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Even though in my day-to-day life, I am not a very trendy dresser, I think that maternity clothes can be a fun way to dress trendier, since you’re wearing the clothes for one specific time/season. Personally, I can’t keep track of where we are on shirt shoulders — are we on drop shoulders? Puffy shoulders? Both? I like that this maternity blouse by Ann Taylor Loft incorporates a little bit of the puffy shoulders element, but on a conservative work shirt. The shape of the shirt is very eye-catching to me, along with the vertical stripes with contrasting cuffs and neckline. I also like the way the sleeve blouses out a bit along the cuffs. I think this is a great shirt that looks interesting, current, and comfortable. It’s on sale for $59.99 from $64.50, but today Loft is offering 40% off your purchase, bringing it down to only $35.99. It’s available in XXS–XXL and is machine washable. Maternity Striped Shirttail Blouse A couple of options in plus sizes with fun stripes are from PinkBlush Maternity. This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!Sales of note for 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
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- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
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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?
older moms? says
Can anyone point me to resources for having a kid after 40? My first was born when I was 37, so it isn’t like I was super young, but I’m suddenly panicking about having a child at an older age and wishing I’d just done it back to back. I know rationally that 40 is just one year older than 39, and it is just a number. But I still feel nervous. Thanks for any support/ resources.
Anon says
No resources but my mom had me at 39 and my sister at 42 back in the late 1980s and totally rocked it. Just wanted to share a success story!
ElisaR says
I had my first at 38 and my 2nd at 40 years old. The only thing I noticed is that while I was “advanced maternal age” for the first one, for the second one at 40 there were additional sonograms towards the end. People kind of made a big deal about it at the high risk specialist I went to but in the hospital it was totally normal. I was told a 50 year old had given birth the week the before me at that hospital so they were totally unfazed by me. 40 is a pretty common age for babies these days! I will say losing weight this time has been much harder. Is it because of my age or because it’s the 2nd child or was it just a different pregnancy? I don’t know.
Anon says
First time mom. What should I get ready for me for post labor recovery and the first few weeks? Nursing pads? Mesh Underwear? Good Nursing Bras? Snacks? I feel like everyone is talking about what I need for the baby but I want to make sure I have everything I need too. Thanks!
ElisaR says
stretchy pants and button down shirts if you plan to nurse! I didn’t bother with the mesh underwear and the nursing bras are hard to buy if you don’t know what you’ll like (although maybe get some nursing camisoles for the beginning). Good luck!
Knope says
The hospital will give you a few pairs of the mesh underwear – if you ask they will probably throw in a few extras too.
Make sure you have some maxi pads and pantyliners on hand at home. If all goes well you will only need the giant pads the hospital gives you for a few days, but a lot of women continue to bleed for two weeks or more after that. Along those lines…I hate to say this, but it’s really helpful to have Colace on hand for the first week…
Sounds like you plan on breastfeeding, so LOTS of advice related to that:
– If you haven’t ordered a breast pump already, I’d try to do that so you have it at home when the baby comes. This is helpful to stimulate production if your milk is slow to come in.
– A lot of people swear by those gel hot/cold nursing packs, but honestly I found an electric heating pad to be most helpful in easing pain and stimulating production.
– Snacks that you can eat one-handed are great. Remember, if you’re nursing you are going to be up every 2 hours or so to feed the baby, which means that you will be sleeping and eating at random times. So definitely keep some snacks in your nightstand or wherever you will be nursing.
– Finally, I would try to look up information for a lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group in advance. I really underestimated how clueless and desperate for help I would be, and it was a burden trying to research ways I could get help while I was sleep-deprived and worried about my baby. Having the info on hand would have been helpful!
ElisaR says
Colace. YESSSSS.
Cb says
People seem to like the Medela shield but I ordered silver ones and found them really helpful. I liked the mam soothing gel stickies. The H&M camisoles are really good as well.
Anonymous says
+1 to H&M nursing cami’s. I was postpartum with my first this time last year and wearing those cami’s with a cozy sweater was key.
Anonymous says
My hospital had a little shop that sold the pumps and worked with insurance. A great part of that was that you picked it up before you left. They insisted on it, because the warranty starts one year from the date you buy it (Medela), so if you got it way early, then you lost part of your warranty. But anyway, the best part was that then the nurses showed you how to use it before you left. I’d recommend taking your pump with you and asking the nurses or hospital LC to give you a quick run though on how to use it.
I ate a lot of trail mix during the first few weeks. And fruit. I think I had my husband pick some up after we got home. It was a little easier than veggies for some reason. I got sick of prepackaged stuff fast.
Ranon says
5 months post partum here. Hope this helps
1. Baby Buddha breast pump. Breastfeeding was so painful for me initially that I pumped a lot and wish I had this from the beginning. I also have Spectra but love Baby Budhha so much more.
2. Colace. Just take it daily.
3. Easy breakfast foods. Muffins, bagels, fruit, whatever you like but grab and eat is best.
4. Boppy lounger. I got this later and it was perfect for having her close but not holding her. I wish I’d had it from day one.
5. I liked and still wear nursing night gowns. I can sleep in them, wear around house, and put disposable pads in them. I leak milk like crazy if I dont get up and pump in middle of night so pads are a must.
6. I love my Kiinde system for feeding. No bottles to wash and bags and lids are recyclable. $$ but worth it for me
7. Simple wishes supermom bra if you are going to pump. Its not the smoothest bra under clothing but it allows for handsfree pumping and for nursing. A great one to have.
8. Kindred bravely terry nursing bra I loved for the first weeks at home.
Congrats!
Anon says
I bought and used Depends for the first couple weeks (C-section).
lsw says
Me too – V birth.
Anonymous says
+1 (v birth). I give them to my close friends when they’re pregnant because I loved them so much more than the mesh underwear.
Anonymous says
I used a ton on lanolin the first few weeks b-feeding when nipples end to get more raw.
Katarina says
I found the hospital gave me most of the recovery supplies I needed, such as mesh underwear. I used regular underwear with a pad after getting home from the hospital. After going through what the hospital gave me, I only needed regular pads, and no special items. For nursing I used nursing pads (Johnson & Johnson), lanolin (medela), and nursing bras. I think breast shields would have been useful. I did not have any special snacks, or even snack to much, but I really liked having a bunch of big straw cups for water. I also enjoyed milkshakes, because I needed both hands to nurse for a while, and you don’t need any free hands to eat them. I liked having some loose non-maternity lounge clothes. I liked having a nursing cover, so I could nurse with company without being totally exposed.
In general, I think it is hard to predict what you need, but it is not impossible to go out to a store if you desperately need something, and amazon prime is convenient.
Anon. says
+1 “In general, I think it is hard to predict what you need, but it is not impossible to go out to a store if you desperately need something, and amazon prime is convenient.”
I totally understand wanting to be prepared, but looking at all of the lists above and I don’t think I used any of these things except snacks and comfy clothes. (I never needed Colace, I was in a regular/light pad by the time I left the hospital etc)
Pregnancy in general and every baby and body can be so different. Absolutely keep the lists these awesome ladies are recommending, but don’t go spend a bunch of money on a ton of stuff that you may or may not need. Especially when Amazon Prime can deliver it tomorrow when you figure out what you actually need.
Anon says
Compression Socks- I have reached the stage in pregnancy where my ankles are starting to swell. Any favorite compression socks out there? Are they all really the same? Any ones that are slightly less medical looking?
NYCer says
I haven’t purchased these, but a friend recommended them. Definitely less medical looking.
https://www.comradsocks.com/
SBJ says
Sockwell brand! They are super cute and every time the nurses in the hospital saw me in them, they said that’s what they wore, too. They’re not super intense medical grade compression, but I found them to be plenty during both my pregnancies, including long (6 hrs) flights. You can find them on Amazon or at REI.
Pogo says
I also used sports compression sleeves, but some other brand…. not sure which one. But they’re the kind that runners use on their calves. Not the easiest thing to get on/off while pregnant, but they work. I wore them a lot.
Anonymous says
+1 to sockwell. I have a blood clotting disorder and use these on every flight. They do come in multiple grades of compression and I would recommend the higher level– the lower level felt like regular socks to me, and the higher level just feels like a pretty mild compression. They are much cuter and more comfortable than the panty-hose type medical compression stockings.
Anon says
After playing outside in the 20s this weekend, my 3yo has chapped skin particularly around his mouth. It doesn’t seem to hurt him but is red and rough feeling. I put some Aquaphor on before bed last night and again this morning before school, but anything else I should be doing? His preschool plays outside most days so I assume this will be an issue all winter long, can I do anything to prevent it, short of slathering his face in Aquaphor every morning?
Cb says
My mom got this silicone cream for my son which really helps. Hydro something, in a white package with blue and green, maybe made by McKesson.
Anonymous says
It may be eczema. You can add a humidifier and chapstick to the mix and remind him not to lick his lips when they feel dry. My son likes that EOS lip balm in the round container – easier to open and apply by himself.
JTX says
The best thing I’ve found for chapped skin is the Mustela hydra stick.
Redux says
My kids do not have eczema but one of them gets very chapped in the winter, especially on her cheeks/ chin and her wrists. We slather her in Cerave cream, which I’ve found to be thicker than some of the other brands without being pasty, and still at a price point that doesn’t feel like our insurance should be covering it.
Pogo says
There is a Eucerin cream that’s part lanolin, part petroleum jelly, part zinc oxide, and part unicorn tears. A teensy bit goes a long way. That’s what we use on LO.
Cb says
You guys, HFM is no joke. My kiddo is all better but I am a mess. My husband has been an absolute star and has basically done everything for the past four days. Apparently my doctor doesn’t seem to believe adults can get it so they are having me come in.
Good thing these little carriers of disease are adorable.
Anonymous says
I had it last year. Miserable. Idk what the point of going to the doctor is though, there no treatment.
Cb says
I called as I’m immunocompromised and it seems more severe (arms, legs, ears) and they asked me to come in.
Anon says
For really severe cases they can give you pain meds to help with the pain and sleeping meds to help you sleep. Its always worth going to see a doctor.
anon says
Ugh, I got it and no one believed me either. Until I showed them the blisters on my hand!
FVNC says
Hugs! HFM is the wooooorst! My husband caught it from our baby last winter, and he looked and felt horrible for four-five days. Sorry you’re going through it.
Anon says
I have known so many adults to get it this year! And so badly. Inside their throat, all over their gardening areas. I feel so bad for you!
anon says
Your doctor doesn’t believe adults can get it? WTF? My husband got it. My friend’s husband got it. Adults get it all the time. Has your doctor not been practicing a long time? I’d maybe switch doctors.
Anonymous says
My doctor referred me to some kind of oral surgeon or something sight unseen, who wanted to do a biopsy and give me steroids! I don’t know why the don’t know about it.
FWIW we had a really mild case. Hope some others do too!
AwayEmily says
Yeah, I agree, this is straight-up weird and would raise some red flags for me. I know lots and lots of adults who’ve had it!
bettysmith says
My pediatrician told me there is a new strain now that is worse than HFM used to be… that is why everyone freaks out about it, adults get it (because we got the different strain as kids) and our parents don’t remember us havingn it. My kid got a mild strain at 15 months and I wouldn’t have hardly noticed if HFM wasn’t on my radar.
Anon. says
Ughhhh. Baby, husband and I all got it this spring. Seriously the worst. I couldn’t walk for a couple days because my feet hurt so bad.
NewMomAnon says
Feeling sorry for myself and just looking for some hugs/sympathy. My first baby was born full-term on Halloween but ended up with a very unexpected week-long NICU stay. It was the worst week of my life. We got home last Wednesday and baby is wonderful and healthy. Yesterday was my birthday. I know this is vain and petty, but no one got me a present and my feelings are really hurt. My husband apologized in advance and I understand that things have been crazy for him. Later in the day he got me bath bombs from Walgreens (where he had gone to buy me more Tucks pads because my stitches aren’t healing after running back and forth to the NICU). No one in my family got me anything – and we usually always get each other nice birthday presents. My dad didn’t even call me (just a text). My mom offered to babysit so we could go out to dinner, but then got her feelings hurt that I didn’t want to leave my week-old exclusively BF baby. I guess it’s just been a crazy miserable few weeks and it would have been nice to have some small bit of celebration and indulgence.
Anonymous says
Awwww sorry!
Anon says
I am so sorry! Maybe you should ask your husband to plan a belated birthday dinner celebration in a month and have him ask your mom watch your baby then. Don’t do any planning for it but just say “Hey husband, I know that you felt bad about my birthday and that its a really stressful time. I would love to celebrate it in a month. Maybe with a dinner out? I bet if you ask my mom she would be willing to watch the baby. It would mean a lot to me.”
Anonymous says
It’s a hard time for him too and I think it’s better to forgive and move on.
Anon says
I think planning a belated celebration is a great idea. Or if you’re not up for leaving the baby just yet, maybe your mom could come over and hold the baby so you and your husband could have a nice takeout dinner in the other room. I think it’s really hard for people to know what you want and what would be helpful unless you tell them.
I also totally get that this sucks – becoming a parent is a really hard adjustment and it’s easy to feel invisible and forgotten even without having people ignore your birthday. Hang in there!
Anon says
Just an idea – my friend had her baby right around her birthday. They choose to have one of those chefs who comes to your house come cook them a special meal. It was delicious and low stress and they didn’t have to worry about leaving the baby with anyone.
anon says
hugs. being a NICU mom is hard, even if your baby ends up healthy. i had a baby in the NICU for 10 days and found the whole experience extremely traumatic. not getting to hold my baby right after birth, having to leave the house every day to go visit the NICU, not having the post-birth experience that my friends had, etc. I still find it very hard to see pictures on facebook of people holding their kids right after birth since i didn’t get to do that, and i also will not be having another, so this was my only chance. I delivered right before mother’s day and was still in the hospital then, and my bday was a few weeks later. DH got me a card for mother’s day and a card and flowers for my bday. he got me red roses and i was so mad at him and wanted to throw them away because i don’t really like red roses. i am lucky in that my parents sent me a really nice gift, but it definitely didn’t feel like a special, my first time as a mom birthday. all i wanted when i delivered was balloons that said “it’s a girl,” as we did not find out the gender in advance. i did not get them while in the hospital, and DH promised me he would get them for me later, and here we are 6 months later and still no balloons. when i think about it i get upset, but i am also trying to cut him some slack because life is crazy, adjusting to being a new parent is hard. In your case I might almost be more frustrated with my parents than with DH because they have less of an excuse. One thing that is definitely a transition about becoming a mom is that things become all about the baby, but you are right that you still matter too! At least DH recognized/apologized in advance. Maybe you guys could pick another day and sort of re-do your bday, or tell him how you feel and do something special for the holidays? Also – post partum hormones are rough, and i was a hot mess for the first three months. consider getting help for PPA/PPD if you continue to feel traumatized from your experience. sending lots of hugs and positive vibes your way! people kept telling this to me, and i didn’t believe them at the time, but i promise it gets better
AwayEmily says
I’m so sorry. You are dealing with a LOT, and everything is amplified by post-partum hormones. Your feelings are neither vain nor petty. You should feel as sad/mad as you want, and I hope you ask for and get whatever you need to make yourself feel better. I do not have any advice, just tons and tons of good wishes and hope that you feel better soon. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It’s kind of awesome that you and the baby have birthdays so close together — maybe someday you two can start a tradition of a special mama-kid birthday lunch.
Anonanonanon says
I’m sorry. With all the hormones and stress and lack of sleep, I think your feelings are understandable. I had a similar reaction after my first. My birthday was 6 weeks later, and my (now-ex, for different reasons) husband didn’t do anything. His grandmother’s was a week or so after mine, so he went out and got her a nice frame from “things remembered” and a book. and guess what he got me? A belated “things remembered” frame and a book. Also, it was my first birthday after we were married (yes, I got married pregnant) so it was extra hurtful. I normally don’t care about things like that, but on top of a lot of other stuff going on, it hurt my feelings. I’m sorry you’re feeling that way. Giving birth is a huge physical toll and you’re expected to immediately turn around and pour everything you have into another living being. Feeling like there’s no one to care for YOU during that time is distressing (even if it’s not the truth, I think that could be what you’re feeling/projecting here? that was the case for me and my situation. It wasn’t about the birthday.).
Anonymous says
Having a baby in the NICU is the worst. The worst. Being not pregnant and home without the baby is emotionally and physically draining. It is one of the worst things I experienced. It made me feel so sad. I’m so sorry your birthday wasn’t recognized. You deserve an extra special makeup once you feel better. Enjoy your baby and celebrate having him or her outside of the NICU.
Anonymous says
+1 to all this. My son was in the NICU for a week after birth unexpectedly, and 6 years later it still hurts at surprising and random moments. I hope things start getting much easier soon.
EB0220 says
Funny, I always thought that maternity clothes were a great reason to dress extra comfortably! I think this says a lot about my fashion tastes.
Exhausted... says
For the past weeks I have been exhausted… My 3 years old twin have been sick three time in the 2 past months (including a 3-days hospitalization for pneumonia for one of my girl), I am extremely busy at work at the moment : I should be working 60 hours a week but I can barely do 45 hours. Family life is also full of to-do : need to finalize the online picture albums for Xmas, sorting out the clothes for winter, cleaning the mess of my girls, etc. My husband is doing more than is fair share at home and he has a demanding job also. Plus, we are currently looking to move to a bigger house so we have to spend some time on this also…
I went to see my doctor and she told me that I am just tired and it is normal for someone in my situation, that I should rest/take more time for me: I took 2 day-off for massage, pedi and relaxation. Still, I look around me and most of my colleagues seem to have the situation under control while I think I am a mess: always rushing to go somewhere, tired and barely keeping it together.
I have a loving husband, a good cleaning lady that come every week, healthy catering services for 3 dinners/week and some help from my parent sometimes. My twin girls go to daycare at my husband workplace. I even hired a stylist last year so I could look more polished at work…
I guess I am just looking to see how you are handling working a demanding job plus the craziness of the family life. Are you feeling overwhelm? Are you tired? How do you do it?
Anon says
We just moved about 10 days ago. Finding a house, packing, unpacking, etc. has been a huge project! On top of that, Kiddo’s teachers pretty much insisted that we potty train. And we had a leak in our rental apartment, which has caused a ton of stress and kept my husband busy at the rental property. I’m tired too. I’m keeping it together by simplifying. On weekends, we’ll take a walk around the block instead of going on a trip to the zoo. We usually make a bunch of food stuffs for Christmas gifts, and this year, we’ll probably make 1 thing, or maybe 0 things. We are not doing a professional family photo shoot this year–we’ll have someone snap a picture of the 3 of us in front of the new house and hopefully get around to sending a combo moving announcement and holiday card. I bought Highlights magazine subscriptions for my youngest nieces and nephews so that I have less stuff to wrap (there are 5 cousins between 0-3). We’ve simplified weeknight meals to, basically, leftovers from the weekend and grocery store prepared foods.
Ask yourself whether there are things you can let go of right now. Can photo albums be finished later? Can you sort the winter clothes in a sub-optimal way that takes 15-30 minutes? Can you let the rooms be a little messy, or have your girls pick up, even if it’s not the way you like it? Can you simplify your wardrobe or makeup routine, etc?
Also, you probably look like you have it under control to other people.
Anonanonanon says
Second so much of this.
1. You probably look like you have it together to everyone else. Everyone is in “fake it till you make it” mode to some extent.
2. Drop what you can. Photo album organization seems optional right now. Agreed with the above suggestion to less-than-optimally sort the winter clothes. (If they’re in a storage bin, just get it out so they can grab what they need and sort later.)
You just had a kid in the hospital. Even if it’s “only” for a couple of days, that’s huge and scary and stressful and exhausting emotionally and logistically. You’re going to be in crisis/triage mode for a while to recover from that, on top of the holidays.
Also, to above’s comment about the family photo, I just ordered a tripod that can hold a cell phone from amazon. Now, I don’t even have to wait until it’s convenient for a family member or neighbor to snap a photo!
Anonymous says
+1 to all of this. I similarly am always a hot mess, but my colleagues are always telling me they don’t know how I keep it all together (although maybe this is because i am always looking like a crazy person, not the other way around…) When life gets crazy at work, I just sort of lean into the mess, because I’ve done it in the past and realized that the world keeps turning, and nobody important seems to mind if my house is a wreck and my kids are wearing their clothes inside out.
Anon says
It’s exhausting! I think some people just hide it better than other, but I don’t know that there’s any way to work a demanding job, raise two 3 year olds and not be pretty darn tired most of the time. Ugh. No advise but commiseration!
ElisaR says
I have no advice…. but yes I’m tired, and overwhelmed, and having trouble enjoying most aspects of life. It’s hard.
Pogo says
You had me at 3-yo twins. Seriously, you’re doing amazing.
I would still check with your doc if something simple (thyroid, B12, anemia) is contributing to the exhaustion. Yes, life is exhausting but you may have an undiagnosed medical condition, too.
Second, find if there are any little things you can do to help improve your energy. For me, its 1) going to bed at a reasonable hour and limiting evening screen time (this is hard) 2) no carbs in the mornings (or I want to fall asleep at my desk at 2pm) and 3) working out at lunch.
Kid mattress says
We are finally biting the bullet and getting our 6 year old a bed–he’s still in a converted crib!–and I’m trying to figure out whether we should be looking for a coil mattress or a foam mattress. The whole foam mattress thing wasn’t a thing the last time I bought a real mattress*. What did you pick and why?
(*His crib mattress is actually foam, which I liked because it is really light and made changing the sheets easier because I could easily pick up the whole mattress. But he has now caught on to the fact that it is hard as a brick; I assume grown up foam mattress are more plush and a whole different animal).
anon says
We got our 5 yo a twin-sized Leesa a few years ago and it seems great. I wouldn’t overthink it. Most of the most popular foam mattresses are comfy and they show up at your door. Easy peasy.
Anonymous says
My only qualm about foam is I’ve read mold can be a problem, and I can see moisture being an issue on a kid mattress.
Also, MOI, OVERTHINK? Perish the thought! (Ha. You’ve got my number!)
JTM says
My almost 2yr old just transitioned to her big girl bed and we got her a foam mattress.
Anon says
What medical directives and paperwork did you have prepared before you went into labor? My husband and I are spending an upcoming weekend updating our will and all our paperwork including my medical directive before the baby arrives . Just want to make sure I am not forgetting anything.
Anonymous says
I just used the template for my state and then gave a copy to the hospital for my file.
Maternity Leave Payback says
Has anyone dealt with having to paying back maternity leave after returning to work but leaving before a specified period of time? In my case, it’s written into the maternity leave policy so I guess I can’t really complain, but it’s still frustrating.
I’m curious how it worked for anyone else logistically – did you just write the company a check? Did you bring it up when you have notice or wait until they asked you for it, and who calculated the amount owed? How did you handle taxes? The whole thing is giving me a headache.
JTX says
Wait until they bring it up. Certainly don’t offer to pay it back. I know some companies have these clauses in their parental leave policies, but I don’t think they are commonly enforced unless you leave very soon upon returning to work. If the clause doesn’t specify how the amount should be calculated, figure out what method would benefit you the most and argue it should be calculated that way.
Katarina says
I had a similar situation, where I was supposed to pay back moving expenses if I left after less than a year, and my employer did not make me pay it back. My manager brought up that I would not have to pay it back. I had was there about 10 months. I did think about it, and it seemed complicated, especially because I had already paid taxes on it.
Anonymous says
I’ve decided that I deserve a self cleaning vacuum robot thing as a holiday present to myself. I have two toddlers. Which ones are good for picking up dust and also random food (toddlers) that makes it way to the floor? I’d need one for wood floors (but we also have some area rugs). Any suggestions? Ones you loved? Ones that weren’t so good?
Cb says
We have an eufy and it is great. I pick up any wet food from under the high chair but it picks up crumbs etc just fine.
anon says
We have the roomba 890 and it’s amazing. We’ve only had it for a year but we’ve been very happy with it. Before that had a neato that was a few years old, and its bristles would get clogged with dog hair and it eventually stopped charging.
K. says
I have a Eufy and love it–the reviews I read before buying it said it was better with pet hair than the other brands out there. I have a one and four year old and it does great. I also want to brag on the company–I had some issues with the bumper getting stuck waaay too easily when it was about ten-months-old and they sent me a new one to replace it. Their customer service is amazing!
Anonanonanon says
I had a neato botvac (granted, this was appx. 5 years ago) and would not recommend. It got to the point where the maintenance outweighed the convenience. After a year or so, I was constantly having to order a new battery, or be on the phone with customer service talking me through unscrewing and cleaning some weird part, etc. I eventually chucked it down the garbage chute of my apartment building in frustration.
Spirograph says
Wood floors and area rugs here, too. We had an older Roomba until recently, and it was fine but the “cliff sensors” failed after a couple years and then the robot just refused to move. It was out of warranty and the cost to fix and limited warranty on the fix weren’t worth it, so we replaced it with a Deebot N79S, which is significantly cheaper than the new Roombas.
Of the two, I think the Deebot works better, and has an edge-cleaning mode that I really like for going around the base of the table (this might be because it’s a newer model and the technology in all brands has improved. I am admittedly not comparing apples to apples). However, I miss Roomba’s virtual walls. I have to physically block Deebot from leaving the room I want it to clean, which is inconvenient if you don’t have doors to close. I also preferred the Roomba’s scheduling because I could program it with buttons on the robot; Deebot makes me do it via remote control or an app.
Anon says
I have a “basic” pet hair Roomba from probably 3-4 years ago. It doesn’t have an app and doesn’t have the virtual walls, but I love it. I’ve programmed it to run 2x/week while I’m at work. It can handle my dog, two younger kids, and two hairy adults but I have to empty the little bin every single time because it gets full. We have hard wood and several area rugs and it does both with no problem. It’s also relatively loud when it runs, but the only one home is my dog so I’m not worried about that part.
When I have to get a new one, I’ll get as “simple” of a Roomba as possible while still having pet hair functionality. I’ll likely look for one that has a bigger bin, or at least that auto-empty feature, to give me a little more forgiveness when I forget to empty it.
Anonymous says
These are great recs! Thanks ladies!
Toddler Boots says
Any recommendations on warm shoes/boots for an almost 2 year old? This will be her first winter walking, and she’s a good walker, but I’m wary of some of the more fashiony boots that don’t seem to have a ton of traction. Given that she’ll only wear them one season, I’d rather buy one pair that can function as snow boots but can also be worn as everyday boots when it’s too cold/windy for her fabric tennis shoes. Anyone have toddler boots they love?
Anon says
I refuse to spend a lot on kid shoes so I just got the $25 snow boots from The Children’s Place. They’re good enough to get the job done, which is just playing outside at school any day the wind chill is above 10* and any weekend activities we do. They last the season and then are ready for either the trash or donation, depending on how hard of a winter we’ve had. (We’re in the Chicago area.)
Anonymous says
We have hand-me-down Cat&Jack snow boots from Target that work well. Also have heard good things about Stride Rite Made2Play, especially for newer walkers.
Anon says
I just got my 15 month old a pair of cat & jack that have a zipper and seem like they will be plenty warm for outdoor play and our December ski trip.
Anonymous says
If you are in an actually cold climate (< 30-40 f)/playing in snow i don’t think any boots can truly do double- duty… snow boots will be pretty warm and clunky for everyday wear if worn inside. I bought my 20 month old sorels on amazon for 35 $ for snow and stride rite booties for everyday wear (40$). Not cheap but I hate my shoes if I get cheap ones (not comfy, boots not warm enough) so I feel bad getting her cheap ones.
Ms B says
Bogs.
anon says
I think you’re stuck with buying a separate pair of snow boots. IME, even those hybrid varieties are terrible if you have actual weather to contend with. I totally feel your pain; buying shoes for one season legitimately stinks, but they really serve separate needs. If it helps, I’ve bought everything from Cat & Jack to Kamik Kids, and they’ve all been fine.
Toddler mittens? says
Are there mittens that will stay on a just turned 2-year-old and also have enough dexterity for playground adventures? We’re in DC, so don’t need to be prepared for Arctic weather, but the Carters fleece ones just fall right off.
Anon says
I got some from gap that have the texturized palm and my 15 month old wore them on Saturday with the breezy cold and didn’t complain or rip them off.
Daisy West says
Search Toddler Magic Acrylic Insulated Mitten on Amazon. Comes in a pack of 6. Recommended by preschool teacher in Chicago…great for holding on to the ‘loops’!
EB says
Guys, I’m pregnant!!! Found out over the weekend. It was a happy surprise – we were planning to wait just a little longer, but oh well. My son will be 2.5 when baby gets here. Is that old enough to understand anything? He is clearly too young now to understand.
Currently trying to figure out if I am far enough along to see my doctor before Thanksgiving so I can tell my mom and dad.
Anonymous says
Congratulations!!! Your son will definitely be old enough to get it. I’ve got kids 26 months apart, and it’s a great age gap IMO :)
Katarina says
I have a just under 2.5 year gap between my first two, and I did not think my oldest understood at all before the baby came, but he adjusted quickly.
Anonymous says
Ugh, ladies, I hate the parents in my kid’s preschool class. Maybe not all of them, but the ones who keep cluttering my inbox with discussions brainstorming classroom management strategies to share with the teachers, exclamation-point laden plans to bring cupcakes to school, and attempts to hit me up for money to replace the Circle Time rug (a parent’s idea, not anything the school identified as important. I’ve never even noticed the rug in question, and suspect it’s fine). I want to block all their email addresses, but I’m afraid I might miss some future info that is actually useful.
I’m all for parents being aware of and involved in their kid’s school stuff, but this is over the top. Just needed to vent. Back to work.
SC says
Oh man, that is so over the top. I don’t even know what I would do if I received those emails, but I suspect snark would be involved.
More Sleep says
If you don’t have something nice to say….feel free to post here for more eyerolls and compassion. :) Ugh.
anon says
i’m sure the teacher would be thrilled to receive unsolicited suggestions on classroom management
Anonymous says
Anyone with one or more children (and some with no children at all!) is basically an expert on how to handle a class of 15 4 year olds, so yes, I’m sure teachers would welcome the wisdom.
anon says
Seriously, this is so far out of line. Way to undermine the teacher, parents.
I wouldn’t unsubscribe, just for sheer entertainment value.
Yikes says
Holy moly. I would definitely ignore all those emails, except to show my friends with kids in other schools so I can make fun of them.
Anonymous says
I’m still recovering from coop preschool. The root problem is I am not cooperative.