or phrase to tell kids what you want them to do instead of begging and explaining (shoes on!).
1-2-3 Magic was popular maybe a decade ago and is more focused on discipline through timeouts but I didn’t read it.
Re. timeouts, I consider myself to be an authoritative parent and do not find timeouts effective as a punishment for bad behavior. I do find that sending an angry or defiant kid to their room is an effective cooldown strategy, which is not the same thing as a “consequence” or deterrent. In terms of the “gentle parenting is authoritative parenting” argument, I think the difference is in the degree of explaining/wheedling/overempathizing. As an authoritative parent I absolutely acknowledge my child’s feelings. But I don’t fan the flames with endless discussion. It’s OK not to like everything you have to do, but you still have to do it. And many (I would argue most) kids who are “disregulated” and having an outburst or tantrum just need some quiet alone time to process their feelings by brooding, reading a book, whatever.
Anon says
OP here and thanks for this – your second paragraph put the finger on what I’m looking for. I’m just not into the endless discussion/validation of every feeling, no matter how minor – “I hear you that your yogurt is too cold today. It’s hard when it’s cold. I understand. Do you want to hug your teddy?” That’s not what we’re looking for at all. I don’t want to dismiss my child’s feelings or lean hard into “because I said so,” but there has to be another way.
Anonymous says
The middle way is to acknowledge the feeling briefly and then move on. Oh, I see you are mad because we had to turn Bluey off. It’s time to go now! Then pick them up if they won’t come on their own, and just go even if they are screaming.
I always give moms with screaming kids in grocery carts a smile to let them know that at least some bystanders understand and respect that they are holding the line.
Anon says
There is a podcast episode that might help you, of the Raising Good Humans podcast:
“ S2 Ep 51: What’s the Deal with “Gentle Parenting”? with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
Join Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Dr. Aliza Pressman in a discussion about making sense of the disconnect between “gentle parenting” and “limit setting” and how things get lost in translation. “
I loved this episode, because Dr Bryson clarifies that GP/authoritative is NOT endless validation and coddling. She says sometimes the moment calls for that, but other times she shouts at her kids to just put on their shoes, or tells them they are pains in the butt (her kids are teens now) and is just REAL and authentic. It is a super refreshing take.
I think a lot of the “issues” with GP as presented today is an emphasis on scripts and the right things to say and do. But if you go back to those “fathers and mothers” of the movement, it’s really about connecting with your kids on a deep level, and treating them/disciplining them in a way that feels authentic to and respectful of your relationship. How that looks in a family could be very different, based on the personalities and temperaments involved
Anony says
I am not a parenting expert in any way, but I totally agree that part of teaching kids emotional regulation is not dwelling on minor problems endlessly, and I wanted to share a strategy around this that has worked really well with my kids. We talk about things as being a little, medium, or big bummer. So, yogurt being the wrong temperature is a little bummer, falling might be medium (depending on the size of the bonk, I guess!), etc. etc. My kids (who can definitely be dramatic like all kids, but also aren’t highly sensitive, so YMMV, of course) have totally adopted this and got really good at reasonably identifying the size of their feelings along with the feelings themselves by 3-ish.
anon says
12:10, I love this idea about big / medium / little bummer. I think that could work really well to validate feelings without getting all swept up in them.
Anon says
I agree with Anony and think it’s actually even more important with sensitive kids. I have a highly sensitive, anxious kid who can get very upset about small things. We’ve had a lot of conversations about what’s a big deal and what’s not, and how we need to move on from smaller things and not let them derail the day. I’m sure people who see us in public may think I’m a very harsh, unsympathetic parent. But I really don’t think it helps her for me to lean into her feelings about little things and hold her while she cries for an hour because she got a scrape.
Anon says
I’m also intrigued by the Dr Aliza Pressman book (along the Lisa Damour lines, but for little kids). I haven’t read it yet so can’t recommend, but I do like her podcast
AwayEmily says
This is maybe not as specific as you would like but my approach has been to read a bunch of books, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t, and kind of cobble together my own best practices from that. Just to give a quick example — I love the way Janet Lansbury talks about saying “no” to playing with kids if you don’t want to, and the importance of letting them cry/be mad when you set boundaries. I also am totally NOT on board with her potty-training ideas or much of her infant approach. So, basically just reading a lot of different things with an open mind and not dismissing an entire book/author just because you don’t like one aspect of it. I’ve also taken things (and left things) from How to Talk so Kids Will Listen, Hunt Gather Parent, Whole-Brain Child, etc. And of course lots of talking with friends and getting advice from people on here. Good luck!
Anon says
Thank you – that’s great advice and fits with what I’m looking for.
Boston Legal Eagle says
And also, different kids may need different things. I feel like Lansbury (and I generally like her ideas on all emotions are fine and listen to her podcast occasionally) have the tone of this one parenting technique will “work” for all kids but that’s just not been my case. A kid who keeps testing boundaries doesn’t need to be validated for all their emotions – sometimes, you just need to raise your voice and get things done. Whereas another kid might appreciate a gentler approach.
Anon says
This is my big problem with parenting books and why I gave up reading them. It’s not that they don’t have some good ideas or strategies; they do. But they take the tone that if the strategies don’t work, you’re not implementing them correctly. Which is just silly. Different kids need different things.
Anonymous says
+1 million.
anon says
YES. Drives me insane. It’s always the parent’s fault if it doesn’t work. /s
anon says
Right. In fact, all the validation can extend the argument and boundary pushing. I am just … not a huge Lansbury or Dr. Becky fan because it all seems so soft and unrealistic for anyone who has a kid who likes to argue for the sake of arguing. Or if you, yourself, are not a particularly soft person, the scripts sound robotic and weird.
Lisa Damour is good, though. I also really enjoyed “How Not to Lose Your Sh!t With Your Kids.” The title sounds more provocative than it really is. It’s all about being in a good place yourself so that you can be the effective leader your kids need you to be.
Fallen says
Love the Alan Kazdin parenting course on coursera (it’s free)
One of the therapists in my private practice specializes in parent training and he recommended it to me; and it has been a game changer (I am very much a gentle parent probably overly so which has caused my kids to basically have me wrapped around their fingers, and this course has helped me take some actionable steps to change the dynamics)
Fallen says
Link here: https://www.alankazdin.com/everyday-parenting-the-abcs-of-child-rearing/
I feel like I read all the parenting books mentioned above and then some and found this course 100x more helpful than any parenting book, but it may just be me.
There’s also quite a bit of research on all of his techniques.
Anon says
Thanks everyone!! Really appreciate the input.
Anon says
Has anyone used a bedwetting alarm with an older child? (DD is 12). Curious as to any recommendations on brand or model of alarm and how the training experience went?
Anonymous says
Anyone have recommendations for a specific Disney World planner? We’re looking to book our second family trip for the fall. The one I used last time didn’t do much beyond book my hotel, which I can do myself. Looking for someone who’s willing to help on dining reservations, etc. Thanks!
Anonymous says
Be Our Guest Vacations. We used Laney Carlin for our recent family trip. She was great.
Anon says
We used Alan at Let’s Talk Travel, he got us a lunch reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, which is notoriously hard to get.
Anon says
Yes we just got back and ours saved the day after our flight there was canceled and we had to drive 14 hours to get there. Texted with me all day/night on a Sunday. Offered to wake up to make my first Genie+ reservation (he is in central time) Got us every single dining reservation we wanted, including Cinderella’s Royal Table and the Bippity Boppity Boutique. [email protected]
Anonymous says
Thanks all!