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As a stomach sleeper, sleeping during (and after) pregnancy was especially uncomfortable. Every night, I relied on this wedge pillow from Boppy to get a decent night’s rest.
This compact and portable pillow supports your bump, or even your back and knees. I found it comfortable enough on its own, but it can be used with other prenatal pillows if you need more support. It kept me from rolling over, putting pressure on my bump as I slept. The soft jersey slipcover is machine washable.
I still use this occasionally if my back feels sore and I need to sleep on my side.
The pillow is available at Target and Amazon for $15.99.
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
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- 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?
Sleep says
Any tips and tricks for getting a one year old to sleep past 5:30 am? He used to sleep until at least 6 or 6:30. We’re going to try pushing his bedtime back from 6:30 to 7:15 this week, although Taking Cara Babies says sometimes early wakeup are caused by too late of a bedtime. The Ferber book wasn’t much help for this specific problem either. We have blackout curtains and a sound machine. We’ve tried ignoring it and hoping he’ll go back to sleep, which hasn’t worked. Giving him a bottle and putting him back in the crib sometimes works, but most of the time he starts screaming again. It’s hard for us to control his nap schedule because he is in daycare. Is this something that will eventually go away on its own? I don’t want to keep getting up this early!
AnonATL says
My 13mo has been doing this on and off the past couple of weeks. I think some of our issue is too much daytime sleep. I noticed Saturday when he took two longer naps, he was up at 6 on sunday (luckily that was DH’s morning). He learned to walk recently and new skills tend to be pretty disruptive to his sleep.
We are sticking to our usual 6:30 bedtime and wakeup and riding it out. There’s no way he will tolerate dropping to 1 nap, and he comes home so tired from daycare we have to go with early bedtime.
AnonATL says
To clarify, I think it’s too much daytime sleep because at daycare he takes short naps vs home with us on the weekend they are much longer. But he gets grouchy if I try to push him past 3 hours of wake time so I don’t think he could make it to one nap instead of two shorter naps.
Anonymous says
I don’t know. That sounds pretty normal to me. My kids all napped like an hour at daycare and then like 2-2.5 hours at home on the weekends to catch up a bit. It’s hard to get long naps at daycare.
AnonATL says
We have a similar trend. I’m probably just grasping at straws here to explain why certain days he is up and ready to party at 5am when mom and dad are decidedly not :)
Anon says
Caveat: I’m a first time mom of a 10.5 month old.
It sounds like he’s getting a normal amount of sleep (and so he isn’t going to go back to sleep because he’s done with sleep for the night), so I think that pushing bedtime is probably the way to go. My daughter also sleeps about 11 hours at night, but 8:30/9pm until 7:30/8am.
Anonymous says
I assure you it will probably eventually go away on its own. (Your teenager will not be waking up at 5:30 at least!) Without control of the nap schedule, sometimes it just is like this, but pushing bedtime later is a good idea if you can manage it, especially if the total amount of sleep he’s getting seems solid – I can’t tell without knowing how long he naps. And if he hasn’t already dropped to 1 nap, that will also probably change things when it happens. There’s a lot going on developmentally around 12-18 months, and it was a rough time for us for sleep.
GCA says
1. How long are his naps and how much total sleep is he getting? Some kids do this when they should drop a nap but haven’t yet.
2. How does he act when he wakes up in the morning? Is he chipper and happy (my first kid was like this, always) or kind of sluggish and grouchy? If the former – he’s fine. If the latter – he probably needs to sleep in a bit longer.
Anonymous says
Growth spurt? Try peanut butter toast or something similar before bed.
Anon says
sleep with kids is such an enigma. even all the “experts” say that sometimes it is because there is too much daytime sleep, sometimes because there isn’t enough. bedtime is too early, bed time is too late, etc. for us early wakeups usually resolved themselves within a couple of weeks though VERY painful for those weeks. and for us generally required me to move bedtime up rather than pushing it. but every kid is different, so it might take some trial and error. some people say that one year olds are old enough for an ok to wake clock. we never tried it at that age, but could be something to consider
Pogo says
(responds with the tiktok ha ha ha ha)
I found it does get better, especially if you don’t respond right away – both my kids learned pretty quickly to chill in their crib til we came to get them (within reason). At this age you can have a couple small toys in there, or a Wubbanub, that LO can use to self-soothe.
Sleep says
Thanks all! To answer some of the questions:
– He’s switched to one nap at daycare, usually 1.5 to 2.5 hours and waking up from the nap between 1 and 2 pm. He does usually seem tired (rubbing eyes, etc.) by his 6:30 bedtime, bu we’ll try to push that a little,
– He seems pretty happy when he wakes up at 5:30 in the morning, especially after having his bottle.
I’ve been wondering if he would understand an okay-to-wake clock. I think he is probably a little young for it, but we’ll buy one eventually anyway so it may be worth getting now. I’ve also considered putting a toy in his crib after he falls asleep so he could play with it when he wakes up (although most sleep experts seem to say no toys in the crib, ever). Not sure if that would help. He’ll probably just throw it on the floor like he does with his pacifiers when he is ready to get up!
AwayEmily says
Our kids were both very early risers as babies. I hated it and googled SO many versions of “how to get your kid to sleep later.” The only thing that worked for us was consistent use of an OK to Wake clock, starting at around 10 months (though I’d get the Hatch as it’s a lot more flexible — we switched that later) and waiting it out.
Sleep says
Which Hatch model did you use? I saw several versions that look like ok-to-wake clocks.
AwayEmily says
The Hatch Rest. The big difference is that you can control it from your phone, which means that if your kid usually gets up at 5:45 but for some magic reason decides to sleep in, you can stop the clock from turning green and waking him up anyway. Now that the kids share a room we also use the multiple light colors to mean different things (purple means it’s okay to chat with each other, yellow means quiet time, and green means they can get up).
Anonymous says
The other advantage of controlling it from your phone is that you can practice with your kid. We played a game called ‘pretend sleep’ where I would lie on the floor and kid would pretend to sleep in her crib. After a minute or so I would surreptitiously turn on the light from my phone and then get up and exclaim ‘The light is green! It is morning and ok to get up!’. This, combined with significant discussions, worked for a 2.5 year old. I’ve got nothing for a 1yo though. Good luck!
Anon Lawyer says
That’s what I did too – probably starting around 12 or 13 months. I actually set the Hatch to turn green and to play bird sounds at the approved wake-up time because I felt like saying “there’s no birdies yet” was more understandable to her than “it’s still red.” Now at 21 months, I put a book in her crib at night and sometimes she’ll flip through that first thing in the morning.
Anon. says
In my experience, kids figure out the ok to wake clock much earlier/faster than you expect. Agreed with the recommendation for the Hatch.
anon says
How long has he been doing this? I don’t usually change anything unless a sleep issue has recurred consistently for at least a week.
Sleep says
Way longer than a week, unfortunately. I think it’s been a few months!
Anon says
We had this problem with our second baby and ended up doing a sleep consultation after we had seemingly tried everything else. They solved the problem overnight with just a few tweaks to her bedtime routine (moving feeding to a different room, not her bedroom, and incorporating some independent play into the bedtime routine). Happy to share the company we used for the consultation if helpful.
Sleep says
Yes, please!
Anon says
Sure – it was Heather at The Happy Sleeper. She and her partner have a book too which I would highly recommend.
tell me why 2 kids is the right number says
I know this has been covered many times before but we are trying to decide whether to have a third child. I have 2 daughters (ages 5 and 2), and for a variety of very practical reasons, I think that 2 children is the right number for our family. I know all of this on a rational level, but nonetheless I still sometimes feel sad, like I am grieving some alternative life where I have a big, lively family. I am from a big family, and so sometimes when I think about having only 2 kids, it seems small and sad.
In addition to the practical considerations (my age, logistics related to size of our house and car, finances) I already feel like I am mentally stretched to my absolute breaking point with my demanding job and two children, so I do not think I could handle another without seriously impacting my mental health and ability to be a good mom to the kids I have.
I haven’t given away my maternity clothes and baby gear because it seems so final, but at the same time I think that coming to a final decision about this (rather than letting the passage of time/my age make that choice for me by way of a non-decision) might make me feel better.
I’d love to hear people tell me that they love their family with 2 kids. If you came from a big family yourself, do you feel like your family with only 2 kids feels small (in a bad way)? Or if you thought about having a third and decided not to, were you happy with your choice or do you have regrets?
Boston Legal Eagle says
I have a lot of your similar feelings so no real answers, but I’m curious to read what other people say. I love the idea of a big loving family (especially in the future when they’re not so little and demanding!) but I also feel so exhausted and overwhelmed at times now that I think that my fantasy of a big family would end up with me just being frustrated and even more overwhelmed with more than my 2 kids (not saying those with more kids did it wrong – I just know myself and my limits). I come from a tiny family though, so I also like my quiet.
anon says
with all the kindess in the world, it reads like you’ve made your decision (re your second paragraph), and need to find a way to accept it.
I will say this – I’ve always wanted ‘at least’ 2 kids, I really struggled for #2, had to do IVF, only had one viable embryo, and when he was born, I felt very sad knowing with utmost certainty we’d never have another one. I’m too old, IVF likely wouldn’t work this time, and my dear husband said in those words he’d divorce me if I got pregnant again. I’m not sure he was joking, and frankly I don’t think my body or sanity could take another pregnancy or newborn lack of sleep.
All of that to say, I felt sad for a while, but then, like you it seems, realised it would not be a good thing for me or my family.
It helps a lot that my kids get along so well and love to play together, they are happy as a unit. My eldest sometimes asks if she can have a sister but then recognizes another baby would mean me having less time with her and she moves on.
big virtual hugs to you
anon says
I can do my best for my two actual kids. It would significantly decrease their (and my!) quality of life if I had a third. Also, we’re entering fun elementary years and would miss out on a lot of fun with a little baby nap schedule.
It sounds like your limit is also two. I think every parent should try to give their children a really excellent life. It matters not at all what number of children is optimal for others or what would hypothetically be fun many years down the line.
Sleep says
One thing that has helped me as I consider whether to have more children or not is remembering that more children does not necessarily = the picture of the big happy family I have in my head. It might mean that, but there are also families where one or more of the children move really far away as adults and are not around very often, and some people simply do not maintain close relationships with their siblings. I know plenty of adults who have a cordial but not very close relationship with their siblings and prefer to spend holidays traveling or alone. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing which type of person a potential third child will be!
Mary Moo Cow says
Hi, are you me? :) DH and I just went through this over the summer, and I finally came to my decision two weeks ago. For many of the same reasons you’ve listed, we’re sticking with our 2 girls. First, I’m stretched thin. I think DH finally understood that when I said he’s third in line for my care and attention, and I’m fourth, and I can’t keep going like that. Second, if I got pregnant, it would be a 7 year age gap between oldest and youngest and despite advice to parent in the present and not the future, thinking of parenting a teenager and an elementary kid gave a physical reaction of “ugh.” Third, our house is big enough for 3 kids, but I like the extra space. Fourth, we feel wealthy now (private school, college savings, retirement savings, car payments, and still have plenty left over for frivolous stuff) and a third kid would mean cutting back on all of that. I worry that makes me bougie and selfish, but there it is. Fifth, I’m 38, with one ovary, and I’ve had 2 c-sections and a third similar surgery. I don’t know that I would get pregnant or that I would fully recover from another c-section. I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of depression and if I didn’t get pregnant, that might tip me over the edge, because I would feel like a failure. Finally, I remembered how I felt in the hospital with baby 2, which was overjoyed that our family was complete. Unsolicited advice: you feel how you feel, and it is tricky to know which feelings to trust if you swing back and forth. But give yourself some time and pay attention to the dominant or more frequent emotion. For me, more days than not I felt comfortable with 2 or even “cannot do a third,” so after a few months, I knew.
Anon says
Been there and chose to stop at 2. I have longings to have another but I had my tubes tied so there’s nothing to do about it. FWIW, our first kid has some special needs. Right now she’s a somewhat typical 4 year old with more doctor’s appointments than most. As she gets older, her needs are likely to require more care. We stopped at 2 because we hope to keep the bandwidth and resources to meet her unique needs while also being the best parents we can be to her brother too. We also worried that having a 3rd while I’m older with a history of a kid with a rare genetic condition was risky. It’s hard. I get sad but also I know we can only handle so much. We’re open to adopting or fostering down the road too.
Mommasgottasleep says
So DH and I both come from big families (seven kids and four kids, respectively) and we had one kid, then twins. The twins are 6 months now and it’s…a lot. I don’t feel like I’m drowning the way I did when they were four moths old, but it’s starting to hit me that there are three small people to parent and that is going to be a challenge. Maybe this would be helpful: make a list of all the fun things you can do with your kiddos and seriously evaluate whether you could still do that with three. Finally, I think if you decide you want another kid you will figure it out. And if you decide ultimately to stick with two, it’s normal to still feel sad even after you’ve made that decision.
NYCer says
There is nothing small and sad about a family with 2 kids! It sounds to me (from your second paragraph especially), that you should enjoy your two girls and try to change your mindset about what qualifies as a lively family.
Anonymous says
Agreed! Happiness and liveliness have nothing to do with numbers! My family is just me and my kid and we have so many adventures!
Mm says
I am a middle child of three and honestly often wished while growing up that my younger sibling hadn’t been born. I generally did not like being a middle child. And the sibling dynamics of three included a lot of two-on-one teaming up and one person feeling left out. As for my own decision-making, I just don’t feel like we could handle three without a lot of extra help and time that we simply don’t have (one is hard enough right now!).
Anonymous says
Middle child of three too and often wished I could have just been an only child when I was a kid. I love my siblings. My sister is one of my closest friends. My brother is great too, but he literally lives on the other side of the planet.
I feel mixed about the future dynamics for my only child but also like it is right for my family.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
DH is the youngest of 3. Granted his siblings are his half-siblings, but they all share the same mum. They are NOT close at all. More check-the-box type sibling relationship, with DH often playing the role of “oldest child”.
My family growing up was my brother and I – plus a lot of extended family once we were older kids. My brother and I are very close, and although COVID put a wrench in things, we are a pretty close extended family, and that’s where a lot of the fun happens. I never felt “small” with just my brother and I.
We have 2 kids right now, and honestly going from 1 to 2 was not planned, as DH was always very on the fence/leaning “no” to #2 so we’re 100% done with kids, and it feels right for us, our marriage, and sanity.
Anon says
I have no real advice, just sympathy. I have a 1 and a 3 year old and we are 98% done (DH probably would have gone for a 3rd last year but has seen the light now that our youngest is getting easier and will likely get snipped at year end). I genuinely believe that two is the right number of children for our family, but I also feel a deep sense of sadness at knowing I’ll never have that magical experience of welcoming a new baby into the world and expanding our family again. I personally looked forward to having children for so long that it’s weird that the pregnancy/baby phase is just over and done already. It was such a short period of time for me in the scheme of things (~4 years from my first pregnancy to my last baby turning 1). It really does feel like I blinked and it was over, in many ways.
However, for multiple financial/logistical/emotional reasons, two is right for us. DH and I are stretched pretty thin with demanding jobs and very little help outside of our nanny. We are comfortable financially now but adding a third would be a stretch with additional childcare and future college costs. I also feel completely tapped out at the end of most days, and I simply don’t think that I personally would have the emotional/physical/mental resources to be a good mom to three kids without giving up my career, which I don’t want to do. I had rough pregnancies and a complicated delivery with my second and would likely need a C-section for a third baby after two “natural” births, and I don’t want to put my body through that. So two it is for us. I’ve started giving away baby things as soon as we outgrow or don’t need them anymore, just because it’s easier for me to do in the moment vs. being caught up in the sentimentality of it. It’s hard, though. I think a little part of me will always wonder about what if we had gone for that third baby, but a larger part of me believes that two children is what we were meant to have.
Anon Lawyer says
I think the family you grow up in – assuming it’s a close and loving one – just “feels” normal and right to you. I have one brother. I always kind of off-handedly wonder what it would be like to have a sister and of course it seems nice to have a sister who’s a BFF, but it doesn’t feel like anything is missing in my life. Most people I know feel the same about their own family configurations growing up.
No Face says
I do not have another pregnancy/childbirth/newborn round in me, so I am sticking with 2 biological children. After my kids are older, I will have a large family through adopting from foster care. Foster care adoption and having another baby are very different choices though.
anon says
I have 2 kids and it feels plenty lively! IDK, I just knew I did not have the stamina for another one. Plus I had a hard time getting pregnant with our younger kid, and I was not eager to potentially repeat that whole experience.
Several of my friends have 3-4 kids, and it looks just as hard when they’re older, from a logistics standpoint. More schools, more activities, more of everything. I was the oldest of 4, but I no longer yearn to re-create that big family experience after seeing how stretched thin my friends are (and none of them work full-time, which I fully intend to keep doing).
With 2 kids, both get plenty of attention from me and DH. That was one of my big concerns about having more; as the oldest in a big family, I often felt like my emotional needs were set aside because my mom was so busy just keeping up with the little ones. It’s nobody’s fault and I don’t resent her or anything, but I also know that I want to be more hands-on than you feasibly can be with a larger family.
Anon says
Both myself and my husband come from large families; we have one kid. Various factors stretched us to the breaking point when I was pregnant, and we are deliberately choosing to quit while we are ahead. (Not drama, literal medical issue: pregnancy almost killed me.) We are beyond thrilled with the delightful child we have and want to put our lives back together, enjoy what we have, and not play psychological, marital, and financial brinkmanship.
It is easier, IMHO, to enjoy what you have when you almost didn’t get it at all. We met when I was in my mid/late 30s, so having even one kid was hardly a guarantee; we both expected to never meet anyone, or if we did, it would be too late for kids. So our one beautiful, lovely, happy baby is a gift we did not know we would even get. That doesn’t make me more Zen than people who mourn not having more kids; they are different situations.
However – there’s this idea out there that you’re being robbed if you can’t have the exact perfect-for-you family size. Tradeoffs exist. Pregnancy can be hell and it only gets worse when you’re older. This is not judgy towards people who are wired differently than I am – I see this from the perspective of everyone who gets up in my face about having another, acting like I must be making things up when I say that’s not in the cards.
It is pervasive. People really do not think that there are many considerations beyond “can you get gamete to meet gamete?”. So you’re allowed to mourn – maybe – if you aren’t able to have another, but you really aren’t allowed to mourn if prudence dictates that you’re done before your health, marriage, and career are a total dumpster fire.
Anon says
Trying to express this: I don’t think there’s a lot of social support, let alone any cultural framework, for saying that you (a) want another kid, (b) are able to conceive and likely carry the baby to term, and (c) are married and financially secure, but this is still a REALLY BAD idea.
Therefore, women in that situation tend to question themselves, when in any other situation it would be understood to mourn for what you want, understand that the trade-offs are immense, and enjoy what you have.
Another sleep question! says
My 4.5yo used to sleep 8:30-7:00 (bedtime at 8, not allowed out of her bed in the morning until 7:30, but always awake before them) and also nap 2:00-3:30. She pretty clearly needed those 12 hours of sleep. School starts imminently, so we’ve been weaning off nap for the past few weeks. She now gets awake quiet time in her room and bedtime is at 7 (asleep by 7:30 generally), but she’s been consistently waking up at 6:30, so only getting 11 total hours of sleep and is thus a disaster from about 4:30pm on.
Any tips for getting her to sleep longer at night or do we just need to deal with the cranky tiredness until her body adjusts? Her room has blackout curtains, so I don’t think it’s the sunlight waking her up.
Anon says
i think it is the later – that you have to deal with the cranky tiredness. my 3 year old twins just dropped their nap, and they had been getting 12-14 hours of sleep a day and now are getting 11-12 and they are just a mess by about 3pm. i posted on here recently and someone told me it will take time to adjust. you could try putting her to bed even earlier, like 6:30 asleep by 7, but 11 hours is still a decent amount of sleep
NYCer says
You may find that once school starts she is extra tired and naturally starts sleeping longer. I would just deal with the crankiness right now and see how it goes once school starts.
OP says
Yeah, that’s kind of what I’ve been figuring. Thanks for the confirmation!
Ifiknew says
Yes my daughter took about 3 to 4 months to adjust. It seemed like an eternity and was so so painful with the tantrums after 4 pm, but we finally got a good rhythm with a 715 bedtime and sleeping till 645-7. Hang in there and push bedtime earlier and she will learn to sleep later to compensate for the lack of nap.
So Anon says
Y’all, I’m having feels: I’m turning 40 on Sunday. My kids will be with their Dad until 5pm, which is totally fine. It means that I will get a decent night of sleep. My sister and I had planned to go on a trip for my big birthday, but that is on hold due to job and covid issues. My mom is helping my kids get me a birthday present. I’ve never been huge on celebrating my birthday (an immediate member of my family died within a few days of my birthday as a kid), but this just feels kinda sucky.
So I’m looking for little ways to make the day special for me. I’ve decided that I’m going to go buy all the beautiful flowers that I want on Saturday and put them all over my house. I’m going to spend time this week picking out a new book that I can read this weekend. I’m on the very cautious side for covid, so I’m not interested indoor dining, message, etc. Any ideas for little things to brighten the day?
Anon says
getting takeout for breakfast or lunch that you like (and maybe your kids don’t), getting a candle to light while you sit and read your book, a special beverage for while you are reading. a day to sit and read by myself sounds glorious – enjoy and happy birthday!
Anonymous says
I am in a very similar boat and am buying myself a second hand handbag I’ve always lusted after. I think a solid present to yourself is a great idea.
Mary Moo Cow says
Happy early birthday! I love the idea of flowers and a book! How about face time with your sister or friends? You know yourself; if this would make you more sad, skip it. I would also buy an absurdly decadent desert or beverage to enjoy.
For me, writing down just how sucky this is, and then tearing the page out and throwing it away helps. My friend got me a personalized notebook just for this: the cover says “A comprehensive recollection of the many ways Mary Moo Cow has pushed the boundaries of common decency and socially acceptable behavior.” I use to it write mean things about my kids when I’m at my limit and then tear it out, rip it up, and throw it away and I feel better. This is a long way of saying that you have every reason to be sad or mad about circumstances of your birthday this year, so getting it out may help clear your mind to actually enjoy it a bit.
Anonymous says
Brunch with your sister? Or friends?
GCA says
Happy birthday in advance! You’ve already got the flowers and the book – I would add some outdoor time if it’s nice out, as well as some form of social time, even if it’s just sitting with a friend on your patio Saturday night and enjoying a glass of wine together. Or combine them and go for a walk with a friend and an iced coffee Sunday morning.
IHeartBacon says
I LOVE the idea of putting fresh flowers all over your house. I would put 3-4 dozen roses in every room. What I would add if it was my birthday:
1. Clean my house on Saturday so that my house is spotless when I wake up Sunday morning and I can relish in a clean house all day kid-free.
2. Bake this on Saturday evening for breakfast in the morning: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/raspberry-baked-french-toast-4720583 . I would warm it up in the morning and have it with a dollop of ice cream and a passionfruit mimosa or Irish coffee.
2. Put together a birthday playlist for myself of all my favorite songs that is a 7-8 hours long and click play as soon as I woke up. Catch up on reading my pile of magazines.
3. Order delivery for lunch.
4. Get some fresh air (bike ride, a walk in park or botanic garden, etc.)
5. Take a bubble bath after my outdoor adventure and watch a romantic comedy (my latest favorite: Crazy Rich Asians) while in the bathtub.
6. Order delivery or dinner when the kids return.
anon says
What about an outdoor pedicure?
show up and throw up? says
I’m in my first trimester, dealing with terrible morning sickness and, thankfully, still WFH. However, later this week, I’m supposed to go to an in person meet and greet for a new client with a few senior partners at my biglaw firm (I’m junior equity partner). For the most part, I have been fairly bed ridden and have been avoiding much contact with the outside world due to Delta concerns (I’m fully vaxxed, but skittish with the pregnancy and an unvaxxed toddler at home). New client is travelling to states internationally and I don’t know their vaccination status. We aren’t the primary purpose of their trip, but just getting tacked on at the end.
Is there anyway to gracefully excuse myself from the in person meeting? I haven’t disclosed pregnancy to anyone at work yet other than close, trustworthy friends so don’t want to take that route. I can probably power through the meeting if I need to, but I’m not sure I’ll be great at selling myself while trying not to throw up… with my first i didn’t have nausea this bad and I’ve tried the meds, sea bands, ginger chews, etc. but nothing seems to work and my doc is telling me to just ride it out.
Anon says
this is tricky if you really don’t want to disclose the pregnancy. when my mom was pregnant with me, she apparently threw up multiple times a day for 9 months. my parents had not yet shared her pregnancy status with family, but when they were at a friend’s house for dinner, my mom passed out, and the hosts freaked out, so they then had to tell them and then rush home to call their families. with my own pregnancy i was mostly bad in the first and third trimester and the thing that worked best for me was carrying around a huge ziploc of cheerios and slowly munching on them throughout the day. pregnancy aside, meeting with someone traveling to the US internationally at the end of a series of other in-person meetings when you are pregnant and have an unvaccinated toddler at home does not sound like the best idea. if you do end up going, i’d wear a mask, which is probably also challenging with your nausea
blueberries says
I assume it’s not going to be a masked, distanced, outside meeting. I wouldn’t take the Covid risk if I could help it.
Truthful excuses for your partners:
-you have some Covid-like symptoms, have been assured by your doc it’s not Covid, but don’t want to frighten clients
-you’re temporarily immunosuppressed so can’t take the in-person meeting
Anonymous says
Yes, you say that you might have COVID. Seriously! That morning, you woke up with a cough and runny nose and you don’t want to risk it. It’s unfortunate, but you want to be considerate of your clients.
Clementine says
You could even just say ‘possible COVID symptoms’… and you know what? Nausea and GI symptoms are ‘possible COVID symptoms’.
(No need to get into details, but… it wouldn’t be a lie.)
Anon says
I mean, saying “possible covid symptoms” is at least 90% dishonest if you know that the symptoms aren’t caused by covid.
Anon says
Maybe I have no morals but it seems like a pretty harmless lie. What’s the downside?
Anon says
What’s the downside in lying about potentially having COVID to get out of a meeting?
I’m surprised by how many people think this is the first option.
Anonymous says
Wake up with a “fever” that day and an outstanding COVID test. I think mandatory in person meetings are ridiculous right now anyway, so I’d feel zero guilt about protecting your health and the health of your toddler/baby.
Anonymous says
“Unfortunately ive got Covid symptoms- hopefully just a cold but I’m staying home for now, sorry to miss the meeting.”
Anon says
I would just say that you are ill / not feeling well / unwell / however you can truthfully phrase it and cannot attend the meeting. I wouldn’t lie and say COVID symptoms for a number a reasons – in addition to being dishonest and creating other potential problems for you (if, say, you run into one of these people somewhere in the world in the next however many days or if you have a kiddo in child care who isn’t allowed to attend if you have COVID symptoms, etc.), it just isn’t necessary.
Anon says
Hmm this one’s tough. So for context my office has been in person and I’ve been in my office in Texas since last September despite being pregnant for much of that time with three kids under 12 at home. I also don’t think a client could travel internationally to the US without proof of vaccination status right now? I think they’re the most certainly vaccinated people at this meeting.
It was rough being in the office for January to April for me. I felt terrible. It was also just sort of like how life would have been pre-pandemic – it would have been rough then too. I was throwing up regularly and had to go hide in the bathroom and do the whole song and dance and there was a stressful period where I wasn’t vaxxed yet.
I think you can totally use COVID as an excuse. But it’s definitely a convenient excuse that happens to be available in 2021 and to you because you’re in a lucky position. I don’t necessarily see this as a high risk activity for you. On the flipside, I’m in the office and 8.5 months pregnant with the unvaxxed kids back at school (masked) and I’m reeeeally hoping my doctor tells me I need to stay home after my next visit.
Not meant to be critical here and totally realize we’re in a pandemic. I just think a lot of posters are in cities where their officers aren’t open and are forgetting that a lot of us have been back at work without a choice, despite the risks. I’m relieved I’m vaxxed now at least!
Earlier P says
I also love my job and appreciate that everyone got vaxxed as soon as possible in our small office etc. But I do think a lot of us are out there experiencing the risks and stress of COVID plus first trimester and nausea (even before vaccine approval) without the benefit of work from home and frankly it stunk, but being nauseous and pregnant in your first tri has always stunk.
Anon says
i am also in Texas, and hate for you that you’ve had to be in the office since last September. but i’ve noticed for a lot of my friends who have had to be at work in-person and have more exposure seem to have a higher threshold for risk. a lot of doctors seem to think this way as well. i personally know 3 people in the last week who’ve gotten pretty serious breakthrough infections, so i am currently not indoors unmasked with anyone. i also realize that i am privileged that i have that option, but if you do have it as an option, i’d take it.
Anon says
But I don’t have a higher threshold for risk! And I’m not sure doctors do either? I just have a job that’s requiring in person. A lot of us do.
We still haven’t eaten indoors at a restaurant since before covid (we did outdoors this summer), haven’t been on a plane, aren’t doing indoor after school activities, do grocery delivery, etc. And we’ve had breakthrough infections at the office and that hasn’t changed policy (two on my floor this month).
My boss just told us he got the third shot over the weekend so it’s a very pro vaccine environment. I’ve got baby coming soon so I’ll get a reprieve for maternity leave at least.
Anon says
i’m just saying i personally don’ consider an in-person meeting with multiple people, including one who was recently on an international flight to be low risk. and if there was a way for me to avoid such a meeting i would
Anon says
Thank you! I’m also in my first trimester, with a toddler at home, in a job where I have no choice but to be in person. I love my job- I am compensated well and it’s very rewarding. But…not all of us have the privilege to just opt out of working in person.
Anon says
I can’t believe how many responses are encouraging OP to lie to her partners and pretend she might have covid to avoid a meeting. Either don’t attend and give a reason that is true (you’re pregnant and uncomfortable with the risk; you aren’t feeling well and can’t attend; etc) or go. Don’t pretend you might have COVID when you know you don’t, that’s just insane and unethical behavior.
Anon says
+1
Anonymous says
I don’t understand why it’s necessary to lie. She is feeling ill. Illness is a very good reason not to spend time around other people, especially now. She doesn’t need to claim or imply that it’s COVID.
Anonymous says
I’m one week into school, and completely overwhelmed by STUFF in our entryway. Part of it is that we just don’t have a great “landing pad” space for when the kids come in, but tell me your tricks and tips for containing the backpacks, papers, shoes, coats, hats/gloves, etc. Thank you!
Anon says
What kind of space do you have? Can you add vertical storage of any kind? Hooks?
We have a 2×4 kallax with bins in it for shoes and hats/gloves and the kids are suppose to put everything in there that they take off when they come in from outside. Coats get hung up on hooks on the wall. We don’t have an awesome backpack storage solution, but currently they sit top of a shoe rack so at least they’re always in one consistent spot and it works better than when we tried to hang them up on hooks.
AwayEmily says
+1 to kallax or similar with bins. Ours is 4 squares high, with 3 bins on the bottom cubes and then drawers in the top cube. I don’t LOVE how it looks tbh but it is amazing at keeping things uncluttered. In the summer we keep sandals in the bottom bin, sweatshirts in the middle (for chilly nights), sun hats in the top, and sunscreen in the drawers. In the winter we sub in winter accessories (hats, fleeces, mittens, etc). Everything that doesn’t go in a bin gets hung on a hook (we have some at adult level and some at kid level). Everyday shoes get put under the entryway bench.
Anonymous says
+1 we just put one of these in our coat closet specifically for kid stuff. Each kid gets a square for shoes, each kid has a square for socks (no more running upstairs for socks!!). Bags are on hooks.
OP says
Thank you! We currently have a bench with three small bins under it but they’re on the small side (11″ cubed) and shoes never manage to get in the right bins. I think the vertical storage may be key, though. I think it’s the coats/backpacks that are making me nervous. My kids are younger and just started needing backpacks and having papers, etc. I’m looking at this thing with the matching bench below, in case anyone else is looking:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/panget-hat-and-coat-rack-white-10474164/
Anon says
If you have room, I highly recommend the Ikea shoe cabinets. They are really shallow and hide a good number of shoes with no clutter. We keep a mask basket and to go hand sanitizer on top.
So Anon says
On the paper front, I keep a plain white box on my kitchen counter and all papers that need any type of attention go into that box. My kids know that this is where any papers from school go, and I throw all the mail, random notes to myself, and other random stuff in there throughout the week. Then, on the weekend, I go through the box and deal with all the papers. On the side of the fridge, I have a command hook and binder clip for each kid. Any papers (soccer schedule), invites, or anything related to that kid gets put in their binder clip. I also write each kid’s passwords for various things on an index card, throw the index cards into a sleeve protector and add that to their binder clip.
Anonymous says
This is genius. I am totally implementing the binder clip/sleeve protector system in my pantry!
OP says
Great idea, thank you!
Anon says
I’m pregnant with my first, and reading aallll the parenting books. So far I’ve just been grabbing whatever is available and the library, but there are long wait lists. What books would you recommend?
I’m more interested in the science of how kids grow than mommy-memoirs. I’ve read Emily Oster, of course. And the two best books I’ve found are, “brain rules for baby” and “Nurtureshock”. I would especially recommend Nurtureshock for parents with kids of any age.
Anonymous says
Current favs:
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping & Boating with Babies & Young Children by Jennifer Aist
Baby stuff:
Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp (swaddling and shushing and swinging were clutch)
No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley (my BFF did CIO so I know this isn’t for everyone but I loved this book and it worked for us)
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League (the title is cheesy and I combo fed but this had tons of practical tips for lots of different issues)
Sleep says
I also loved Happiest Baby on the Block!
NYC Girl says
When I was pregnant with my first and came here for advice on the best parenting books, I received a ton of recommendations. In the end, I found most books to be not very helpful, but (if you plan on trying breastfeeding) I did find “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” to be great (minus the parts where they really push natural births and state breastfeeding is superior to formula).
Someone also responded to my query with (paraphrasing): “Don’t feel obligated to read any books.” and I also found this viewpoint extremely helpful :) At the end of the day, when baby comes you just sort of know what to do and figure it out as you go.
AnonATL says
I read Mayo clinics pregnancy book and that was pretty much it. For me, reading something like 3 years before it’s going to be relevant (like say how to deal with toddler tantrums) is way too far out for me.
I also think its so hard to know what your parenting style will be until you are in the thick of it. I posted above about having a 13mo, and I’m just starting to read the toddler books.
Congrats on your baby!
Anon says
Agree! I read so many books and looking back it was a colossal waste of time (for me). I learned something I think but forgot it the moment the nurse handed me my baby. I second reading about (or following IBCLCs on IG) breastfeeding if that’s a route you choose to go.
Azure says
I’m happy you posted “Don’t feel obligated to read any books.” I’m almost in my third trimester and I’ve read nothing. I have done an online course but it’s been difficult for me to want to read a book. I just want to read domestic thrillers or trashy romance novels
Anon says
One of my favorite references was the ginormous American Academy of Pediatrics reference book, called something like “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child.” It was nice to periodically pull and and know that you’re getting reliable information about child development and illness. I also liked the Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies.
Anon says
And also a pet peeve.. I read so many books but they all seemed like they could be summarized in a one page worksheet. I have no patience to read a million anecdotes. There’s good info out there and I get they need to fill up a book with something, but it takes time to read all that stuff.
AwayEmily says
YES I agree with this so much. I very much agree with everything in Happiest Baby on the Block but it should have been a handout, not a book.
Anonymous says
The video version of that was great and especially helpful for my husband
JL says
I agree. I find the American Academy of Pediatrics has an excellent website that is essentially a collection of white papers on feeding, sleep, etc. that goes through all stages under 18.
JL says
Adding that healthychildren.org is the site for parents. The rest is aimed toward pediatricians (it would appear when I just went to it).
Anonymous says
I’d recommend The Whole Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline.
Anon says
The Bottom Line for Baby. Great reference to what the science says and it’s very accessible and doesn’t have to be read in any sort of order – just jump to the topic of interest
Anonymous says
Push Back: Guilt in the Age of Natural Parenting by Amy Tuteur. Lots of interesting historical info about the origins of many “natural” parenting movements. Helped me make informed decisions.
Waffles says
I liked The Scientist in the Crib by Alison Gopnik.
Leatty says
How the heck do you move cross country with small kids? DH and I want to leave our current state, but the logistics seem overwhelming – potentially finding a new job, selling current home, buying new home, and getting both kids (4 and 1) in a new daycare. Even if we postponed it another year until our oldest is in kindergarten, we’d still have to figure out afterschool care. DH will likely be able to work remotely, so that’s one less thing to worry about. For those of you who have done it, how have you managed it all? Are there any tricks to make it easier?
Anonymous says
You just kinda figure it out! One of you finds a job, you move, you put your kids wherever has a spot. You can’t really plan it exactly in advance you have to just take the leap!
Anonymous says
Did it with one 18 month year old. One of the most stressful things I’ve ever done. We spent months job searching remotely and moved when one of us got a job and crossed our fingers the other one would get one (worked out a week after arrival thank goodness). Sold our house and moved into a 3 month sublet while we house hunted. Sublet was friends of my parents who were out of state- a long term airbnb could work just as well. Finding a daycare spot was really hard but it was easier one we arrived. We ended up enrolling at one and then enrolling in a different, better one just before we started.
Anonymous says
Editing to add: we moved a few weeks before my spouse’s new job would start, and could swing me not working for a little while, so that gave us a few weeks to get settled (buy a second car, house hunt, visit daycares, just recover etc). I got an offer within a week but pushed my start date out out a few weeks to have time to accomplish the logistics.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Hi! We did this in December 2019. Only had one toddler and did not own a home (but were looking to buy in our new location). Also we were moving to my home city so we have family nearby and knew the area we were planning to look into. There are different “workstreams” – moving the stuff, selling the house, childcare/school, finding a job, finding a new place to live – I’d make lists/deadlines under each item. In terms of making it easier, I’d make sure you’re familiar with the place you’re moving to, and make sure you start the planning at least 6 months out. It was a lot of short term pain/annoyance but we’re thrilled to be where we are now.
Job – I started networking as much as possible 6-8 months before the move. Since we would visit, I would make it a point to make some coffee meetings (pre-COVID) to network. I’d also schedule informational calls, etc. to better understand the dynamics. I found my new job a few months before we moved, but was fully planning on having to be unemployed and look once we moved. DH actually kept the same job, just was changing office locations which made things a bit smoother in this sense.
Logistics — We started the planning roughly ~6 months out in terms of figuring out when we’d need movers, what would be driven vs. packed/stored with movers. We ended up getting the movers to drive all of our stuff to a storage unit in new city, where we had to hire other movers to move it into new home. It sounds nuts but was probably the most efficient way to do things without having to constantly pack/re-pack.
Childcare – Roughly ~6 months before, e-mailed/chatted with friends in the area on what the childcare options were in the general area we were planning on looking for homes, etc. I got on waitlists in late summer, and had a spot secure for a Jan start by October.
Home – We looked at a few homes, but REALLY dug in once we were here. This meant we lived in a few crappy short-term, furnished rentals for 6 months (…while the pandemic started), which was terrible, BUT efficient once we found our home. We didn’t know we’d be in the rentals 24/7 and WFH, had we known that, we would have picked something nicer.
Anonymous says
Jobs & Moving Logistics – I switched jobs and that drove where we relocated to, and it had a relocation package so I’m not fully helpful here. Having movers pack and haul all of our stuff was costly (to my company), but well worth it (realizing my privilege here). DH was also able to keep his remote job. We did a hard cull of household items (first: sell, then: rent a dumpster) prior to moving. It was great and I’d absolutely do it again. If you’re even thriftier, you can rent a U-haul and take it to the dump in one day (we did that for our rental we were selling where people left a bunch of junk…). I did a lot of the house repair/paint/etc and took a lot of PTO before leaving (or did flex-days at work, etc). I recommend knowing that one of you will be on childcare after work and the other will be working on the old house (if you don’t hire it out) to get it in sales-condition. Start talking to a realtor before you know you want to list and see if there are any larger projects that have to / should be done prior to market. I had a huge ($15k) project that I had to undertake while the house was on the market and about a month before our scheduled departure date because of laws that had changed in the last year in my municipality. It was very unpleasant and the actual work didn’t get done until a month after we left! I hired a home inspector before putting it on the market so I could know what was coming (home inspector didn’t catch the $15k problem, it was law and not “inspectable”) and I fixed a couple of things related to health & safety pre-emptively (fire related things, HVAC things).
After moving out, I had our neighbors set out the trash bins for pickup one last day and had my sister do a couple of clean-out related things (mostly…stuff I didn’t get to doing, like bringing all of our hazmat to the dump for a fee). I also hired professional cleaners (as required by our contract w/ the new buyers) and our relator let them in.
School/daycare – I did a lot of research and contacted many daycares. We applied for about 4 of them, one of which wouldn’t even put us on a wait list until we did a tour (despite telling them that we lived across the country). I aimed for having any sort of care available on day 1, so (other than a tour and signing forms) we had things lined up for the second day we lived in town. It wasn’t an ideal daycare (logistically or nurture-wise), but it was available and reasonable. The kids were at that daycare for about 2-3 months while we did some in-person looking and got some recommendations. We live in a semi-competitive area (month or two of waiting, not 6+). I would definitely get day-1 care down. Be prepared with vaccination and health records (fax before you leave old town, if possible) with backup copies in your email for both kids.
Where to live – we moved into a short-term rental while house hunting. We had a furnished rental and kept our stuff in storage, less the things we packed for us plus two kids. We also had two cats. Altogether, we had about 4 suitcases + 2 large rubbermaid-type containers that we checked, then stuff we bought that we immediately needed upon arrival (mostly cat-care plus toiletries). One of the rubbermaids was books + toys for kids, the other was toolkit, duct tape, etc – some of that was because we did last-minute repairs (etc) on our old house and would like that for day-1 move in to a new house. We also overlapped the rental and the new house by about a month so we could do some “nice to have” repairs prior to moving in…. and so we could give proper notice to the landlord. I know some people purchase before moving, we were not those people. It did mean multiple moves and some uncertainty – be prepared to know whether you want to handle that. It did let us have flexibility in our housing search.
Anonymous says
Oh! Forgot to mention: We rented a PO box in our new city about a month prior to moving. Some post offices won’t let you do this (as of two years ago), but the one in new city was fine with it. Highly recommended to get all your important mail switched over prior to the move. (I know there’s mail forwarding, mail holding, etc, but I loved our PO box). Especially if you’re in short-term rentals, etc – I didn’t ever use our rental address as a mailing address. We still kept the PO box, two years later, for our important mail.
Anon says
unless you are both doctors or something, lining up jobs for two people before moving can be hard. my parents did a big move when we were kids. They sold home in City 1, and rented for 1.5 years while exploring options in City 2. My dad got a job in City 2 and actually moved there first and stayed with a friend of his from college while my mom, sister and I remained in City 1 to finish out the school year. Closed on a house in City 2 after my dad had been living with his friend for about 2 months, and a month or two after closing, once school ended, packed up things from City 1 and moved to City 2. my mom did not have a job when we first moved. the plan was for her to get us acclimated and then look for a job, which she did.
anon says
This will sound insane, but just in case no one has mentioned it — move with/have delivered a generator. Our power went out for a WEEK when we first moved, with kids, and boxes everywhere and sdfksjlfjsjfs. So if I was to ever move again, in our car (NOT the back of the uhaul/so we know exactly where it is) would be all the diapers/wipes, a first aid kit, and the generator. Again, sounds paranoid — but trying to find flashlights in our 290382083 boxes was seriously horrible. Still makes me cranky thinking about it.
Anon says
In some places you can sell and then do a rent back for 2-3 months (but in current markets that may not be enough time to buy in new place).
If you are trying to line up with kindergarten it may be easier to rent for a year or two so you’re in the right school district and not hustling up against an eligibility deadline and forced to buy something that isn’t right or is too expensive.
Anon says
Why oh why has Old Navy stopped selling their beloved kids masks?! The only thing on their website are a few licensed character options. There were none at my local store either. It’s not like they’re listed as sold out online, they’re just completely gone. They are my go-to’s!
anon says
The Old Navy masks were great and my kids’ favorites until they tried Happy Masks. The waitlist/backorder for Happy Masks is long, but might be worth a try.
Fair warning: from the parent perspective, Happy Masks are annoying: hand wash only and costly. The filtration is pretty awesome, though, if you live in an area with high Covid rates or a smoke season.
anon says
They were on mega sale a few weeks ago (like a 10-pack for 99 cents) so I assume they’re just not making them anymore.
Hmmm says
I see them on the website and actually just bought them! Try googling “Old navy kids masks” and then using the direct link.
anon says
I recently went from having my kids (4 and 1) out of the house all day at an in-home daycare to having a nanny come to our home. I have always had a house cleaner come twice a month, but I’ve canceled the last few times because it feels weird to have both there at the same time – I’d need the nanny to clear out, right? Do I just ask her (the nanny) to do that – to leave for a few hours?
Anonymous says
Or move to a different area in the house. When I was on maternity leave, I would have the kids stay in the playroom while cleaners did the upstairs and then we played/napped in the kids bedrooms or primary bedroom ( tv for older kid when baby napped), while the cleaners did the main floor. If weather was nice, sometimes we went outside, depends on when your cleaner comes.
Anon says
I’m solo parenting on Friday in NYC, with a 5 year old and an almost-3 year old. Avoiding indoor activities due to covid. Suggestions welcome!
Anon says
where in the city will you be? are you only walking? taking subway? central park zoo/ central park, battery park area + sea glass carousel
Anon says
we live in brooklyn. we could hypothetically take the subway but a bit daunted! we do have a car. thanks for the suggestions
Anonymous says
Brooklyn is also a pretty big place, but if it is convenient, what about Brooklyn Bridge Park pier 6? With those ages almost any playground would probably be fun. Mommypoppins has good ideas too.
Anonymous says
Just did this — go to the promenade/Brooklyn Bridge Park/Shake Shack/ice cream, etc! Was perfect for those ages and burgers + ice cream was a great finale.
What Do You Do? says
Okay, so real life scenario that thankfully resolved happily without my intervention but I am now trying to figure out the appropriate response.
I came downstairs from my home office to find a kindergarten aged child sitting on my back deck. She was wearing a backpack and mask and the school buses are running – so I imagine she either just got off or just missed the bus. She looked scared but also calm. I tried to talk with her but she wouldn’t/couldn’t respond to me. Thankfully after a minute or two of confusion (which seemed much longer) I heard parents calling out and responded by yelling out that there was a little girl with me if someone was missing her. I ran in to get shoes to walk with her in the direction of the yelling. When I got out a man came running up, she called him daddy and ran to him.
So, like I said – happy ending with little intervention needed. But what if it had been more than a few minutes? What’s the right response? 911, I guess??
Anonymous says
I have 2nd and 4th graders. They are taught to ask ‘moms’ for help but never go into anyone’s house. I would stay outside with her (maybe suggest walking to the front porch so her grown ups can see her if they walk by), take out your phone, put it on speaker and ask if she can tell you her phone number to call her grown ups. If she can’t tell you a number, then call the local school to ask if any children have been reported missing (just google closest school). If not, I would then call 911. Would probably ask if 911 has a way to contact the bus driver vs request police come. I wouldn’t ask her to go inside your house as that makes it less likely that anyone looking for her will see her/you and more likely that she would get scared and run away and hide.
Anonymous says
This all sounds good. Absent dangerous cold, I’d stay outside. Even then, I’d probably just bring another coat and blankets, etc. to keep kiddo warm versus taking her inside. I don’t want to be accused of anything. Lots of kid backpacks have an “if lost, call…” sticker inside for the backpack itself. If kids don’t know their phone number, then that could be a place to look if kiddo is comfortable. In the front pocket of my kindergartner’s bag is also a sheet of paper (waiting to be laminated) with her bus number, my cell phone number with a picture of me (for her benefit as she doesn’t read yet), and same for her dad. It doesn’t have her name on it, but her name is elsewhere in her backpack. I might call the non-emergency police/sheriff number, but I live in a small town, so the response would still be pretty quick.
OP says
Thank you both. Good thoughts and giving me some ideas on what to put in my own kid’s backpack in a few years when he heads to school.
Sigh says
Has anyone else’s kids been quarantined due to covid exposure? Can’t win for losing over here and while I hope for y’all sake I’m the only one, I would love commiseration.
Sigh says
So many typos, eek! It’s been a long day already.
anonymous says
Oh yes, at least twice – once from school, once from camp – and currently at home due to actually testing positive for Covid. The latter is in some ways less annoying. Thankfully my son is doing fine. No idea where he got it.
Anonymous says
My kid’s home with me right now for that reason. So over it.
Easiest meals for hosting family for a week says
My in-laws will be visiting and staying for a week for the first time since our first child was born (last October). What are your favorite easy meals for company? They’re not into anything Asian (east or south), spicy, or cooked tomatoes (which eliminates a lot of my repertoire).
Anonymous says
Tacos? Then everyone can assemble their own to their liking.
Anonymous says
smitten kitchen baked pasta with sausage and broccoli – baked pasta disch with no cooked tomatoes!
Anon says
Quiche and salad — look for “cheesy crustless quiche” on Simply Recipes, serve with a green salad and berries.
DLC says
Some of our favorite easy meals that feel special:
Roast salmon, salad (bagged) and crusty bread, add a steamed or sauteed veggie if I want.
Grilled hot dogs/ burgers/ pork tenderloin with corn or coleslaw or baked beans (from the can). Grilling always feels festive for me.
Roast Broccoli and Shrimp with crusty bread. (NY Times recipe)
Frittata or quiche with (yes again) crusty bread and bagged salad. (Quiche is really easy with store bought crust and it’s a good make ahead meal).
Anon says
Do you belong to Costco? If so, cruise the prepared section and get these items:
– chicken street tacos (leave off the green crema and the salsa if you want to avoid spice)
– salmon milano (or if you’re feeling fancy, the crab stuffed salmon)
– rotisserie chicken and macaroni and cheese
– what about tomato sauce (instead of tomatoes?) the meatloaf is good and comes with yummy mashed potatoes but does have a tomato sauce. same with the stuffed peppers