CorporetteMoms

Updated: Nov 1, 2018 58 Comments · by

Holiday Weekend Open Thread

Recent Recs

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The Hating Game: A Novel Book by Sally ThorneSomething on your mind? Chat about it here. Corporette readers recently recommended The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, and I read it and really loved it! It was very funny — as the publisher describes it, it’s “a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.” (If you like books by Sophie Kinsella, I think you’d like this.) I’m excited about this new author, too — it’s her debut novel. I will note there were a few face-palm moments of “Why is the heroine being so dense?!” but that’s par for the course in a rom-com sort of book. So if you’re looking for something to read over the holiday weekend, or if you’ve got spring break coming up, do take a look The Hating Game, which is $9.44 at Amazon. The Hating Game: A Novel Psst: Happy holidays to everyone celebrating this weekend! This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

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

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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!

Comments

  1. Anon says

    Do people actually have today (Friday) off? My husband and daughter have it off. I’m working from home and putting in random hours here and there between today and tomorrow to make a full day of work. I don’t have it off but have the “flexibility” of a billable hour regime.

    • FTMinFL says

      I asked around to my local friends and, nope, no one has off. Schools, government offices, and public services (e.g., trash pick up) are still running today, too.

    • AIMS says

      I’m on ML but wouldn’t have the day off. The closest to a day off for people I know is early office closure, around 3 pm or so.

    • Boston Legal Eagle says

      I don’t have today off and I’ve never worked anywhere that had today off. I think public schools are closed, which will be a pain when we’re at that stage. Daycare is open, luckily. At least traffic for drop-off was really light!

    • CPA Lady says

      I’m at work… I like to joke that for lent I become a tax collector…. :)

    • Frozen Peach says

      I’m at work, but it’s dead and I’m going stir-crazy! I have lots and lots to do. Much more fun to think about easter eggs and menus.

    • avocado says

      Apparently Good Friday is a government holiday in several states, which I just learned this year because I have a client in one of those states. The financial markets are also closed, which means my husband’s company is off. The kid’s school has a half day because it is the last day of the marking period. I am at work and annoyed about it.

    • EB0220 says

      None of us are off! Kiddo is off of school all week and at camp, which is fortunately open, because husband and I both have to work.

    • Anonymous says

      Schools are closed in NYC today and all next week, but they schedule this break around Passover, and I suspect today’s closure is due as much to Passover as Good Friday. Our schools also close for Eid and Lunar New Year now.

    • Anon says

      When I was growing up (I’m currently 36) my public schools were closed Good Friday because there was a strong Catholic contingent and none of those kids (including me) would be sent to school. It wasn’t worth it for the school to be open if only 20% of kids showed up. My mom always drove me nuts because some of my friends (who weren’t Catholic) were allowed to play on their day off. I had to stay home and “mourn” or whatever my mom thought was appropriate. I went to Catholic college and we got Holy Thursday, Good Friday AND Easter Monday off.

    • K says

      I work for the State and today is not a holiday, but I took the day off. We’re hosting Easter at our house, so I’m frantically cleaning up the house (while pregnant with twins), running to Target to get stuff for our 6 yo’s Easter basket, and trying to get sh*t done. At least 6 yo is in school today.

    • Anon says

      No. I switched up my work-from-home day (usually Wednesday) to today because I had a big project on Wednesday that it was easier to be in the office for and today my LO had a doctor’s appointment at 9 and I have a meeting with my accountant this afternoon. This week is spring break for the local schools, so my office has been quiet all week, but that’s it. While I usually host easter, this year we were going out with my inlaws, who have since canceled because they are sick, so now I am trying to decide whether to keep the reservation for just the 3 of us or have DH grill steaks at home instead. TBD.

    • Pogo says

      Our European offices are closed, so the lack of email traffic has been nice!

    • CCLA says

      Working here too, regular day in the office. Thankfully daycare is open, since DH is also working…and he’s working tomorrow, thanks medicine! But, he had yesterday off so I took a short day and we had a day date while kiddo was in daycare, which is one of my favorite things about the random weekdays he has off, and sort of makes up for the random holidays he’s on call or working.

    • Anonynous says

      Schools are closed in NYC today. So large chunks of the world around here are down as people stay home with their kids (especially since most of the “spring break camps” are open next week, but not today.)

    • EP-er says

      I get both Good Friday & Easter Monday off as paid holidays this year. Which means I only have to scramble for child care four days of Spring Break next week, instead of five!

  2. Shoes for those last few weeks says

    I have been lucky to have an uneventful pregnancy, but at 8 months am finally getting the dreaded swelling. Any suggestions for dressy sandals or flats to get me through the next two months? Hoping to keep wearing both dresses with leggings and slacks so ideally something that could work with both – maybe a beige (nude for me) or a metallic? My feet were wide to start with, so need something that comes in wide and then thinking I’ll go up 1/2 a size?

    • Anon says

      When I got to that point, I went and got a cheap pair of black ballet flats at Target. Within about two weeks after birth, they were already huge. Buy the cheapest thing that is reasonably appropriate. And remember, when you’re that pregnant, people totally get it. You get a pass. Also, during the final weeks, I wore flip flops when I was close to my office. I always had the ballet flats, but if I wasn’t venturing far from my office at our firm (where I safely wouldn’t see any clients), I wore the flip flops. People got it.

      • Carine says

        +1. I’m at this stage and picked up some cheap ballet flats (the kind that hang on a plastic hook! but they look totally fine) and a pair of pointy-toed loafers that were on sale at Kohl’s. They’ve both accommodated more swollen days and they’re wearing fine in these last weeks. I will throw them out after I have the baby.

      • Shoes for those last few weeks says

        Thanks! Will check out this weekend with a late afternoon shopping trip to see if I need 1/2 or full size up.

      • Pogo says

        +1 to only wearing shoes when someone important needs to see you. I definitely would take my shoes off when working at my desk, and just put them on to go to a meeting. After 5pm all bets were off.

    • Redux says

      I wore clogs and have passed them on to a friend for her late pregnancy. Much more supportive than ballet flats, which were impossible for me at that stage. Link to follow.

    • 2 Cents says

      Despite the 40-degree weather, I just put on my Roxy slip-ons (canvas with elastic inserts) this morning because I cannot do regular shoes any more. (My always-big-in-the-calf boots are snug = more swelling = no thanks). I wore them to work all last summer (thanks, DSW clearance rack), so I’m just declaring today to be the official start of spring fashion — haha

    • Anonynous says

      Also, swim as much as you can! Even just floating around in a pool will help reduce swelling (as the force of the water outside your body helps equalize pressure so your blood pumps back up into your core more easily). If you can possibly get to the pool every morning it will help more than new shoes.

      • SV says

        I second the swimming suggestion! I swam almost every day during my pregnancy (first baby), and it did wonders for back pain and swelling, and just generally feeling better. I had an extremely uncomfortable pregnancy (nausea almost until the end, horrible indigestion, and SPD/round ligament pain that made it tough to walk). Swimming made everything so much better, I felt almost like my normal self while in the pool. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to do if/when I’m pregnant with #2, but we’ll cross that bridge.

    • Anonymous says

      Ah, pregnancy! those days are behind me but I had 3 summer babies and MY FEET WERE TOO SWOLLEN FOR FLIP FLOPS! Oh man…those days…luckily as an academic in the summer I didn’t have to leave the house let alone have to look presentable.

      Others have given you solid advice. Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy!

  3. Tumi Bag - Hot Pink says

    I think I NEED the Capri Crossbody Voyageur from Tumi. The color described as hot pink looks more red to me online. Does anyone know if it’s more pink or red?

  4. labor #2 says

    for those of you with 2+ kids and no local family, what childcare arrangements did you have in place for while you were in labor? our second is due soon and I’m trying to figure out how many daycare teachers, neighbors, friends, babysitters, etc. I should realistically have on call to watch kiddo #1. I only spent 1 night in the hospital with my first and will probably do the same this time, barring any unforeseen complications. I suppose dad could go home overnight if the timing works out (baby born during the day), but I’m trying to account for as many scenarios as possible.

    • Anonymous says

      We had several neighbors on-call from about 36 weeks on for middle of the night help, as well as a couple of friends. We never really firmed up those plans though – just kind of asked several if there were to be an issue, could they help. When I hit 39 weeks, we flew my mom in from out of state to stay with us and our oldest until baby arrived.

      • RDC says

        We did this, too – flew in grandma around 39 weeks. I went late (as with 1st pregnancy) so ended up having lots of “quality time” with my mom while waiting for #2 to arrive.

    • Redux says

      My mom flew in at 39 weeks, too, but SURPRISE! baby arrived at 37 weeks! Definitely have a backup plan.

      We had a middle of the night call to someone with a carseat (and permitted to do pickup/drop off at daycare– ask about this! daycares in our state require paperwork if anyone other than moms/dads does pickup or dropoff). #2 was born early that morning. DH picked #1 up from daycare that day, brought her to the hospital to meet the baby, then took her home for dinner and bed. After she went to sleep another friend came over to stay while DH went back to the hospital. Thankfully baby was born during the week– having #1 continue with her routine was really helpful.

    • Anonymous says

      My mom arrived really early because we didn’t have child care for #1 so I think she was there from 30 weeks on. But for #3 she didn’t get here till 39 weeks, so I was kind of sweating it. But we had a strong social network and knew we could count on people if our #1 couple wasn’t available. The main logistical thing I was worried about was if I had to get to the hospital while #1 was in school or somewhere that needed a car pickup, since most of my friends don’t have extra seats/carseats in their cars. But I decided I couldn’t control everything and that I’d just trust that between the fact that there would probably be enough notice (i.e., at least an hour) and that people can figure things out, I would just worry less.

      BUT. I will say that I actually stayed 2 (possibly 3) nights for #2 and 3 nights for #3 even though for #1 I only stayed 1 night and I so, so recommend staying as long as your insurance will let you. Being healthy in the hospital is amazing. They bring you food, water, and ice whenever you want. You get to stay in bed and hold your new baby as much as you want without another little person being jealous. You can bleed all over the sheets and it doesn’t matter because someone else changes them. Then when you do finally go home you have had time to rest before you have to deal with your (new) real life. And you’ve bonded with the baby a bit. I realize my advice is fairly unusual but I stand by it. Don’t be afraid of hanging out instead of wanting to rush home.

      Also…when #2 was born, #1 was only 2 years old and I didn’t let him come to the hospital…I thought it would scare him to see me like that and honestly he could wait to meet little sibling (and not be exposed to hospital germs / bring 2-year-old germs to newborns). When #3 was born the others were school-aged so they came and it was fine.

    • Anonymous says

      We planned to have MIL fly in, but of course baby was born before she arrived. Our backup plans were neighbor across the street and daycare teacher. We ended up using both of them…daycare teacher until bedtime (my kids are more familiar and comfortable with her) and then neighbor came over to just be a responsible adult in the house while the kids were sleeping.

      We basically offered daycare teacher $100 to just be available for the weekend before MIL arrived, plus her normal hourly rate if we needed her to babysit. We figured if I had the baby during the week, we would be able to find a daycare teacher at the last minute who could take the other kids home, and weeknight late night plan was always the neighbor. Backup backup backup plan was family friends who live nearby but have small kids of their own. I went into labor at 6pm on Friday, of course.

  5. RDC says

    Random question – can anyone recommend YouTube videos that are like documentaries for kids? My 3yo is obsessed with a YouTube video of an astronaut giving a tour of the international space station. Which, admittedly, is pretty cool. It occurred to me that he’d enjoy similar videos of farms, construction sites, animals, etc, and they’d be semi-educational and less annoying than the usual cartoons we put on. Anyone know of YouTube channels or videos like this? Or something in Netflix/Amazon? I want to make sure they’re child-friendly, obviously, and don’t want him just clicking around randomly.

    • avocado says

      My kid went through a Mister Rogers phase where she loved watching his tours of a kindergarten classroom, factories, etc. A lot of those are available on YouTube.

    • GCA says

      Thank you for the link, and you just reminded me of all of Chris Hadfield’s videos from the International Space Station! My 3yo is also going through a ‘spaceship’ phase right now.
      PBS Nova is still on and their videos are pretty kid-appropriate, if conceptually a little more advanced (a quick glance at their website turns up one video on ‘What is a p-value?’. heh.)

    • shortperson says

      planet earth?

      when she was 2 my daughter was an obsessed with an australian cartoon video about the sewage treatment process (starting with poop, ending up in the ocean) which i sadly can no longer find.

    • EP-er says

      Check out Mighty Machines on Netflix. They are half hour shows that go over how lots of things work (Salt mines! Demolitions! Maintaining Roads! Railways! Newspaper Factories! Car Factories!) They have this voice over narration that makes it like the trucks are talking, which can be kind of grating — but it is super educational and the kids loved that show. I always call the sewer vacuum trucks Vacuum Vic when we drive by them now… There also is a show called “How It’s Made” which was a big hit too — they are shorter segments about how all sorts of things are manufactured. It was on Netflix, but you can find them on YouTube now.

    • Anonymous says

      My 5 yo loves Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, on youtube. It’s about marine life.

  6. Toddler smoothies or similar? says

    Hello all,

    I’m hoping someone can help me think out a plan for making/storing after-daycare cold beverages for my toddler. The long story is, I drive toddler (2 1/2) to daycare, park on the street (free!) then walk 10 minutes to my office. This is fantastic until summer hits and when I pick toddler up from daycare, I have to put her in a car that is basically like an oven. She didn’t complain last year, but let’s just say she’s more toddler than baby now and is already starting to complain about the heat.

    I’d like to bring her a cool drink for the way home. Ice water would be easy, but I was thinking it would almost be better to do a smoothy/slushy or something that she’s more likely to drink to keep cool and happy in the car. Hoping to add water/ice for hydration and peaches/pears/prune juice for ongoing constipation issues. But I’m struggling with logistics.

    First, type of bottle? I’m thinking a Thermos Foogo or similar. I have access to a fridge or freezer at my office. I’m thinking I could make some sort of juice/water/puree at the beginning of the week, put it in a Foogo at the beginning of the day and store in work fridge, then add lots of ice cubes for the 10 minute walk to daycare so it’s still chilly when toddler gets it. I’d love to add spinach or something but I think that might only go down well if it was more of a smoothie than juice, and without freezing a bottle I don’t know if that would go over well.

    Any recommendations, recipes, container suggestions? Could I make this on Sundays and have it last for the week?

    • Anonynous says

      Closed thermoses keep cold out too, so putting a closed thermos in a fridge will not cool the contents any more. It will keep them from warming up, but the temperature wouldn’t go down. (I found this out the hard way after ruining some food by putting it warm into a closed thermos and stashing it in the fridge for the next day — the food spoiled in the thermos in the fridge.)

      What I would suggest is making batch smoothies on the weekends, freezing those (like popsicles!) and then putting one into a thermos. Keep it in your office, but not in a fridge and it will probably be the right temp at pick up.

    • anon says

      You’re a way better mom than I am, because I’d be high-fiving myself just for filling up a Thermos with cold water before leaving work.

      I say that in jest, kind of, but the logistics seem … not really worth it? How long is your drive from daycare to home? Smoothies don’t stay fresh for long, even when refrigerated. And the anonymous at 2:30 p.m. is correct; sticking a Thermos in the fridge isn’t going to do anything.

    • Anon says

      Not what you’re looking for, but is there anyway to let your car run for 5-10 minutes to cool off during this process? Drive from parking to daycare and let you car run? Start your car on the way by, go get kiddo, and come back to a cool car? I’m sure it depends on your ability to lock your car while it runs, which many new cars don’t allow without remote start. But just a thought.

    • BC says

      You can put juice boxes in the work freezer. Unless it’s really hot, 10 minutes probably isn’t enough time to thaw, but you could pull it out an hour (or maybe more?) before you leave.

    • Anonymous says

      My 5 year old is really into ice water, so see if you can sell her on something basic first.

    • anon says

      What about a gogurt or something like that? I buy the Chobani gogurts (they don’t have as much sugar actual gogurts) and freeze them. Even if they’re slushy, they’re pretty delicious. I’d get an insulated lunch bag to carry it in for your walk. My kids eat these for breakfast during the summer.

    • Anonymous says

      I would focus on cooling the car sear – the car seat lady has great tips. For a drink, just put a 1/4 cup juice and ice cubes in a kid sized thermos in the morning. They’ll melt over the day but it will stay cool for drinking.

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