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Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
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- 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
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Cb says
Parenting win – we don’t have camp today and I’ve convinced my son that “working” with mumma at the library is a nice way to spend the afternoon. Our library has a Lego table and now he’s drawing. I’ve written and submitted an abstract, started working on handover docs, and gotten to inbox zero.
Anon says
Yay! He sounds like such a sweet kid.
Mary Moo Cow says
What a wonderful way to spend a Friday!
GCA says
Aww, that’s so sweet! My extrovert once curled up quietly on the couch next to me to read his book… and within two minutes had divulged no fewer than eight facts about the Apollo 11 moon landing and the construction of the lander. ‘Mom, did you know…’ I, an introvert with auditory processing challenges, do not get focused work done with kids at home!
Fallen says
Do you like to spend more time as a family or one on one? I am an introvert and love spending time with DH and each of the kids separately. I feel the same way with friends – I much prefer one on one friendships than hanging out in big groups. Was curious how others felt.
Boston Legal Eagle says
In general, I’m more of a one on one or small group person. I think of my immediate family as a nice small group though, and most of the time prefer that we’re all together. I don’t feel drained or “on” with them in the same way I would with a big social group. I do some things one on one with each kid, depending on interests, but usually we’re all together if we’re going somewhere. Husband and I do carve out time for just us, but that’s more to take a break from caregiving.
I don’t think I would do well with a large extended family gathering or get together though.
GCA says
Absolutely one on one or small groups. My immediate family counts as a small group. This has been my preferred mode of social interaction since kindergarten, except for those late middle school/ early high school years when teenagers go about the world in a big flock till you figure out who vibes with whom. Even now, large family gatherings are exhausting, but give me one kid, one SIL and one nibling and we have a wonderful time.
Anon says
For friends and colleagues, definitely one on one or very small groups. I’m an introverted only child and have always been uncomfortable in large group settings.
But for my small family, I prefer hanging out together versus one on one. It was something of a sticking point when my now 5 year old was a baby and toddler, because I didn’t particularly enjoy being solo with her and wanted to mostly spend weekends as a family of three, whereas DH felt like we should trade off solo parenting and both have a lot of time off. Now that she’s older and more fun to hang out with one on one, it’s less of an issue though.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Totally agree with your second paragraph. I got bored and lonely being with just a baby or toddler and not having another adult to talk to! And my husband is one of my favorite adults to talk to.
Mary Moo Cow says
As my kids get older (now 8 and almost 6), I crave more one-on-one time with them to get to know them as people. When they were both little, I liked spending time as a family because it felt less draining.
For friends, definitely small groups. I have a 17 person neighborhood ladies text thread that is overwhelming. I usually have an excuse for those group get togethers and only attend once in a while so they keep me in the loop. Within that group, there are 4 of us who like to hang out as a small group and one woman who I regularly hang out with one on one.
Anony says
I also prefer one on one time with friends to hanging out in big groups. With my family, I like it when it’s all of us, but we just have one child, so it’s just three people. I could see myself preferring one on one time if I had more children.
DLC says
I like organizing large parties, but prefer socializing one on one. There is something very satisfying to me to see lots of people that I enjoy getting to hang out, even though I find participating in a group of more than 3 or 4 people not very satisfying.
As to our family, I like both. As my oldest gets more prickly and less wanting to hang out as a family, I’m finding I miss the family unit. But I also like having one on one time with each person too.
Anon says
I feel like I’m echoing a lot of what others said. I prefer 1-on-1 friendships, but family time. The big caveats are that we currently only have one toddler and I do about 15 hours of solo parenting throughout the week. Pregnant with our second so we’ll see how that changes with more kids and as they get older!
Anon says
I posted the other day about a 5 year old not liking camp….turns out she likes the camp just fine but misses mommy. She’s gone to preschool and another camp, but usually our nanny drops her but for this camp it’s been me and DH. It’s so hard both in the morning and evening to stay patient and help her through this, while also taking about camp in a different way with her twin sister (who says she loves it, yet misses mommy if i go out for an evening…kids are strange). Any tips? Also how do you not take on your kid’s feelings? Like if you drop off a crying kid how do you not let it impact you all day
GCA says
Hang on – is this a big transition year for your kids? Are they going to a different school in the fall? I have an almost-5yo who is going to kindergarten this fall, plus we are three weeks away from moving, and I suspect we are getting some big feelings from that.
Anon says
Same except without the move.
OP says
Yes, K at a new school is starting in the fall. We just really wanted this camp to be a success so we could sign up again next summer bc it’s the only one conveniently located, but I guess we can talk ti her about it again in a few months. More generally though, if i leave a crying kid to go out to dinner it’s hard for me to relax and have fun
Anonymous says
Next summer is a looooong way away – she’s going to be a different kid by then. This will pass!
Anon says
I would love some baby name suggestions. It’s our first and a girl. We were originally leaning towards Sophia or Isabella, but recently learned that my husband has cousins with those names. They are clearly not close – it’s like a 20 year age gap and the cousins live across the country. But it’s an uncommon last name, and those are the only people who come up if you google the names. So, we are still trying to figure out if we won’t use the names and trying to come up with other ideas. I also really like Penelope, but the last name starts with a P and I refuse to give a kid the initials PP. Any suggestions for other similar names?
Mary Moo Cow says
Helen, Zoe, or Lydia, since you like Penelope? I also like Genevieve and Margaret, and don’t hear those too often.
Anon says
I love Penelope nicknamed Penny. It was one of the names I most wanted for our daughter but my husband vetoed it. Maybe a middle name would help the initial issue?
Anon says
It sounds like you prefer Italian-sounding names. What about Francesca?
anonamommy says
There are two teenagers in our church named Francesca and two at the elementary school! It’s a lovely name, it’s nice to see it coming back into fashion.
Other suggestions – Eleanora, Alicia, Malia, Luna, Willa.
Anon says
Louisa is one I loved but my husband did not, so we didn’t/won’t use it. Also Juliana.
Anon says
Similar vibes and popularity to Sophia, Isabella and Penelope are: Sofia, Isabelle (would help with the google problem), Charlotte, Eleanor, Ava, Gabriella/Gabrielle, Amelia, Josephine, Juliana, Caroline/Carolina.
Anon says
Madeleine, Georgia, Rose, Annabelle all have similar vibes to me as Sophia and Isabella – sweet, traditional, very feminine. A little further away, but also Lillian, Lydia, Gabriella, Camilla fit that description as well.
AIMS says
would you want something similar but still technically different for google purposes like Isabel or Sophie?
Other names in that vein: Katerina, Catalina, Nina, Julia, Emily or Emilia, or Genovive?
Anon says
How about Lydia? Other options could be Olivia or Emma.
Anon says
Thinking of classic names that end in an A (to match with Sophia and Isabella). What about Anna, Hannah, Ella, Eva, Ava, Olivia, Julia, Maria, Mia, Laura, Rebecca? Sophia and Isabella have an Italian vibe to me and Maria and Ava fit that vibe as well.
Quite a few of these names are very popular, but so are Isabella and Sophia, so I don’t think that will be an issue for you. Also, some of these names could be standalone names or nicknames (Ella short for Elizabeth or Mia short for Maria).
Likewise, if you love Sophia and Isabella, how about a variant of those names? That way the names won’t come up as the same as his cousins’? Thinking Sofia and Isabelle, Isabel, Isobel? You could also use Sophie or Sofie as a given name.
If you like the Bella nickname for Isabella, could you do Arabella, Annabelle or Annabel, or another similar name to get a Bella or Belle nickname?
Anon says
I have longer comment in mod with quite a few suggestions, but also adding Clara as an idea that I didn’t put in my original post!
Anon says
Amelia or Emilia?
Anon says
It’s even more popular than Sophia and Olivia in my area, if that’s a concern.
Anonie says
I adore the name Bianca
Anonymous says
Oooh good one! me too. influenced by a coworker I really like. Also +1 to Clara. My husband vetoed that for some reason, but it was on my short list for my daughter.
GCA says
Elena or Athena, if you want the -a ending and something slightly Mediterranean-inflected?
Anonymous says
I have a Natalia, which is similar vibe to Sophia and Isabella.
I wouldn’t let cousins from a different generation and living across the country stop you from your first choices, though!
Anon says
+1 to your second paragraph. They’d probably be honored! (Unless they’re Ashkenazi)
This says
This! I love Natalia too. I also think cousins are not disqualifying at all, especially if you don’t seem them regularly.
anon says
I feel like Sophia and Isabelle are pretty played out. They’ve been super popular for more than a decade.
What about Camille, Lydia, Annette, Harriet, Miranda, Eileen, Audrey, Iris, Hazel, Cecilia, Susan, or Marjorie? All are pretty easy to spell and would work with a harder to spell last name.
Anon says
Yeah I have nieces in middle school named Isabella and Sophia. The names were very very popular then and have continued to be. I don’t care for them because they’re not only so overplayed but have been overplayed for 15 years.
Anon says
There are three Hazels at our daycare. It’s very trendy now. Sophia and Isabelle are both popular but imo more classic and less likely to be associated with 2020s babies.
Anon says
Hazel is still in the upper 20s on the SSN list. Sophia has been in the top 10 since 2006, with stints at #1 and #2.
Anon says
It’s highly local though, as has been discussed here before. There are definitely areas where Hazel is currently much more popular.
Anonymous says
If we had had a girl, I wanted to name her Althea.
Cb says
I was lobbying for Theadora as a girl’s option, and ended up with a Theodore.
Anan says
the webiste babynames has an AI name generator that I’ve been having fun with lately – you put in 5 names you love, 3-5 names you don’t like and it gives you a whole list of suggestions.
https://babynames.com/ai.php
in the same vein as the names you suggested, I like Beatrice, Lucinda, Rosalie, Clara
Anon says
Interesting bot, but it didn’t suggest even a single name that I liked. I think there are better naming tools.
Clementine says
I wouldn’t have an issue with it; however, names with a similar vibe would be: Cecilia/Cecelia, Isadora, Gianna, Vivianna/Avianna, Gemma, Lucia , and Giovanna.
Simple workaround would be to make it Sofia vs. Sophia or Isabelle vs. Isabella.
Anon says
I love love love Lucia (Lu-see-ah pronunciation). Though, you have an Italian theme going so perhaps you’d prefer the Lu-chee-ah pronunciation.
What about Stella / Estella / Estrella ?
Anon says
I’m sorry, but Sofia and Sophia are the same name.
Anonymous says
As mom to a Sofia I agree. Spelling variations don’t create a new name. I think it’s fine to have the same name as a distant relative tho.
Anonymous says
Yes, it’s more or less the same name but would avoid the Googling problem that OP mentioned.
Anon says
Thank you for all the helpful suggestions!
Anon says
It’s me. Looking for a nanny. Gosh it’s so hard. We’ve trialed a few and the one who did best with the kids also gossiped the most about her previous families—she disclosed way too much personal information. I know we will find one eventually but yesterday I felt defeated.
anon says
It can be so very hard. I’ve been there. When you find a great one though, it’s awesome!
Anonymous says
Depending on your stress level, I’d just suck it up and pay an agency.
Anon says
Any other rising kindergartners finishing up daycare/pre-K today? It’s my 5 year old’s last day of daycare. In just the last couple of weeks she’s lost the last of her baby words (“lello”), started taking showers instead of baths and riding her bike without training wheels. Where did my little kid go!?
Anonymous says
Yes! Last day for my kiddo over here too. She’s really grown up this summer, and it’s been amazing to watch her confidence blossom and resulting physical abilities grow. For example, at the beginning of summer, she wouldn’t even put her face in the pool, now she jumps in enthusiastically and has started doing real freestyle strokes. A few other milestones in similar vein. So proud, but she definitely seems like a big kid now!
Anonymous says
Showers instead of baths, I’m jealous! Pretty sure I will have to pry my soon to be 7 year old out of the bath and into a shower kicking and screaming.
Curious what you’re doing for coverage the rest of the summer, or are you in an area of the country where school starts early? We don’t start till the last week in August.
Anon says
School starts early August here!
Mary Moo Cow says
Not Op, but we also start school the third week of August and have vacation the second week of August, so summer is winding down over here, too.
My 7 year old felt the same way about baths, but when she got her ears pierced, they said no swimming or baths for 6 weeks, and ta da, I was free and I wasn’t the bad guy!
Anon says
We go back first week of August in my part of the Midwest. I hate it, but it’s the price we pay for getting out in mid-May, which is so lovely. I always hated being in school well into June as a kid.
We also start on a Wednesday, which is annoying. We usually take a family vacation for the full week before school starts, but then we have these two random days at home with no camps or school. I don’t know why they can’t start on a Monday!
Spirograph says
Counterpoint, I wish our school started on a Wednesday! We always take a family vacation the full week before school starts, and it would be really nice to just have those couple of days to get settled back at home before school kicks off.
I feel like the school district I grew up in did Wednesday start… I remember commenting on year that they eased us back in with a 3 day week, then a 4 day week (after labor day), and there wasn’t a FULL week until the 3rd week of school. :)
Anon says
I do see the advantage for kids, although there’s a separate gentle start program for the kindergartners who need it most (they only go one day the first week in small groups). I think our district mainly does it so Monday and Tuesday can be teacher workdays.
Anon says
We still start after Labor Day. Public schools usually start the day after Labor Day (Tuesday) but I prefer how our Catholic school starts the Wednesday after. Lets everyone recover from their long weekend / end of summer, have a day off on Tuesday and then we start Wednesday.
Anon says
I wish we started on a Wednesday too! All the private schools do and I think it’s so much easier on the kids so they can ease in instead of having a whole week at once. As a kid I always started mid week and thought it was great! The start time of 7:20am is going to be a rude awakening for our family.
Anonymous says
In NYC, school almost always starts the Thursday after Labor Day. Why Thursday? Maybe because the teachers first day back is the Tuesday after Labor Day. So they get a solid 2 day head start before the kids show up. (I am sure many do more prep than this, but this is what is in their contract). The last day of school is typically the last Tuesday in June or something equally random – never a Friday for reasons that remain unclear to me, but always late June. So our summer is barely half over here.
CCLA says
Yes! Youngest is finishing today and has been at this daycare/preschool since infancy. I don’t put too much stock in preK graduation ceremonies, and when we went through this for our oldest I wasn’t really emotional. But after this place being a daily part of our lives for years, and this being our youngest kid so we’re REALLY done there, I may tear up this afternoon.
Tea/Coffee says
Please tear up for me!
DD’s daycare/preK graduation was so adorable but we knew we had DS there for 4 more years. Then he “graduated” during the pandemic and got nothing at all. So anticlimactic and I felt a little cheated :-(. I mean, I totally understand, but it felt like one day (March 12,2020) we left and just never came back.
Spirograph says
I’m such a crier, but I was the opposite, I teared up when my oldest graduated from preK (we also switched daycares after that year for our younger kids, so it was sad to leave the whole program), but when my youngest graduated, I’d already gotten used to having “big kids” I guess? Or I was just so delighted there was a graduation ceremony at all (2021, outdoors & scrunched under a covered patio because it was pouring rain) that the tears didn’t win. The ceremony makes a big difference, too — the first one the kids sang Remember Me from Coco which is a tear-jerker to begin with, but the one for my youngest they sang and danced to Beat It and the Macarena and it was awesome and hilarious. My middle child left preK in March 2020 and never came back, so we got that anticlimactic experience too. :/
Happy graduation day to all the rising K kids and families!
Anon says
Ours held graduation several months ago (it’s a university daycare so they do the ceremony in early May before faculty families disperse for the summer), and that didn’t make me too emotional. But I’m in my feels about the last day for sure. She’s my only, so it feels like the end of a big parenting chapter. And we will miss the place so much.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I think I will be more emotional with my youngest’s pre-K graduation too, but we got to have a dress rehearsal this year as he’s doing this class for two years (fall birthday) – nice to have a little preview! My older one had one in 2021, and with Covid and all that, I was just happy he was going to full time, in person K.
We also start on a Wednesday, and at the end of August. I wonder if the time of year is regional as Southern states are probably in summer by May, but here, summer is definitely July and August. June even can still be chilly.
Anon says
I think it has its roots in farming. Kids were traditionally needed to work in the fields by early June. I’m in the Midwest and late May/early June is not usually very summery weather. (But I personally prefer it to the intense heat and humidity of August. Summer is my least favorite season though.)
Anonymous says
Wouldn’t they be needed even more during the harvest in the fall? And wasn’t most of the US engaged in farming? I thought it had something to do with no AC in northeastern schools, but that doesn’t entirely make sense either.