Make My Life Easier Thursday: Smart Soap Dispenser
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You can thank my sister for this pick — her toddler can’t push the soap pump down, while the older kids get too much or too little soap. Like pretty much every kid, they also don’t wash their hands long enough.
This automatic soap dispenser from Amazon solves all of these problems: The youngest just needs to stick her hand out, and everyone gets the perfect amount of soap. (The distance you hold your hand from the sensor determines how much soap you get.)
There’s even a light to count down your hand washing time, and if you want to get really fancy, you can link it to Alexa to play music too. Just use a USB cable to recharge it about every three months or so.
This smart soap dispenser is available at Amazon.
Sales of note for 5/19/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Lots of markdowns on AGL (50%!), Weitzman, Tumi, Frank & Eileen, Zella, Natori, Cole Haan, Boss, Theory, Reiss (coats), Vince, Eileen Fisher, Spanx, and Frame (denim and silk blouses)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off summer-ready styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Eloquii – 50-60% off select styles
- J.Crew – 60% off sale, and 40% off packing picks (prices as marked)
- J.Crew Factory – New arrivals, plus up to 60% off everything plus extra 50% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Daily flash sales, and lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off. 5/19’s flash sale: Jardigans down to $175-$209, dresses down to $150, blazers down to $250
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 30% off dresses, skirts, shoes, and accessories
Welp, it finally got us.
My husband tested positive for Covid this morning (rapid and PCR) after becoming symptomatic last night. No known exposure and he masks everywhere indoors (work, transit, etc). I’m negative and asymptomatic, our 2 year old (as of tomorrow!) is asymptomatic.
We didn’t have any big plans for her birthday but I’m sad to have to postpone our planned breakfast nook filled with balloons morning, park outing, and birthday cake :(
Also not excited about solo parenting with no nanny until he tests negative!
(And yes, fully aware that we’re both exposed and may get it, but I’m trying to think positive until the Binax tells me otherwise).
We don’t have the exact product rec from today, but have a simplehuman brand version at every sink in our house. They were SO helpful for ages 2-3 and I also just like them for ease of use generally even now that everyone is older and could manage a regular pump. I prefer the foaming ones, esp for the littlest kids where it can be hard for them to get a good lather going on their own.
What are your favorite freezer meals for postpartum? Just got a chest freezer and have about two months before kid2 to make some freezer meals. Didn’t do this with my first bc we didn’t have enough freezer space.
I have an instant pot and also a slow cooker lid for the IP (though doesn’t quite function like a slow cooker).
Parents of crawling and cruising babies: what do you put on their feet at daycare? I usually send my little one barefoot because I read that’s best, but sometimes socks on chilly mornings. Is that weird? Daycare kinda mentioned that she was barefoot this morning (high of 70 today) and when I looked around all the other babies had socks on
At what age did your kid outgrow his/her playhouse? We got kiddo a playhouse in summer 2020 when she was 2. She is now 4 and has never really loved it. Is this just one of those toys that is not right for our kid or should we hold on to it because she might get into it in the next year or two? Thanks for sharing your experience!
My four year old son is really struggling at school and I’m at a loss on what to do. He is very spirited and energetic, and sometimes struggles with transitions between activities. He can have a hard time settling down once he gets excited and can get carried away. He has been in daycare since he was 10 weeks old, and has done well up until the last year or so.
Our family has been through a good amount of change in the last couple years- two relocations for work, a new baby sister 7 months ago, a move away from extended family. He has adapted extremely well to his baby sister- no obvious jealousy or issues adjusting. She is in the same daycare center. We are living in a small city in the SEUS. This is our third daycare in 2 years. One was a poor fit culturally, another asked us to leave- he is young for his class and was not fully potty trained so was not able to move up to the 3’s class. They kicked us out with no notice. At the risk of being dramatic I think I am traumatized by this- we have no local family or friends and depend on reliable daycare as both my husband and I have demanding jobs. His job requires frequent travel.
He has been at his current center for about a year and half. We have been very happy with the center- it seems to be a good balance between play and structured learning, is generally a warm and loving environment. We had a great relationship with his teacher last year. She acknowledged that he was spirited but was generally able to reach him and get his cooperation. He adored her, but then she went out on maternity leave and he was assigned a new, older teacher who doesn’t seem to do well with him, and frankly, doesn’t really seem to like him.
That’s when the calls from the center started. It began with calls saying he was refusing to nap. I didn’t think a lot of it because it seemed pretty normal for a 3/4 year old. He doesn’t nap well at home either but seems to do just fine without the nap. The reason it’s a problem at school is because the center is understaffed and naptime is when the teachers take their break. Over the last couple of months, the calls have escalated. He has begun to hit other students and the teacher, supposedly unprompted. He acts wild in class, running around, refusing to settle down for his lessons or sit at circle time. We are now at the point of getting calls from the center almost every day. The director has assured us that she would like to work with us, but has expressed that the school (understandably) cannot have our son hitting other students or the teacher. When we ask him about what happened, he shuts down.
Yesterday we got a call from the center that our son was acting wild. My husband talked to the director and we thought that was that. However, when he went to pick our son up from school, he was told that our son was suspended and would not be able to return to school until Monday.
I don’t know if this is normal 4 year old stuff or not. I really thought it was, but the daycare center is making me feel like it’s not. He does not hit at all at home- in 4 years he has never once struck me or anyone else in my family unprompted. I once saw him sort of playfully “bop” another kid in his swim class, but it was playful and not aggressive. I’m not sure exactly what the center is expecting us to do when he doesn’t behave like that in front of us. We talk to him about keeping his hands to himself, trying to stay calm, etc. so I know he knows he’s not supposed to do this, but seems to not be able to help himself or not be connecting with what we’re telling him and what he’s doing.
What would you do in this situation? I am absolutely worried sick about my son and his wellbeing. Every time the daycare calls my heart drops. We depend so much on our center and I am devastated that this is happening. We are in a very small city with not many options for childcare, so can’t easily just pick up and go somewhere else- plus we’ve already done that twice. We have no local family. I absolutely love my job, but we’ve relocated for my job and have no visibility in how we might be able to get closer to home. I have started applying to jobs in our home city, which is much bigger and more progressive.
I know this is a lot to unpack so appreciate anyone who has stuck with me this long.
TLDR: My 4 year old has been suspended from daycare for hitting and defiant behavior. How do you manage bad behavior at daycare when you don’t observe it and don’t see the behavior at home?
Random recommendation: my kids (4.5 and 6) have been VERY into the Highlights Hidden Picture books for the last few months. It keeps them occupied individually and is also one of the few quiet activities they can do together without arguing. Throwing it out there in case it is magic for anyone else, too.
does anyone have any book suggestions for prek age that has to do with emotional regulation. my 4 year old often reacts to things by sobbing hysterically and her reaction is more out of proportion compared to other kids her age. this is something that her teacher commented on at parent teacher conferences. so either book suggestions for me to read to my daugther or books for me to read as a parent
A specific question then a more general one. I’m not sure what to get one of my (20 mo) twins for Christmas. His brother is getting a baby doll. I’m thinking I’ll get him some play food or maybe a box of little animals. They have an older brother, so we have every toy known to man. Grandma is getting them Duplos. Any suggestions for baby gifts welcome. Larger question: it’s ok to share toys that are given on Christmas, right? Like I’m getting a baby doll and maybe play food, but those are kind of sharing gifts. Older brother is very generous and shares his toys a lot. I guess I’m asking permission not to buy three baby dolls? That just seems excessive. Maybe I should get the M&D basket of babies.
Did anyone else hear about that interview with Julia Roberts and George Clooney where they were both asked about being “older parents”? George became a dad at 56. Julia became a mom at 37. I know the biology for women is more limiting, but those are not the same at all!!!
WWYD- pregnancy announcement.
I’m pregnant with #2. For #1 we did a surprise announcement for Husband’s (big) family and wound up upsetting SIL. SIL is unmarried and I stupidly hadn’t realized she had wanted kids. In my mind, it’s clear we need to do something differently to announce #2. No big group announcement, or at the very least give SIL a private text warning and the opportunity to opt out etc.
Husband has a contentious relationship with SIL and doesn’t want to do anything differently. He wants the big moment with his parents and other siblings. He thinks if we give SIL a heads up she won’t keep it a secret (this is honestly a valid concern with SIL). He thinks the news will be upsetting to her and she’ll respond publicly regardless of what we do (probably another valid concern).
“Your family, you call the shots” and supporting our spouse in their decisions are big tenets of our relationship. But do I do that at the expense of what I view as basic kindness?
Reporting back (from my husband’s reporting back) from parent teacher conference. My 5 year old is a delight, very helpful and responsible, bur quite reserved, which we expected. His only to dos are to add more detail to his drawings and learn to skip. I guess they have to say something, but skipping made me laugh.
Two qs- my husband is really into a “big” christmas present from Santa for our kids- past gifts have included a marble run, scooters, easel, etc. But we’re running out of ideas and space and I am really not into buying stuff just because it looks good in a picture of the tree. How have any of you navigated this tension if you disagree on present priorities? I appreciate he works hard to put together a list each year of thoughtful gifts he think they will like, but I’m the one charged with finding space for them in our tiny house.
Second q- my oldest is 6 and has outgrown her strider pedal bike. Suggestions for next steps? Woom is a bit too expensive, but since she’s used to that kind of bike (balance bike style), I would like to get something similar. Bike shops near our house don’t have kids bikes for her to try. Thanks!!