Postpartum Tuesday: Essential Rollover Skirt

Something about raising a toddler has lowered my patience for this year’s batch of summer associates. Either that or they are more annoying than previous classes. From the summer who proudly wanted to discuss my ex-husband with me because she knew him “very well” from a previous internship, to the summer who is sure that he knows me from somewhere and keeps finding me to discuss, to the summer who has a project from me and keeps finding “big issues” that aren’t big issues….I just don’t know if I have it in me this summer. I’m trying to dig really deep and pass along the patience that so many had for me when I was a summer. But I may be hiding in my office when I see a bunch of smiling faces in dark suits walking the halls in a pack.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I appreciate the support and am pleasantly surprised about the respect for his wishes–I say that because I truly feel the exact same way, but my entire family and friends have encouraged me/pressured me to believe that since I’m the one carrying the baby, going through labor/delivery etc, that he should defer to me on this. But I do agree that it’s his child too and we’re in this 50/50, and I shouldn’t just get my way “because.” And that’s entirely how our marriage is (equal partners)–which flies in the face of many family members and friends whose relationships consist of the wife getting her way ALL the time. I’m constantly told that my hubby should be giving in to me on various issues from paint colors to furniture choices. I really appreciate the feedback re: it’s a surprise either way and of course we will love our child either way. It helps put it all in perspective because right now it does feel super important, but I don’t want it to become a thing. I guess I am mostly frustrated because I can imagine myself compromising and finding out now, but the possibility of waiting is not on his radar at all. His only plans are to both find out, or he finds out and doesn’t tell me (and I agree it will get back to me). I guess I’m just a little put off that it’s his way or the highway on this.

Pro tip: Don’t prepare to have a baby within a week of your anniversary. You will forget your anniversary. Even if you knew that this was coming for 9 months and intentionally scheduled the delivery to be as far from the anniversary date as possible, you will still totally forget about the anniversary.

I have an international flight coming up soon with my 16-month old. Will be flying without dad’s help (please send good travel karma my way). I don’t normally allow DD very much screen time if I can help it, but all bets are off for this long flight. Any recommendations for videos, apps, games, etc. that I can download onto my tablet to keep DD amused? Also — this may be a stupid question, but can I use headphones with her (with the volume turned down low?). Don’t want to bug our fellow passengers with the noises from our games, but I also don’t know how delicate her ears may be. Thanks!

Any advice on SOs with physically tiring hobbies?

My SO has taken up a hobby that takes hours at a time and is physically tiring, but not really fitness-related. He comes home tired and is less than happy to take over caring for our toddler. How do I balance not becoming ‘stuck’ on child duty all the time with understanding his social needs?

To make things less easily balanced, my hobbies are reading, internet games, netflix, etc. where I don’t really leave the house, so I am rarely gone. My only out-of-house hobby is shopping, which I am trying to cut back on for financial reasons. I’d appreciate hobby suggestions that work in a small town too :)