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Ladies, clearly I need to start stalking some more mothers’ jewelry — I just realized I never updated my collection after H was born (gasp!). Which is your favorite piece of mothers’ jewelry — and what’s good to represent two kids? (Or: do you represent your kids, partner, and self? Pets? Do tell.) I recently met some of the ladies from Moon & Lola and got to look through some of their fun sets of personalized charms — I particularly like these stackable zodiac charms. Each charm is $28. Moon & Lola Constellation Charm
Psst: Mother’s Day is May 8, so we have some time!
(L-3)
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Clementine says
My husband got me a lovely necklace with baby’s birthstone. Unfortunately, baby is in a ‘grabby’ phase, so right now I take it off when holding said baby…
My lovely MIL got me a necklace with my name, my husband’s name and baby’s name on it. It’s one like this:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/207421978/four-sided-stamped-family-pendant?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=family%20pendant&ref=sr_gallery_28
I like that it’s not so fancy that I feel weird wearing it with jeans.
Clementine says
Oh! And when we were dating, my husband got me a lovely ‘two peas in a pod’ necklace. There are lots of variations, some more realistic than others. Mine is silver and pearl and I wear it often.
JJ says
Love that Etsy necklace.
Iv’e mentioned it before, but I love my ring that I bought myself from Gemvara. It’s a simple “bypass” ring with the birthstones from each of my boys in it, and I wear it on my right hand every day. I like that it’s understated for work, and since both of my kids have “cheaper” birthstones, the ring was under $100.
Philanthropy Girl says
Thanks for the Gemvara tip -I’ll add it to my mother’s ring wish list!
Anonymous says
I want a birthstone ring for my kids’ birthstones. Only one of them is nice enough to have a cheap birthstone, though. *sigh* April & September.
mss says
I had a picture of my kids turned into a silhouette, then had that made into a photo pendant. I spent a lot of time looking at the Gemvara rings, but I needed a smaller size…
Kristie Vyse says
Thank you for sharing the link to my four sided pendant. I’m not a huge jewelry person and use my pendant as a key chain.
3L mama says
Going to be studying for the bar this summer. My son will be 8 months old in May. Two questions:
1) Currently I have 25 hours/week of childcare. If I am disciplined about studying during the 25 hours I have, is that enough? Or is this crazy and I absolutely need more childcare? I could go up to 30 hours with our current childcare situation; anything more we’d have to completely re-think our arrangements.
2) Son still nurses all.the.time. I pump 3x/day when I am not with him. I do not want to use my precious bar study time to pump that much. At this point would you transition to formula to make up for the missed pumping or push solids harder?
Momata says
I think that’s enough childcare time, especially if you do some reviewing or reading after kiddo goes to bed. You can ramp up to 30 hours the two or three weeks before. I would not transition to formula; I would use the pumping time as mental breaks, which you are going to need to take anyway. Good luck!
Busy bar-taker says
25 sounds about right. +1 to the necessity of mental breaks. If possible, try to “enjoy” the bar study time as a “break” from parenting duties (I likes to try and think of the readings as fun readings and the (much more important) practice tests as fund mental challenges, like doing a crossword), and enjoy parenting duties, including pumping time, as a break from bar study. I think if you are disciplined enough, bar study can be more effective when you have other important tasks to occupy your mind (not the same as having a kid, as I now know so well, but when I was studying I was working FT AND finishing EIC duties for my (relatively major) law review. You’ll do great though – if you can get through 3 years of LS, 9 months of pregnancy and labor/section, and 8 months of parenting – you can certainly pass the bar! Good luck!!
mascot says
Does the 25 hours include whatever time you will be in class? Will you be studying at home when not in class? Seems like that would make pumping a little bit easier. Or is your supply such that you could get a bit more freezer stash if you need to supplement any feedings?
I agree about the mental breaks being necessary.
3L mama says
The 25 hours is 8:30-1:30 M-F, which covers the morning BarBri lectures. I can never study effectively when I am home taking care of the baby – just too distracted. So any additional study time would be after my partner gets home evenings and weekends.
Thinking about the formula/more solids transition because I don’t have much of a freezer stash and I suspect it will be completely gone after exams here in the next two weeks, and I don’t want to stress about having to keep up this summer.
I have an accommodation to pump during the actual bar exam.
JEB says
Remember it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can keep nursing and pumping what you can and supplement the rest with formula. I started doing this around 9 months when my supply began to decrease, and it took some of the pressure off, but she was still getting mostly b-milk.
3L mama says
I am hoping I can do that – nurse when I’m with him, but not pump during the five hours that I’m away unless I really feel like it. It would mean probably two bottles of formula/day, as long as my supply otherwise stays consistent for when I’m home…
CPA Lady says
I transitioned my daughter 100% to formula at 6 months. I think anytime is fine. I didn’t have the time or desire to pump at work so I never did. You may be able to combo feed if you still want to nurse some. I did formula during the day and nursed in the morning and evening until she was 6 months old. Worked well.
kc esq says
I transitioned to formula around 9 months for my boys, then they went to whole milk at 12 months. I really think it’s no big deal. But you will need bar study breaks during the day — the question is whether you want to spend your “breaks” tethered to a pump.
pockets says
I am not a person who gets stressed easily about things, especially tests, and I was extremely stressed out during the last two weeks studying for the bar. I don’t think I had time to shave my legs that last two weeks – I definitely could not have handled pumping as well. All I wanted to do during “breaks” was zone out in front of the TV or play on the internet. Don’t add additional stress to what will already be a very very stressful time. Buy formula and use it without guilt.
As for studying – can you study while baby takes an afternoon nap? That could add 1-2 hrs/day to your studying time.
yep says
Combo feeding has its advantages. You might want to start experimenting with formula after exams to see which one baby prefers (nutrition is the same for all, it’s a matter of taste). That way you know what you need in case you decide to scale back the pumping and/or the stress and schedule affects your supply.
JTX says
Nutrition is not the same for all baby formulas. I’m not saying that any are unacceptable, but there are differences. For example, whether the formula has added DHA/ARA and the source of it, whether the formula uses lactose or glucose as a sweetener, etc. Some may constipate baby, others may not.
We have used Baby’s Only and Honest formula. We preferred the ingredients of Baby’s Only, but Honest was easier to mix and seemed to taste better. It may take some trial and error to find a formula that the baby will accept. Or the baby may love the first formula she tries. All kids are different.
3L mama says
I wish my baby took a reliable enough nap to study during! He’s never been a great napper, although he sleeps pretty consistently from 6:30p-6:30a so I’ll take what I can get! (He wakes a few times to nurse but we cosleep so it’s not disruptive to me – I am flying to Chicago for the bar exam and will miss him in my bed those nights!)
Going to start looking into formulas.
NewMomAnon says
When I was studying for the bar (umm, a decade ago), someone told me that up until the 4th of July, you don’t need to study that much beyond attending the lectures and the homework; it’s the period from the 4th of July until the actual bar exam where you study MUCH more. So your current arrangement sounds fine, but maybe arrange for a supplemental sitter/family member/husband to take some additional hours from July 4 through the bar exam date? Or just make it clear to husband that he needs to take baby all weekend except for set feedings so you can study?
Also, have you considered the recorded lectures instead? You could do those at home, nurse your kiddo while listening, and then hand back to the sitter.
Frozen Peach says
After the first day, I did all the BarBri lectures at home– I saw no need to add two hours of commuting and sitting in a freezing auditorium in an uncomfortable chair to the misery.
You will want, even before July 4 (though I second that “Dividing point”), at least an hour more a day in addition to lectures. I am going to suggest to you what I did– find a study partner who you like and click with, and study together in the weeks leading to the bar. I have never understood why more people don’t do this– it was hugely game changing for both of us to make the memorization interactive and to talk through our respective strength areas. We also split some of the “specialty” non-MBE subjects and taught each other, which was great too. Good luck, mama!! You will rock this.
3L mama says
I was worried I wouldn’t pay close enough attention to the lectures if I didn’t go to school to listen to them. But this is good advice – maybe I’ll try to find a buddy.
Anonymous says
Key question is which bar? And is this your first bar?
3L mama says
first bar. IL.
Anonymous says
One more question: are you committed to barbri? I took an alternative class (Themis) and really liked it. I mention because they are more low-key than barbri– I was never as stressed as my friends who took Barbri, which seemed to thrive on making you panic over how little you know so your study more.
3L mama says
my firm requires that we take BarBri. But I will try to use my “low-key goggles” when viewing how much to panic :-)
Anonymous says
I say this is do-able. I worked full time while I was studying for the bar and pregnant. (This was not fun, but it was manageable.) As for nursing/pumping, why not just pump while studying? That should be relatively easy especially if you are watching the videos at home/in private. But, yeah, if it’s too stressful and time-consuming, don’t beat yourself up about supplementing with formula, especially once your kid is 8 mos. Good luck!
SC says
I think 25 hours of child care is doable if you are diligent about studying during that time. I second Frozen Peach’s recommendation to just stream the lectures rather than commuting. I did that, and then spent the hour I saved reviewing the lecture material immediately afterwards. Can you pump while you watch the lectures or study? (I could have, but I always got really, really tired after pumping and needed a snack and a break when I was finished.) Does your baby still nap in the afternoons, and would you be able to study during nap time You may want to ramp up to 30 hours/week after July 4th, and then maybe a few more hours in the 2 weeks before the bar. Is there any way you can get extra help then?
Anon says
I used flash cards to study while doing other things, like working out, driving (not safe, I wouldn’t recommend this), and eating. You could probably sneak some studying in this way while caring for the baby. Recite the elements in a sing song voice – the baby will love it.
Philanthropy Girl says
I am in love with a local-to-me artisan company called Bel Kai (www.belkai.com). I was gifted with a charm from them after my first son passed away. I need to get in there and get one for my second son. Their things are a little more casual, so probably not suited for a work formal environment; I wear mine on casual work days.
I desperately want a mother’s ring – as a child I was fascinated by my grandmother’s. She had a gold ring with the birthstone of each of her children set in a track. I’m planning to wait until we’re done having children to ask for mine.
ELL says
Looking for help from you smart, problem-solving mothers! I have a stroller question. The short version: what stroller situation do I need for a newborn and a 22-month-old?
Longer version: We do not have a removable carseat (just find them too heavy). With our first, we bought a Baby Jogger City Mini GT plus the Deluxe Bassinet. We loved this because the newborn could stretch out and lie flat. When the baby got older, we removed the bassinet and started using the stroller in the normal mode. That’s how the 22-month-old still gets carted the 10 minutes to the park. I want to switch back to the bassinet mode when the new baby comes, but then I have no way to transport the older kid. (The switch is pretty involved and couldn’t be done on a daily basis.) And the bassinet does not fit on any of the Baby Jogger double strollers. (The bassinets that DO fit on the double strollers are tiny; we considered and rejected them last time.) I thought I could just put the baby in a front carrier, but I want other people to be able to take the baby out too. And also, all the caregivers are quite tall, so we need something that works well for tall people. (This was hard to find last time.) And I don’t want to spend a fortune on strollers to cover a short-term situation.
Here are the scenarios I want to be able to cover:
1. Grandparent takes just baby out in a stroller.
2. Grandparent takes just toddler out in a stroller.
3. Grandparent takes both children out in a stroller.
Question: Do I need three strollers? (Ha!) And is there even a stroller that can do #3 if I don’t have a removable carseat?
Anonymous says
Bugaboo Donkey is the perfect stroller for this scenario but it’s also super pricey. I have and LOVE the Stroll Air which is very similar and half the cost. It’s a double stroller but narrow enough to fit through any doorway that fits a wheelchair (almost all doorways). The seats can both rearface, both forward face or one rear and one forward. I often did one forward + one rear when toddler wanted to look around but baby wanted to see me. It also takes a car seat and has a bassinet option.
Would have totally bought a bugaboo donkey though if it was in the budget.
For any possible twin mommies – it also takes two car seats – not many double strollers do that and also have rearfacing seats for when they are older.
Anonymous says
http://www.target.com/p/graco-roomfor2-stand-ride-stroller-gotham/-/A-50104142?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9008337&gclid=CMnxp7CujswCFQ1ahgod12cGFg&gclsrc=aw.ds
I think you’d have to get the removable carseat, though. But we have this and had kids 19 months apart and it worked really well for us, actually. Also, be prepared for different babies: our first loved laying flat in a bassinet; our second hated it voraciously and we couldn’t have done it without the semi-upright removable carseat. He would have just screamed the entire time.
stripes says
I see lots of moms using a single stroller for the older kid and a baby carrier for the infant, at least until the infant is big enough to fit in a regular double stroller. Then, Maclaren double stroller all the way.
BKDC says
This is my plan for when Baby #2 arrives. We’ll have the same spacing, and I’m holding off on buying a double stroller because that simply won’t work for my 2nd floor walk up apartment living. Here’s hoping that Baby #2 adjusts to the carrier better than Baby #1 did.
pockets says
Uppababy Vista. I’m 90% sure that it can do bassinet + seat. If it can’t, the Uppababy snugseat insert can be used with the seat so that the seat works from newborn up. It’s not as spacious as a bassinet, but I used the snugseat from birth and my newborn never complained.
Although, FWIW, I think the easiest solution would be to buy an umbrella stroller and when you need to take both kids out, the newborn goes in a carrier and the toddler goes in the umbrella.
pockets says
It’s pricey but you can resell for a few hundred dollars when you’re done. And the Uppababy strollers are very good for tall people.
lsw says
I found an Uppababy Vista used for $370 (came with several accessories, bassinet, etc). Keep checking on craigslist. We’ve got an older sib so we didn’t have to worry about double strollers, but wanted to let you know it works well for this 5’10” lady (with short dinosaur arms) and her 6’3″ husband. I got the Vista based on other posters here saying it’s good for tall folks and we are quite happy with it!
I love my Vista says
Yes, can do bassinet + seat in the Vista.
TBK says
I’m not sure if the City Minis have them, but do you think your 22 mo old can do one of those roller boards behind the stroller yet? All in all, you’re probably only looking at about 10 weeks or so before the baby can do the City Mini with the seat laid flat. I have the double City Mini GT for my twins and (like so many double strollers — grrr!) it doesn’t take two car seats. But using Summer Infant Snuzzlers, they were fine in there from about 8-10 weeks with the seats laid flat.
Anonymous says
Yes the city minis can take a board. I’m in a Facebook group where the moms are super knowledgabke about all stroller configurations. It’s called “Canadian StrollerSwap” if you want to check it out (even if you’re not Canadian). I’m sure there is a US equivalent. People post questions like this all the time.
I agree that the uppababy vista may be your solution. Really easy to take basinette on and off. Can be a double. Can add a board if you later want it to be a single + board for toddler. Be warned that they dramatically changed the configuration in 2015- the post 2015 model works much better as a double than the earlier models.
I have a 2015 vista and love it, but haven’t used it as a double. One thing to consider: not all newborns like basinette. Mine hated it. I started using the regular seat with head support at around 3 months.
Also: the vista is a beast to fold. It lives in my garage. Definitely not a stroller you want to be taking in and out of he car on a regular basis, or up and down an elevator or stairs. Not sure of your living situation.
ELL says
Thank you so much for the heads-up about the pre-2015 models! That’s really helpful. Our stroller has lived in our front entry, but could love in the garage. It’s pretty rare that we put the stroller in the car.
ELL says
Thanks for all the great suggestions!
I’m struggling to decide how much of a big deal this is–and thus how much money I want to invest in the problem. I know the stroller situation really is only tricky for 8-10 weeks as TBK says, but I also am really trying to set myself up for a restful postpartum time where all the caregivers I will have around will be able to give me little breaks from one or both of my children.
Since not all the baby’s caregivers can physically handle babywearing (due to disability), I really don’t want babywearing to be my only option–because that would mean I’m always carrying the baby.
Also should add: we live in a city, and we walk good distances on a daily basis.
The Bugaboo Donkey is exactly what I was looking for, although the price is way more than I would like to spend. A used Vista might be our top choice for now. We rejected it last time because it seemed huge (though, indeed, comfy for tall people). But if it’s mostly for going to the park and long walks (not taking into restaurants or tight spaces), it might be just fine. Love the look of the Stroll Air, so we’ll look at that as well.
Thank you for all the very thoughtful answers! You all saved me so. many. hours. wandering around the internet!
AIMS says
So I’m back at work and pumping 3 times/plus nursing at home. Baby has also decided she wants to eat 3 times a night so I nurse her a lot then since it’s just easier than trying to get her back to sleep without eating. I feel like I’m producing more milk than before and have been for a couple of weeks now since I started pumping to store some extra in preparation for going back (so was nursing baby and also pumping 2 extra times while home for freezer stash).
I am ravenous all the time! Like, it’s 10 am, I had a big breakfast at 815 and I already want to eat lunch. Yesterday I had dinner and then made toast an hour later. Is this possibly because I am making more milk? My appetite went into overdrive right after I delivered and then settled down in a few weeks. I’m thinking the same thing might be happening now, but wondering if anyone’s experienced something similar? FWIW, I haven’t gained any weight (yet) from all my extra snacking, I feel fine otherwise, and I had my thyroid checked 3 months ago and it was fine.
Philanthropy Girl says
This sounds plausible to me. Whenever my supply was up and/or baby was nursing a ton, I was hungrier.
My only other thought is to keep tabs on hormones – since your cycle may or may not return while your nursing, look out for PMS style emotions. Too much estrogen can give you nasty PMS and/or postpartum depression type symptoms, which can be accompanied by appetite change.
With no other symptoms, it’s probably exactly what you think.
Maddie Ross says
I ate like a teenage boy while nursing. I would pile plates with food, snack constantly, etc. And I ended up nearly 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight even after weaning and without working out. So I saw this to mean that it’s totally normal, you may not gain an ounce, and you don’t necessarily have a thyroid issue. You have a hungry human.
mascot says
Sleep deprivation might be exacerbating this too. Make sure you are getting plenty of proteins/fats in your diet to keep your energy up.
stripes says
+1. When I was nursing, I was starving all the time. I kept granola bars in my nightstand so I could eat in the middle of the night, and slathered cream cheese on any bread product — and still lost weight below my pre-pregnancy weight. But my husband who clearly was not nursing was also extra hungry all the time because of all the wake ups.
AIMS says
My first two weeks home from the hospital I would go to bed with a Luna bar, a gallon of water and an ipad.
AEK says
When my son reached about 8/9 months, that is when my appetite quintupled and I started LOSING weight like crazy despite eating like a horse. I am still trying to break the habit of “second breakfast” because I stopped pumping once he hit 1 YO, and now we’re moving towards weaning off the morning / bedtime nursing too. Sigh. I will really, really miss second breakfast.
Also– remember it’s not just the quantity of milk that adjusts over time, but the composition. Your babe might be in a growth spurt and needing extra fat, extra protein, etc. I feel like that could totally drive your appetite and cravings.
Butter says
Big fan of second breakfast, and even third ha. I often eat a bowl of cereal when I pump after the feeding that takes place between 2:30-3:30am. Then I have oatmeal after the 6:30/7am feeding. Then another bowl of cereal after the 10am feeding. Etc etc.
My problem is that outside of cereal, oatmeal, bagels, yogurt, string cheese and granola bars, I’m at a loss of what else to eat during the day. My appetite for the finer things in life (i.e. delicious food) waned during my pregnancy and has yet to return, and I literally can’t think of what else to eat at any given time. I’m looking forward to craving better food again at some point in the future.
AIMS says
If your body is craving carbs and dairy, you could add pastas, grains (quinoa, etc.), soups, English muffins, regular muffins, banana bread, quiche, etc. I’ve been making banana bread with whole wheat flour and our left over ripe bananas on the weekends and it’s been really nice to snack on at various points in the day. Now I can make it more or less blind folded and just dump whatever fruits and berries I have left over. It’s a good way to use up everything.
Anonymous says
And add good fats to your carbs. Nursing now and I’m loving PB on whole wheat English muffins, avocado and hummus on toast. I’ve been craving high-calorie, less healthy foods (chocolate bars, chips) way more than I ever have and I’m sure it’s from nursing. Adding healthy fats has helped.
October says
Oh wow, my son is 8.5 months and just this week I noticed that I have been grazing all day long and still hungry. I was getting worried that I’d just lost all self-control re: eating!
I’ve also had a pb&j for lunch M-F virtually every day since he was born. I didn’t have many pregnancy cravings but my postpartum cravings are no joke.
AIMS says
Thanks, all. Very reassuring. I think I was caught off guard by the appetite surge because I knew it would happen initially but then it kind of stopped and now I am back to wanting all the food, all the time. Good to know that’s common.
NewMomAnon says
Another stroller question: I have a Britax B-Agile that I pass back and forth with kiddo’s dad. I would like to give the Britax to him and get myself one that I like better, so I’m looking for ideas. My wish list: folds like an umbrella stroller (trying to free up closet space), sun canopy, reclines, and has a basket or pocket. Prefer not a five-point harness, but needs to be more substantial than the cheap seat belts on the Cosco umbrella strollers because kiddo can wiggle out of those.
Also, do they make umbrella strollers with sit/stand capabilities? My kiddo would love the option to stand up and be pushed.
JJ says
No sit/stand, but our umbrella stroller was the Uppababy G-Luxe and it was my favorite stroller out of all the ones we used. Reclines, big basket, upright when folded, light, endlessly adjustable, and I bought the attachable cup-holder/basket. We’ve flown with it several times and it was easy.
Anon in NYC says
A bunch of families in my neighborhood have this stroller and love it. We have a used Maclaren that somebody gave us, so we’re going to try that one out for a while.
anne-on says
Yup, love love love the G-Luxe. Especially the ability to easily stand on its own, and to fully recline.
RR says
Second (or third or fourth) the UppaBaby G-Luxe. Great stroller.
shortperson says
i am an evangelist for the mountain buggy nano. it folds up tiny and has a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder. no sit/stand though.
NewMomAnon says
Your handle suggests you are also short – is the mountain buggy good for short people? It seems like tall people like to review strollers, but a stroller good for tall people isn’t ideal for 5’1″ me….
shortperson says
i am 5’1″ too. it hasnt been an issue. but my husband is over 6 feet and doesnt complain about it either so maybe we just arent paying attention or dont appreciate this detail.
I love my Vista says
Uppababy Cruz could have a stand option if you get the rear stand board.
RR says
We have a Cruz, and it’s a fabulous stroller, but not a small footprint folded.
Anonymous says
I don’t think there are any umbrella strollers with a sit and stand board. I also don’t think you are going to find a good quality stroller without a 5 point hardness, but on all baby jogger strollers the harness is such that you don’t have to use the shoulder straps, if that makes sense. I love my city mini 4 wheel (brand is baby jogger). If you want a smaller fold, city mini zip may be what you are after. The city minis have great reclines, great canopies, and a basket but the basket isn’t huge.
Betty says
Incoming K Parent Night: Our local (supposed to be good) public school had incoming K parent night earlier this week at 6pm. (A bit of background: My son attends preK at that school through an independent program and my husband is an elem administrator in a different district.) The announcement was on the school’s website and didn’t provide any info re: bringing or not bringing your kid(s). So my husband and I brought our incoming kindergartner and his younger sister.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but …. it was horrible. It was a 40 minute power point held in the gym that was structured to be a walk through a kindergartner’s day. It kind-of discussed curriculum but the teachers were not really sure about a lot of it. There was information about breakfast, but nothing on lunch. There was nothing for the kids to do (we brought some snacks and quiet toys). The microphone didn’t work, so it was impossible to hear and we had to tell our kids to stay quiet the whole time. There was a sign-up for kindergarten screening at the back of the room that wasn’t announced (I found out later). The teachers and principal all looked like this is the first time they had done this (its not). On the whole, I left with huge concerns about the school that I hadn’t had before, and I’m unsure what to do with these concerns. Do I just chalk this up to a bad night? Or take it as a reflection of the school and K program?
stripes says
I’d just chalk it up to a bad night if you have no other reason for concern. I would have left the kids with a babysitter if possible as I try to keep administrative stuff adult-only. I try to look at these situations like this: what do I want these people to excel at? The answer is taking care of and educating your child, engaging with a classroom of kids, etc. None of that involves PowerPoints or providing parent-driven summaries. And that’s not a big problem. But don’t hesitate to get the info you need another way, like calling and asking one individual directly.
Anonymous4 says
Ugh. I would not be impressed. However, I would balance your rocky night with other input – have you talked to other parents about their experiences in the district? What is the opinion of this school among your husband’s colleagues? Do you know any of the teachers? One bad night will be offset with positive input from other sources. With negative (or no)input elsewhere, I’d be suspect and start looking for other options.
mss says
Can you schedule a tour of the school? Seeing classrooms in action might alleviate (or worsen) your concerns. Our school did tours as part of the registration process, but you might be able to talk to the principal and set up a separate tour.
CPA Lady says
First impressions can be deceiving. I toured a few daycares, and the daycare my daughter got into was “one of the best” in town. I thought it looked like a dump and was pretty unimpressed on my tour but went with it because it was close to my house. Now that she’s been there for a year and a half, I couldn’t imagine her going anywhere else. I cry each time she moves up to the next class because the teachers are all so wonderful and caring and she’s had such good experiences.
I think part of your frustration had to do with your kids being there and its hard to separate out the frustration of that experience with the frustration of the technical difficulties and mediocre powerpoint.
Meg Murry says
As much as I love our school district, the Incoming K night presentation is often chaotic and not super well organized (I’ve been once as a parent and 2X as a PTO volunteer – every year was a bit ‘eh’). The sound system often doesn’t work correctly, the Powerpoint often has last years dates, and I feel like 50% of the questions were answered with “we don’t know yet”.
But as others have pointed out, part of that is because that’s not what Kindergarten teachers usually do – they don’t organize events for adults and give powerpoints to them – they herd Kindergarteners and teach them to read and not pull each other’s hair. And another huge part of it at our school is that they really haven’t started thinking that much about how things will change for next year, and very little is set in stone. How many kindergarten teachers will there be? Don’t know, depends how many enrollments we have, but probably X. Who is teaching K? Probably these teachers, but that depends – when other teachers in the district leave, that can start a domino effect of people moving around, and it usually happens closer to the end of the school year or over the summer. What time does school start/what time will the bus pick my kid up/who is the school lunch provider/etc? Well, we can give you the answer from this year, but the board is still making changes so none of that is concrete.
Also, don’t forget – the teachers aren’t getting paid any extra to do this info night. Most of them haven’t been home yet at all either, had to hire a babysitter to cover 4-6 pm when they are usually watching their own kids and just scarfed a quick dinner in their classroom. If I have to pick between the K teacher spending a lot of time making an awesome polished Power point or doing their lesson plans, I don’t blame them for focusing on the classroom.
Basically, I honestly think the K info nights are held too early and the staff doesn’t really take much time to prep for them. They basically exist only to get people to sign up for the K screenings – so the fact that that didn’t go well isn’t a great sign – but at our school the year that happened it was because the front office secretary was out on medical and the person covering for her was kinda clueless.
I agree with everyone else to ask some current parents. I care more about how the info is communicated to me once I am a current parent (are they good at sending home newsletters or email updates, etc) than the once a year info nights.
Aunt Jamesina says
Spot on!
Aunt Jamesina says
Former teacher now a school administrator here. What is the reputation of this district? I have found that many people who are great classroom teachers aren’t great communicators in an adult meeting settings, and that’s possibly even more true for those who teach the youngest students, since it’s far outside their wheelhouse. I won’t make excuses for the school principal, however.
Cruddy A/V setup and bad acoustics in an elementary school gym isn’t unusual– the equipment often doesn’t get much use outside of these events. Gyms suck acoustically, but are often the only meeting space large enough in an elementary school to accommodate so many people.
Talk to parents with children in the school and have your husband do some recon at his school (like any industry, we talk to each other and often know the dirt on neighboring districts).