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My oldest likes to wear her hair “down,” which translates into a tangled mess that dips into her food. The deal is she gets to wear her hair down if she pulls it back with a pair of clips like these.
Snap clips were popular when I was a kid, and they’re still popular now for good reason — they stay in place, keep hair secure, and come in a myriad of colors. I even use them (in boring black) to hold up my bangs during sweaty workouts. Now if I can figure out something to help my kid stop losing them.
These Scünci snap clips are $4.99 for a pack of 18 at Target.
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
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?
Silly Friday problems says
Anyone care to join my silly problem vent thread?
My super minor frustration is my 20mo refusing to say the word milk. This kid has multi-word sentences, knows the word, but refuses to not call it goo. I think he does it just to irritate us.
Cb says
I have so many petty vents:
My son called me “mumbo” for ages and it drove me nuts.
Today, we had a total teenage moment – my husband called for my son to hurry up and I heard my son say “Daddy NEVER listens to me, I told him I’m just trying to get some new trousers on, and I am taking my time, but noo….”
And the trousers he wore? Rainbow leggings. Which, fine, but not when they are paired with a breton tshirt…
AIMS says
My 4 year old will actively slow down if you tell him to hurry up.
My daughter will not wear pants or any separates at all, will only sleep in a nightgown, won’t put her hair up (but won’t cut it) and refuses anything with buttons.
My dog won’t walk on a leash.
I feel like I am surrounded by obstreperous mules.
Anonymous says
I am totally grossed out by buttons. I won’t wear them and can’t even stand to look at them. It is torture to be seated at a meal across from someone wearing them. When I heard of trypophobia (disgust at small holes) I had an a-ha! moment.
Anonymous says
I don’t know, I think that outfit sounds wonderful.
Thread OP says
Very stripey!
Anon says
I don’t know, I think that outfit sounds wonderful.
Anon says
My 8 year old child somehow has the qualities of a toddler and teenager simultaneously. Today he comes down to breakfast without socks. Again. I remind him he needs to go back upstairs to get them before the bus comes. Rolls eyes: “MOM. You can’t expect me to remember my socks EVERY DAY.”
Momofthree says
We get that comment all the time at my house-
can you help me put on my socks?
No- I know you can put on your socks- you did it today.
but I have to do EVERY DAY.
Yeah kid… I know… but I have to put on my socks every day too!
Momofthree says
We get this a lot at my house too.
Mom- can you help me put my socks on?
I know you can put your socks on- I saw you do it yesterday.
But I have to do it EVERY DAY, can’t you please help.
The gross injustice of daily tasks…
anon says
Around Christmas time, while my parents were visiting, my 6 year old and DH were locked in a power struggle about who was going to wipe 6 yo after going to the bathroom. DH informed 6 yo that 6 yo was going to have to wipe his own butt for the rest of his life. 6 yo shouted, “FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?!!!” in the MOST dramatic fashion. I’ve never heard my mother laugh so hard.
Anon. says
4-yr old when he doesn’t want to do something I’ve asked: “Mooommm, stop reminding me. Could you please stop reminding me.”
2-yr old demands that every stuffy or toy that she slept with the night before, her bedtime water bottle, her pillow and her blanket all be carried downstairs in the morning. I’m all about picking battles so I usually just let her get away with it, but it’s so annoying.
OP says
Oh man we have the stuffy battle every morning too. His 4 random teddy bears must join him for breakfast.
Anon says
My 7 year old uses a baby voice when he wants something. “Mama? Please I have Minecwaft bideos? Please? I good at skooool today!” Soooo annoying. I always respond something like “I don’t understand baby talk” and make him repeat it in a regular voice, but omg we are going on month six or so of this and it makes me want to pull my hair out every single time.
Anonymous says
My silly problem of the day is not kid-related. I am at the end of week 2 of a new workout program that was going very well. Thanks to a stupid minor health issue I had to skip today’s workout and will probably be sidelined tomorrow as well. Two steps forward, one step back.
Waffles says
What are some special treats that you provide for your kids for no specific reason?
I occasionally throw small parties for my kid and her friends, as a treat for all of them.
I love taking her out for ice cream, especially when I am down — her excitement really improves my mood.
I save presents that she received that she is not old enough for yet, and bring them out as a surprise when she is ready.
Happy weekend, and thanks for sharing ideas!
Anonymous says
That’s so sweet. For my daughter, the small things make the biggest impact. A trip to the convenience store after daycare to pick out any snack she wants is always a huge hit. Or a surprise trip to the “big playground” that we don’t make it to very often. Even just eating at a restaurant with her grandparents brings her so much joy. When I plan bigger things and attach my own expectations to them it seems we all end up disappointed.
Cb says
Yes, definitely. We went on a steam train Thomas trip, and my son cried whenever the train hooted its horn.
Cb says
I sometimes feel like a Disney dad since I’m away pretty frequently – I miss lots of the midweek angst and swoop in for the Friday fun. Ice cream is our favourite – there is a place near nursery that does the BEST vegan chocolate. Sometimes we go to the library, check out books, and then go to a cafe. My son finds being able to read “a pile” of books a treat, so we’ll curl up and I’ll let him make a big pile and we’ll read for an hour.
I also like little diversions. This morning, we were passing the station and saw a diesel train pulling vintage coaches so stopped the car and went down so we could take a look.
AnonM says
We do the pile of books but the kids started calling it their “birds nest” and I love it and hope they do this forever ah
anon says
Going out for ice cream or ordering in from Red Robin (don’t ask) will absolutely make my kids’ day.
Going to Barnes and Noble to get a drink and browse books is something I do with my DS when I sense he’s feeling down or stressed, and it’s awesome for both of us.
Realist says
This is a fun question. I recently bought popcorn kernels that are meant to be cooked on the stove in an actual pan and I’ve been making popcorn on Friday or Saturday and drizzling with real butter and sea salt. Kid and I are loving it. Another treat is microwaved apple slices topped with cheese and cinnamon. I also get cheap trinket toys at a Target run once or twice a month. Every once in awhile we do Flying Wish Paper.
I’m trying to get special dishes to use for major holidays (such as plates, bowls or cups with the holiday them) because I think that would be fun, but I’ve been overthinking it. I can’t decide if I should get reusable ones or paper ones. It seems ridiculous to get reusable ones for just once a year, but we have the space and that seems environmentally responsible. But paper ones would be cheaper and I’m not sure that compostable paper is all that much worse than some dishes, since the dishes will most likely end up in a landfill, even if it is years from now.
Cb says
I bought some amazingly cute rabbit dishes from TJ Maxx (Royal Stafford Chintz Bunny) and they are fun for Easter but also not so Easter-y we can’t use them year round. I bought 3 for £10 and should have bought more because they are very sweet.
I’d go with something whimsical but not too holiday-branded. Polar bears for winter, spring animals for easter, etc.
Anon says
In my family we had a set of birthday plates that we used our whole lives. I loved them so much and it’s a ritual I want to do with my family. That’s just to say if you have room for it, go for it and enjoy them for many years
CCLA says
We just took ours out for random restaurant dinner on Weds because things were slow. So often we are consumed by long work hours so we took advantage of the lull and we all loved it so much I want to do it more this spring/summer! DH has a less demanding schedule and has started picking them up from preschool early most Fridays for park and Starbucks dates with dad. They all love it.
Anon says
Picking up donuts for no reason. Bringing home cookies from work for her. Making “fancy” brunch (we’re talking waffles, biscuits, pancakes, french toast, etc., nothing truly fancy) on weekends. We don’t normally do dessert (believe me, the child gets enough sugar all day long), so sometimes we’ll have ice cream on a random weekday night. My love language might be food, and it seems hers is too.
Other special treats are setting up an impromptu playdate, going to the big fancy park on our way home from errands, and the child loves to go to restaurants (outside since she’s still not vaxxed). She also thinks it’s a treat to skip bathtime, so if she hasn’t been outside and is relatively clean, I’ll let her skip random nights here and there.
Anon says
Hard same on the food. All the things that immediately come to mind involve food: randomly going out for ice cream or donuts, baking together, bringing treats home from our workplace, making thematic treats holidays like Valentine’s Day.
I also have good luck with picking up early from daycare when there’s not much going on at work, taking her with me on errands to places like Target but only if we “get to go inside” instead of doing a curbside pickup (#pandemickid), going to restaurants (outside) and planning day or weekend trips for no reason. We don’t do this as much now that the weather is getting better and we can get outside more, but over the winter I was trying to take her to Chicago for the day once a month – most often we’d go to a museum, do a little bit of shopping and then pick up some donuts (Stan’s, for those who know the Chicago donut scene) for the ride home. It started because Chicago had a mask mandate at the time so it felt safer than going places here in Indiana, but I think we might keep it up next winter because it was a good way to get out of the winter doldrums.
anonamama says
What would a mom community be without a potty training post? Yes, it’s me. We decided to push potty training our 2.5 y/o back a few weeks to a more favorable window at daycare. In the meantime, we are having a major leak problem for naps/bedtime — wet sheets, wet pj’s – sizing up, sizing down, wearing two, it is ongoing. I know he has been playing in his diaper a lot, engaging in a lot of self-exploration, but I just don’t know what to do. thank you wise hive!
ElisaR says
oh man, i hate to say this but my son potty trained during the day at 27 months…. nighttime was a whole different story though. I think he was 5 years old before we got dry wakeups. maybe try to address the leaking problems and cross the potty training bridge when it comes. at night we did diaper w/ a pull up on top.
Anonymous says
If he is messing with the diaper, would a pull-up stay in place better?
NYCer says
Try another brand of diapers? Are you using specific night time diapers? Huggies overnights worked WAY better than Pampers for us. And I know people who swear by Pampers (or other brands), so I would definitely recommend trying a different brand.
EDAnon says
I second trying other brands. My kids are super skinny and we use Target brand.
Sleepy Anon says
Has anyone had lip/tongue ties revised on an older baby/toddler, and did it make a difference in sleep quality? Secondary question: did they sleep with their mouth open before the revision?
I posted a few days ago trying to sort out my one-year-old’s sleep issues, and this is my latest rabbit trail. He seems to have a pretty thick lip tie – I’ve noticed it since birth, but he’s been able to nurse fine so I haven’t worried about it (though he is a little peanut with a slow weight gain curve). But now I’m wondering if it could be leading to the gassiness and the open mouth night breathing – which apparently is a concern, as babies should be sleeping with their mouths closed (both for restful sleep and face development)?
I know it seems kind of “trendy” these days to talk about lip and tongue tie revisions lol, but I’m thinking I should consult a dentist in case.
ElisaR says
my son had his tonsils out and his heavy breathing/snoring during sleep disappeared. obviously surgery is a big deal and not to be taken lightly but his tonsils were huge (always “kissing” even when not sick) and it solved sleep problems, speech problems and drooling problems. Surgery was at age 3.5.
ElisaR says
i will add pediatrician, dentist and eventually ENT all noticed the tonsil issue.
Anon says
My 16 month son had his tongue tie removed at 4-6 weeks. We went to a pediatric ENT who does this procedure a lot. We thought about waiting until he was older but at a certain age they have to go under general anesthesia… I would consult a pediatric ENT at a local children’s hospital since your son is a bit older and may require general anesthesia.
Unfortunately my son still sleeps with his mouth open. He sleeps through the night but wakes up SCREAMING. It’s very hard to find an OT or SLP who will take it seriously and work with us to fix it. He has a host of other issues (torticollis that is still unresolved, severe thumb sucking) that may be related.
Good luck!
Anonymous says
My 14 month old has lots of sleep issues. A sleep consultant actually suggested a lip or tongue tie. But then I looked at NIH studies and concluded lip/tongue ties are extremely subjective (this is what NIH says), so I decided not to pursue it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t consult someone or have it corrected; this is just one mom’s experience. I will say he started sleeping better after getting ear tubes and receiving asthma maintenance medication every day. So your kid and mine probably have different issues (he received OT in the NICU and was bottle fed so no latch issues). Your his mama, so you know best. Good luck. Not sleeping/poor sleep is so miserable.
Momofthree says
We missed a lip/tongue tie for our now 6 year old when he was a baby. We’ve had a variety of sleep issues so have been pursuing different treatments. The threshold for a lip/tongue revision seems to be much higher when the kids are older. It’s much more painful- they have to be put under, etc. so you should definitely go to an ENT for an opinion, but I’m guessing the bar to correct it will be higher.
anon says
Because I can’t talk about this to anyone in real life: My kid came out to us yesterday! We had suspected as much (or at least suspected he was questioning his sexuality, based on comments he’d made over the past few months). He was resolute, and I’m in awe of his clarity and bravery. We reiterated that we love him for him, thanked him for sharing with us, and there were lots of hugs. In all, it was a very loving non-event, if that makes sense? He has dealt with a LOT of anxiety this school year, and I do wonder if holding this in has been contributing to that. DS is adamant that he doesn’t want to tell school friends yet and is worried about people finding out. We just wanna love and support him. Any thoughts on how to best do that? I think the advice is to follow his lead, right?
A couple of other things that I’m thinking about:
– My dad sometimes teases DS about girls and such. It’s good-natured, but I really don’t want DS to have to deal with it. Is there a way to gently tell my dad, hey, he feels really uncomfortable when people talk about relationships.
– One of his big fears seems to be that he’ll be alone forever, which breaks my heart. We’ve been able to share specific examples of people in our lives who are gay and either are/have been coupled, including his favorite great-uncle. But let’s face it, we still live in a hetero-dominant society and representation is still an issue.
– We have a supportive church community, thankfully. There is an LGBTQ alliance group there, if that gives you any indication. However, there are still conservative pockets around us (and at school) who may be somewhat supportive of gay adults but likely believe that gay kids are just confused and still finding their identity. Any thoughts on how to screen for this? I have a pretty good idea of who the allies are, but it’s the less vocal people that I’m more worried about, if that makes sense.
EDAnon says
I don’t have specific recommendations (but I am glad it went so well for you and him!). I have heard great things about PFLAG in terms of resources and advice (and it gets better). I absolutely think getting your dad to lay off would help. Sometimes it’s those little things that make us feel the most different.
My younger sister is gay and her coming out at home was a non-event. Coming out outside of home happened more slowly and naturally. We lived somewhere relatively conservative and it went over fine (things seemed less polarized then). She now lives in my city (somewhere super liberal) and she loves how much pride is embraced here.
One thing might be to do a family trip to a more gay-friendly community and show him that there are places that welcome him, even if he doesn’t always feel that way in his own community.
Anonymous says
How old is your son?
anon says
13
Anonymous says
Oh wow! I can’t imagine coming out at 13. I came out at college, but I guess the new normal is high school. Super amazed and proud of these kids!
I think the suggestion for PFLAG is great – I am sure you can connect with parents with kids your age. I think they would be an invaluable resource as your kid goes through school.
As for being forever alone, I do think that is a normal stage of the coming out process. Part of that is also feeling like you will never figure out how to fit in to LGBTIA culture, or even what subgroup of LGTIA you should even want to be a part of. It’s not only hard to recognize that you don’t fit into regular society, but then you have to figure out how to fit into a new subculture than can be intimidating (and honestly exclusive in its own way). There are bound to be support group for kids in your area. 20+ years ago there were teen groups in my southern town. The church group is a good start, but you might want to find another teen group as well.
Good luck. Proud of you and your kid!
anon says
Thank you so much for responding. This is super helpful, and something that I hadn’t thought about before.
Anonymous says
In a few days, I’d ask your son if/how he wants to share this part of himself with his grandparents or any other extended family you’re close to. If he isn’t opposed to them knowing, but doesn’t want to tell them himself, I’d talk to your dad privately. Surely (hopefully!) that will be all he needs to stop teasing your son about girls, but it seems like that would also be a natural time to say something like “this is a stressful time for [son] as he learns how to embrace this part of his identity, so if we could avoid talking about relationships for a while, I think that would be helpful for him.” You don’t have to make it about any comments he’s made before, or stopping anything, just give him the info he needs to be compassionate going forward.
I don’t really have any experience that would lead to good advice on the rest of this, but I’m glad your son’s coming out went well and big hugs to you and your family as you foster a supportive community for him.
S says
Awww – I don’t know if your son would enjoy this or be mortified but we have an LGBT-focused coffee shop in our hippie town and I once sat next to two very posh, non-hippie looking parents and their embarrassed/pleased young teen daughter get coffee with the teen wearing pride merch. It was delightful and obvious that the parents had decided to drive the teen from wherever they live and take her to be in an LGBT-focused space. So maybe offer?
anon says
I love this. And while DH and I would never be described as posh, we do give off a non-hippie vibe, haha. I will look into this; thanks for the suggestion!
Anon says
My son isn’t old enough to talk about his preferences but just chiming in to say I attended pride parade with a very dear lesbian friend years ago, and I will never forget the middle aged woman across the road with a sign that said something like “accepting mom hugs” and how many people stopped on the parade to hug her. This is in a Deep South state where so many kids are thrown out of their homes for their s*xtuality or gender
Good on you for taking this with love and openness. All the best to your son!
AnonChi says
What tv shows/movies do your kids watch and do you recommended a subscription for quality kid shows? My son who is 5 and a half is allowed about 30 min of tv every night. We have an Amazon Prime subscription and he has been watching Fireman Sam. In order to watch other good shows, we would need to upgrade. So I was thinking if I should be looking into a Netflix or Hulu subscription. Or Disney, YouTube? We prefer low key, low action, no violence shows as he has ADHD. Happy Friday!
Anon says
Disney+, Bluey all the way.
Anonymous says
What about starting with PBS kids? My four- and six- year old both have several shows they like, and I appreciate that I can “trust” it and not really supervise them on that app.
Anonymous says
My kid has the PBS kids app on her ipad and that’s 95% of what she watches. She also has disney+ but I don’t really see her using it much.
Anon says
Yes my 4 year old is addicted to Bluey and we pay for Disney+ just for that.
AIMS says
I love Bluey but it does get my kids pretty riled up.
AIMS says
We do a lot of PBS kids. You can upgrade thru Prime or just get their app separately (it’s free). All the shows meet your criteria (and are an improvement over Fireman Adam, which my son sometimes watches and I can’t say I enjoy, but to each her own). Some specific recs are: Wildcrats (my favorite), Nature Cat, Dinosaur Train, and the Cat in the Hat.
I think Netflixhas more stuff than Hulu for shows, but Huluis def getting better. Specifically, Numberblocks, StoryBots and new Magic School Bus are all very fun and also educational on Netflix. All of the above are pretty low key, too, I think, and none have violence.
AIMS says
Oh, Creative Galaxy on Prime is also amazing.
octagon says
HBO Max has all the Sesame Street shows, including a 15 minute “talk show” hosted by Elmo with current celebrities that’s pretty cute. I’ve been really disappointed with Hulu – they used to have a good kids’ repertoire but have slowly lost the shows to Disney or Netflix.
+1 for Bluey, but I’m not sure I would do it close to bedtime because it amps up my kid.
Anon. says
First recommendation would be paying the small upcharge on Prime to get unlimited PBS Kids. Wild Kratts and Dinosaur Train are the favorites at our house. Stinky and Dirty on Prime is also good.
Anonymous says
I just upgraded to PBS Kids! Thanks ladies!
Anon says
My daughter is 4 and we have Netflix, Prime and Disney Plus. She spends a lot of time watching PBS Kids on her tablet (Wild Kratts, just recently picked up Odd Squad, occasionally still Sesame Street). Her favorites on Netflix are Ada Twist Scientist, Gabby’s Dollhouse, some show about a monkey who has a toolbelt, Rainbow Ruby, PJ Masks (has some violence in theory I guess but I don’t really notice), Barbie’s Dreamhouse, Super Monsters (aging out of that), True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Emily’s Wonder Lab). She spends the least amount of time on Disney, mostly to watch Elena of Avalor, Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins.
Anonymous says
Mr. Monkey Mechanic!
Anonymous says
My kids (4 and 6) are both obsessed with Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, which is just about the only thing I will let them watch on YouTube.
Cb says
Good kid’s movie soundtracks? As cute as it is to watch my husband and son belt out “let it go” in the car, we could use some variety.
Anonymous says
Encanto
Katrinka says
Encanto, Moana, Aladdin, Lion King, Little Mermaid are some of my favorites. Honestly the first song on Little Mermaid absolutely slaps and I feel like is an underappreciated gem.
Anonymous says
Agreed on Fathoms Below! +1 to any of the 90s Disney movies, I’d esp add Hercules and Beauty and the Beast. Also actual musicals, being careful to avoid very adult themes. For example, my kids love some Book of Mormon songs, but there are definitely tracks you might want to skip. Hamilton soundtrack I let play except for turning down the volume for a couple of the very enunciated f-bombs.
Anonymous says
This is an unpopular opinion, but I strongly recommend against Encanto. So annoying. What about cast albums from actual musicals?
Anon says
I hate the Encanto soundtrack too. The whole movie was a disappointment IMO except the animation was beautiful. We listen to Broadway soundtracks too.
anon says
Is it weird that I disliked the movie but really enjoyed the songs?
Anon says
I don’t think it’s weird. I disliked both but I could see how you could like one or the other.
Anon says
I mean, I know you’re expecting this, but the clear answer is Encanto.
Anonymous says
Sound of music is hit in my house.
Anonymous says
And Mary Poppins.
Anonymous says
Love encanto and Moana, and would also suggest Mary Poppins for something different. My kids love the “supercallafragalistic…” song and like several others (“step in time” is really fun, although quite long). I love sister suffragettes. We’ve only listened to the original, can’t speak to the new version.
Anon says
They’re too young for the movie, but my kids (5 and 7) love the soundtrack to West Side Story. The song “America” is on repeat around here (and is also a useful entry point for talking about racism).
DLC says
Such great music! I listened to West Side Story a lot as a child. But the tape was stuck in such a way that it could only play the first side and we never got to the sad parts.
We listen to a lot of Hamilton and Hello Dolly at our house. Guys and Dolls is fun too.
Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite Disney score. And Tangled.
AwayEmily says
Hamilton! Bonus is that it’s SUPER long so unless you are going on a two-hour car trip you won’t hear the same song twice.
Anonymous says
We love Hamilton but I made a playlist without the affair song and have banned singing along with Hercules Mulligan.
Anonymous says
haha, I don’t think my kids have any idea what’s going on in the affair song, and it’s super catchy so I usually listen to that one. I should make a playlist without Stay Alive (reprise) and It’s Quiet Uptown, just because they make me cry every freaking time. I have finally learned not to cry at Dear Theodosia, which is a major victory.
Anonymous says
It’s Quiet Uptown makes me cry too! The hazards of parenthood.
Somehow Dear Theodosia doesn’t have the same effect on me. I think because it’s a little too maudlin and feels contrived to me?
Anonymous says
For me it’s only the the “look at my son!” line, because the little bit his voice breaks reminds me of that mind-blown, who-let-me-be-a-parent? feeling I had in the early days. years and years ago, which then also triggers the time’s-going-so-fast tears
Anon says
Yeah Lin’s voice is way more emotional in that song and that’s what gets me. I also always cry at “we’ll bleed and fight for you/we’ll make it right for you” because it makes me think about all the young parents I know who have been politically galvanized post-2016 and are trying to make things better for our kids. Not that going to a protest is the same as creating a country but.. y’know.
Anon says
Just left my postpartum OB/GYN appt and birth control was discussed. I haven’t used it before (mainly for religious reasons) but am considering getting a progesterone IUD. Religious reasons aside, any pros/cons? Seems like pros are low maintenance and limited/no periods, reversible if we want another (pretty sure we don’t but who knows). Cons are insertion pain/discomfort, maybe hormonal? This is my third kid and I’m planning to nurse for at least another year.
Cb says
I have a copper IUD and like it. I would have gone with the progesterone only IUD if that had been available to me (blood clot history). I like that it should carry me through my early 40s without having to be changed/having to think about it.
EDAnon says
I will counter that I had discomfort and heavy periods from the copper IUD in the US (which I understand is not uncommon).
I now have the Kyleena IUD (low hormone – still some period) and have been much happier with it. I had Mirena briefly and that was fine but I have some hormonal side effects.
Anonymous says
It’s a really great reliable method and insertion post partum 3 won’t be a big deal. The hormone impact is lighter than the pill and if you don’t like it, you remove it.
EDAnon says
I should add that I have had 3 inserted and no insertion was too bad. The best was when I did it 6 weeks PP. I have had really painful periods and gave birth without medication though so it seemed like not a big deal compared to that. With the last one, I actually ran a 10k the next day without issue.
It seems like it is different for everyone. I was told to take a pain reliever in advance, which maybe helps.
Anonymous says
I have also had 3 inserted, and every one was more painful than natural childbirth. I was also a little woozy for an hour or so afterwards, so I recommend having someone else drive you.
Anonymous says
I constantly gained weight on Mirena. I was hangry all the time. Counting calories and two-a-day workouts wouldn’t stop the gain. My OB said Mirena couldn’t possibly cause weight gain; my PCP said it was definitely Mirena. I had it removed and dropped the weight without effort.
EDAnon says
Same for me. I lost 8lbs in like 2 weeks after getting it removed and changed nothing else.
Anonymous says
This is helpful to hear. I’ve had liletta for 2 years and have gained 20lbs. I’m also have headaches for 5 days straight during my period. I’m getting it removed in May.
Anonymous says
My Mirena masked PCOS symptoms, which I only realized in hindsight. If it weren’t for that, I think it would have been great. I haven’t had kids, but insertion was truly nbd for me. I took an ibuprofen before and went back to work after. My periods never went away (they got heavier) but that could also have been the PCOS. FWIW I think IUDs are the best birth control option for me: hormonal bc made me crazy.
Anonymous says
Mirena is a form of hormonal BC.
Anon says
I also don’t use birth control for religious reasons. No judgement/your choice, but I want to share what I do in case it’s helpful. I use a cycle tracking method called the Marquette Method, which uses the ClearBlue fertility monitor. There is a postpartum protocol for before your cycle returns, as well as a protocol for normal cycles, and it is 98% effective when followed. I have been using it for 5+ years and through two planned babies/postpartum a with no surprises. (You may be aware already, but just in case not. I’ve had a really positive experience)
Anonymous says
Some of us like having sex
Anon says
I have more sex now using this method than I did when I was on hormonal birth control (which killed my drive…and also since every day was “available” we took advantage of a lot fewer).
But if it’s not for you, just scroll on past :)
Anon says
I had bad insertion pain with my first IUD. I had cystic acne with Skyla but have not with the Kyleena.
I had migraines and hair loss on the pill.
NYCer says
I have a Kyleena IUD which is a lower dose version of Mirena. I have had it for about 2 years and have no real complaints. I still get a very, very light period (which I don’t mind). No weight gain or other real side effects.
Anonymous says
This may not be an issue for you, since you’ve had your kids, but I had an IUD pre-kids and would not get one again. I developed ovarian cysts, which is a possible side effect that no one mentions. They dissolved on their own, but they were painful and I think contributed for a year of infertility/ multiple miscarriages before my first successful pregnancy.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I LOVE my Mirena IUD. I had it inserted around 3 months after baby 2 and it wasn’t painful. I now have no or very light periods and it’s fabulous. Weight gain may be an issue, but throughout the last 6 years of 2 kids, I gained weight due to dealing with the small kids and also Covid, and am currently more or less back to my pre baby 1 weight.
Anonymous says
I had a Mirena inserted postpartum with my third. Insertion was totally pain-free. I had a lot of spotting for a long time, which my OB said was probably due to breastfeeding. It was pretty bad, and I’m not quite sure why I pushed through it. It finally went away and went to almost no period. I don’t mind birth control hormones, I was very happy on a combination pill, and only chose the Mirena because I was breastfeeding. It is very convenient.
SC says
I’m on my second Mirena IUD, and it’s great for me. I am absolutely terrible about taking a pill each day, so I’m glad I don’t have to remember. My first was inserted post-partum, and I didn’t even feel it. My second was somewhat painful, but not a huge deal. I drove myself home, then took the rest of the day off. I was happy in bed that afternoon and had some cramping, but I could have powered through at work if necessary. (We weren’t busy, and I had plenty of PTO left.)
Anon says
I’ve had 2 Paragards and while i can’t comment on the hormonal aspects of what you’re considering, i can say that postpartum insertion (6 or 8 weeks after birth) was absolutely no problem, while the insertion i had before having a baby was uncomfortable (though not as bad as others here describe–i was, for example, able to drive myself home). Also of note is that while insertion 2 was postpartum, i had not given birth vaginally: i got to 10 cm, pushed for a long time, and ended up with a c section. My midwife predicted that having fully dilated would make a big difference for the IUD, and in my experience it did.
Telco Lady JD says
I had a copper IUD and had the heavier periods that some others here have mentioned. This is not usually an issue with the hormonal IUDs.
I had mine inserted before having my daughter and it was…..fine? I mean, not fun exactly…but also no big deal. I imagine it would be even less of a big deal after having three kids (assuming vaginal deliveries).
Anonymous says
What are some good shoes to watch as a family? Kids are 4/6/9. esp with the older two we watch a lot of baking shows and “how to”. YouTube videos.
Other ideas?
Anon says
We’ve been into Domino Masters!
Anon says
Lego Masters
Spirograph says
Lego Masters! My kids also like watching wheel of fortune (esp seeing the prize vacations)
Also someone here recommended “is it cake?” recently and I love it. How it’s Made, and nature documentaries /discovery / Nat Geo type stuff is also a hit.
Anonymous says
American Ninja Warrior
Anonymous says
What I meant was OTHER forms of hormonal birth control made me crazy.
Anonymous says
Wrong thread. Sorry.
Anon says
DD is 4. Battlebots is a favorite. We also watched Baking Impossible, Legomasters and American Ninja Warrior. We were letting her watch Forged in Fire with us but decided it is likely a bit too gory for her. She’s also oddly into nascar and indycar races, although her favorite is whatever car has the most pink on it. She was also in a Scooby Doo phase for a while, which I don’t mind watching although the remade series is down right creepy so we stuck to the original from my childhood.
DLC says
We like watching train videos on YouTube with our 10 and 5 year olds. Train snowplows are strangely fascinating and soothing.
Anon says
Someone mentioned it here already, but Is It Cake? is now a hit at our house. I think it is rated something like PG for some language, though.
anon says
I have been experiencing some depression. This is pretty new for me and I’m addressing it, but every now and then I get a case of the sads and just feel really down. I’ve been avoiding my elementary-age boys during my spells, just by making sure they’re occupied with something and having my husband step in. Any advice on how to address it with them would be much appreciated.
Momofthree says
I don’t have any literature recommendations, but you could say something along the lines of “I’m feeling really sad right now, so I’m going to take some time by myself. I know I’ll feel better soon, I just don’t know when yet.”
I’ve had depression/anxiety with physical systems & one of my kids is really sensitive. We try to emphasize that all feelings are ok, we need to feel our feelings, we know this feeling will pass and we need to feel our feelings in this moment.
Kids seem to freak out more when you don’t tell them what’s going on (in an age appropriate way of course)
Veryanon says
I’m sorry you are dealing with this. As someone who has dealt with depression/anxiety in varying forms for most of my life here’s my advice. As a first step, I try to get really solid on my self-care, by which I mean: drinking enough water, taking meds, eating reasonably healthy, getting outside every day, getting some kind of movement in every day, taking a shower regularly, changing clothes daily, brushing teeth, and making sure my sleep hygiene is good. If depression is effecting your motivation this can be tough, but you can also make it as easy on yourself as possible. For example, I try to “exercise” every day, but I count it even if it’s just stretching. I get dressed every day, but it’s ok if it’s just yoga pants. For healthy eating I do a lot of Daily Harvest smoothies. As a second step, I would schedule a doctor appointment a few weeks out to get screened for depression. Ask a loved one to help you make the appointment if it feels overwhelming. You can always cancel if you feel like you are doing much better by the time the appointment arrives. Good luck!
Anonymous says
Hugs! I think you can just tell them you are feeling sad (or use the word depressed) and you aren’t sure why, but it is definitely not because of anything anyone is doing at home. And that you will feel better soon. Kids pick up on a lot, and I think it is less scary to have bad feelings named and to be clear that they are not permanent and not their fault.
Anon says
We only have a toddler but husband and I both had GAD with minor depressive episodes that can last a couple days (feeling sad, tired, irritable) and we typically say something like mommy/ daddy is feeling sad right now and needs some time and space to rest.
Anon says
Those with slightly older kids, my daughter’s softball team has a fifth grade girl who’s sort of their “assistant coach” It’s adorable. We’d like to get her a coach’s gift at the end of the season. I was thinking something like a monogrammed water bottle? What’s cool these days? Any good ideas? Would love for it to be something we could write “Coach Name” on!
Tea/Coffee says
That is so awesome (of her and you)!
My fifth grader would adore a monogrammed water bottle with Coach Name on it :-). Or a monogrammed tote bag or tiny backpack. Heck, it wouldn’t even need to be monogrammed.
Anonymous says
The 32-oz wide-mouth Hydroflask is still the cool water bottle among my daughter’s set.
Tubes says
Has anyone had experience with tubes put in baby ears? Kid is a year, and the ENT seemed to think it was just a matter of time before another ear infection and tubes become necessary. The whole thing has kind of thrown us and the ENT wasn’t very comforting or informative, so any personal experience people can share would be appreciated.
Anonymous says
I’ve had two kids need them: my experience ranges from good to life changing. One kid went from not sleeping (refusing naps, 4 hours a night max) to sleeping 8 hours and napping within a week. There were other factors but the tubes really helped. The other stopped having regular diarrhea because ear infections went away, so that was nice. Anesthesia in kids can seem scary, but it will be ok. The biggest risk is ADHD linked to undergoing more than three separate instances of general anesthesia before the age of seven I think? Post procedure (which takes like ten minutes, truly), your kiddo may be really mad and disoriented, but s/he will be ok.
Anonymous says
We JUST did this. The procedure itself was fine. Kiddo was a little off the rest of the day and threw up after dinner, but back to her usual self the next morning.
HOWEVER, she had the start of an ear infection at the time of the procedure (5th or 6th in I think 6 months?), and the ear drops didn’t work it at all (ENT seemed to think they’d work like drano and just clear everything out??!), so we ended up with a late evening run to urgent care for antibiotics a couple days later. Everyone has said it’s a gamechanger, but I’m not convinced. We haven’t had our follow up appt with the ENT, yet.
anonamommy says
Our experience was life-changing. Kiddo had 7 (8?) double ear infections before age 1 and got the surgery 1 week after 1st birthday. Before surgery, he was always miserable and sick, sleep was tough and there were so many missed daycare days due to fever. We scheduled the surgery at ear infection 6 for like 4 weeks out, and there was at least one more horrible spell in there. I was scared to put my babe under anesthesia but it was really fast, and the ear infections stopped, and I had a happy kiddo again almost immediately. Kiddo is now 7, the tubes fell out around age 4, and there have been no ear infections since surgery.
Anon says
I’d get a second opinion before any surgery. My daughter started daycare at 15 months and between then and her second birthday she’d had I think five or six ear infections. Our ped was pushing us to get tubes. But that was in March 2020 so we didn’t do anything about it quickly, and when daycare reopened the following summer we decided to see what happened and she’s never had another ear infection. Covid protocols may be a factor, but it can’t be just that because she’s had quite a few colds that haven’t turned into ear infections, which never happened before.
My understanding is that most kids out grow this issue as their ears and immune systems mature, and personally I’m more comfortable with a couple years of frequent antibiotic use than general anesthesia. We didn’t miss a whole lot of daycare because of ear infections (especially not compared to all the daycare we’ve missed for unrelated reasons in the Covid era). Usually only 1 day per ear infection. It normally started in the evening with fussiness, then a rough night with a lot of wake-ups and that was our signal to get a ped appointment first thing, antibiotics would kick in within 12 hours and the next day she’d be totally fine.
Anonymous says
Ear infections are painful, potentially damaging to the structure of the ear, and the omnipresent fluid can prevent development of language skills because kids are hearing you the same way they would underwater. Kids do “grow out of it” because the ear canals lengthen and become more vertical as they age. That’s why the tubes fall out, but in the meantime, they have been able to hear you and are out of pain.
Anon says
There are different kinds of ear infection problems. Some kids (like mine) get frequent ear infections after respiratory viruses that clear quickly with antibiotics. There was no “omnipresent fluid” in our case, and she wasn’t in pain or unable to hear except for very brief periods of time between when we noticed ear symptoms and when we could start the antibiotics. After the first couple times, we got better at responding to her symptoms and it was rarely more than 12 hours between the onset of symptoms and getting meds in her. I know there are also more chronic ear infections, where there is fluid in the ear that never goes away or the antibiotics only sort of work and the same ear infection comes back, and I definitely understand why that situation needs to be addressed and treated rather than ignored.
Momofthree says
We did for our first two, and in both experiences there was a huge, huge improvement. If you’re having frequent ear infections and it’s making your lives & your kid’s life miserable, it can make a huge difference.
We were also able to get our kids hearing tested at the ENT and there was a noticeable deficiency due to fluid (and we noticed a huge language improvement after the ear tubes were put in).
Also, I was very happy that we could cure any ear infections that did happen with drops instead of needing to go on a full-course of antibiotics especially b/c my kids were unable to take penicillin so our choices were limited.
HSAL says
My twins got tubes at 9 months after two+ solid months of ear infections that antibiotics had no impact on as well as fluid. The ENT surgeon said it was basically like rubber cement in there. They’ve still had the occasional ear infection since, but since it only presents as drainage the drops work and the kids barely notice. That was over three years ago and each kid still has at least one tube left, but my doc doesn’t proactively remove them without a need.
Anon says
Anyone have any happy stories to share about extremely picky eaters outgrowing it? I’m not talking like “ew, vegetables” picky, I’m talking “will eat precisely five foods” picky. I was the former kind of picky and greatly expanded my horizons in college, but my 4 year old is in the latter camp and it’s getting hard and stressful to watch. It seems like every week a formerly ‘safe’ food is crossed off the list. We are in OT but I’m not sure how much it helps because they focus mostly on getting her to try things, which she does pretty willingly, but then she says doesn’t like them. Also she has a much better attitude with non-family authority figures (this has been true since she was a baby) so even when they have success we can’t usually replicate it at home.
Please no comments that we should just serve her foods she doesn’t like and when she gets hungry enough she’ll eat. This kid is unbelieavably strong-willed and has done physical harm to herself in an attempt to prove a point before. Her ped, OT and us all agree this is not the right strategy.
AwayEmily says
Just a note to ask again tomorrow if you don’t get a lot of responses now that it’s a bit later in the day — I think lots of us here would benefit from these success stories! My kid was never at the only-five-foods level but was definitely firmly in the “picky” camp. Now, at age 6, she is will eat significantly more things than she did at 4. The sense I got from reading about this at the time is that age 4 is the pickiness peak for a lot of kids. And I see the “willingness to eat stuff from other people” as a good sign that it prob isn’t a sensory issue for your kid (my kid is the same way — she has NEVER touched an egg at home, despite the many many times and ways I have served them to her, and the other day she nonchalantly told me she regularly eats egg sandwiches at school).
Anonymous says
I have a child whose pickiness likely results from sensory issues and I completely agree that the “parents decide what to serve, kids decide whether and how much to eat” approach is counterproductive with these kids. My daughter is incredibly stubborn and will literally starve herself for days on end–for example, if she doesn’t like the food at camp or on a school trip. Her body seems to go into some sort of starvation mode where she doesn’t feel hungry, and then it’s even harder for her to eat.
I would say ages 4 – 7 were the absolute worst for us. When she was a little older she was much more willing to cooperate with trying new foods and with workarounds like deconstructing meals into component parts to avoid texture contrasts. I still can’t get her to eat some foods that I consider essential to health, such as yogurt, but her diet is much more varied now. Intense sports are helpful; she always eats more and better quality food when she’s burning a lot of calories.
If your daughter is currently in general OT, I would look into specialized feeding therapy. FYI, we had terrible experiences with nutritionists and dieticians. They don’t understand the sensory issues and tend to assume that the problem is just that the parents don’t know how to feed the child a healthy diet. They also recommend a lot of processed garbage like nutritional shakes, which my kid won’t drink anyway because they are gross. You need someone who can get at the root causes of the pickiness.
Anon says
Mine is almost 5, and I would say we are up to 25-30 foods (most of which are a variation of carbs and sugar, but I count each new food as a win) she will tolerate, but as you say, formerly “safe” foods come and go in terms of acceptability. She is also a strong-willed one that would starve rather than eat something she doesn’t want to (and TBH I am the same way). Last week she ate cereal for the first time (lucky charms) with and without milk, after someone brought it in for snack at preschool. She also tried pretzel breadsticks at a restaurant and ate them. Last night she willingly ate plain spaghetti with butter for the first time with me, which before had only happened once at my mother’s about 8 months ago. Something I do find success with is continuing to offer things that she has tried and liked with someone else and after a few weeks (or months) of offering, she will decide she likes it at home. I take comfort in the fact that her palate is expanding even if ever so slowly (we now have multiple meal options!), her growth is on track, and her ped is not worried about it. I repeat to myself, ad nauseum, that food is not a battle. I will say the last 6 months or so have seen the “fastest” expansion (we add 2-3 new foods a month) so hopefully that trend continues!
I don’t think I was quite as picky as DD growing up, but definitely more than your average kid. For me it is both taste and texture, and DD is showing signs of the same (e.g., she doesn’t like strawberries because of the seeds on the outside, which unbeknownst to her is also why I do not like strawberries). My palate expanded significantly in college (e.g., I tried and liked more vegetables), and during pregnancy and post-partum (spice is now of interest, I will now eat pork), but some things (seafood, anything that is yogurt or cream consistency (yogurt, sour cream, whipped cream, mousse, custard, cheesecake, etc.), chicken, green beans, bananas, berries) are a hard no for me. But I am (I think!) a fully functioning adult and other than my friends always running menus by me to make sure there is something I eat, there is little impact on my day to day life!
Things my child will eat (if anything on the list gives you ideas): Open face peanut butter sandwiches (literally peanut butter spread on bread, but god forbid you actually close the sandwich), ground beef cooked with garlic, ginger and soy sauce served overtop jasmine rice, one particular brand of chicken tenders (the honey and cornmeal battered tyson ones), mcdonalds nuggets and fries (but not other fries), cinnamon raisin toast with butter, pancakes (I use Kodiak cakes mix to up the protein) sometimes with maple syrup and sometimes plain, waffles, biscuits, crispy bacon, chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake (recently added) or chocolate cake, gingerbread or molasses cookies (new add in December), chocolate, strawberry ice cream (new add in February), blueberry yogurt (but only stonyfield kids, because it can’t have identifiable pieces of blueberry in it, and she does not like the other flavors), bananas (on and off the safe list), banana bread, gala or honeycrisp apples, applesauce, sometimes grapes (on and off the safe list), sometimes strawberries if I slice them very thinly so the seeds are less noticeable or cut the seeds off, macaroni and cheese (recently added), plain spaghetti with butter (recently added), lucky charms cereal (recently added), chocolate chip granola bars (recently off the safe list but hopefully will come back around), and sometimes goldfish.
CCLA says
Not much help other than commiseration from parent of a 5.5 yo who won’t eat normal “kid” foods (let alone veggies). I think our list has been at about 10 safe foods for 2 years, and we started OT a few months ago with similar experience to you so far (lots of trying, playing, licking, etc. but nothing new added to things she will eat meaningful amounts of). They told us it will be at least several months to see progress. I don’t want our kid to grow up to be my 30-something brother in terms of diet (I adore him but also pretty sure there are exactly two veggies he will eat). We have also decidedly NOT had success in serving foods that we are eating and waiting her out, she just doesn’t eat.
Anon says
Follow Solid Starts on instagram or via their website or app— founder has a son recovering from extremely picky eating. Not speaking from experience but her tips seem to have worked in her situation and may provide strategies to help.
Anon says
Not OP but I have a very picky eater too and I find Solid Starts soooo obnoxious. Her Insta account is a weird mix of professional (trying to give other people advice) and very personal (crying into the camera about her own issues, oversharing and constantly criticizing her kid with food issues – based on how much she rants about his picky eating I don’t think she considers him “fixed”). I also find her far more mom-shamey than most parenting influencers – she says if you don’t stop pouches by 18 months, you’re setting them up for a life of picky eating, which is just BS. If your kid is eating normal solid food, a pouch here and there isn’t going to do any harm. Kids Eat in Color and Feeding Littles have basically the same advice but delivered in a much more professional and kind way. Sorry for the rant, but Solid Starts is my #1 BEC parenting influencer. I think she’s just horrible and I have so many mom friends who became incredibly stressed out about feeding after following her.
Anonymous says
My very strong willed child basically ate plain noodles, cucumbers, white bread with butter, applesauce, the whites of hard boiled eggs and salami until she turned 5. Something changed. Now at 6 she’s a garden variety kid when it comes to eating. She likes most things, including some ethnic food (mild saag paneer, naan and rice when we order Indian, pad Thai and spring rolls when we do Thai, etc). She’ll eat any kind of chicken nugget based school lunch. She’s at the point where if she doesn’t like what we made for dinner, she can have leftovers or a sandwich. 75% of the time she eats what we made. It’s so much better!!
The only thing I can possibly attribute is that she also went through a huge growth spurt and I think her body was desperate for fuel.