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I find some turtlenecks suffocating, but this one from M.M.LaFleur is just about perfect.
This stretchy, fine-ribbed turtleneck is a winter wardrobe workhorse — the fitted (but not tight) silhouette begs to be layered under a blazer or sweater. At the same time, the Pima cotton fabric is light but substantive enough to wear on its own.
It comes in seven colors ranging from basic black (which I have) to “martini” (a dark chartreuse or maybe light olive, depending on your point of view).
The Axam T-Shirt is $65 and available in sizes XS–XXL.
Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear.
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
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
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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?
anon says
My 6 yo loves the book Black Beauty–the “junior classics” edition, which I believe is abridged. Any recommendations for similar books about horses? Chapter books with illustrations preferred (I read this to her at bedtime so it can be for advanced reading levels). Bonus points if its narrated in the first person by a horse, haha!
Anonymous says
Misty of Chincoteague
An.On. says
Yeah, Marguerite Henry has a TON of horse books. My favorites growing up were King of the Wind, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, and Brighty of the Grand Canyon. Some of these have fairly sad situations though (i.e., poor treatment of animals), so be forewarned.
Anon says
We enjoyed National Velvet as a read aloud. Maybe also My Friend Flicka? But I haven’t read that in a long time. I like reading older books like these as read alouds, since the language is easier and we can discuss themes.
Anon says
I remember loving Old Bones, the Wonder Horse as a kid. Found it in my grandmother’s basement and read it until the cover fell off; I was probably around 10 at the time.
DLC says
This might skew younger, but there’s a series called Cowgirl Kate and Coco about a girl and her horse that my daughter really liked.
Beautiful Joe is narrated by a dog on a farm, though the beginning can be kind of traumatic and features some serious animal cruelty. Might be for older kids, but i loved that book when I was a kid.
Anon says
“Emily’s Runaway Imagination” isn’t entirely horse-themed, but it’s a Beverly Cleary classic I didn’t encounter until adulthood. It’s also hilarious.
Not sure about the horse theme either, but the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace might also be up her alley.
Anon says
Is that the one where Emily bleaches her white horse? We listened on audio book and really enjoyed Emily’s antics!
Anon says
Love Betsy Tacy!
Anon says
Ann M Martin had a standalone book about horses – I think Me and Katie (The Pest)? Don’t believe there are illustrations though.
Anonymous says
Dinah and Virginia was my favorite book as a kid and would be perfect, but I think it’s really hard to find now!
What are the rules? says
Help me navigate what is required of me as a parent of kids too young to be vaccinated. I’m fully vaccinated and boosted. Am I still supposed to go get tested every time I have a cold? Or is it enough to test the kids if they have symptoms and get tested myself if there’s a known exposure (or of course if I had obvious symptoms like loss of taste/smell?) if I do need to go tested for every cold – while the test is pending, is it fine to send my kids to daycare? I can and do work from home myself with only mild pushback, so that’s not an issue – but working from home with two young kids is literally impossible.
It’s the Wild West in our state – unvaccinated elementary school kids aren’t being quarantined even for known exposure unless they get ill. So I’m struggling by feeling trapped between trying to do the right thing and the toll that constantly trying to do the right thing is taking on my family and career (not to mention sanity.) Co-workers seem to be only testing or quarantining when it’s absolutely required.
Tell me honestly how others here have been handling this. I’m not looking for absolution (that’s impossible right now regardless of what I do); I just am truly curious.
Boston Legal Eagle says
We do the at-home rapid tests if one of us has some kind of cold symptom. If that came back positive, then we’d keep everyone home and go get the PCR tests, which take about 12-24 hours to return here. So far, this hasn’t happened. These tests are expensive now, but should be covered by insurance soon, so I’d recommend stocking up on those.
Our older son’s school does the “test and stay” I think, and they do pooled testing of the kids every week. Our daycare closes for 7 days if there is a positive child in the classroom, and then kid can come back if tested negative.
Anon says
I have a 3 year old and I’ve never tested her for Covid when she gets cold symptoms. Our school requires kids to stay home if they’re coughing so we comply with that, but our ped has only recommended testing for a fever or a known Covid exposure. We really don’t go anywhere except daycare though, so if she gets Covid daycare is almost certainly the source. I might feel differently if she were in activities or seeing non-daycare friends.
Me and my husband test frequently (when we display cold symptoms, when we do anything risky and occasionally random asymptomatic testing) but I’m doing that to protect my unvaxxed kid, not because I feel like we owe it to society (we’re both triple vaxxed and generally cautious). We use rapid tests so there’s no “what do we do while the test is pending” issue, but generally I think it’s fine to send your kid to school unless you’ve had a positive test result or a confirmed Covid exposure and this is our school’s policy as well.
Anon says
Hi from someone who had covid over Thanksgiving even though I was fully vaccinated in April and boosted in October. I was fine but honestly I thought it was nothing (and essentially had no symptoms outside of maaaaaaaybe some sinus stuff, until I lost my sense of smell 5 days after PCR tested positive).
I urge you to keep rapid tests at home. They’re annoyingly expensive but if you get them from Walmart they’re about $14 per 2-pack (instead of the $24 we pay at Target/CVS). They’re FSA eligible expenditures, and apparently private health insurance companies will need to cover them in the future (I haven’t read up on the Biden stuff from earlier this week). The rapids are not super awesome at picking up covid if you’re not symptomatic, but if you ARE symptomatic, they’re pretty great at identifying if it is covid. Anyone in our house with a hint of a cough of runny nose gets an antigen test before we do anything. In fact, we just took our daughter to the dr this morning, and he confirmed that if a kid is symptomatic and the antigen test is negative, it’s very unlikely the underlying illness is covid.
If you have an outstanding PCR test, pull kids from school/daycare until you have results, unless you test negative on an antigen test that morning. If you have symptoms and test negative on a rapid test, and kids are 100% fine, I would send them to school/daycare. Maybe give kids antigen tests just in case, but I’d probably skip it. Obviously pull them if you get a positive test.
Speaking from experience, develop a plan if you test positive and your spouse and kids are negative. Mainly, try to isolate at home (I ended up going to a hotel because that was better for us to preserve health), double mask, wash hands frequently, keep ventilation flowing in your house and open windows if you can.
AwayEmily says
I pretty much concur with all of this. We keep rapid tests at home (they now have 2 for $17 via mail at Target, too). If anyone in our house has any symptoms, they get a rapid test. If the test is negative, the non-sick people can go to work/school. Sick person stays home (because even if it’s just a cold, why spread it?) and does another rapid test 24 hours later.
My husband, me, and my kindergartner are all lucky enough to have optional free PCR tests at our work/school every week as well, and we get them as well.
Anonymous says
Thank you for this intel. Tests have been hard to get here and I just ordered a bunch from target!!
anon says
This is basically what we do, too. Two triple-dose parents and two <5 unvax'd kids. If a kid gets a cold, we do a rapid test before sending them to school, just in case. We don't usually bother testing anyone who gets the same symptoms a day or so later, because we just assume it's the same cold. One of our kids gets a cough with every cold that sticks around for a week or so, so she gets a trip to the ped for a PCR test because a cough is a symptom that requires staying home from school, unless you have a doctor's note.
We haven't yet had the situation where a parent got symptoms before a kid, but in that case I think we'd again rapid-test the first person just for piece of mind. And if anyone had a positive rapid test I'd keep everyone home until the PCR results came back.
blueberries says
I keep a big stack of rapid antigen tests at home and test for pretty much anything, including new allergy symptoms, along with random asymptomatic testing. My family is all as vaccinated as we can be, but we really, really don’t want to inadvertently spread Covid.
In particular, one of my kiddos is one of the few children in their class who is age-eligible for the vaccine and I really don’t want our family to be the reason for a two week shutdown or worse, transmission to others.
Anonymous says
Our daycare asks us to affirm every morning that no one in the household has experienced any symptoms and no one is waiting for a test result to come in. We have fudged it a little from time to time with runny noses or when we were sure it was allergies, but we would keep our kid home if either of us had a real cough or cold symptoms. Luckily the only time we’ve had colds, our kid has also gotten it so we just got him tested.
anon. says
I feel you completely. We bought like ten two-packs of rapid tests and just pull those out to test ourselves. The kids (both under 5) only get the rapids if they have pretty severe cold symptoms. No positives so far, but having the at-home tests does relieve some anxiety. If you can afford it, just buy a bunch.
TheElms says
I do a rapid test for cold symptoms, repeat on day 3 if the cold isn’t getting much better, and once got a PCR because I felt so crummy. I also do a PCR test when my kid is exposed and required to test (pediatrician will test me as well and I’m there with kid so why not). My kid’s preschool requires we keep kid home if anyone in the house is waiting for a PCR test, so we have followed that including when it was our afternoon nanny waiting on a test result. If I’m waiting on a PCR test we don’t go to the playground but I will go for a walk in the neighborhood. I take preschooler buckled in the stroller so I know she can’t run towards anyone. My neighborhood isn’t crowded so its easy to stay 6-12 feet (or more) away from people. I work from home if I have a cold or we are waiting on PCR test results.
Anonymous says
Follow actual rules. Sounds like you’re weirdly making things up to be worried about.
OP says
Which are?
Anon says
Not the poster you’re replying to but I assume they meant following the policies of the school(s) your children attend. That’s what we do.
Anon says
I only ever get colds from my kid. If she has a cough or a faucet like nose (or of course a fever) we keep her home and call the ped, who thankfully will do telehealth visits. Of the three colds she has had, they have had her test for covid once (negative PCR). I generally stay home from the office if kiddo is sick or her test is pending. We send her back once she is no longer coughing or sneezing (other than occasionally) or faucet like and no fever for at least 24 hours (based on ped’s directions). Her part-time preschool is fine with that. If I get what is clearly her cold from her, I just rely on her test. I am on immunosuppressants, so I am still congested from the cold she gave me 6 weeks ago, but she and DH have been fine for a good 4-5 weeks. I have been going into the office since the first week of this straggling cold (finally feels like things are draining this week!) since doc said I was no longer contagious at that point (and of course no longer coughing or sneezing).
No Face says
When a kid has a symptom, I get them tested. (I have to anyway because of their school/daycare rules). I have only gotten colds from them, so I have not personally been tested for Covid in ages despite frequently getting them for my kids.
Anonymous says
I have come to realize that one thing my state does really well is covid testing. PCR tests are free on demand, and available at multiple drive through areas in my city. They tell you that results could take up to 48 hours, but the longest I have waited is 12 hours. So anytime a kid has a cold we go get a test first thing. Many tests came back negative – until that one test came back positive the week before Thanksgiving! I was surprised at the result. It seemed like just a cold, but kid developed fever a few days later. We tested the whole family the next day, and all of us tested positive (and three of us had no symptoms at that point).
Talking with friends, I realize PCR tests are not as easy in other states. I appreciate the move to get rapid test paid for my insurance – but I think if my southern state can figure out how to do PCR testing like this other states should too? When the PCR tests are free and on demand, I don’t think it is too much to ask for folks to stay home one day with a cold. I know child care is hard, but I think this is what we have to do to keep schools open? Unless we have pooled testing at at schools – which sounds like an even better option?
Anon says
If I think my kid has Covid symptoms, I’ll get a test at the pediatrician. If I think I might, I do a home test.
Socks says
Any recs for toddler-sized wool socks with grippers on the bottom? Smartwool is usually my go to for wool socks, but it looks like they don’t have any with grippers. My new walker has enough trouble staying upright as it is without adding slippery socks to the mix.
TheElms says
Not wool, but seemed very warm when we wore them last winter — Roots has toddler socks with grippers on the bottom.
Anonymous says
If you are willing, you can DIY this with “dimensional” fabric paint. Puffy paint is ideal but the slick dimensional paint works too.
Anonymous says
Thanks, I never would’ve thought of that!
Boston Legal Eagle says
I like Bombas for winter socks for us. The kids’ ones have grippers.
Anon says
Would you be willing to keep toddler barefoot? Unless your house is very cold, baby will be fine, and there’s a lot of developmental benefit to keeping kids barefoot as much as possible (especially when they are very young). Our house is kept at 64, baby is barefoot and doesn’t seem to mind at all
Anonymous says
We live in an old drafty house in the upper midwest. We do barefoot as much as possible, but she was asking us to put her socks on yesterday, and it’s only going to get colder. Our basement is cold, so even if we turn up the heat a bit, the floors are still pretty cold.
Anon says
Got it. I just ordered some new gripper slipper socks from bombas for my older boys – they have toddler sizes. They function like slippers so can be put over any socks
Anon says
My suggestion in that case would be slippers. My daughter has some from LL Bean that are much more slip resistant than grippy socks and come in toddler sizes.
Anon says
My recommendation is barefoot. Also grippys don’t fit well in shoes once your new walker is ready for shoes, so then you are going through multiple sock changes a day.
Signed, my client has never heard so many swear words as I heard the distinctive thump thumpity thump thump thump thump SILENCE through my noise cancelling headphones when my then 2 year old decided to take the stairs too quickly in socks (which I think might have even had grippys) and somersault into the wall at the bottom. She was completely fine, children are bendy and bouncy, but definitely a rough morning. Even at 4 she is still only allowed to put socks on once downstairs.
Anonymous says
Thanks, all!
Wasn’t asking for advice on socks vs. no socks (but I probably should’ve expected it with this crowd), as my kid was literally asking us to put socks on her cold feet yesterday. We live in an old drafty one-story house, and the only stairs are to the cold unfinished basement (and the stairs are behind a closed door AND a baby gate). I’m fully aware that I’m supposed to keep my kid barefoot, but I’m not concerned about safety, and I’m not going to tell her that her feet just have to stay cold.
Anonymous says
We use Bombas, but I bet there are dupes on Amazon.
Anon says
You didn’t say anything about your drafty house in the OP and in the absence of that info barefoot is a perfectly reasonable suggestion. If the advice doesn’t work for your circumstances then ignore it, but the “I probably should’ve expected it with this crowd” snark is just rude and unnecessary.
Anonymous says
I think the fact that the request was specifically about wool socks makes it pretty obvious warmth is a key concern.
Anon says
I like the grippy toddler bombas (they’re not wool but they’re nice and thick, and unfortunately $$$). I know that Polarn O Pyret sells anti-slip wool socks for toddlers – I’d check places like that or outdoorsy stores. I haven’t bought their wool socks but I buy POP’s regular socks for my kid (to wear with shoes) and think they’re good quality.
anon says
I’d try bombas before buying more than a pair or two– DS likes them but sometimes complains/refuses because they are thick. Children’s place uniform socks have grips even for preschool age if you want a thinner option.
Anon says
We just do barefoot indoors with our sprinting toddler – it seemed like the safest option.
Anon says
+1
No Face says
Any recommendations for cold weather bottoms for a kindergarten with long, skinny legs? My five year old hit a major growth spurt. Her leggings are too short, but she does not get any wider.
Primary says
I have had luck with the cozy leggings from Primary for my tall skinny 3 year old. Not sure if the bigger sizes change things.
Anon says
Hanna has “Warm Winter Print” leggings. If you don’t mind the print, they are definitely a heavier weight and seem to run long (although my kiddo is absurdly short-legged, so everything seems comically long on her).
Allie says
Cozy leggings from Target brand Cat and Jack are literally the only warm pants that fit my kid.
Mary Moo Cow says
Mine wears Primary. She is tall, but they still bunch a bit at the ankles.
Anonymous says
Help! My 3.5 year old who used to sleep 7-7 consistently has started waking up between 4 and 5 am and screaming if we don’t come and play with her. It’s been going on for several weeks now. I don’t think it’s just that she needs less sleep because it’s so sudden and she seems exhausted by the afternoon. We’ve tried putting her down both earlier and later and it didn’t help. We bought an Ok to wake clock but she scoffed at it and has completely ignored it. My husband and I are bone-crushingly exhausted. Any suggestions besides just going to bed earlier (which we’re trying to do but it’s hard)??
Anon says
I’m a big fan of the spoon of peanut butter and spoon of honey before bed. Around that age, my kids would wake up because their stomachs were just empty enough to rouse them but not so empty they knew they were hungry. My grandmother said they needed something to “stick to their ribs” to get them through the whole night, and weirdly PB and honey did it. Might be a complete placebo, but whatever it was, it got me sleep.
anon says
Heck, I sometimes do this for myself, when I don’t want to eat a big snack before bed but feel slightly hungry.
Anonymous says
Thanks, will try this. She says she’s not hungry when she wakes up but it seems plausible that it’s waking her but she can’t really process it. She doesn’t like nut butter or honey – any other ideas for late night snacks? A glass of milk?
Anonymous says
A glass of milk is popular at our house. We’ve also done toast with butter, a date (you could stuff that with butter also), or a couple fig newtons.
Walnut says
Chocolate covered raisins check this box in my household. Mind you, it’s probably not the best choice, but my bar at 4AM is very low.
Anon says
I used to feed my kid a banana in the middle of the night.
Anon says
I think the key is a little sugar and some good fat. Whatever she’ll eat that has both of those. Applesauce, baby bell cheese, a spoon of greek yogurt with a berry or two, etc.
And I would try to do it before bed, to prevent the wake up in the first place. Don’t wait for 4am to try to get a screaming kid to eat some food. Ask me how I know.
Allie says
Is it possible that the temperature drops around 2AM and by 4AM she’s too cold? Can you warm up her room and see?
AwayEmily says
My theory is that it happens a few times, and then their bodies just get programmed to wake up at that time (this happens to me as an adult, too). I would take a few days to try and actively reset her body clock so that she sleeps through the 4am wakeup by employing some combination of the following: lots of outdoor play to tire her out, melatonin before bed, slightly later bedtime.
Date Night says
We’re busier than normal and I am apparently someone who needs lots of downtime. I feel like my husband and I are ships passing in the night this week and I want to do something fun after the kids are in bed tonight that makes us feel like we’re not just checking another box or getting stuff done. We have about an hour and a half between the kids being down and us crashing into bed. Any fun ideas? Board games are high on my list, and I’d like something more fun than food or special drink. Thanks!
Anonymous says
Sex
anon says
S3x, just saying. :)
NYCer says
Yeah, I would pick that over a board game any night of the week. ;)
Seriously though, my husband and I would prefer to just chat on the sofa and then have sex vs. playing a board game or some other at home date night activity. YMMV.
Anonymous says
+2. I started making an effort to have more for DH’s sake, but I’m surprised how much it improves my mood too.
IHeartBacon says
This. Maybe buy a new gadget or something to build up the excitement throughout the day. My husband does this to me often. He’ll order something new without telling me and when the package arrives, he’ll just say, “I got something new for us for later tonight,” and I’ll be thinking about it all day. It’s surprising how effective that one little statement of his is at perking up my mood. It doesn’t have to be anything big or extravagant.
Walnut says
We’re watching all of the cheesy Christmas movies right now.
OP says
This is all fair! I think I usually want to “relax” and feel like I need some time to transition from parent mode into spouse mode, but maybe I need to get over that. Half the time if we try to do something else like talk, I’m ready for fall asleep and worked up because it’s “too late” for s3x. I’m sure we’d all be happier if we shut up and got to the main event.
Anonymous says
This is me, too.
We build lego together as wind-down. Or sometimes play video games.
Anonanonanon says
I know you said more fun than food, but we’ve accepted at this season in our life sometimes the best we’re going to do is me throwing together a charcuterie board full of trader joe’s cheese, pouring us each a glass of wine, and watching a new TV show or movie together (and actually WATCHING together, not playing on phones).
Anonymous says
Ted Lasso.
EDAnon says
We loved watching Ted Lasso together and also I’m Sorry.
Anonymous says
I’m Sorry is sooooo good. Especially the lice episode if you have been through that.
anonymous says
We really love the card game “Crazy 8s” for winding down in the evenings. There’s no brainpower involved, so we can share about our days while we play and share a drink. It keeps us from just zoning out in front of the tv until we pass out and often leads to more fun activities because it lets us wind down with no pressure.
DLC says
I was intrigued by folks who commented on yesterday’s wallet thread that they just scan their cards and keep it on their phones- would love to hear more about that process- what cards do you scan, what format do you use, and how do you organize it on your phone, etc.
i guess also in general what else people keep electronically on their phones?
I keep a picture of all our cars’ license plates and the serial number labels of all our major appliances… they’re in a photo album called “useful stuff”, but wondering about other methods of organization?
Anon says
I don’t keep anything on my phone. I have an important documents folder on my computer with scans of passports, driver’s licenses, and health insurance cards. My doctors’ office definitely will not accept a scan of the insurance card. They need to see the physical one. I use a Cuyana wallet very similar to the one pictured yesterday. It has my driver’s license, CDC vax card, global entry card, a bunch of credit cards, several health insurance cards, AAA card, library cards, and other assorted membership cards that I use regularly enough to justify carrying around on a daily basis.
Walnut says
I own the wallet posted yesterday and adore it. I keep physical copies of insurance cards, drivers license, global entry and multiple credit cards. It looks like I also keep my physical Costco card, transit card and my and the kid’s primary care physicians card.
For digital cards, I add everything to Apple Wallet if possible. Membership cards often live in my email and I also have backup images of passports, licenses, etc. saved in Google Drive.
Anonymous says
I’m living risky by just keeping my car insurance on the app on my phone instead of printing out the card… Since I lost access to a printer at my office I’ve been risking it but I’m a little afraid of what would happen if I got pulled over and had to pull up my insurance on my phone. The insurance app says it’s fine and should be accepted by the authorities but I don’t know!
Anonymous says
Can’t your insurance co mail it to you if it’s such a big deal? I can choose how I want my insurance cards delivered in my car insurance portal and mail is always an option.
SC says
I would print it out if you can. My husband once got pulled over at a checkpoint because I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt in the backseat (a $20 ticket). I had unbuckled to feed our 1 year old a banana after a doctor’s appointment. DH didn’t have his insurance card on him, and the checkpoint was under the interstate overpass, so DH couldn’t get cell service to connect to the app or website. The officer threatened to arrest my husband, with me and a baby in the backseat, because he couldn’t provide proof of insurance.
Cb says
I use the Stocard app for all the loyalty cards. I also have a photo folder with scans of passport, naturalisation certificate. It’s easily searchable and brings up any deals as well. But it’s really unusual to be asked for anything on paper here in the UK, beyond ID when getting on the plane, and even that doesn’t always happen if you’re flying domestically. I wonder about whether you could store insurance cards in your glove compartment if you’re a driver?
Anon says
I store my car insurance cards in the glove compartment.
Anonymous says
Same. Car insurance and registration stay with the car at all times. Health insurance cards go with me, in my wallet.
anon says
I keep them in my Google Drive and have the Google Drive app. Shared folder with my husband.
govtattymom says
Any ideas on how to help my daughter connect to the religious aspect of Christmas? She is five and we haven’t attended church in person for the past (almost) two years. Due to my health issues, returning to in-person isn’t something I’m considering at the moment. We are Presbyterian but not particularly picky (for example, I’d happily participate in a Catholic tradition). Thanks in advance!
Anon says
Advent wreath candles on the table to be lit each night at dinner; old timey advent calendar with just the pictures inside not chocolate. Set up a nativity scene. If you’re listening to Christmas music occassaionally you could select for a channel that is explicitly christmas carols (Oh little town of Bethlehem, not Silver Bells).
Some picture books from my childhood that centered on the religious aspects of Christmas: A Christmas Cat (Isabelle Holland, not the other one with the same title), The Legend of the Poinsettia (de Paola), one that was old when I read it about bells in an old cathedral that were rung by the angels and hadn’t run in centuries and about how a small gift from a poor boy and his brother caused them to ring at Christmas when they helped someone in need – no idea what it was called or who it was by.
Anon says
Outdoor nativity event? (I still remember this kind of event from when I had to have been around that age.)
Caroling?
An Orthodox or Byzantine Catholic Christmas Eve Procession? (I don’t know exactly which rites have this as part of their “midnight” mass–which may take place closer to 7 than midnight–but the procession part of the service at least is outdoors, and it is very memorable.)
Charlie Brown Christmas special?
Anon says
We don’t do church, but our Christmas Eve tradition is to unwrap a new pair of pajamas and book after dinner, drink hot chocolate while one of the parents reads the Christmas story from a kids version of the Bible, and then we read our new books in our new pajamas on the couch until bedtime. Then our Christmas tradition is that the meal always includes a birthday cake and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
Super low key, but acknowledges that the reason we celebrate is a birth, not just Santa and presents.
DLC says
Aww.. i love singing happy birthday to Jesus! We have a birthday banner we put up at Christmas time because our kids have January birthdays, so we call December- January birthday season at our house.
DLC says
My husband is Catholic and our church still streams weekly mass, and we watch nearly every week. You could probably find a service to stream for Advent and Christmas.
Some other ideas:
We also have a creche under our tree, and read Christmas books about the Nativity story. The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me is a great book about the animals holding auditions for the honor of carrying Mary to Bethlehem. If your church has service activities, or an angel tree or some such, participating might also be a good way to connect the season with church.
We also have an advent calendar with a gospel verse for each day, so that over the month you get the whole story.
Anonymous says
My suggestion would be to add some things for yourself, so that the “religious aspect” is a normal part of your own Christmas celebration that your daughter sees you doing and valuing, and therefore picks up on simply from being around you. You could read Scripture, light an Advent wreath at home (google “family advent” and you’ll find lots and lots of help for doing it), pray out loud with her and let her see you praying quietly for yourself, participate in church through streaming services on Sunday mornings, set up a nativity scene, talk about Jesus, etc.
Anonymous says
Advent wreath, holiday family devotional, reading the Christmas story, streaming services, Lessons and Carols.
I personally avoid live Nativity events because, at least where we live, they skew very evangelical/fundamentalist/fringe. I’d also steer clear of Catholic services because IME protestants are merely tolerated, not welcomed. It’s not like, for example, the UMC, where the attitude is very much “We’re so happy to see you! Jesus loves everyone!” and communion is open to all. If you want a more Catholic-style liturgy, try Episcopal services.
Love the idea for the Charlie Brown special.
We have an advent calendar called “The Story of Christmas” that breaks the story up into 24 tiny books that you can read and then hang on the tree. It is available at Banes and Noble. A toy nativity set to play with would also be fun at that age. I think Lego, Playmobil, and Little People make them.
anon says
That Little People nativity set has been one of THE favorite toys at my parents’ house. All the grandkids love it, even those who are well past the Little People stage in life.
anon says
Read Christmas books that tell the Biblical story. Talk about Advent and what it means; maybe light the candles if you’re up to it. Talk about the meaning of Away in the Manger and other religious Christmas songs. Do you have a nativity set?
Anonymous says
You could light a candle for each week of advent, the way that churches do. My old church used to encourage candle lighting at home, and prints a weekly guide of practices that I think are supposed to go with it. Not all of it is kid-appropriate, but you could adapt the guide to do a short reading, say a prayer, and light the candle together: https://goodshepherdnewyork.com/
Mary Moo Cow says
She might be a little young, but the children’s picture book version of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is a wonderful read! We’re reading it with my 4 and 6 year olds and I tear up a bit when the narrator realizes the terrible Herdmans really understand what it might have been like for Mary to have a baby in a barn.
Anon says
I always liked the nativity story and saint stories.
anon says
If you are comfortable with outdoor services, some churches in my town are offering them in order to enable folks who are concerned about covid risk to participate in person (but more safely) on Christmas Eve.
We have an 18 month old and keep a very religious home generally. Some of our favorite traditions for this season that don’t involve in-person church activities include:
-Lighting the wreath nightly
-Setting up our home creche and my son’s Little People Nativity
-Reading books that focus on the first Christmas (Who is Coming to Our House? is a favorite, but we also have some cute nativity pop-up books)
-Putting out shoes for St. Nicholas on Dec 6th and discussing how St. Nicholas gave gifts to needy children
-Keeping the tree up and advent wreath lit through Epiphany.
-Big home Epiphany party with cake, Epiphany baby, etc.
-Marking our door for the Three Kings.
I read the Bible to my son every morning while he eats breakfast, and during Advent we focus on the stories around the first Christmas, John the Baptist, the Annunciation, etc.
If you are going to be physically separated from your church community for some time yet, you might investigate the Godly Play or Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials online for ideas for doing home Sunday School with your child. It’s really hard to teach Christmas as a religious holiday if you don’t have an overarching religious life, I think – just tough to make it resonate with kids. The season of Advent through Easter is actually a pretty easy time to introduce more home devotional stuff, because there are so many important holidays and observances in that period, and the “story” hangs together a bit more easily for young kids bc you’re basically on a journey through Jesus’ life.
Anonymous says
I agree with the last paragraph, although I am not sure that even kids who attend church and Sunday school really get it until they are older and maybe not even until they’ve been through confirmation class (eighth grade for us). With the little ones, I think the most you can hope for is some sort of vague understanding that Jesus was the son of God and we should try to live the way he did, loving all people. The whole death and resurrection thing just goes over their heads.
Anonymous says
I know my church posted Sunday School videos on youtube all last year — if you’re not picky about denomination, you might try looking for some virtual sunday school offerings.
I agree that Advent wreathes and outdoor nativities/pageants are another good option. Check around your community! There are outdoor or virtual options for just about everything, now. And +1 to Christmas carols
Nintendo Switch for 7yo? says
My 7yo son is desperate to receive a Nintendo Switch for Christmas. I’m thinking of biting the bullet… but this is a terrible idea, isn’t it? Am I setting us up for failure and battles over screen time and his brain is going to turn to mush, right?
Anonymous says
That’s what I feared, and it’s not at all what happened. It’s turned out to be mostly a social thing, and if you can stand to play with them it’s a great family activity too. I would get the real Switch that hooks up to the TV and not the Switch Lite. The TV version is necessary for group play on the same system, and it’s easier to set limits if you can say the system has to live and charge in the dock by the TV.
EDAnon says
We worried too, but we have strict rules (no use until after 5pm. Only allowed on Wednesday and weekends – we did allow on holidays too).
Our son is only 5. We got it so he could play with family who live in another state and that’s largely what he does. My husband or I usually play, too, which he loves.
We are strict about games, too. Plus the cool ones are expensive!
Anonanonanon says
You know your kid best, but screen time wasn’t an issue until my son turned 11, even though his dad (my ex) got him a DS then switch starting when he was 7 or so. Even now it’s not a battle necessarily, but he definitely sneaks off to find a screen (his kindle, his school computer, his phone, etc.) even when he’s not supposed to and will claim he was “looking for a book” in his room the past hour and a half (which I can’t even be mad at because it’s such classic tween behavior)
Anonanonanon says
Also, we were successfully able to do zero screen time on school nights until 6th grade without a fight. As the above commenter said, it really is a social thing and my husband convinced me it’s important for the social world of an elementary-school-aged boy.
Anon Lawyer says
I mean, no more so than with any other screen. The advantage of this one is you can get Animal Crossing for yourself. Designing my virtual house and landscaping my virtual island is really my happy place right now.
Anonymous says
Our switch has not made screen time battles any worse – for us it is a pick your poison situation. We got it when my son was 8. He is now 9 and would currently rather do Roblox online, or other app-based games, than anything he has on the switch. But it goes in phases. My husband did get obsessed with a switch game, so there is that to consider.
anon says
Honestly, unless you are no-screen time, I prefer the Switch for my kids, as opposed to their clamoring to use the ipad, which can get them into sketchy Youtube territory fast. We keep the charger in the kitchen, so the device generally stays in communal areas where we can monitor usage pretty easily.
OP says
Oh this is a good point, thank you. My son would watch Ninja Kidz on YouTube all day and night if I let him.
EDAnon says
I removed YouTube from my iPad for this reason.
OP says
Ok, I think we’re going to do it. Follow-up question: any recommended games? We’ll probably do something with Mario and a Pokémon one because that’s what I know he’s interested in. I’m not super interested in games for me or my husband as I am not a video game person and I’m sure my husband will figure out something he wants… but I’ll take them anyway :)
Anonymous says
Mario Kart, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Animal Crossing are the biggies.
Anonymous says
Mario Party and JackBox games are fun for groups, like if other kids come over (or family! We played both at Thanksgiving with grandparents and cousins).
Anonymous says
There are some good inexpensive LEGO tie in games that are a nice starting point. I think our son had the Lego Jurassic Park one. If he’s into a specific LEGO series, there may be a game for that. Common Sense Media has useful reviews.
EDAnon says
We have Mario Kart, Mario Party (which I like), and Animal Crossing. We also play Math Land which our son loves (and me, too. I love math).
Anonymous says
I heartily concur with Zelda Breath of the Wild and Mario kart. If your son likes sports, NHL /NFL whatever year is a hit with my 8 year old. Smash Bros is a fun family game. Supermario Odyssey is great and can be two-player, but is better solo. We also have Pokemon and Harry Potter, but those don’t get as much play. My 5 year old has gotten into Dark Souls via my husband, which is not at all age appropriate and impossibly difficult (for me), so steer clear of that. We have friends who do Minecraft on the switch; my kids stick with actual PCs for that, but it’s an option.
Just a note- switch has parental control, so you can (and we do) lock it down so you need the code to start any game.
And same as others, we haven’t had screen time battles over the Switch. Kids get screen time one week night and on weekends before 10am and after dark. They don’t even bother asking outside of that, anymore.
Anonanonanon says
I have posted before about being in law school at night in addition to working full-time. Tonight is my last final of the semester and I took today off work. After everyone left the house I climbed back into bed and slept until 11 AM, and it was glorious. I have zero guilt or stress over that decision. I puttered around, made a fancy coffee, lit some candles, etc. until Noon, and am buckling down to review some stuff before the exam.
Reminder to take a day during the holidays while the kids are still in school if at all possible. I haven’t just taken a day in a few years (I have horrendous PTO) and it was so, so nice. Take the day. No errands. No cleaning. No gift wrapping. Take a nap. Watch a Hallmark movie. Enjoy your smelly Christmas candle.
Anonymous says
I love you for saying this.
Anonanonanon says
Thank you! I’m kicking myself for not doing it the past couple of years. I know it’s not as easy as “take some time for yourself!” I only have 80 hours of PTO a year but even taking 3 hours off in the morning to go back to bed and sleep in and have a nice coffee would have made all the difference some weeks.
Anon says
I’m sort of planning on doing this tomorrow though I might feel crappy during it since i just got my Covid booster two min ago. also good luck on your final! I have a law degree but cannot fathom doing grad school at night with a full time job and two young kids so kudos to you.
Anonanonanon says
Thank you! Honestly/strangely, I think it’s much easier than it would have been in my early 20s. I would have been much more dramatic and stressed then. Now, it’s sort of like having a new baby. You’re tired and power through.
Good luck with your booster, I had a horrible time with my second dose but hydrated like crazy for my third and it really helped! I hope you get a somewhat enjoyable day off!
AnonATL says
My kid is staying in daycare during some of the holiday weeks while I’m off. We are paying for it regardless so I figured why not. I’m so excited for some personal time.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I try to do this every year, especially while the kids are little. So barring any holiday quarantines (ugh), my kids will be in school/daycare while I am off before Christmas. I need an actual break!
Anonymous says
Recommendations for piggy banks for an almost 5 year old?
Anonymous says
A little cash box with compartments to sort bills and coins is very fun at that age.
EDAnon says
We just use a jar. He loves it.
So Anon says
Looking for advice or recommendations: What have you all done to pick yourself up and regain confidence after a tough season (or 6) in life (other than therapy)? From recent interactions, I’ve realized that from the outside looking in, it looks like I have it together, that I’m confident at work and doing well managing all the things, but on the inside, I feel like I’m barely holding it together and second guessing myself all the time. Part of it is that I’ve recently stepped into a bigger role at work, which is great and exciting but also a stretch. I’m getting all the feedback about how to step from individual contributor and manager into true leadership. Add the new role to single parenting in the time of a pandemic after a divorce in 2019, and I feel like I am crawling towards 2022. Any recommendations on concrete things I can do to bring back the confidence I had from the before times (pre-divorce, pre ex-husband cheating with a 21 year old, pre-pandemic… all the pre-things).
Anonymous says
Easier said than done, but a hobby where you are not in charge is so refreshing. Going to yoga class or ballet class or choir rehearsal and being responsible only for myself is the break my brain needs, and improving my skills gives me a confidence boost.
Anonymous says
Hot yoga was strangely empowering for me. But also: radically taking care of myself. For me this looks like: taking a bath once a week, prioritizing sleep and limiting scheduled activities. I started saying no to things that I want to do in theory…such as kid birthdays or getting drinks with girlfriends or having people over. These were all good things but I needed to stop and think about whether I actually want to do an activity instead of saying yes automatically and then being stressed or resentful about all my plans. I started sauna for my anxiety and to help me sleep. I have a standing monthly dinner date with a friend who “gets it.” Even though our kids get along great, we both get sitters so we can eat and talk uninterrupted. Hope these are helpful.
Mary Moo Cow says
Take some time every day to either verbalize or write down what you’re good at or what you like about yourself. Actually say it out loud and put pen to paper. Share your wins with your friends and your kids without down playing them. When you get a compliment or catch your reflection and like what you see, stop and let that sink in instead of brushing it off. I would look for books or resources that pique your interest or seem like they would be helpful but don’t go overboard. (What that looked like for me: I failed the bar the first time. I wallowed for a weekend; then DH bought me Brene Brown’s about failure, and I read that and booked a tutor but no more.)
shortperson says
the only way out is through. take a lot of time to be alone with your thoughts, or to have real conversations with people who get it, and you’ll get there.
Sick says
How do you cope when you are home sick with little kids and no childcare? My kids are too little to be into screen time for very long and I am really struggling to take care of them and myself.
Anonymous says
How little are the kids? For crawling through toddlers, I would set up a play yard near the couch and dump them in there with a bunch of toys while I watched TV or half-napped on the couch.
If you are super sick, with a high fever and/or digestive symptoms, your spouse really needs to take off work to watch the kids. I could never convince mine to do that, though.
Anonymous says
If I am not working, any kind of game where you lie on the floor (you are the patient/kid is the dr, “what’s on my bottom” (they put an item on your behind and you have to guess without looking). If I need to work… my work is mostly meetings so take a walk with kid while I do meetings by phone, let the kid scooter in the garage while I try to use my laptop, etc.
Anon says
I know I’m lucky in this regard but I take sick leave from work so I can rest when I’m not on childcare duty and DH watches them as much as he can so usually I just have to cover the occasional meeting of his. We could both work from home and had pretty flexible schedules even before the pandemic. Also if kids aren’t sick they go to daycare even if we’re sick (in these times I would take a rapid test at home first to confirm it’s not Covid).
I also found screen time was effective younger than I thought it would be, like <18 months particularly if watching with an adult or older sibling.