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Here’s an interesting twist on the traditional oxford shirt.
This breezy, organic cotton shirtdress has all the customary oxford shirt details — button front, pointed collar, double chest pockets. But the high-low hem and asymmetrical belt keep things fresh. Go traditional with light blue, or modern with black or (my pick) black-and-white stripes.
Keep it office-friendly with a pair of flats or low block-heel loafers.
The Oxford Shirtdress from Everlane is $100 and comes in sizes XXS–XL.
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
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?
Anonymous says
I made an offhand remark that my 3-year old is an only child (currently correct, does not say anything about our future child-having plans) and my dad got weirdly mad at me? He told me it was selfish to only have one child, especially when we didn’t have any complications with our son’s birth and he’s a great kid. I’m trying to ignore and move on but it’s bothering me, especially since the reasons I’m leaning toward only one are kind of selfish ones (professional goals, money, I like sleep).
Anonymous says
No you stop it right now. There is no such thing as a selfish reason not to have a child.
RR says
You know this, but your dad has absolutely no right to an opinion on how many children you have. And your reasons are not selfish. I have three kids, and you could say I stopped after 3 for “selfish” reasons (I hated being pregnant, I had professional goals, I like money, etc.) Why do we think it’s selfish to stop after one but not to stop after two or three or four? The reasons are the same “selfish” ones, aren’t they?
It’s not selfish to make a decision about how you want your life and your family to look. Period.
Cb says
I have one kid and someone said one was an accessory rather than lifestyle and it was mean but also… true.
You do you but I love, love, love having an only. I can take the big travel job and still get loads of quality time with my kiddo. I’m an only child and I’m super close with my parents, don’t think I’m particularly selfish and I am pretty social.
Anon Lawyer says
Definitely not true in my life but good it works out that way for some people I guess.
Anon says
Wasn’t that Meghan Markle? Honestly I didn’t find that offensive. One IS easier. It’s a big part of why we chose one. But what OP’s dad is saying is much worse!
+1 that I love having an only and being an only. My parents moved here to help us, something they likely wouldn’t have been able to if I had a sibling (because which kid do you choose?)
Anon Lawyer says
Ok an accessory that takes up most of my money and time and is a full human being in her own right, sure. I mean, of course it’s easier but do we need to act like moms of 1 are just dragging along their kids to brunch all the time and never thinking about anything but their own lifestyle?
Anon says
Yeah, I think it’s weird to call a child an accessory. They’re obviously not. But I don’t really disagree with the bigger point that one child is a lot easier to fold into your existing lifestyle, whereas when you add a second the balance tips in favor of a family that revolves around the children more. I’ve seen it happen with lots of my friends’ families and it’s a big reason we stopped at one. Of course that’s what lots of people want, and there’s certainly lots to admire about those big, loud, loving families. But personally I’m introverted and liked the idea of keeping our same life and just adding a tiny person. YMMV and of course it depends a lot on the kid(s)’ and parents’ personalities. If your only child has special needs or even neurotypical but high needs I’m sure it can be a much bigger lifestyle shift.
Anonymous says
Having one great kid is actually a good reason to stop. Why risk messing up something good?
Aunt Jamesina says
I mean, I think pretty much all reasons to have or not have a(mother) child are inherently selfish in the sense that it’s a choice that works for you and your immediate family’s circumstances, so go ahead and be “selfish”!
People feel so entitled to voice their opinions about family size, it’s ridiculous.I literally had family members that have pestered us about having a second before I’d even given birth to our first. We went through IVF to have a baby, so I tried gently reminding people that even if we want another (we’re still on the fence) that it’s certainly not guaranteed to happen and it can hurt to hear comments like that. My MIL still keeps going on about how our kid needs a sibling. After the first two attempts to tell her that might not be in the cards for us, we literally pretend she hasn’t said anything at all any time she makes comments about it. Some people seem to think that every opinion that crosses their mind needs to be voiced. I’m sorry, it’s so annoying and rude.
Aunt Jamesina says
Hah, that should be a(nother)
Anonymous says
I’m sorry this happened. I’m almost 40 years old… when I was born, my mom was working as an audiologist and waffling about whether to return to work. Apparently her dad made some kind of comment to the effect of “I don’t know why you even had that baby if you don’t intend to raise it” and she ultimately decided to exit the workforce. She told me this a couple years ago and clearly still had some bitterness about it, so these comments can stick! She’s never come right out and said she regrets quitting, but I do think she would have been happier if she’d maintained her identity outside of “mom” and an adult space to use her brain and skills. All that to say, do what is right for you; don’t give too much weight to other people’s opinions, even if they’re people you love. It’s not selfish to have only one child, and tbh, you don’t owe anyone a reason beyond “this is what I think will make me happiest.”
Aunt Jamesina says
Yeah, I tend to think that when people voice opinions about things like this that they’re projecting their own insecurities or trying to justify their own choices. It’s crappy.
Remember ladies, you can’t win no matter what you do!
anonM says
Also, you cannot win with this stuff. Some people will judge large families as “too many kids.” Some people will judge any kids as too many, because of environmental concerns and view having kids at all as selfish. So, you have to do what is best for you and your family.
Anon says
When we first talking about only having one kid for all your same reasons, my parents literally said the exact same thing.
Cut to a year later of trying with no luck and me telling them that they better get used to us only have one kid and not to make any more comments. They felt like s**t and haven’t said anything since.
Anyhow just commiseration.
NOPE says
Dude, people suck about this. Nobody is entitled to determine what your family size should be except for you and your partner.
Heck, I was asked over and over when I was having another baby. ‘OH, you can’t possibly force him to be an only child!’
…Friends, people were saying this to me mere weeks after my sweet baby was released from the NICU and before I was fully healed from the emergency hysterectomy needed to save my life from sepsis resulting as a birth complication. Like… I was literally sobbing to my therapist and coping with literal PTSD and people were compounding this by asking me why I wasn’t having another baby.
Nope nope nope. Right up there with ‘don’t ask somebody when they’re due’… as my poor friend who lost her baby at 39 weeks and yes, still looks pregnant several weeks later, has had to endure.
Aunt Jamesina says
That is such bullsh!t, I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Bean74 says
I fully agree with Aunt Jamesina. It’s total BS and am so sorry you had to deal with that.
My delivery was no where near what you experienced and it was still enough for me to say ,”Never again.” The response I heard most often? “You’ll forget all about that.” No, no, I haven’t, and I won’t. A lot of people just suck when it comes to anything related procreation.
Jolene says
An accusation of “selfish” implies you are putting your own needs ahead of someone else’s whose needs you SHOULDN’T be putting them ahead of. So who is that other person in this case? Your child? Only children get tons of attention, resources, and time that multiples don’t. Society at large? We have plenty of people. So really it’s your dad. He thinks you should make yourself less happy and comfortable for HIS benefit. You can decide from there if that makes any bleeping sense at all.
Anon says
what?? ok, i actually think that on some level having kids to begin with is selfish. on an individual level most of us have kids because we want to be a parent. i have two (twins) and the reason i had kids to begin with was bc i always wanted to be a mom. i think not having more kids you don’t really want, is the opposite of selfish
Bean74 says
I also have one, am not having any more, and hear these comments all the time. I’ve finally come down on the side that when people persist with these comments, it’s coming from a place of insecurity.
It’s not selfish to stop at one. In fact, based on what you shared, it sounds like you are self-aware and content. What more could people ask for?
Anon says
+1 it took me a long time but it’s no longer that hard to hear these comments (though I certainly wish people weren’t so rude). We were playing at the park yesterday with the mom of a 2 year old and she and I started chit chatting about how hard pandemic parenting is, and she was telling me how she wants to stop at one but she can’t because she’d be ruining her child’s life. Instead of getting offended and stalking off, I just smiled and said my child seems incredibly happy right now and it would not improve her life to give her a sibling we aren’t financially or emotionally prepared for. I also mentioned that I grew up as an only and never felt like anyone was depriving me of anything, and as an adult I’ve reaped the benefits by having my parents move here and help with childcare. I think it was a revelation to her that only children can be happy. I try to remind myself that the comments mostly come from a place of ignorance not cruelty. Only child families are so rare and people tend to fear what they don’t know.
AwayEmily says
You are a legit nice person. I do not think I would have reacted this well. Hope she learned something both about how awesome it can be to have/be an only child, and about not making judgmental comments about the “right” way to have a family.
Anon says
Aww thanks :) People just say this stuff without thinking, most of the time. It’s thoughtless but it helps to remind myself they’re not really saying it “at” me even though it might feel that way. It’s harder when it comes from friends and family than strangers, I think, and we’ve been lucky that the people we know personally have mostly been very supportive.
Anon says
Umm, it sounds like your dad selfishly wants more grandkids.
Anon says
Ding ding ding.
Anon says
This is such an interesting topic for me. My husband and I just had a baby, and we’re planning on stopping with one. We had many talks where we decided that based on our personalities (quiet and time alone are critical to our mental well-being), our career and money goals, and the general lifestyle we want to live, one child really makes the most sense for us. I’m 100% on-board, even though I love being a mom so much. The fascinating part is how there is so much, even subliminal, societal pressure to have another child. It feels like everyone I know either already has a second child or is pregnant with a second child. There are lots of small, casual well-meaning comments about us having another kid. There has been so much societal *stuff* that I’ve found myself wondering if we should have another one just…because…that’s what you do apparently…
Anon says
Don’t have another just because that’s what society expects. That’s a terrible reason for bringing a child into the world. If you actually WANT another, then it’s a different story.
Anon says
There’s a sub-r3ddit for one and done families that you might check out if you’re looking for commiseration or validation about choosing to stop at one: r/oneanddone
Anon says
I like the idea of this dress, but I would look like a shapeless blob unless I tightened the belt enough that it hung down to my ankles.
Anonymous says
For some reason it reminds me of a hospital gown with a collar added.
AwayEmily says
YES totally.
Anonanonanon says
For when you have on-camera meetings from your hospital bed because America
Pogo says
too real
Anonymous says
Our VP literally did this recently. What an example to set.
Anon says
Dear g-d how awful for both her and her employees.
Cb says
I have a dress turned nightgown that looks very similar and my husband calls it my Scrooge outfit and asks where my sleeping cap is.
ElisaR says
this dress is very unfortunate looking. it doesn’t even look good on the model.
Anon says
It looks like a fancy mammogram smock that you’d wear at an UES mammogram clinic.
ElisaR says
lol at UES mammogram clinic
Anon234 says
Before I over think this purchase, coming here for recs – favorite easel for kids? Thinking of something that would support a roll of paper but also have a magnetic portion for magnet clips. DD turns 4 in two weeks and I think she’d love this. TIA!
ElisaR says
we have the melissa and doug one that is dry erase board on one side and chalk board on the other side (both sides are magnetic). it gets a ton of use and both kids can paint at the same time since the roll of paper can go either way. it was a good purchase for us.
Anonymous says
+1
NYCer says
We have this one too. Gets a ton of use.
Anonymous says
We liked the $20 Ikea one, but I don’t remember whether the white board was magnetic.
RR says
Definitely Ikea.
Anonymous says
I did google this first, but got such conflicting evidence.
If you are asymptomatic with COVID, how many days before you test positive are you considered contagious?
We are about to go away for spring break and a buddy of one of my kids just tested positive this AM. Kids played together on Monday, unmasked, outdoors. Buddy is asymptomatic and was only tested because her dad tested positive in pool testing (he’s a teacher). My kid is vaccinated; not sure about her buddy. Teacher dad is vaccinated but also immunocompromised.
My kid got a PCR test in school today as part of routine testing; I’m just trying to figure out how likely it will be that I need to cancel/disrupt our vacation plans.
Spirograph says
I think it’s 3 days before symptom onset and/or positive test, but who knows because all the forms I have to fill out for doctors office ask whether you’ve been around someone who tested positive in the last 14 days.
I’ll probably be in the minority, but unless your vacation is to visit someone immunocompromised, elderly, or a young child, I wouldn’t even consider changing my plans over this if the PCR is negative.
Anonymous says
If she’s negative we won’t change plans. I am just hand-wringing until we find that out tmw AM.
Anonymous says
That child was contagious when the kids played together.
AIMS says
I dunno but my daughter’s classmate tested positive over the weekend and they were all together unmasked indoors in school Friday and she is negative. I wouldn’t overthink this. Your kid was outside and is vaccinated. The odds are in your favor.
Anon says
I don’t think there are easy answers for this. The epidemiologist Michael Mina seems to think that the rapid tests are the best measure on whether you are contagious (he even goes so far as to say vaccinated and symptomatic, but no positive rapid result means probably not contagious because the body is controlling the virus). But with the rapid tests missing more than half of the BA2 cases in Canada (according to one study), I don’t know about that. And I’ve seen lots of anecdata on people infecting other household members during Omicron, days before anyone showed up positive on the rapid tests, so it seems they were contagious before they tested positive.
This is all the fun knowledge you accumulate when you are immune-compromised and society and nearly everyone you know adopts the message that you should just go ahead and die already. We used to trust rapid tests to see family and get a small break, but we don’t trust them in this wave. March 2020 feels like a purgatory I will be stuck in forever.
Anonymous says
That was a much more detailed summary of the info I got when I googled :).
Anonymous says
Hugs. My family is still masking for you. <3
Anon says
Thank you so much. With enormous privilege flex, we are able to minimize risk, though at great cost to our own mental health. I worry about the immune-compromised moms that can’t do so and am so glad that people are still masking for them. My online mom disability communities are not doing OK right now. I know none of us are OK right now, but disabled moms are really going through it right now.
Anonymous says
OP here. I actually completely forgot that I just went through this a few weeks ago. My oldest and her good friend, with whom she plays unmasked at school, was PCR pool tested on a Wednesday. On Thursday AM they were both re-rested and the friend was the positive case. Friend was vaccinated and asymptomatic the entire time. My daughter never got it, despite being in school unmasked with her friend for Monday-Thursday AM.
I’m feeling better about our vacation plans, but will probably rapid test as soon as she gets off the bus. It’s going to be a PITA to change our plans but if we know now it will be better.
Pogo says
I mean definitely test – your kid was a close contact. But I think it’s a low likelihood given outdoor + fully vaxxed. Still possible though.
Anonymous says
Yes of course! She got a PCR test this AM at school as part of weekly pool testing and i rapid tested her when she got off the bus. As long as her PCR results come back tmw I am not going to worry too much about vacation.
Anotheranon says
Car seat recommendations? One child (for now), husband and I both drive Toyota SUVs.
I know this has been discussed but when I search I get results from 2015 which aren’t so helpful.
Anonymous says
Infant- we have and like the Chicco Keyfit. Other popular ones in my area are the Nuna Pipa and the Uppababy Mesa.
Convertible- we have and like the Britax Boulevard. It’s part of their Click Tight line up, which all get very good crash test ratings and do very well extended rear-facing.
Anonymous says
I really like the Britax click tight — I think ours is the Advocate but there are a couple of very similar ones. Easy to use and looks like it will be big enough to last a long time. It’s heavy to move, though, so we use a different seat for travel (Cosco scenera next).
Anon says
+1 to Britax Advocate for our cars and the Cosco seats (Scenera Next and then Finale when they outgrow that) for travel and grandparent cars. We were able to keep my giant kid rear-facing in the Britax seats past age 3, which seemed pretty good to me.
Anon says
We had the Uppababy Mesa and now the Nuna Exec. Big fans of both. Saved the Mesa for 2nd baby.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Uppababy Mesa and Graco 4ever once baby is toddler is what we did.
Anotheranon says
Sorry should have been more specific! Looking for convertible recs. We have the Chicco Keyfit now.
Anon says
Graco extend2fit and Britax have the best crash testing. We chose to get 2 Gracos that live in each car, but if having to move between multiple cars would probably have done Britax for ease of installation.
Anon says
I’ve been very happy with everything Chicco. The NextFit is great and very comfy. The only downside is that the sides are kind of high, so when baby becomes an older toddler/preschooler we switch to Graco (SlimFit). After that, we moved to the Chicco MyFit (we pass down car seats, hence getting a lot of them).
The Graco SlimFit LX is a great slim seat, if you do want to get three across some day (Dionos are a mixed bag – tall kids tend to outgrow them quickly and they take up a lot of room front-to-back). But personally I prefer the NextFit for little toddlers
Clementine says
Okay, I would say that the fundamental question is: are you even considering having 3 kids? If so – do you want a minivan? If the answer is yes, possibly 3 kids and no, no minivan: You want Dionos. They’re tall. They’re heavy. They’re annoying to install. But… they fit 3 across. They also will last up through Booster Seat years. I have a few and the ones without the shoulder/head wings work the best for older ages.
If the answer is ‘no. 2 kids max’ and/or you want to be ballin’ in an Odyssey, then every Car Seat Tech I know swears by Britex with Click Tite for easy installation.
I also really like having a spare carseat – something you can put in a grandparent’s car or a nanny’s car or take traveling. We have the Evenflo Tribute and it’s a great basic carseat. Other people like the Cosco carseats for the same purpose.
School calendars says
Kids are starting at a new school in the fall. I just looked at the 2022-23 calendar, and WOW. I was expecting private school-style breaks, but this feels excessive: Week-long fall break, plus a week-long Thanksgiving, plus a week in February, plus a two-week spring break, etc etc. The summer is shorter, so I guess that’s helpful (seven weeks, basically). But how do people manage private school calendars like this?!?!?! Do we need a nanny? An au pair? Are there babysitters who do just school breaks? I guess we could kiss our deposit goodbye and keep the kids in daycare for a while longer, but we’ll have to deal with this eventually.
Cb says
This is the normal school schedule in the UK and I still can’t wrap my head around how we’ll manage it. I guess a mix of annual leave, camps, and well-timed grandparent visits.
Does the school offer camps? Could a junior or senior on the same schedule babysit?
Anonymous says
We did it by taking more vacations (yes, privilege, but you’re paying for private school already…). Sometimes a parent would work remotely from the vacation spot.
Anon says
+1 to both more vacations and to remote work making this easier. One of the silver linings of the last two years is that I’ve realized if my employer can demand that I work full time with no childcare during a pandemic, I can choose to work full time with no childcare when it serves me (e.g., school breaks).
Anonymous says
Yes, you pay for childcare. There are typically camps in my area during breaks, but we are on a public school schedule. We also have every other Wednesday as a half day for professional development day.
Also, we have taken to using our vacation time more for school breaks. DH gets 5-6 weeks as a VP in a large corp and I am self employed so take ~7 weeks give or take. We go away for Feb and april breaks and 2 weeks in the summer. DH takes the week between Christmas and NY. We often have family in town over thanksgiving so they help watch the kids, too.
As they get older kids need less supervision. If someone is WFH, I almost never bother with a sitter unless I have big important meetings all day and they need rides to things.
Mine are 6 and 9.
Tea/Coffee says
Compare it to the local public schools! We just made the switch from public to private and the lack of random half days and random days off is NOTICEABLE. and great. Yes, they have longer breaks, but almost every week that they HAVE school, is a full five day week.
The consolidated weeks off are easier to manage through a combination of parents taking vacation days, WFH days, half days swapping with the other parent, etc.
what we HAVE noticed is that our week long spring break does not align with anyone else’s week long spring break – so there were zero “spring break camp” options.
Anonymous says
Oh this is so true. We’re switching back to public for next year and I was perusing the calendar the other day. The week of Thanksgiving at public school: Monday and Tuesday are both early release, Wednesday-Friday are off. Similar leading up to winter break. After care covers all the random half days for public school, so childcare isn’t an issue, but I’d much rather just have a few more full weeks off throughout the year.
Anonymous says
We have something called a “flexible learning day” four times a year. The kids don’t actually attend school, but the district counts them as present for state funding purposes. Parents are supposed to plan and conduct their own educational activities with their kids, then submit deliverables to have their kids marked as present. It is a total scam.
Anon says
That is bonkers.
Spirograph says
lol where do you live? I kind of love this, depending on how flexible their definition of educational activities is.
Anon says
Lol what?! This is “flexible learning day” nonsense would drive me mad!
Pogo says
Our public school is almost this bad! My dream is an au pair but I live in MA and there was a ruling a couple years ago around their employment status that made things much more complicated (supposedly). Next year we plan to use aftercare in our town, which is run by the Community Ed center, and offers vacation week camps as well as some summer camps and the odd half-day nonsense.
We also have a PT nanny who is on the public school schedule. She has, in the past, worked at aforementioned summer camps and as long as I pay her more I’m hoping she’ll just nanny directly for me.
Anon says
This is why I was surprised when people said the other day they want year round school calendars. It’s not less time off, it’s just at weird times like a week off in February when there are no camps. At least summer can mostly be covered with camps.
Spirograph says
Exactly! It’s a weird week in february that you can go skiing and not pay holiday prices for lodging.
Anon says
I guess that’s true, but I feel like the lack of camps forces you to take a vacation then, which I don’t like (what if you’re saving all your vacation time and money for a specific trip at a different time of year?). We don’t ski, and although I appreciate paying off-season prices I don’t really enjoy traveling in winter and many places (e.g., most of North America and Europe) aren’t a lot of fun to visit then. If schools gave extended time off in May and September (my favorite times to travel) then I could get on board, but that’s too close to summer break for them to give time off then.
Anonymous says
Year-round school isn’t just a week ski break in February, though. It’s usually something like 60 days instruction/20 days vacation or 45 days instruction/15 days vacation. I can’t imagine having to find child care for all those 3- or 4-week breaks at weird times of year.
Spirograph says
Yeah, I know, and I’m still all for it. I think this very much depends on where you live. In my area, there are “camps” during school breaks either through the normal aftercare organizations, or at the local ice rink, gymnastics center, pool etc. If there were more breaks throughout the year, I’m sure these businesses would offer camps then, too.
But honestly, I just want more options for vacation. I don’t like crowds, I *do* like skiing, and am not particularly a summer/beach enthusiast. Off-peak travel is my jam. I also would like a long enough break to travel internationally sometime other than summer! Public school winter break is barely more than a week, and spring break is only a week. It’s not long enough to justify the travel time to another continent.
Mary Moo Cow says
Ideally, though, the community in which the schools are located adapt and create camps and childcare for those breaks. It also allows parents to spread out their vacation days instead of trying to take their measly 10 days all in the summer. This, to me, is just one more example of how education and grown up work expectations/schedules are at odds.
Anonymous says
We regularly travel to different continents over spring and winter break. It’s 9 days including weekends. That’s plenty of time for a nice trip to Europe or South America or Africa, and if you’re going somewhere really far like Australia it’s not the end of the world for kids to miss a few days of school.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
I was in year round school from 4th grade-8th grade and unless everything locally shifts, it does not work.
I had one “intercession” (what they called the breaks) with a planned trip abroad to stay with family but got too ill to go, and another I distinctly remember being at home alone and getting my period. I think they never piloted it in HS because of the implications (and money, always likely money) for college admissions/sports timing.
Anonymous says
I have no idea how you handle extracurriculars/co-curricular activites in year-round school. Or specialized courses, for that matter. Do you really have enough kids to have a separate section of each level of band and choir, orchestra, AP studio art, AP German, and auto shop in each of three or four different calendar tracks? There are usually barely enough kids to have even one section of each of these courses for the entire school. Do you require athletes to come to sports practices and games when they are on vacation? What about the school play, and concerts, and festivals, and marching band and choir competitions?
Anonymous says
Stay at home moms
Cb says
10% of my son’s nursery got sent home with GI symptoms today. My parents are flying in tomorrow, and they are all getting on the train down to meet me Friday morning. I think my husband is going to keep my son home tomorrow but ugh… I just want a nice family holiday?
Anonanonanon says
Noro said no.
I joke, and I hope I’m wrong. Luckily you’ll know within 24 hours either way. My fingers are crossed for you!
Pogo says
Yeah at least it’s over quickly? godspeed.
Cb says
Right? My husband’s going to keep him home tomorrow in hopes of reducing exposure/seeing what happens. Hopefully it’ll be ok. But I’m not coming home (I’m at a conference and they are meeting me here) if anyone is vomiting. Will just check into our 3 bed airbnb all by myself.
Anonymous says
Yeah, the only good thing about those viruses is that they move very fast. I remember pre-pandemic there was some kind of situation at my son’s elementary school – so many kids started puking in the halls that they sent an emergency parent text alert. It sounded very dramatic. My son was up half the night puking but was perfectly fine the next day.
Anon says
+1 my daughter has only had noro once (knock on wood) but she vomited about 20 times in the space of four hours and then was fine. It’s over so quickly.
But Omicron (apparently especially BA2) can look like a noro in kids so I’d be careful about that.
anonM says
You won’t regret putting old sheets over your couch now, just in case. Good luck!
Anon says
My 3year old was exposed to Covid yesterday at daycare so Easter is cancelled. I’m so ready for vaccines for these little kiddos.
Boston Legal Eagle says
If it makes you feel better, my 3 year old has also had multiple cases in his class over the last week or so and so far he’s negative (we test every day under the test and stay rules). I wouldn’t cancel Easter with your family unless you get a positive test.
Anon says
+1
also with omicron at least, DD showed symptoms within two days of exposure. I think you’ll know whether or not kid has it by this weekend. Would definitely not assume easter cancelled. If kid tests positive saturday and sunday, I’d be totally comfortable seeing family on easter.
Anon says
If kid tests negative, you mean? I know people are acting like the pandemic is over, but I would stay home if you have a confirmed positive test.
Earlier poster says
Yes, if tests negative! Obviously!
Anonanonanon says
Yea I’m incredibly covid-cautious but I second employing a “test to stay” approach re: Easter if your family is comfortable with that plan
Anon says
Ugh so sorry. The wait is interminable.
Anonymous says
Why would easter be cancelled?
Dog heartbreak says
My beloved dog is terminally ill and I’m accepting that we are going to have to have her put down, probably sooner than I’m ready to admit. I can’t even type that without crying. I’m really emotional about losing her and I’ve never had to have a pet put down before, so that part is really really hard for me to accept.
My oldest is 3 1/2. How do I broach this with him? Do I tell him beforehand, knowing that he is not going to understand, so that he can say goodbye? Do I wait until after the fact? How do I do this without sobbing hysterically?
I’m such a wreck and barely holding it together. If crying in my office counts as holding it together, that is. Help please.
Spirograph says
First of all, I’m so, so sorry. Losing a pet is incredibly painful and you need to make some space for your grief. It’s fine to sob hysterically in front of your child; he needs to understand that everyone has big feelings sometimes, you’re really sad, but you will be OK.
I think you should give him a chance to say goodbye. Sure he might not understand the finality, but I’m just thinking of how upset my kids get sometimes if DH leaves for work and they didn’t get a chance to give him a hug. There are Mister Rogers and Daniel Tiger episodes about the death of a pet (a fish, iirc, in both cases) if those help. Your son might have a cute memorial idea.
Also, just throwing this out in case it helps: there are vets who make house calls. If your dog loves to ride in the car, or you would be upset looking at the spot where you said goodbye, maybe this isn’t for you… but when we had to put our cat down, it was nice to not put her through the last stress of a visit to the vet office. DEFINITELY do it when the kid is not home, though. And make sure you have a few hours to fall apart before you need to do daycare pickup. Big hugs.
So Anon says
I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I have an older dog too and reading your message makes my heart ache.
For your oldest, I would explain in simple, concrete terms: “Doggy is very old and sick and will not live too much longer. Doggy’s body is going to stop working. I will be with Doggy when their body stops working. After that, Doggy will be dead and not home with us anymore. I am very sad. Do you want to say goodbye?” Leave lots of room for questions. Be honest with the answers and “I’m not sure” is a great answer sometimes. The challenge that I found at this age is that kiddo may be just old enough to ask what this means for other members of the family. All the hugs.
Mary Moo Cow says
I think this is so kid dependent, and I’m sorry, because I know that when I am in your shoes, I will be looking for someone to tell me what to do. My niece and nephew have witnessed two dogs being put down and had different reactions. For my niece, once it was meaningful and gave closure and once it was really freaky and scary; for my nephew, once he was neutral about it and once he was really upset.
FWIW, my kids are 6 and 4 and I know that we’ll be facing this decision soon. We’ll probably let them know it is going to happen so they can say goodbye but have the vet come to our house when they aren’t home for the ugly part. We thought our dog was dying last year and unconsciously, I thought, “I’m really glad the kids aren’t here to see this” when he collapsed and then again when the vet came over. (This dog is Lazarus.)
Anonymous says
I wonder whether *I* will even want to be present when the day comes. It seems like a betrayal not to be there for the pet, but at the same time how awful to witness.
Anonymous says
No one *wants* to be there, but yes, I think it’s a betrayal to stay away. I read an article once that quoted a vet as saying something like “when people choose not to be in the room, the dog spends its last minutes looking for his person,” and wow I can’t even type that without tearing up.
Anonymous says
It was actually not awful to witness, for me at least. It was peaceful and mostly I felt gratitude that I got to be there to say goodbye, since some dogs (and people) die suddenly and you don’t get that chance.
Anonymous says
I’m 1 for 2 on not being awful to witness. One of my cats literally just looked like she was slowly going to sleep. The other fought to the end — that was hard, but I was still glad to be there with her.
anon says
I had to put my beloved 18-year-old kitty to sleep last fall. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be there, but I am so, so glad I was. His last moments were with me, providing love and comfort. My last gift to my little guy. OK, now I’m going to cry.
Anon says
My parents two beloved dogs died last year and my kids loved these dogs. Both died while sleeping (not at the same time, but within two weeks of each other), so I don’t have any advice for the put them down bit. My mom wanted to tell them that the dogs had gone on vacation, but I went with a script similar to So Anon. Their bodies stopped working, it’s okay to be sad, we are going to miss them so much because we loved them, weren’t we lucky to have them be part of our lives? The older kid (4) cried and was very sad. She cried with my mom about it. The younger kid (2) kept reminding us that the dogs were dead, which true, but not appropriate dude.