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When my son was a newborn, we had this type of night light in his room. I couldn’t find the exact one we had online, but this one is the same idea: cordless and rechargeable. The biggest plus to a cordless night light is that you can move it around the room. For middle-of-the-night diaper changes, you can grab the light and put it right near you on top of the changing table so you can see what you’re doing but also don’t over-stimulate the baby. Later on, I see the color-changing and remote being fun for an older baby and/or a toddler. The light is $21.99 at Crate & Barrel — and it also comes in a bear shape. Lumi Pets Bunny Night Light
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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
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anon says
I just found out I am pregnant. I’m going to call my doctor later today, but any advice or wisdom? There is so much information out there that it’s a bit overwhelming. I have already been on a prenatal for several months. I’m excited but also terrified given the current global situation.
Anne says
Congrats!! Mazel! Try to keep up your exercise routine for as long as possible. Stay VERY hydrated. Set up your crib before the baby is born if possible. That’s about it.
AnonATL says
Congrats and welcome to the club! Depending on where you are located, your care might be unusual for a bit. My office doesn’t allow visitors in with pregnant patients, but they have gone back to the standard appointment schedule (every 4 weeks up to 28 weeks, and so on). For a while, they were spacing out appointments more trying to minimize risk to everyone. No sense in worrying what your hospital birthing policy is yet, since it will change so much before you deliver. It’s a strange time to be pregnant, but try not to let Corona-anxiety take over. There’s enough regular pregnancy anxiety to deal with.
Loads of water and trying to stay active as the pp said will help a lot with the aches, pains, and other weirdness in pregnancy.
The women on this board are a great resource. Good luck and congrats again!
Anonymous says
Congrats!!! +1 to everything above, plus I’d say don’t overplan–buy what you need as you need it. Aside from the true basics, like a carseat, somewhere for the baby to sleep, etc., I found it was hard to know what we’d need more than ~3 months out. This goes for maternity clothes, baby clothes, toys, etc. You just don’t know what you’ll look and feel like at 8 months pregnant, or what your baby will be like. And that’s okay. You’ll figure it out as you go. Also hire a doula!
Anonanonanon says
^Yes. The items that were lifesavers for my first child didn’t work for my second child, etc. It’s all very baby-specific so don’t buy too much of any one thing to start.
Anon says
Congratulations! I am going to test on Friday. Take a deep breath and enjoy the news!
Anon says
Congrats! I hate to suggest it, but if you’re in an urban area and intend to use daycare it is worth getting on daycare waitlists ASAP. You dont actually have to choose or visit a daycare, but getting on lists now may give you options later.
Anon says
Thank you. That was going to be my next question. We live in a midwest suburb but I’ll still start looking at options.
Anonymous says
If you are looking at daycare, join all of your local facebook community groups – your local town community forums and the parenting forums, then search for daycare advice and ask them again. That’s where all the real reviews are. I found out so much from Facebook!
Anonymous says
Enjoy, and don’t engage with a flood of information. Pick a doctor you like and respect and listen to them, not people on the internet. Expecting Better and Happiest Baby on the Block are both not hysterical sources for learning.
AnonATL says
I really appreciate both those books and the Mayo Clinic’s guide to pregnancy if you want something a bit more clinical for reference. I have also really liked The Informed Parent. In a similar vein to the Expecting Better book, it presents what the research says in a non-hysterical way. It also goes through some of the early childhood development research so it isn’t just pregnancy and infants.
Anon says
What I like about being pregnant during this time is that it gives our family something to look forward to as opposed to just slogging through each week. Every Tuesday, we ceremoniously change the blocks that keep track of how many weeks I am. DD has no idea what we’re doing but she gets so excited (16 WEEKS!! WOW MOMMY!)
t also helps me keep track of the last time I’ve been out in the world with the exception of appointments
GCA says
Congratulations! Lots of good advice already — the healthcare/ labor and delivery/ childcare situation for the next 6 or 12 months will probably be in flux and I have not been pregnant during a pandemic, so will leave that bit to others who have :)
Other than that — keep up whatever exercise you’re doing to whatever degree is physically comfortable. If you’re going to be pregnant through summer, it will be hot and sticky – enjoy baths/ pool (inflatable wading pool, even?!) / sprinkler!
All you need right now in terms of gear is diapers, something for the baby to wear, a car seat, somewhere safe for the baby to sleep. A pack & play with a bassinet attachment is totally fine to have around the house as a spot to put the baby down for a few minutes.
And finally, get your partner on board *now* with the division of mental load and emotional labor, because it only becomes more acute once you have kids, and in the sleep-deprived state of new parenthood we all revert to our lizard brains with their culturally ingrained gender roles. Read Couples That Work; read Drop the Ball; read that mental load comic that made the rounds a few years ago, do it together.
Anonymous says
I mean…on the up side, I’ve been pregnant three times and would have given my left arm to WFH for most of my pregnancy so I could vomit, eat, and pee whenever needed. :-)
1st tri- vomiting/nausea and tiredness
2nd tri- energy and tiredness, lots of eating
3rd tri- lots of waddling, exhaustion. Sweating.
Anon says
Agreed, and I’m excited about the prospect of not having to buy any new maternity clothes if I don’t return to the office before the end of the year which is a good possibility.
TheElms says
Yay congratulations!!!
anon says
I actually kind of think this is the perfect time to be pregnant, assuming you are WFH right now! Congrats! I’m jealous of all my pregnant friends who aren’t having to go out to late dinners or bars or whatever and pretend to be feeling fine when they are trying to hide a pregnancy or aren’t wearing strategic scarves to work to avoid telling their bosses yet. Congrats!
anon says
This is me, I am 21 weeks along and the WFH situation is AMAZING for me. I take short naps at lunch and on breaks I walk around with my son so I feel more energized. I also am hoping I won’t have to buy anymore maternity clothes since I basically just work in PJs all day.
New Here says
Ditto not to buy too much. I found out I was pregnant around the same time last year. I was able to wear most of my normal clothes up until Septemberish and then bought a few maternity staples I rotated. Same for nursing clothing – I assumed I’d have no problem breastfeeding, and would go back to the office. Neither one happened! Thankfully I only had a few tank tops and one dress.
Also – the best plan you can have is to go with the flow and do whatever is necessary to keep you and your baby healthy. I was scheduled to be induced and knew I wanted an epidural, but that was it. I ended up having a c-section under general anesthesia – Not what I had in mind, but it was the best for my safety and my girl’s.
Hydrate and keep moving as much as possible – I was taking short walks every day up until the day I went into labor. My doc thinks that helped keep the pre-e at bay (I was high risk) for as long as it did (I went into labor 3 days before my scheduled induction). I’d recommend regular massages if you can swing them….but that was in the Before Times.
anonn says
Congrats! Me too, but this will be my 2nd baby, 3rd pregnancy. I called and asked for an early ultrasound to see the heartbeat, my new OB’s office will do that at 9 weeks and let me bring my husband to the ultrasound, but not regular appointments. I lost my first pregnancy at 10 weeks, before that OB had even seen me or I’d heard a heartbeat, so even though it’s policy for some OBs offices to just do one or two sonos and not until 18-20 weeks, I’ll always ask for an earlier one. I loved Dr. Sears’ Healthy Pregnancy Book, so I’m reading that again. I started taking a prenatal DHA, on top of the prenatal vitamin. I also bought some cute/ more fitted masks from an Etsy shop since I’ll now have somewhere to go. I’ll wait to book my doula or get on the daycare wait list until that 9 week sono, but I should have priority for both because of the first kid.
CCLA says
Congrats! I’d decide if you are interested in NIPT and/or nuchal ultrasound and ensure your care starts early enough that you have time to get those ordered and scheduled if desired (I’m not talking crazy early but for instance, if you don’t have your first appt until 12 weeks, you’re already partway into the limited window for some of those early tests).
Also, from someone who got on the bright horizons waitlist when I was 5 months pregnant with my first and got a call last year when she turned 3 letting me know she was finally off the waitlist (HAHA), echoing the other comments to start that process asap. BH was bananas and an outlier, but many others had 9+ month waitlists.
Anon says
Congratulations!
Continue your exercise routine with sensible modifications.
Do not overbuy. We had a carseat, a crib, sheets for the crib, changing pad on a dresser, clothes for baby, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, that’s about it.
KatieWolf says
Good morning moms, question for you – I am sending kiddo back to daycare on June 1(ish). The snag- we are changing daycares. A few various reasons for the change, including some unrelated to corona, but I wanted your thoughts on how to make the transition. DD is 16 months (prime separation anxiety age, I think), and has been home with parents + one grandparent for the past 10 weeks. A the new daycare, they are doing curbside dropoff, and only staff and children are allowed inside. I’m concerned with dropping her off for a full day at a strange location with a strange teacher. I had some thoughts re transitioning slowly (pick her up before nap for first couple days or week), then ease into full day), but I’m not sure if that will help or hurt, and if I should just rip off the bandaid. Any thoughts? Did anyone have a child start daycare at that age? DD has been in daycare since 4 months but again, not at this place.
Anon says
I’m not sure but wish you luck. I think it may be a little tough for everyone in that age group now because drop offs are so different. I would call and ask for the daycare’s advice. It may be reassuring for you to hear their thought process as well, since you may not get to walk up and see your kid’s classroom or have direct communication with your child’s teacher easily. That said, at least for our daycare, the number of kids seems very low with many kids still not returning yet and your child may benefit from more attention than could have been possible before.
anon says
Would center director let you come in early morning/evening after closure before they open to go in with kiddo, meet teacher, look around? Ours let us do this as LO picked up a case of stranger danger during the closure. Seems like something that would have happened pre-COVID, but I think you have a good case to make to go in for a little visit. Good luck!
Anonymommy says
Such a good idea! We aren’t changing daycares but I’m still worried about my little one going back after so long.
About that age my son got really anxious about changing classrooms. We took a picture of him with his new teachers and hung it on the fridge. We would talk about the picture (“you get to see Ms. Jane tomorrow!”). I think it helped him. Some kids need more time to warm up to transitions.
lsw says
I agree – I think you have some special circumstances that should warrant a different approach than kids who are coming back.
Anonymous says
I think you should talk to daycare and see what they think is best. They may have some exception, or may have already brainstormed what would work. Off the cuff, I bet having the teacher take kiddo out of the car would work best.
Will they let you guys do a meet and greet first so it’s not strangers?
KatieWolf says
I’m going to ask about this today. I was hoping I could get the teacher to meet DD some time before the first day so there’s a little familiarity. I don’t think they’ll let me in to drop off due to COVID precautions though.
Anon says
If they are concerned about Covid, maybe at least a virtual meet and greet? It would probably depend on the child, but I feel like there are 16 month olds who would get something positive out of meeting the teacher first even if it’s only via Skype.
Anonymous says
Yeah, I think a lot of the rules are state-mandated, so they might have much choice. At least in my state.
Toddler PJ recs says
Recommendations for pjs for a 2 year old? I live in the DC area, so summers are hot and humid. Kiddo sleeps in a sleep sack and I am concerned the long sleeved tops and pants I most often see online would be too warm.
Anon says
Hanna or Gap are my favorites for PJs. Hanna makes a short sleeved shorts set. TBH though, with the air conditioning and her total disregard for covers, our kiddo wears the long sleeved pants kind year-round – our indoor air temperature doesn’t vary more than a few degrees.
Anon says
My 2 year old sleeps in a sleep sack and a t shirt and diaper in the summer months. We run the AC but don’t keep our house frigid and it’s similar to what I wear at night (t-shirt, underwear, blanket). I’m sure you can find short sleeved pajama shirts, but regular cotton t shirts work just as well.
AnotherAnon says
Last week a genius mom on this board recommended taking worn/stained/holey shirts and shorts out of the clothing rotation and putting them in the pj rotation. I can’t believe I never thought of that before, but it’s working great for us. This obviously doesn’t meet flame retardant standards, but I’m comfortable with it. Kiddo wears his pjs pretty tight. Not to TJ too much but I’m intrigued by a 2 y/o in a sleep sack. How (and why) do you do this?
Cb says
My son is nearly 3 and still in a sleep sack. It keeps him warm when he kicks off the covers. It’s also discouraged any cot climbing.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
+1. DS is bigger/taller, 2.5, and still in a sleep sack………AND sleeps in a Guava Lotus Travel Crib. I’m sure we’ll switch him to something else later this year but not in any hurry, and may continue with sleep sacks for a while.
Anonymous says
On the other hand, we had to take our determined climber out of the sleep sack around age 1 because it made the climbing more dangerous.
Anon says
How? Put her in it and zip it up. Why? Because it discourages climbing, and helps her sleep better. I feel like with blankets she would kick them off and immediately start screaming for us…on repeat through the night. She’s worn a sleepsack since birth and my parenting philosophy is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (within reason of course, she’s not going to go to college wearing a sleepsack, but I don’t think it’s developmentally inappropriate for preschoolers). The hardest challenge for us been finding one big enough, because my 2 year old is 39″. Woolino is the only brand we’ve found that fits and they are $$$.
sleepsack says
My daughter is almost 3, 35lbs and 38 inches and is still wearing the Burt’s Bees Beekeper in L. She’s way past the age/weight/height listed on the label, but she loves it. She outs it o by herself, it’s soft and lightweight. Around $20.
Cb says
Honestly though, I wish I could wear a sleepsack. It looks so warm and cozy and no worries about anyone stealing your blankets.
Anon says
Me too!! Primary is starting to make adult clothes now, and my husband and I have been joking that we hope they expand into the sleepsack market, for both kids and adults. I would totally buy a sleepsack for myself if someone sold one.
OP says
OP here. We have used the all-seasons Merino Kids sleepsacks (similar to Woolino brand ones) since we got rid of the swaddles. Just zip up and that’s it. The sacks were actually gifts when my daughter was born, and they are one of my top three baby/toddler items. Our daughter has slept like a champ in them and we don’t have to worry about her waking up (and then waking us up) because she’s kicked off the blankets. They are not cheap, but for me worth the great sleep for everyone!
Cb says
I like the H&M short PJ sets, but I think most brands do them.
Anonanonanon says
I got some shorts/short-sleeved sets on amazon. Have gotten them from target in the past. Have also gone the route of buying toddler sweatshirts and pairing with t-shirts for sleep.
Anon. says
My kids were both hot sleepers and had no sleep sacks at all by 6 months. But the best PJs for us are Primary shorts and tops. Can be interchanged / never worry about matching etc.
Anonymous says
In the summer my son mostly sleeps in a t shirt that he then wears the next day. Less clothing to change in the morning! I don’t think we started this at 2, but there is no reason you couldn’t unless you are concerned about flame retardancy. But there are definitely shorty pajama sets out there; I think most of ours were from Carter’s.
Anon says
Also in the DC area. We just put our 2yo in a diaper and nothing else under the sleep sack on hot nights. You can also get tshirts and shorts ok sets–we have them from Costco, Carter’s, and Cat&Jack, but Hanna makes them too.
Anonymous says
Carters shorts sets, old navy has them too. In the DC area and we ditch sleep sacks in the summer. My daughter will be in nightgowns this summer and the baby may just wear a onesie on the hottest nights. But their rooms run warm.
Amelia Bedelia says
Talk to me about birkenstocks. worth it?
I wear almost exclusively linen ankle pants and linen shorts during the summer. I’m just not enjoying the look with trainers. And, let’s face it, i’m not exactly out running races! I’m just strolling about.
I cannot bear crocs or thongs.
so, I’m thinking of taking the leap to birkenstocks. any supporters? how do i make sure they are comfy? any alternatives i should consider?
New Here says
Absolutely worth it. I bought mine last Spring and then found out I was pregnant. I wore them almost my entire pregnancy, even when it was cold out. I now choose those over anything else.
Anonymous says
1000% worth it. I’m in NYC and they are more comfortable for walking around the city all day (sob) than sneakers. I spend my summers in Birkenstock Gizeh.
anon says
Last summer I replaced a pair of birkenstocks I’ve had for 12 years. I may have had them recorked once or twice but I don’t recall. I’m much more comfortable wearing them than any other sandal all day because they provide so much support.
anon says
Yep, love mine.
avocado says
Yes! I wear my Birks all summer and routinely walk as much as 12 miles a day in them. They last forever.
Try a few different styles to see what works best for your feet. Some people love the Gizeh, but I find them uncomfortable and prefer the Mayari. My daughter hates the Mayari and will only wear the Arizona.
farrleybear says
Love mine! I have the Milano with backstrap, which is same style I have worn off-and-on since high school. The look endures:) They are comfortable and stay on.
Emily S. says
I’ve been wearing them for … eons. Since middle school, which is too long ago to count. I wore Rainbow and Reef flip-flops for a good bit of my late 20’s but once I hit 30, and then especially once I was pregnant and my feet flattened out and grew a half size, I went back to Birks. I have the Arizona, Naples, and Gizeh. I, too, wear a lot of linen pants in the summer and Birks just feel right with them.
Anon says
If you want to ease into it with a cheaper version, the EVA ones are pretty great. They don’t get stinky or gross, and you can see if the footbed works for you. I know some people hate them, but they work great for my feet.
Amelia bedelia says
Thanks everyone! I am going to purchase.
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
100% worth it!
Paging Cb says
I am the proud new owner of a Polish pottery mug and it’s bringing me a lot of joy today – thanks again for the rec. Also, not particularly for Cb but I solo-parented and WFH yesterday and managed to get 6 hours of work in. I’m fairly proud of myself. Kudos to all of you who are losing sleep to keep your jobs and take care of kids.
Cb says
I love it! We got two cups and saucers for our wedding and I really need to find two more if we’re ever allowed to have guests again. My mom had good luck with Polish pottery at TJ Maxx, in the beforetimes.
IHeartBacon says
I went onto the website to glance at the mugs when they were recommended before Mother’s Day. They are so beautiful. I’m waiting for a really bad day to browse the website and buy myself a mug as a treat.
Anonymous says
Yes, thanks for the rec! I sent one to my mom for Mother’s Day
AnonLaywer says
Okay, can someone give me the 4-1-1 on this? I need a new item to drool over! Is this just what comes up when I google “Polish Pottery” or is there a specific brand I should be looking for?
Cb says
Yes, it’s a general style of pottery, the blue and white design. I like the dots and some of the more intricate design.
NO MORE BLANKETS says
Sorry for this really annoying and selfish complaint about baby gifts and request for advice: good grief, why do people think “you know what a mom needs for a new baby? A blanket!”? Daughter is 3 months old and we’ve been gifted eight blankets for her — two virtually identical woven blankets embroidered with her name, three handmade quilts and three handknit. The knitted and quilted blankets were all handmade by the gifters, mostly friends of the grandparents (we are not close to them personally and they’re mostly out-of-state). I very much appreciate the gifts but now I feel compelled to keep each one and not get rid of seven of them, even though I’m internally screaming get rid of them all. This count doesn’t include the six muslin blankets we also received, and then the multiple blankets we saved from the first baby.
Does anyone else feel like this? Am I a horrible person? Can I take pictures of her laying on them and then give them away? Why do I want to Marie Kondo everything in my life right now?
Mrs. Jones says
The same thing happened to us. We got so many blankets that I could never use them all. And I hated to get rid of them because most were handmade.
Anon says
I discovered a second use for them once kiddo ended up in a toddler bed – we used them as her covers for a while when she was adjusting to blankets (now she has a twin comforter she uses)
Cb says
Yep, my son uses two baby blankets in his bed now, and honestly, I use one as a lap blanket when I’m working from home these days. Designate one for car, one for stroller, etc.
Anonanonanon says
I’ve definitely taken hand-knitted baby blankets intended for my child into the office/my car to use as a lap blanket for myself when it’s cold.
Redux says
We have baby blankets stashed all over the house and cars. Just yesterday we used one that we keep in the car as a picnic mat. My toddlers also get very into putting their stuffed animals to sleep wrapped in baby blankets. Don’t get me wrong– we had waaaaay too many, too. But keep a few around and you might be surprised how they grow with your kid!
Anonymous says
We too had tons of blankets and literally didn’t buy a single one ourselves. Kiddo is 4 now. Guess what her favorite toys are? All the blankets. Seriously. She folds them, lays them out for us and babies, plays “sleepover” with them, plays house with them, covers us with them, etc. etc. They’re constantly all over my house. They have totally been worth it.
Leatty says
Same here. My daughter has several favorites that she carries everywhere, and she loves to cover our dog and her stuffed animals with the blankets.
Lyssa says
Same here – my 7 year old even still plays with/sleeps with a few sometimes, and my 4 year old constantly does. But OP, I completely get how you feel – there’s just so much stuff! If you don’t have the space, I completely give you permission to take a few pictures and give a few away.
Anonanonanon says
I was hoping that would be the case for us. My daughter ignores the basket of blankets and favors pulling dish towels out of a drawer in the kitchen to use.
CCLA says
Yes, this. I just spent half an hour being covered in various baby blankets by my 1.5 and 3.5 yo (so many, the girls kept going back to their rooms and bringing out ones I had forgotten about). The older they get, the more they get used here. But, OP, you should totally feel free to purge the excess if you want.
Also, shoutout to lazy imaginative play from our discussion here the other day; I was lying down with a pillow and 346 blankets and told to close my eyes and go to sleep while the kids got rid of the monsters. Heaven.
Eek says
You don’t have to keep them, but I think it’s a little bit much to be angry at people for sending you a gift, particularly if you don’t know them very well and even more so if they took the time to make the gift themselves. Give away or donate the ones that aren’t from close relatives/friends and then move on.
Fwiw, I think this phenomenon happens at every big life event. We had a wedding registry but still got a million and one wine glasses. It’s fine.
Anonymous says
I have 3 girls and approx 57357373863 baby blankets, including three of mine from when I was a baby and two of DH’s. They are used mostly as picnic blankets for make believe. My youngest has one that she uses at daycare (in Before Times). I’m saving a few and thinking about having them made into stuffed animals along with a pair of PJs.
Preach it.
Anon says
Wow that’s a lot, waaay more than I received. Don’t keep them all. There’s too many and you don’t seem to like them much anyway.
But it’s sad that people made such an effort to be kind only to become an annoyance for you.
Anon says
It is a lot of blankets. I co-sign not giving a new mom more swaddles, but I have used almost all the homemade blankets people have given me (oldest kid is four). We put a blanket on our kids beginning when they are born, even if just for naps, so I appreciate all the sizes of knitted and crocheted blankets and their breathability. My current 2-year-old rejected having his feet confined in sleep sacks very early so he uses a quilt in his crib. And homemade blankets tend to wear like iron – my son is currently using a knit blanket my great-grandmother made for *me* 35 years ago and was used through all my siblings! It goes through the wash and comes out good as new.
Spirograph says
Yup! My mom gave me hand knit blankets from when I was a baby, and we have a bajillion others as well. Some (store-made) ones have died, but the handmade ones are going strong. I get that it feels overwhelming at first and I had the same thoughts about TOO MANY BLANKETS but we’ve used them all. Some lived at daycare for nap, some live in each car, some on the kids’ beds, some available for fort building. Some crappy store bought ones are outside right now decorating my kids’ outdoor living room.
Anon says
I’m with you. It sounds horrible but I actually sorta hate getting gifts. I know what I like and can buy it myself. Most gifts just end up being more work for me. I have to thank the person (I know not a huge deal but still another item on my to do list I didn’t ask for), then “deal” with the gift by finding a place for it or getting rid of it. Finding a place for a gift is stressful and annoying for me as someone who appreciates a streamlined/minimalist home. Getting rid of a gift fills me with guilt. Please please please respect my wishes and when I say I don’t want gifts, know that I mean it!
Anonymous says
You are lucky you have this many people who care about you enough to make your baby a quilt or blanket. Seriously, that is wonderful. It sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed right now, so I would just put them in a box under the crib for 6 months. You don’t need to make a decision right away, and it isn’t going to make your life worse to wait 6 months.
TheElms says
I didn’t receive a single baby blanket. It was a little sad. I did get some muslin swaddles because I bought them off my registry when no one else did. Can’t you just hang onto them until baby is a toddler and needs a blanket for a toddler bed?
Anon says
I didn’t get any either! Got lots of books, stuffed animals and adorable outfits but no blankets. I feel like what you get varies so much based on your location/culture. Agree with hanging onto them until toddlerhood. My mom had to make some “baby blankets” for my 2 year old’s dolls and stuffed animals, which was easy enough but it would have been even more convenient if we could have repurposed newborn blankets.
Eek says
Same!
Anon says
i have twins and fortunately very generous family friends. we live in a hot climate and received many many blankets, most of which we never used because they were born in the summer! all personalized. they also each received 7 personalized bath towels, 2 personalized beach towels, 3 personalized stools, 4 personalized tote bags (none of which we’ve used yet and they are now 2.5). again, all very nice thoughts and i am grateful that people wanted to gift us things, but things i could return or use for more than 10 minutes would have been more helpful. also because i have two boys, the one who was born first was gifted almost everything in blue and the one who was born second was gifted almost everything in green. now that they notice colors it is exhausting because they each want what the other one has and would like to have 2 blue ones or 2 green ones.
Anonymous says
Stop being such a drama queen. Heaven forbid elderly people wanted to show you some love. If you don’t like the blankets absolutely you can get rid of them without the fuss.
Anonymous says
Yes, I got so many too! I drape them over the changing pads so that when my kid makes a mess on them I can whisk away the blanket (as long as it’s not too bad) and not have to change a pad cover.
Anon says
Can they be connected, quilt style, to make one bigger blanket for her to use when she is older or that you could hang on the wall? I think it would look really cool all the mismatched patterns sewn together.
New Here says
SO many blankets. My cousin was all out of sorts because I didn’t pick out bedding for our nursery (why?? they can’t sleep with blankets!). I ended up getting a nice quilt with her monogram on it I use for decor. All others go in a basket.
The muslin swaddle blankets are good in theory, but we never used them to make a swaddle (Halo ftw). I used them to drape over the boppy or use it on walks.
anon says
Baby quilts are really great for tummy time, indoors or outdoors. We kept one in our car for trips to a park/field, one by the backdoor for hanging in the backyard, one in the living room for tummy time, one in the kid’s room for tummy time, and one in our bedroom for laying the baby down while we got ready in the morning. We appreciated having several so we could wash them often.
anonn says
Yep I felt that way too, but now that she’s 3, we’re still using most of them, except for the muslin. But I used the muslin a lot year one, tied the corners together as a nursing cover, covering her in the carseat. But 3 or 4 would have been plenty, I got 12. I got way too many burb cloths, and a baby that never spit up. Oh and giving someone 1 stuffed animal is giving them 1 too many.
Pogo says
This is on par with what we got. My kid was a spitter, so I used them on the floor to catch said spit up when he was doing tummy time/sitting and playing as he got older. I also used them when I went out to cover his stroller, or to put down on the grass if we went to a park, etc.
Some of the nicer ones – like the handmade – I now put in our ‘blanket basket’ in the den for kiddo to use when he’s snuggling on the couch; they also get used in forts or for dolls/stuffy’s.
There was a fancy pottery barn kids one that is a toddler-bed-size quilt that I have never taken the tag off of. I supposed I could donate, but I have it in the closet in case ….???
octagon says
Unless space is at an absolute premium, hold on to them! We got so many and they were all made with love. This winter kiddo went through a phase where he didn’t want his comforter on the bed, but he wanted to sleep under a pile of 5 (!!) lightweight quilts. We keep a couple near the couch to curl up with when watching tv. Two have gone to daycare at times to be nap blankets. One lives in the car. Etc etc etc….
Posture Devices? says
Now that I’m seeing myself in digital meetings all the time I’m horrified by how bad my posture is. (I knew it wasn’t great, but I had no idea how bad it was.) Can anyone recommend a device to improve posture? Lumps seems to have not great reviews and there’s a few others. Any experiences?
Realist says
Your best bet is to start doing exercises that improve your posture, like yoga or pilates or whatever exercises help you address the issue. Just a few minutes a day can start to make a difference. A seat wedge might help (you can really feel the difference when your pelvis spills forward if you sit on the wedge right) but I think you have to really focus while sitting on it to stay in the right position. I took a 4 week series from my yoga instructor on good posture and found it really helpful, I don’t know if there is anything like that online. (It was 4 Saturdays, not 4 whole weeks.)
Anonanonanon says
For some reason, my computer’s built-in webcam is at the BOTTOM of the screen! WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS! I can’t discreetly look something up because giant finger monsters appear in the frame, and we all know how lovely we look when filmed from below the chin.
Weighing how vain it makes me if I order a separate webcam to clip to the top of my computer. I think the giant typing fingers in the frame seal the deal. I’ve only had two video meetings since this started, but I think they’re going to start getting more and more normal.
Boston Legal Eagle says
That’s really odd. I’ve never seen a laptop like that, I wonder who made that choice. Definitely get the webcam, see if your work will pay for it too as a business need.
Anonanonanon says
It’s a Dell XPS and I love it otherwise (small, holds a charge, fits in all of my bags easily, etc.) but this webcam placement is truly deranged.
IHeartBacon says
Somebody at the factory was drunk on the day s/he was assigned to to the attach-monitor-to-keyboard shift.
Anonymous says
I had to get a clip on webcam a few years ago when my built-in webcam stopped working. It is definitely worth the $25-30 I spent on my LogiTech one. And honestly the quality is so much better. I can tell a difference between people who are using a separate webcam vs the built-in. It also has a nicer microphone on it than the built in one if you’re not using a headset.
JTM says
I have the same laptop with the camera on the bottom and it drives me nuts.
Anon says
OMG that’s wild. I would 100% buy a separate webcam.
anon says
I have a lenovo with a camera like this. I hate it. I end up using my cell for most zoom meetings angled at a way that I can type on my laptop without my arms really being in the shot.
Pogo says
That’s insane. FWIW, many at my company have separate clip-on webcams. It’s not vain.
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
I have the same. I started putting my laptop on top of a box when I use the camera. I have a docking station for an external keyboard and mouse so my huge fingers don’t appear on the webcam. It works OK.
avocado says
One of our IT guys uses this camera placement as an excuse never to enable video on Teams or Zoom calls.
Anonymous says
My 9 month old still isn’t into eating non-pureed foods. I try but he flicks it around and rubs it in his eye. He’s ok with big things like a piece of toast or pizza crust, but it’s like the rest doesn’t even register as food even when I put it in his mouth. He tries to eat literally everything else, though. Do I do anything extra to help him transition or just go with it?
Anon says
It’s not something I would worry a lot about at this point but “when I put it in his mouth” jumped out at me. Are you giving him the opportunity to pick up foods and feed himself? My DD literally didn’t eat solid foods until she developed a pincer grasp around 8 months and could pick up things like peas and cheerios. She had zero interest in being spoonfed.
Anon says
Yeah, lots of opportunity to pick it up. He also doesn’t eat from preloaded spoons either. He doesn’t have a pincher grasp yet so maybe he needs more time.
Anonymous says
I was so worried about my older kid transitioning to finger food, how would I teach him, etc. somewhere around 9-10 months he just did it on his own, on his own timeline. Our doctor told us they gain the mouth skills to manage small pieces of food at the same time they develop the pincer grasp, which seemed true for us!
Anon says
Totally fine. Follow Feeding Littles on instagram. Buy the course if you want, but her insta is amazing and full of information, which will tell you what I’m about to tell you: it’s completely normal. Keep offering.
Clementine says
Dear Gap Companies:
Dude. I get that your orders/shipping are delayed indefinitely…. if you’re this overwhelmed, maaaaybe dial back the aggressive sale emails. I’m not even frustrated my order is taking 3-4 months to ship; I AM frustrated by your 42 emails a day trying to get me to buy more stuff that won’t ship until Christmas.
Regards,
A woman whose kid has had exponential torso length grown and is now running around in crop tops 24/7 and this order has allll the tops.
ALC says
Right there with you! I am going to unsubscribe from them and Old Navy for now. For kid’s clothes, I have had luck with quick shipping from Primary recently.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Agree, Primary has been quick for us too. Also Tea Collection is having some sales now and were pretty quick to ship.
I heard an interview with a GAP warehouse employee who says their workload has increased a lot recently, so I get it from that end, but the emails are excessive. Clearly that part of the company doesn’t care about overburdening the distribution team.
Anon says
Primary is shipping fast if you need clothes for a fast-growing kiddo. I also got Old Navy orders in a reasonable timeframe (a month or so, not as fast as normal but not what you’re describing).
Pogo says
ha, Gap actually came faster than the H&M pants I ordered (24m were being worn as capri’s in the interim, so I feel you on the crop top situation!). H&M took about 4 weeks but they sent me a 20% off coupon.
I agree the marketing emails are too much. It’s nonstop from every single retailer!
anne-on says
Agreed. My skinny kid doesn’t fit into any of the shorts for his age (even though the sweatpants fit fine?!?!?) so I placed an order at Gap over the weekend and paid for the rush shipping. Because otherwise it’d be here in July. Argh.
Our school has a dress code so normally 2-3 pairs of shorts that fit wasn’t an issue as he wasn’t wearing them till camp. Now…not so much.
Anonymous says
They also have almost nothing in my kid’s size! At least wait until you get some new stock.
Anonymous says
We have several if these nightlights in various animal shapes. My kids adore them, and they aren’t too bright for sleeping. Rechargable is so much easier than batteries or cords!
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
DH and I are discussing sending DS (2.5) back to daycare in a few weeks. They’ve been open in different phases since March (first for only two-essential worker families, then for one-essential worker, and now opening back up to general public). They will re-start food service next week, so I’m thinking of sending DS no earlier than 6/8. They’re doing all the right things: staff will be wearing masks, parent/child/staff temp taken upon entry, no outside time/mixing rooms, low ratios (~10/class max), surfaces/toys are sanitized thoroughly throughout the day with bleach water, and no confirmed cases among staff of COVID-19.
Not only would this be great for DS (he’s currently an only child, so has gotten 0 socialization except for us and seeing grandparents and uncle via social distancing), but I think it would be helpful to us as DH and I have been struggling. A babysitter/nanny is not an option for a few reasons that I won’t drone on about. It’s sad because daycare means that he won’t be able to stay with his grandparents for even longer (my Dad would be in the incredibly high-risk category).
I guess my question is – how are folks dealing w the anxiety about sending their kids back somewhere, esp with the news about the Kawasaki-like disease that’s been popping up? The emotional side of my brain keeps taking over and not allowing logic. Given what the experts are predicting, I also am pretty sure that come Fall/Winter, DS will likely be home with us again so part of me thinks this is a nice window of giving him some “normalcy”.
Anon says
I think all of what you’re describing, including the anxiety, is pretty normal. I just remind myself that the mortality rates suggest this is almost never fatal in kids, the inflammatory syndrome is incredibly rare and not proven to be Covid-related (half the kids with it in NYC don’t have Covid antibodies), and it’s very survivable, especially with early detection and treatment (so increased awareness of potential complications like this is a good thing, not a bad thing).
I know this isn’t your main point, but I don’t really understand the idea they’ll be a “second wave” in the winter. I feel like either there will be a second wave as we relax lockdown in the next couple months, or social distancing measures plus testing and tracing will keep this controlled long term (not necessarily zero cases/deaths, but keep spread to a level that doesn’t overwhelm hospitals and can be managed with shorter localized shutdowns). There’s no real evidence this virus is seasonal and when the population as a whole has no immunity, even viruses that would normally be seasonal (eg., flu) can hit hard over the summer and early fall, as swine flu did. Not trying to be argumentative and I know some experts have theorized a second wave when cold weather hits, it just doesn’t make much sense to me given the lack of evidence that weather plays a big part in how this spreads. Although maybe that’s just me trying to make myself feel better bc my daycare isn’t opening until August :/ and I want my kid to be able to get a return to normalcy at least for a while.
Clementine says
Ahem. I know just enough to be dangerous, so:
Much of what we know about large scale pandemics comes from research based on the 1918 Global Influenza outbreak (aka the Spanish Flu – what Lavenia died of in Downton Abbey). This model showed a major second wave which occurred (I believe) in the fall.
In the winter which is normal cold/flu season, people are more likely to be in close contact indoors with less air circulation. There is also some evidence that we have lower Vitamin D levels which somewhat reduce our immune system capacity. In general, this is when people get sick. Cyclical events like schools starting, holidays, etc. also bring groups into contact with each other who may not have already been exposed to the germs the other group has with them.
As a note, most medical conditions have some level of seaonality about them. You’re right that this is new and we don’t know a lot about it. What we do know though, especially based on the long period where you’re not yet sick but spreading the virus, is that we need to keep the number of people who are infected by each sick person (known as the R0) as low as possible. Even if every sick person infects 2 other people, you’re looking at exponential disease growth. This is why contact tracing, continued adherence to social distancing, and developing solid public health infrastructure are all important.
Anon says
I don’t think any of this is really in conflict with what I said (and I work in a field that touches this stuff too, so your points aren’t news to me). I feel like the idea that close indoor contacts leads to spread suggests that the second wave would emerge closer to when we reopen indoor businesses like gyms and restaurants, not when the weather turns cold. We’re also going to continue mitigation measures that will prevent some of the traditional wintertime illness spread (for example, the colleges that talking about reopening in the fall have mostly announced fall semester calendars that end just before Thanksgiving, to avoid students traveling home for the winter holidays and bringing the virus back to campus — there will no doubt be countless other examples). Re: Vitamin D, there are already numerous studies linking deficiency to severity of Covid illness and I expect we’re going to see CDC advice soon that everyone, or at least people in certain high-risk groups, should be supplementing. Some other countries have already done this. Vitamin D levels peak in August and are at their lowest in February, so if that’s a major factor it would be more indicative of a late winter/early spring second wave, not a second wave in September.
CCLA says
If you haven’t already, check out the discussion here yesterday on daycare decisions. There were a couple of good links posted from Emily Oster’s site and others. We are tentatively planning to send kids back in June. This may not ever be zero risk, but with what we know now, I liken it to sending an infant to daycare. We know they can get RSV and the like, and it’s a known very small risk that we accepted and sent our kids anyway when they were 4 months old. Likewise we didn’t stop visiting parks when there was a measles outbreak here (we did avoid indoor play places then, though, since we had a kid under 12 months). I’m more concerned about whether the kids will bring it home to us, but have mostly made peace with that risk too.
Boston Legal Eagle says
This. I like Emily Oster a lot and I’ve liked her recent postings on Covid. Is there a risk that the kids could get a serious complication from the virus? Sure. So far it still seems like a pretty rare complication. There’s also many risks of illnesses from daycare, which we’ve accepted and so far been lucky to avoid most of these beyond the usual colds, ear infections, etc.
Emily S. says
We’re going back the same week, when our original stay at home order would have expired, if it had not been shifted to a safer-at-home message this week. As for the anxiety, I’m trying to confront it and contain it. I remind myself of all the things my family has done to be careful these past 10 weeks (but who is counting?) and of all the steps daycare is taking, and not to let perfect be the enemy of the good. I don’t mean to sound flippant; the risks are real, but DH and I have done the calculations, check the county’s case stats every day, and decided that it’s the right decision. Sending kids back to care during a global pandemic is not perfect but sending them to a place that has protections in place, where they can socialize and learn, and leave the adults to get back to work at home, is good. And then I try to think of something else.
As often is said here, this is hard. And there aren’t easy answers. And what works for one family doesn’t for another.
Anon says
Well, I waived the white flag and went on FMLA leave. Starting in a couple weeks so I can wrap things up and minimize how much I leave people in the lurch. Feeling so many emotions right now…relief for myself, happiness for my kiddo that she’ll have more attention from a less-stressed out mom, sadness for the part of myself that enjoyed my job and derived fulfillment from working outside the home, anger that I was forced into this (hopefully temporary?) SAHM situation, worry about what this new dynamic will do to my marriage, anxiety about what will happen if/when we still don’t have daycare when the 12 weeks are up, and so much frustration at the world for thinking we can have any meaningfully “reopening” without daycare/school.
Realist says
So much this. I haven’t taken FMLA but have stepped back. So much frustration at the world.
anon says
I feel all this. Families have been put in an impossible situation and it makes me so f*cking angry with the world. Big hugs to you, anon. I hope you get some respite for now and can return to work when you’re ready.
Anon says
I’m still thinking about the conversation yesterday about women having to step out of the workforce because daycare and schools aren’t reopening. I understand that for many families it is a financial decision and it makes more sense for mom to step back instead of dad. However, what if we all committed to having our husbands tell their bosses that they *may* have to take leave if daycares do not reopen and all of the women staying quiet on the topic for a week or two while this happens.
Maybe if the powers at be fear that all of their men aren’t coming back they will start pushing politicians to prioritize daycare. Maybe it will seem more normal for women to take leave when all of the men have been talking about it first.
Even better, what if all of these dads take at least one week of leave. Even if they make triple your income, surely you can get by with one week of dad on leave instead of mom? We have to do something and we have to do it in mass for it to work.
The big fault though is if this plan spreads openly on FB or other places that the powers that be read, they won’t believe the men that say they may have to take leave…
Realist says
In theory, this is a great idea. In practice, it seems like telling women who are paid less “Just negotiate for more pay!” and expecting that to work. There are powerful social forces at work that will stigmatize many men if they try to do this. And hard to see many men taking up the cause anyway. I like the idea of a woman’s strike like they did in Iceland. I don’t think men are going to take up the cause for us.
Anon says
I would word this request differently if it wasn’t on an all women’s blog. It wouldn’t say “get your husband to … ” It would be “hey men, can you do this for us?” And as for the social forces at work, that’s why I said just tell your boss you MAY need leave – like drop it in conversation. Which should be far less painful than actually taking the leave.
I agree that it is really hard to get people to do something that harms them to better others though.
Pogo says
My husband did say he would start drawing hard lines like, “I need to be responsible for childcare from 3-5pm” if I say my meeting is more important. Previously we’ve been able to negotiate who’s on and who gets to take their call, but we’ve also had support from my mom which may be changing soon. I was happy to hear him say, unprompted, “Well your role is more about directing people, and collaborating, whereas mine is more individual contributor so we should prioritize your meetings.” Would be amazing to have him say that to his boss, ha.
Anonymous says
DH’s boss told him yesterday that he will be expected in the office one week on, one week off. This won’t work for us without childcare. He’s a gvt employee (read: job security and benefits, but pay is one half mine), and I can work full time from home, so if his boss won’t budge on that schedule, husband is the one who’s going to take FMLA.
anon says
You guys, I lost my temper this morning with my 5-year-old for acting … well, 5. I feel terrible. I am so over this stupid WFH-with-kids-underfoot arrangement. It is not working. She needs more than I can give her, and I have constant anxiety about sucking at my job and being a mom. DH and I had already agreed that we wouldn’t send her back to daycare yet and would try to get by with having a sitter come in a few hours a day during June. We may need to revisit that plan because I am breaking. I’m heading into my busy season and am struggling with having my attention so divided.
Pogo says
Hugs. We have alllll been there. Husband was talking about this too (inability to have any patience at all), and my only suggestion – which I had to do yesterday – was to put kiddo in his room with the door shut for a time out while I dealt with the mess he’d made and caused me to nearly lose it. It was still hard to come back and not be p*ssed at him for pushing my buttons, but you’re right – they’re little kids! They’re just trying their best too. The physical time out where I knew he was safe/contained while I could deal with the situation helped me from yelling at him.
Anon says
I’m sorry. I can relate. I have cried and yelled in front of my child, and my sense of unraveling is one of the reason I’m sending her back to daycare.
Daycare Open! says
So, our daycare officially opened yesterday. We’ve committed to sending our kid back starting a week from today. I am feeling all the emotions about this decision. Has anybody else sent their kid(s) back already or will in the next week or so?
Anon says
see above. i have been very very conservative and strict about social distancing and i would send my kid back to daycare, assuming they are taking good precautions. i do not want my kid to get covid nor do i want to get covid. i am trying to remind myself that every day we engage in behavior that carries some level of risk – from driving in the car to childbirth to eating (you could choke!). our plan is to do what we can to minimize our risk, so kid will go to daycare. we will not go eat at restaurants, wander around stores, go to a bar, the spa, the movies or class at Gymboree. as discussed yesterday, there seems to be some, though limited evidence that kid to kid transmission is quite rare for younger kids. i am anxious about it, but keep walking myself through the logic.
lsw says
This is me 100%
Realist says
My child’s private school officially reopens this week. They are continuing distance learning for the families not ready to send their children back. For my child’s class, about half of the children will be in school, from what I am hearing. Our family was not comfortable with it and will stay home. School is only in session a few more weeks and the risk is just not worth it. Several children in my child’s class are the children of essential healthcare workers and I am glad they will have this option for childcare for a few weeks, but we have health risks in our home.
AnotherAnon says
Today was my 3 y/o’s first (half) day back. He is an extrovert and I can confidently say he is 60% more cheerful now that he’s been to school. You do what you think is best.
Anon says
I’m so jealous on behalf of my extroverted preschooler. She’s so sad about school being closed, and it’s really tough to see.
lsw says
Our daycare is reopening next Wednesday and we are sending our son back right away. I definitely am feeling a lot of emotions about it but when I try to look at it without emotion, I truly do not see a valid reason to keep him home. (My husband’s and my work are both suffering, he misses his friends/stimulation of preschool, our county is moving in a very positive direction, daycare taking good precautions, we’re all in good health and not in contact with vulnerable family members, etc etc etc). Two different friends called me this week to talk about sending their kids back – we’re all in the same boat where we felt okay with it and then started to wonder if it was a good idea, but for more “emotions” reasons than “reason” reasons.
Anon says
I read this as “our country is moving in a very positive direction” and I thought uhhh, really??? But I’m glad your county is moving in a positive direction, and I think it totally makes sense to make decisions based on your local situation.
HSAL says
Ours went back last week. It’s been glorious. Daycares in our area were never required to close, but ours closed for almost 2 months. I was (and am) 90% ecstatic and 10% “what does this mean for seeing grandparents?” But it’s better for them, better for us, and better for us as a family.
Anonymous says
I am getting sick of my family and am feeling sad about feeling this way. In particular, the last thing I want to do right now is be intimate with my spouse. I just want to go to my office and work hard and then go out for drinks with my friends or coworkers. Please tell me I’m not the only one feeling like this! I don’t see this situation changing for us for at least another few months, so I need to figure out a way to get out of this feeling.
anon says
Nope, you’re not the only one. My desire for intimacy is extremely low. Too much stress, too much together time, not enough time to decompress. It’s like having a baby all over again. :/
Anonymous says
Definitely not the only one – I feel practically repulsed by DH at this point, and he’s not doing anything wrong. It’s just too much togetherness and not enough downtime and time to myself. I need to miss him a tiny bit, you know? And there’s no opportunity to do that in quarantine.
Boston Legal Eagle says
My family are the only people I’m seeing in person right now, and have been for the past 2 months. It’s a lot! I enjoyed going into work to chat with my coworkers, see people on the street and just be around other humans. My husband is my favorite person in the world and still we need to see other people because otherwise what are we supposed to talk about?? The kids, the quarantine, again and again and again? And I’ve gotten enough quality time with my kids as little kids to last a lifetime. This is not a normal situation so I think what you’re feeling is totally valid.
Anonymous says
DH’s boss told him yesterday that he will be expected in the office one week on, one week off. This won’t work for us without childcare. He’s a gvt employee (is, job security and benefits, but pay is half mine), and I can work full time from home, so if his boss won’t budge on that schedule, husband is the one who’s going to take FMLA.
Falling Down Stairs says
So, confirmed children are made of rubber today. While I was on a call, DH told DD it was time for a diaper change. She took off running from him, headed downstairs, missed the top step and slow rolled down the entire flight of stairs. I heard the shouting and the thump thump thump through my headphones and saw her flop off the bottom out of the corner of my eye, started swearing (not on mute, fortunately only an internal call), dropped to comfort her, and, miraculously, she’s fine? Stopped crying after about 15 minutes, I poked around her, and she’s acting normally. If that had been me, I would have been in the ER.
Anonymous says
I’m always amazed by how my toddler seems to fall in literal slow motion. It’s great, it keeps her from getting seriously injured, but it’s just really interesting how slow she moves when she’s falling.
Anon says
Same! DD fell in slow motion on her face the other day. She has scrapes all over her nose and cheeks but it could have been so much worse. I feel like if it were me I would have had a bloody nose or, worse, knocked out teeth. Kids are so strange!
Boston Legal Eagle says
My older one fell down a flight of stairs, cried for a bit… and then went up those same stairs like nothing happened. I think toddlers have to be somewhat indestructible because they get into so much.
Anonymous says
Oohh that must have been heart-stopping! My 2-year-old somehow bounced off his brother’s bed, did a flip in the air and landed on his face on the wood floor, but was, aside from a slightly bloody lip… completely fine! Like, how is that possible? I nearly had a heart attack. The image of his “ohhh sh*t” face while upside-down in the air will be engraved on my brain forever.
Amelia Bedelia says
My husband has worked part-time for several years. He is in the medical field, so is now pulling 12 hour shifts, but at least it is only 3-4 days a week.
On his 3-4 days a week, I bill when I can and have conference calls when I can. I have 4 and 5 year olds that thankfully play really well together. There is only modest interruption, and I’ve prepared my clients and colleagues for that. If they have a problem with that, they can suck it! so, i average 2-4 hours of billed time during their play.
My kids were in school, but I have declared early summer for them. we participate in zero school activities. I simply do not care. We read to them every day and I believe imaginative play is best for them at this age anyway. ha! I love how I mask my laziness with free-range ideals!
As soon as husband gets home, he takes over. here lately (with the 12 hour shifts), he usually gets home right before they go to bed – he takes care of the bedtime routine while I start working. Then he puts together late dinner for us and we “catch up” for half an hour to an hour. Then I try to get a few more hours of work in. My goal is to bill 8 hours on those days, but it usually ends up being about 6. though, some days i just power through and get 10-11 (i.e., when working on document revisions).
On the days husband is off work, he does everything. He takes care of the kids 100% from 7.30am (when they get up) to 4.30pm. I work. I try to start by 6am and finish around 4.30pm and have some family time and eat dinner as a family and play until kids go to bed. On those days, I put the kids to bed (because I enjoy it) while husband cleans the kitchen. (Also, even on days he works, he cleans the kitchen. he is responsible for dishes and i am responsible for laundry. this works for us.) After the kids go to bed, I either work more or we chat — or I mindlessly scroll instagram!
other than dishes and laundry, neither of us really clean. we miss our cleaners! we have decided that’s just something that will fall by the wayside.
we are both exhausted, but we both feel this is the best division of labor we can come up with at this point. We are generally happy with how it is going.
also, I LOVE working from home (on days i have childcare from husband). it’s so nice to pop down for a few minutes here and there and talk to hubs or snuggle the kiddos.
Amelia Bedelia says
oops. wrong posting!~