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I wish I had this fun jumpsuit when I was pregnant!
The lightweight, stretch chambray fabric will take you from spring straight into summer. In addition to the stretchy fabric, there’s an elastic back that will accommodate every stage of your pregnancy. For after baby’s arrival, there’s a nursing/pumping-friendly button front. Flattering flutter sleeves and practical pockets are the ultimate finishing touches.
This jumpsuit from The Nines By Hatch is $38 at Target. It’s available in sizes XS–XXL.
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anonymous says
This looks so cute for a toddler
Anon says
I would have been so annoyed having to totally undress every time I went to the bathroom, which was roughly every 45 minutes during the third trimester.
Anon says
My thought exactly. Why wear the most difficult possible thing to undress from when you need to pee every 15 minutes?
Anonymous says
Lol, my then-baby had a similar jumpsuit last summer, and I was just looking if I could find something similar for her now as a toddler. It was super cute.
Elemom says
Any tips on how to find a good Math tutor? My daughter (3rd grade) needs some help – she was getting above average scores for Math, but seems to have fallen behind in recent months. My husband and I have tried to help her, but it’s difficult with both of us working full time and I’d rather spend whatever family time with her on fun stuff. How should I go about finding a good tutor for her? Google throws up so many options, but would prefer something that’s more local / with trusted reviews.
Anon says
Ask the school for a recommendation, or other parents. Some teachers tutor on the side. Probably better if it’s not your kid’s own teacher clearly.
Anon says
Second this. I’ve used a number of different math programs (AoPS, RSM, Mathnasium and SAM), and if the goal is more remedial (as opposed to enrichment), I don’t think any of these programs are really going to cut it because they don’t follow the school program. What you really want is someone who knows the curriculum.
Anon says
I should clarify that my kids have used all of these programs.
Anonymous says
If you live somewhere with a Math-nasium, I’ve heard good things about those.
Otherwise, yes, I’d post on a local listserv or ask the school.
Anonymous says
I don’t have a third grader, so feel free to disregard, but if you have a Mathnasium near those are highly recommended in my neighborhood. Also, when I was in college, a local physician couple put an ad on the jobs board for a math tutor for their daughter and I took the job. It was super easy and I enjoyed getting to know the family.
Anon says
A big part of learning math is repetition. We’ve had good luck with the Singapore math series over the course of the pandemic. It’s often used as a homeschool curriculum, but it pairs really well as a supplement to what my 3rd grader is doing in school. You might get the 3rd grade text book and workbook and try to do a lesson most days. The text book walks through how to do the math in a way a parent can easily teach and the workbook gives extra practice. Consistent practice with a methodical curriculum may actually get you further ahead than once a week with a tutor.
Anon says
I just reread and saw that you don’t want to DIY. I’m just not sure that you’re going to make progress without practice, so you’ll be supervising practice sheets regardless of whether the assignment comes from a book or a tutor. I found with the Singapore Math series I didn’t have to do any prep: open the book, read through the lesson together (5 min) and then my daughter was good to do the workbook on her own (10 min).
Anon says
We’ve used Varsity Tutors for other subjects but the tutors can be hit or miss. A local tutor might be better if you get a good recommendation. If she is somewhat self directed, the Smartick program is pretty good for math. It adapts to your child’s current level, has various tutorials and games and does a good job of making the math fun and helping your child “think” in math. We find it with a best if one of us sits through the lessons, though, which takes about 20 minutes a day.
Fallen says
We had really good luck with the Russian Math School if you have it in your area
Anon says
Isn’t Russian Math for kids who are advanced and working way above grade level? I don’t think it works for tutoring kids who need extra help.
DLC says
You can also see if your school offers math support group. Our fourth grader, who is struggling has been recommended by her teacher to attend math support. It’s offered before school, so we’re still trying to figure out the logistics. Last year, during distance learning it was offered on the half day via zoom and the personal attention really helped.
anon says
I’ve always skipped over the eating/feeding posts but it is coming back to bite me. I have a 5yo that is down to eating pasta, toast, limited fruit, bagels, hotdogs, and sometimes quesadillas. He will, of course, happily eat sweets and has discovered the beauty of Sun Chips. He has never eaten a vegetable beyond the baby years.
I really, REALLY aim to prevent food struggles in the house because of my own history of disordered eating. The pediatrician isn’t concerned and basically says to just make sure he takes a vitamin.
Any advice? Do I try and push veggies to “earn” dessert? Say he has to try things? It feels like all the things I’ve tried to stay away from but I worry that we are just setting some terrible habits like too much snacking. Help.
Note: I feel like we model good habits as does our older child. My 5yo is also VERY stubborn.
Anonymous says
1) you’re probably doing a lot of the right things. It’s so hard to know what works and what’s harmful. 2) I have found Kids Eat in Color and (slightly less) Feeding Littles instagrams to be helpful. Tbh their most helpful content for me is what not to do: bribing with dessert, forcing my kids to take a bite, etc is all stuff I grew up doing and so was doing with my kids. They’re both very non judgmental which i appreciate.
Anonymous says
Just reread what you wrote:
“ I really, REALLY aim to prevent food struggles in the house because of my own history of disordered eating. The pediatrician isn’t concerned and basically says to just make sure he takes a vitamin.”
Continue making food available and letting him choose to eat it or not. He likes fruit? Make sure you’ve got fruit. The pediatrician isn’t concerned!! You say you don’t want struggles and in your next breath propose creating them. Just leave it alone.
Anon says
just keep serving in a no pressure way. one of my twins hasnt eaten meat in almost two years and the other day took bites of a chicken nugget and yesterday decided she loved pomegranate seeds. don’t bribe with dessert. i like kids eat in color and feeding littles, but also realize their strategies dont apply to the kids who would starve themselves rather than eat
Spirograph says
I mean… I know that this is not the way you’re supposed to do it anymore, but I *do* require the kids to eat actual dinner to earn dessert. We don’t have dessert every night, but if you want ice cream, you need to eat 3 bites of carrots and 3 bites of protein or whatever. (Sometimes they choose to forego both dinner and dessert, which is fine.) I also require that the kids take one bite before they are allowed to declare they don’t like something. They are allowed to stare at it without comment if they don’t want to taste it at all.
My daughter is also very picky and very stubborn, and mostly likes various iterations of carbohydrates and cheese, with a couple of fruits and vegetables thrown in. It is what it is. I plan at least 2 dinners per week that I know she will eat heartily, and the rest of the time I make what DH and I like and serve it to her “deconstructed” so she can eat the parts she likes without the white rice being sullied by the rest of the bibimbap or whatever. We just keep putting new things in front of her, and sometimes she finds a new one she likes in spite of herself. After school snack options are limited to yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and a cheese stick — my kids won’t eat much dinner if they fill up on snacks, so I like to make sure I feel OK about whatever-the-snack-is being a meal substitute, just in case.
Our pediatrician told us years ago that you should aim for a balanced diet over the course of the week, not daily, and certainly not all in the same meal. I’ve found this a really helpful way to think about it. If you can get scrambled eggs in one day, and fruit at lunch another day, and a glass of milk here and there mixed in with the pasta and bagels, you’re doing alright!
anon says
Amen to your first paragraph. Sorry, you don’t get dessert if you haven’t had a semi-balanced meal to start with. And yes, I realize this mentality isn’t popular anymore.
Anon says
Agreed. My 8 yo would only eat sweets if permitted, and that turns her into an absolutely miserable person because she feels icky from only eating junk. It’s not that she doesn’t like other food, but that she prefers refined sugar as her primary food group. We enforce a balance–she has to eat a vegetable/fruit and protein before she can have a treat.
anon says
Same in my household. We also won’t serve more of the favorite food until they eat the rest of the meal, which again I know is taboo these days, but I lucked out with kids who a) eat basically everything and b) aren’t a concerning weight so I don’t stress if they eat only a bite or two of dinner on one night. We don’t cook things they don’t like (too spicy or too vinegary), but that’s about our only concession. Yes, they’d prefer buttered rolls to broccoli, but they also actively enjoy broccoli so I don’t feel bad about saying they need to finish their broccoli before they get more rolls or dessert. *shrugs* In contrast my niece is very picky and also very low percentile for weight, so her parents are happy to let her eat only the carb portion of dinner and then follow it up with ice cream because they just want her to consume calories.
Anon says
I think there’s a difference between bribing with dessert and expecting a kid to eat a meal before dessert. To me bribing is like “eat 3 carrots and you can have dinner” assuming your kid doesn’t like carrots. I have a very picky eater and we have a “if you’re too full for dinner, then you’re too full for dessert” rule. But dinner always has “safe” foods for her, which currently skew bread-heavy with some fruits and meats.
Pogo says
+1 This is our philosophy too.
And borrowed from Clementine, if you don’t like what is for dinner, you can have a slice of toast. No one goes to bed hungry, but you don’t get a special meal. I also allow my picky 4yo to eat just the bun when he is served sliders or veggie burger. We offer a treat (dessert, but not always tied to after a meal) somewhat randomly based on availability in our household, and yes, you have to have some real food first.
FP says
Same in my house too. We identify “growing foods” and “treats” and you do have to eat a good amount of growing foods first before having a treat. If they are really picky about a vegetable, I allow them to sub in a fruit or veggie of their choosing. My older kiddo hates bell peppers so usually opts for cucumber slices dipped in ranch. I am fine with that. They can choose to not try all of the foods I am serving for dinner but treats only happen when kids 1. try everything on their plate and 2. eat a full serving of growing food. If they don’t do both of those at a meal, they skip a treat.
Spirograph says
I like the terms “growing food” vs “treats.” Hilariously, one of the most successful things in getting my picky daughter to eat a little more was watching a marathon of Naked and Afraid on Discovery Channel when we were stuck in a hotel room one day. All the longing for protein and the people getting skinnier, weaker, and angrier the more days passed without a real meal really drove home that not all foods are created equal.
Storybots also has a good episode on macronutrients. I think it’s even in answer to a kid’s “why can’t I just eat candy all the time?” question.
(Thanks everyone, these comments make me feel better that I’m not the only one who has passed on the extreme child-led feeding philosophy.)
FP says
I’m pretty lax on treats (sometimes they ask for a Hershey kiss after their breakfast and I’m like – sure why not?) but would honestly firm up a bit if my kids were pickier, so I think it does depend on where your kids are in terms of what they eat. There are some veggies my kids won’t eat but on the whole they eat fairly balanced diets and certainly they eat a larger variety compared to what I ate as a kid. The only rule I’m stuck on is no juice/soda.
Anon says
My 4 year old has a similar diet, also off the charts stubborn, and is in OT for feeding therapy (among other things). I don’t know if we’re doing the “right” things because nothing is really changing, but the OT says not to force bites or bribe with dessert, but she has to have a small bite of everything we’re eating on her plate. I have noticed she’s a little more willing to try new things at least since we started that.
anonM says
I can’t speak to any extremes of texture aversions or things like that, but here’s a few ideas that have helped us out of picky phases. Your situation might be different, but passing on some ideas in case one is helpful. One is having DS”help” with cooking. He has one of the plastic kid safety knives and his own cutting board in a cupboard he can reach. He’ll eat way more veggies while “helping” than what’s on his plate. And, during a really picky phase we went to the grocery store for him to help me pick out foods for “Purple Dinner” — purple cauliflower, purple potatoes, blue corn taco shells for tacos (something I knew would be a good gateway food because he loves tacos), etc. He didn’t love all of it, but it did get us both excited about cooking/eating again. Can you do Sun Chip nachos? Or something else kind of silly like that to just add some humor? The whole family pretend to be on a game show or food reporters and try something new for an “interview”? Maybe with some food no one in the family has tried yet/outside your own comfort zone? Just ideas, please ignore if this sounds dumb and annoying to you!
anon says
I actually really like this idea. I’ve bandied it about but haven’t taken action on it. He does like to help in the kitchen and can probably make granola pretty much independently at this point. Farmers markets should be opening soon so maybe we can make this a fun adventure.
anonM says
Oh, and Michelle Obama’s Waffles and Mochi show on Netflix is really nice – DH and I don’t mind watching it. It’s so food positive — shows history, the range of foods, has some great chefs who wax poetic about the food, etc! We haven’t watched all the episodes, but the ones we did I learned from too.
Anonymous says
I have learned a TON from the person who runs Kids Eat in Color (on the web or Instagram) even just using her free content. She has courses too. She is a very funny, chill nutritionist.
Anonymous says
Emily Oster has talked about picky eating a few times recently and one helpful (for me) takeaway is that pickiness seems to start receding between 6 and maybe 8? Anyway, my point is that from an ages and stages perspective you’re right in it, so to the extent you’d like permission to just keep waiting and offering, there it is–it may not yet be a problem you need to solve.
I’ll also, on snacking, add my endorsement to the kids eat in color recommendations you’ve already heard–while she’s all-in on the no bribes, etc (i think basically what someone else called the extreme child-led end of things), she also really recommends set meal and snack times, without sort of freelance snacking in between, and that’s been helpful to me. Not to say my kid never eats between scheduled meals/snacks, but that it’s more circumstantial (we’re at a birthday party, we’re out with friends who are snacks-all-the-time folks, etc) than child-driven (“I’m hungry and want a snack.”)
Anon says
I know it’s not popular, but with my stubborn kids, I had to enforce a one-bite rule. They had to try every food, even if they hated it, just to make sure they still hated it. My son now knows avocado is his favorite food because we forced him to try bites and eventually he liked it.
We also don’t cook additional/separate meals (we do try to make sure there are foods on the plate that we know they will tolerate) so we remind them this is their chance to eat until the next meal.
Anon says
This definitely depends on the kid. We tried this with my kid, and it turned into a huge power struggle. She adopted the attitude “you can make me take a bite, but you can’t make me like it” and summarily declared every food she tried was horrible. We had a lot more success when we backed off and only let her try what she wanted to try. She doesn’t try as much, but it is more receptive to new foods and has actually decided she likes a couple of them because it was her choice to try.
TBH, I’m surprised this worked with a stubborn kid but I guess there are different breeds of stubborn and not every kid is as prone to power struggles as mine is.
Anon. says
Yep, this is my stubborn kid too. To the point that making him try one bite of grape (which he’d eaten before) in order to get dessert left to him gagging himself and vomiting at the table. I’m now all in on the child-led end of the spectrum, serving deconstructed meals and ignoring the fact that the only fruit/veggie he will eat is applesauce. My pediatrician is not concerned and he’s a healthy weight.
anon says
I have two kids, with a five-year age difference between them. The bickering over the DUMBEST stuff is out of control. They’re both turning into little scorekeepers, super concerned with what each is getting, in terms of privileges. And hand-to-heart: We try to keep things as fair and even as possible, but things are simply going to be different at times due to their ages. The younger one is constantly needling the older one to get a reaction. The older one cannot let anything roll off his back. Basically, the only way there’s peace in our house is when we keep them apart, which is not the sibling dynamic I’m going for. It’s driving DH and I insane. Any thoughts, especially when there’s a big age gap and not many common interests?
anon says
My kids have actually fought over imaginary coins so I’ve got nothing but sympathy.
Pogo says
this made me lol
Spirograph says
How old are they? This sounds a lot like my house and… I think it’s part for the course? I focus on getting the bickering away from me, rather than stopping it (because I am convinced that is impossible). If anyone comes to whine or tattle, “that sounds like a kid problem, kids solve kid problems so I know you can solve it. Try thinking of something else you both would like to do together, or maybe you should just play separately for a little bit.” repeat ad nauseum. Or I send them outside.
AwayEmily says
Ours are two years apart and same. It does seem to go in phases, and I can’t honestly connect the phases to anything in particular. The one thing that seems to reduce it somewhat predictably is to put them on a “team” against the grownups. This could be physically (soccer, chase, etc) or otherwise (currently we are in an ongoing Harry Potter trivia competition, which the kids are winning handily). I read somewhere that with siblings it’s impossible to eliminate bickering/bad feelings, but you want to try and counter that with lots of positive interactions. So basically, my goal overall is to set them up for success to have positive interactions (putting them on a team together, leaving them alone if/when they are playing nicely together, etc).
Anonymous says
It seems normal, mine are 2 years apart and the sibling bickering drives me nuts too. My only hope is that everyone else I know fought with their siblings growing up and they’re all close, or at least get along, right now.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I’m glad everyone is responding that it’s normal because this is my kids too (2.5 years apart). The competing and bickering over fairness drives me crazy but I think that’s just siblings. I myself am an only child so don’t have first hand experience, and it’s harder for me in that sense, but I know it’s normal. Every now and then my older one will give the younger one his toy when the younger one is crying about something, so I try to look for those few moments of peace, and know they’ll go through phases like this their whole childhood.
Anon says
Solidarity. But also when arguing over fairness, we’ve talked A LOT about equal vs fair or equitable vs equal. Using heights and stools as examples. Because we have four kids, they get different treatment and we really try to zero in on what’s fair not always being what’s equal. This is a trigger for me and I think the kids get it like half the time, which is at least an improvement!
We’re also very into market based solutions. There was much trading and bartering of Easter spoils over the weekend which I totally encouarged.
Anon says
Anon from Friday looking for medical ID – check out Laurens Hope, I’ve owned a few of those and love that they’re interchangeable and they blend in with outfits in the best way. Medical professionals are trained to look for medical IDs so I wouldn’t worry about it not being “obvious” if you’re wearing a bracelet or necklace.
anon says
That was me, thank you!
AwayEmily says
Does anyone have a how-to-draw book they’d recommend for an average kindergartener? She’s worked through this one: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Skill-Seekers-1-2-3-Draw/dp/1338306359/ref=asc_df_1338306359/ and really liked it. Looking for something similar but it’s hard to judge from reviews what’s age/skill appropriate.
Anon says
Mo Willems has a couple of really great activity books with How to Draw activities. These were huge hits with my kids.
AwayEmily says
These look perfect, thanks!!
Anon says
How much time do you allow your kids to watch TV when they are sick and you have a lot of work to do? Asking for a friend ;)
Anonymous says
Between 4-6 hours, assuming they nap for quite a bit of the day too.
NYCer says
Sick = basically unlimited.
A lot of work to do = depends on the situation, though I do I try to limit it to roughly 1-2 hours, especially if it is in one sitting.
Anonymous says
Do you think wanting to outsource everything (laundry, meal prep, housekeeping, childcare, etc) is a bad reason to go back to work?
Spirograph says
No.
Boston Legal Eagle says
+1
Anon says
I think it’s not the best reason. Could you afford to outsource any of that stuff while still staying home? Many SAHMs I know (especially with kids over than 5) have significant childcare help and outsource cleaning. My dream is SAHM with 9-3 preschool/school but we can’t afford that currently (kids in daycare which is $$$). In K-12 when school is free it might be doable for us.
Spirograph says
I would feel really weird about outsourcing this much while being a SAHM, unless we were very wealthy. Like, if I didn’t work outside the home and my kids were in school, I’d feel like it was my “job” to take care of household chores. I’d feel awkward living my best life of hiking, yoga, and reading novels during school hours while my husband was working to pay for household help. (If I were spending my time on un-selfish but unpaid pursuits like volunteer work, this might feel different.)
I agree, though, that you might be able to outsource at least some cleaning anyway. We had a biweekly cleaner for a while when I was a kid and my mom was a SAHM. It’s only a couple hundred $ every two weeks, and imho would be well worth the price
Anon says
Yeah I mostly meant a biweekly cleaner and kids in school. I’d feel weird about outsourcing laundry and meals but I don’t mind that stuff and it doesn’t come close to filling the 6 hour school day.
I would definitely do a lot of volunteer work if I stayed home. I love to read and watch TV but I know I’d get bored just doing that and I’d want something meaningful that was just for me outside the home.
Anonymous says
Is that realistic? Will you be able to earn enough money to pay for all those things, and will your spouse be on board with paying for them? A full-time nanny paid over the table is incredibly expensive.
Anon says
I’m laughing bc part of me would like to stay at home with kiddo for a few years but love outsourcing things and so face a similar dilemma. Can we not work outside the home but still outsource some things?
Anon says
Nope, not if you’d rather work than do those tasks (and make enough to be able to afford to outsource them)!
AwayEmily says
Well put — I think the question is “would you rather spend 8 hours a day doing [job] or doing [household tasks]?” But I assume your answer would depend on the job — there are some jobs (including my own) that I would vastly prefer to household tasks, and some (for example, being a veterinarian) that I would not.
Anonymous says
OP here. This essentially articulates what I’m feeling. I know it will make my life more complicated. It turns out I’d rather say “have you tried turning it off and on again” 40x a day than do laundry and clean up half masticated goldfish 40x a day.
Anonymous says
I think you have your answer then. I left a good job/career to SAHM and don’t miss it. FWIW though only 5% of my life is cleaning up goldfish…most of it is hiking with my kids, taking them to play dates and hanging out with my friends, going to parks, baking with them (messy! But worth it).
Anonymous says
It depends on your life and your income! If you enjoy being with your children all day but do not enjoy home making/cooking/housekeeping and can afford outsourcing that stuff (and can afford it) then do it. So right now I’m a SAHM and we are in a season of having to outsource (cleaning, lawn care, once a week babysitter for me to get a break). But here’s why: DH is going out of the country for almost a year and we have little to no family help. And my kids are not school aged. After he returns we will be keeping the housekeeper because we can afford it. I will continue staying at home while they are school aged because he has a big job and we need a primary parent/homemaker at home to handle stuff. I do not mind meal prep/cooking or laundry though.
Anon says
your DH Is going out of the country for almost a year?!?! that is insane. does he get to come back and visit at all. sending lots of hugs and as many hours of babysitting you can afford
Anonymous says
Yes almost a year, no he doesn’t get to come back/we can’t see him. But thanks. It’s going to be horribly tough but we’ll get through it.
Pogo says
lol “that is insane”? Have you met someone in the military?
Anonymous says
Yup yup this thanks :)
Anonymous says
I also thought it sounded like a military deployment. Good luck, OP. I was single during my military days and kinda scoffed at the “reintegration” briefings we’d get when we came home, but hoo boy can I can now imagine how hard that would be for everyone involved.
Anon says
this is essentially why i work. DH earns plenty. i earn pennies in comparison, barely even enough to cover our nanny. i have no interest in spending all day doing household chores and i love my kids, but not for 24/hours per day every day. and even though we could afford some outsourcing if i was a sahm, given that i already feel guilty with our current set up, i’d probably feel so guilty i’d be replacing the physical labor with emotional angst
Anonymous says
OP this is me: can we be friends?
Anonymous says
Favorite brands of toddler boy underwear for a mostly potty trained 3 year old boy? When we first started potty training I bought a lot of pairs and was mostly focused on the characters on the underwear, and quality of underwear was a distant second consideration since I figured many pairs would be lost to accidents.
However, now some of that underwear is getting a little tight around the waist, and we’re (thankfully, knock on wood), having far, far less accidents. It wasn’t the best quality, and it definitely shows. So, what do you like for your boys? Can be briefs or boxer style. TIA!
Anon says
I like Carters or Cat & Jack from Target for my little boys. They are young so we still pass down underwear and while they show some fading, they are still in fine condition after the first kid
Anonymous says
I like a brand that Nordstrom sells, I think it’s Tucker + Tate? Nice quality and comfy material. If you’re still in the training-ish phase, then I think Gerber sells underwear that’s double-lined in order to help with minor accidents.
AwayEmily says
Gap briefs! They have a soft waistband that my kiddo finds super comfortable, and it’s held up super well.
Anon says
Hanna Anderson boxer briefs
Anonymous says
H&M boxer briefs. Many are on their like 5th year of wear right now (two kids/multiple years each) and look great.
Russian Math School says
Building on the math tutor recs, I recently learned two kids in DD’s first grade class go to “math school” after school on Wednesday at the local Russian math center. Kiddo is at “hardest” private school in our large city – one of those you might have heard of – so I’m guessing these kids qualify as “above grade level.” But also they’re getting a great education at school. Have any of you done this? Am I just missing something?
I guess I ask because DD is in the accelerated math group in her class and math’s her favorite subject, so I know she’s doing quite well in it and enjoys it. But I am not sure if I’m missing the boat here on really nurturing this or if I can just ride the school train only. Is this something parents do in 2022 that they didn’t in the 1990s? I also realize we are talking about the most crazy competitive group of parents out there – but that means I at least try to pay attention and then opt out if I so choose so I don’t miss something I should be looking into. Agh.
Anon says
I mean you obviously know you’re not foreclosing future options for your first grader who is at a name private school and in an accelerated math group by not pursuing after school math tutoring for her. That is not even a question. The questions are do you want to be the kind of parent who pushes your kid beyond even normal acceleration and/ or does she genuinely want to do after school math lessons. Sounds like maybe yes to the first and maybe yes to the second although who knows if it’s more than all the other things she could be doing after school.
Anon says
This is helpful.
Yeah, if I asked her if she wants to do fun math problems or hang out at home, she’d say fun math. If I asked her fun math problems or soccer, pretty sure she’d say soccer. And since I only have so much after school capacity, I think I’m going to spend that capital on fun sports with friends and probably not worry about it.
Anon says
If she’d choose soccer over math, I would sign her up for soccer.
AwayEmily says
Why not treat it similarly to any other extra-curricular activity — if she wants to do it and you can fit it in your schedule, great! If she doesn’t, then NBD.
Anon says
My priorities for my kid don’t include making education a hyper competitive sport before middle school, but to each their own. I think no matter what you can think of in terms of what parents are going to do for their kids, yes there are parents out here in 2022 doing that. If you want to be one of them, of course you can. But does it serve what you want for your kids future?
buffybot says
Is this the thing in NYC right now, Russian math centers? Or just the UWS (making a random guess). Only asking because I somehow just had a conversation with an UWS mom last week who said that her kid (public school) was taking these Russian math classes and like the kids of all of her work colleagues were doing the same and it just seemed so random. So Kumon is passe and we’ve moved on to Russian math?
OP says
In DC area but EXACTLY. Like where did this come from and am I supposed to be keeping up with this with my kid?
Anon says
It comes from hyper competitive parents who think money can buy their children their narrow version success and that that matters more than anything else. That’s always been the case. It’s not new. Maybe the definition of success changes from generation to generation a little. But, like, you’re sending your kid to the fanciest school in DC. How is this a surprise to you? What kind of people did you think you’d find there?
Anonymous says
I live in a part of Brooklyn with a lot of actual Russians and am delighted that I have never heard of this.
Honestly I feel like this board is part of the problem sometimes – upper and upper middle class parents (myself included) seem to have this misguided idea that we always need to be doing more for our kids. We must keep repeating – fine for them, not for me!
Anon says
My sinus one the older in his K class (missed the cut off by 1 week to be in grade 1). He’s bored at school, especially because he’s really far ahead in math and reading. He loves math, keeps asking for math problems and is teaching himself multiplication and division. So we enrolled him in RSM this year. He’s doing grade 1 advanced math at RSM, and even that is easy for him most times. But I asked for 2022-23, and he wants to keep doing RSM because he loves the extra math he gets to do. I just enrolled him in grade 2 advanced math for next school year.
OP says
thanks! interesting to hear from someone doing it. she’s not bored at school – she’s just having fun at school – so I don’t really see a need for her.
Alanna of Trebond says
I would put your kid in the math school. Math is so much more important than soccer. Most American schools don’t teach math very well.
Anon says
Wow. This board just flabbergasts me sometimes with its lack of perspective and incredible amounts of unthinking privilege but in this case it feels like this little girl is going to suffer in the crosshairs too.
OP says
Hahahaha no, DD won’t suffer. She’s delightful and happy and she does not have too much pressure on her. She’s a super lucky kid with lots of good opportunities and a family that loves her.
Her dad and I never did much extra enrichment stuff. I was always really good at school (including math) but became a lawyer. I feel like maybe that’s why I’m confused with these parents. Like they’re trying to game a system but I don’t know that you can? But maybe also they just want their kids to enjoy math? I don’t know. She’ll be good at it no matter what.
Anonymous says
Are they trying to prep their kids for admission to selective public high schools? That’s where all the competitiveness comes from around here. The one selective public school is better than the private schools, it’s free, it takes less than 0.5% of kids in each grade, everything hinges on one high-stakes test, and it’s perceived as the ticket to a prestigious college, so the stakes are incredibly high.
Anonymous says
FWIW my husband is a teacher at one of those super selective public high schools here in NYC (and used to teach college -has a PhD in engineering) and has never expressed any interest in pushing our elementary school kid to do enrichment, or even attend gifted the gifted program. His answer might change when our son is in middle school and close to needing to take that test, but I think he generally feels like if your kid needs a lot of help to do well on the test, they are going to struggle at the school, so it really may not be the best place for him. But we are also coming at this from a place of privilege; many working class immigrant families have traditionally seen the specialized schools as a ticket to success for their kids (probably with good reason). Our upper middle class white kid will probably be okay either way. What I don’t get is why the upper and upper middle class families seem to feel like their kids need every support to stand a chance of living a decent life. Like is it clear that one can be a happy and productive member of society without going to Harvard?
Anon says
6:37, my husband has a similar background (math PhD and college prof) and feels similarly to your husband. Personally, as a former gifted kid who had a lot of acceleration and enrichment specifically in math both because I was very good at math and because that was my parents’ own background, I’m adamantly opposed to any math enrichment that the child isn’t begging for. I was a people-pleaser so I didn’t complain (at least not until I got to be a difficult teen), but I really hated it and I feel like my parents’ expectations around my math achievement shaped my life in a negative way (going to a certain college, majoring in a certain thing, etc. because that’s what they expected). My life turned out fine, but I don’t feel like I had a chance to explore my own interests the way many people do. So far our kid seems solidly average, but we have no plans for academic enrichment or gifted testing unless a teacher identifies our child as being bored in school and needing advanced material, or our child tells us she wants to do it.
Anon says
I looked at several math programs (over the course of several years), and I found that my kids were just learning the material faster, not better. I didn’t find that any of them taught any skills that were going to materially improve their math abilities; it was just that they were doing more advanced material relative to their age (but they would just do it again in school). I think that if she’s interested in doing it as an extra curricular, then go for it, but I wouldn’t do it just because everyone is doing it. FWIW, we didn’t go that deep into RSM (we didn’t do any of the math competition prep) – I think if they truly loved it, it would have been different, but for us it was just another activity that they could do without.
OP says
This sounds spot on. thanks.
Anonymous says
If you want them to learn the material better, you need to have them do AoPS. The others are just rote learning and memorization. AoPS has them derive all the properties and algorithms for themselves.
Anon says
I have not enrolled my kids, but I’m Taiwanese American and it was super common in the Taiwanese community where i grew up in the 90s, and these days, I see it a lot with my cousins’ kids and other kids at the weekend language school my kids goes to. It’s just like any aftercare enrichment program. I have similar feelings of wondering if I’m missing out on something when I talk to my cousins.
I think for me it comes back to what kind of “leg up” do I think I can/want to give my children, and to what end? Is it my responsibility to set my child on an accelerated course so that they are set up to be incredibly successful and wealthy or should I let them figure it out themselves? And honestly I don’t have the mental energy or financial resources or childcare support to put my kids in all the activities I did when I was a child. So I guess I’m raising a very average children. But hopefully happy. A lot of my cousins are deeply unhappy though incredibly successful.
solo trip says
Looking for ideas for a place to go in October, possibly for a solo trip, possibly with a friend or two. It’ll be my gift to myself after weaning the baby. Would like to go somewhere with fun activities, not a party scene but drinks available, good food? I was thinking Turks and Caicos Club Med but I’m a little nervous about it being wild. A friend suggested Tulum. Other ideas?
Anon says
Charleston! (obviously not a big resort like Tulum, but lots of fun activities, great restaurants)
A few ideas says
I went to Live Aqua Cancun a few years ago and it was serene and lovely. I was with my spouse but we saw a lot of solo travelers and groups of girlfriends and it’s a very low key place with activities like yoga, not a crazy party scene. Food was excellent and I’m a bit of a snob (and have hated the food at other all-inclusives). I’m dying to go back but they don’t allow kids. I’ve heard Club Med is more of a party/family scene but I haven’t been.
I had booked Miraval Tucson for a solo trip but canceled because of Omicron. Hoping to get there next year.
In the fall I always like New England for the scenery and fall foliage. Acadia/Bar Harbor is absolutely lovely in the fall. I’m going to Woodstock Vermont this year.
Anonymous says
I went to Club Med Cancun in March with my family. It wasn’t wild, but very family focused. I don’t know how their adults resorts are in comparison. We had a great time. I loved the food and drinks and the convenience of the all inclusive resort. I’m a very tightly wound person and by the third day, I actually relaxed.
EDAnon says
I was supposed to be on vacation over Easter but I had a pressing work deadline. I got it done but missed basically my whole vacation. Today is my last day of vacation and I “only” worked on it for 2 hours. Now I am hiding in a coffee shop before going home to my kids for fun and playing (even though I am beyond tired and stressed from travel + work). I usually love my job and this was a cr*ppy confluence of things. But I wanted to vent because I am sad and really needed that vacation.
Anonymous says
Late response, but I’m so sorry.
Anon says
I’m sorry, that really sucks.