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I was surprised to see these in the 70%-off section over at ShopBop: gray maternity pants from Theory. Even at 70% off they’re $82 (and they are final sale), but there are a ton of sizes left in both black and gray. Black is full price at $275; gray is 70% off at $82.50. Theory Maternity Urban Max II Pants (L-2) Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines.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?
sfg says
Thanks to everyone for offering their take on two pumps on Friday – am stalking my local mom’s group for a used PISA.
AnonSoLong says
I know that it’s better for everyone if I work. Aside from the short and long term tangible benefits (and necessity, really) of earning money, I’m not well suited to be a SAHM. I know this. The house would be more of a mess, small child would be on my nerves, and I’d be even more anxious and I would really resent my spouse. Yet, there are days that I want to quit work and spend my days at mommy and me classes, reading to the little one, and baking.
I hate asking this question on the internet, but, I’m not the only one who feels this way some days, right?
mascot says
I feel this way too sometimes. Then I stay home for a few days for a school break/long wknd and am very ready to get us all back to school and work.
Jdubs says
+1000. I know it isn’t right for me… but somedays it is all I want. I honestly wish I could do like 4 days of working and 1 day home, but unfortunately that won’t work in my current job.
Noelle says
You are not alone. I feel the same way. I try to satisfy the “what would be it like if I were a SAHM” itch by really spending QT with my daughter on the weekends and on federal/state holidays (as opposed to my pre-mommy self who could usually be found in the office for at least some portion of a weekend or holidays).
EB0220 says
I feel this way all the time. When it gets really bad, I take a half day off and do something special with one of my little ones. It really helps me. When my husband traveled often and I only had one child, we always did a special no-chores evening once a week (get Chick-Fil-A and have a picnic at the playground, or go visit the horses at a nearby farm, etc.).
Same says
I also try to remember that I’d be a great SAHM, if my husband were also a SAHD. I parent far better when I have another set of hands and we get to go through the day together. I often forgot that SAH parenting isn’t done with an adult “buddy,” which is how our weekends are spent. Also, we’re on kid 2 now, and the challenges of parenting two kids with very different needs is difficult. I feel great that both kids get their developmental needs met in a way that would not happen if I had both all day. FINALLY, my husband unexpectedly was laid off last year, and the surprise/shock of that was enough to remind me that nothing in life is certain. Keeping my foot in the door professionally is a security net for multiple reasons.
That being said, I did take a much more relaxed position, and have found the ability to spend far more quality time with my kids has made me a better employee and better parent.
Spirograph says
+1000 to this. I actually work only 4 days/week right now. I use the extra day to do all the errands and housework so that our co-parenting weekends are more relaxed. Wrangling a 2 year old and a baby by myself doesn’t usually give me “quality time” with either of them, but taking back the weekends as free time with a 1:1 adult:child ratio is fantastic.
KJ says
You are definitely not the only one.
Meg Murry says
I went down to 15 hours a week for a short while while my kids were still in full time daycare and it was awesome! I feel like I could be a pretty decent SAHM if only I could still send my kids to daycare mostly full time – in my ideal world I would work 20-30 hours per week but still be able to afford full time daycare. That’s pretty much fantasy land, unfortunately, but it’s nice to dream.
I wish I had more vacation time in order to do a SAHP-style staycation a couple of times a year.
AnonSoLong says
Thanks all, there are Mondays I’m skipping back into the office, and then there are these Mondays. I figured I wasn’t alone — the great thing about this place is that I have yet to see any ‘nope, that’s just you’ responses to questions!
I am on a reduced schedule, it’s reduced enough to be somewhat flexible, but not enough to really take off regularly — although I’m thinking of doing so and making it up at night. Just need to get over the guilt and be more efficient at work.
JJ says
Echoing everyone to say the exact same thing. You are not alone. Today was that Monday for me, as well.
anonnypants says
Some Mondays are so tough. For me it is usually a rough drop-off or handover with the kid screaming and begging you not to leave that make it so hard to happily head to the office. These are balanced by the Sundays where I am totally jealous of my on-call wife getting to spend 11 hours at work. For me, as a serious introvert, if I did not get to hide in my office and not talk to anyone (never mind not having a small screaming person who needs me “right now”) for significant part of the day, I would be a mess. I also like feeling like my time is important and sometimes I get to just walk out and leave no matter what the chaos level because I have this other important obligation (and, come to think of it, I use this on both sides of my life).
So while I am usually very happy not to be a SAHM, some days are tough, and I agree with Same says that the both parents have part time jobs plan would be the best…
MSJ says
Yep. Right there with you. Also agree with “Same” on the adult buddy thing.
Momata says
I felt that way this morning, too. Kiddo and I had a particularly lovely weekend, and this morning when I left while she was still eating breakfast it broke my heart – I wanted to have a third lovely day with her. She waved goodbye and had no problems with me leaving – which made me even sadder because she’s used to me leaving.
PregAnon says
Totally agree. I know it isn’t for me…but some days…even before baby has been born…I just want to stay home and bake.
Anon says
I feel this same way. A lot. Like I’m not doing as good a job as I could at anything. The feeling has waxed and waned over the years. I have several kids, and have gone through different phases along with their phases. At some times it has felt more important to be around more than at others. I’m pregnant with my last, due later this year, and I’ve decided I am going to take a few years off after I have the baby. I am at a place in my career and with my firm where I know they’ll take me back in a few years (we’ve discussed it, and I have other options if I change my mind about going back there, though I do love my firm). Not having that worry about the on-ramp down the road has made my decision a whole lot easier.
NewMomAnon says
Here is my quantum physics question of the day – how are toddler shoes somehow big enough for both the child’s foot AND all the sand that comes out of them at the end of the day? Does sand have magical compressing properties? Or are baby feet made of clouds and marshmallows?
Also, for Kat G; I’m seeing ads that block comments and sometimes content. Today is a Garnier video that is blocking the first comment, and I couldn’t even see the weekend open thread on the main page because an ad was covering most of it. So I’m commenting and following the thread to avoid the problem!
HSAL says
Same issue with the Garnier ad covering the first comment.
anne-on says
Same issue with the Garnier ad
ANP says
+1 on the Garnier ad.
And: YES! Totally agree on your quantum physics question. Inquiring minds want to know.
FVNC says
I had the same issue with the ad, but it’s fixed now for me. Thanks, Kat!
EP-er says
Still having problems with the Garnier ad on the main page and this one.
HSAL says
Found out today it’s a girl! Which is what I wanted. I feel like it’s time to hit the registry game hard. :)
Anonymous says
Congrats! I find out today too… Counting down the hours!
Lyssa says
Congratulations! My little girl is coming in a week, and we spent the weekend buying pink and purple receiving blankets and trying to girlify the blue (we didn’t get around to repainting from #1) nursery. It now has pretty pretty butterflies!
ANP - for the person seeking maternity pantyhose recs says
I saw your question on the Weekend Open Thread and I, too, used Berkshire maternity hose — got them off of Amazon. In winter, I had WORKHORSE maternity tights from Old Navy — way more comfortable/durable than the Berkshire ones, but also opaque instead of sheer (which is what I assume you’re looking for for the summer).
layered bob says
thank you! I ordered some based on the weekend recommendation and they should arrive tomorrow. Before this, I cut notches in the waistband of regular pantyhose – based on the recommendation of someone here (Blonde Lawyer maybe? don’t recall), and that worked great until 7+ months.
BoysBoysBoys says
Okay, here’s my random kid question of the day. I have 2 kids – 2 and 4. Both boys. They seem to get along great, but again, they are 2 and 4, and bond well over things like saying “poopy bottom.” Husband and I only ever wanted 2, but I admit, I’m worried about the dynamics of a two boy household. Maybe I’m looking for issues, but I feel like I rarely see adult brothers who get along well (really well) who grew up in a household with only two boys. I know adult males who are close to their brothers, but there were 3 or more boys in the family. I know several adult males who really seem to hate/don’t get along with/are not close to their adult brother, and more often, these guys seemed to come from a two child household. I theorize that it’s easier to feel pitted against/compared to a single brother, whereas 2 or more siblings breaks up this dynamic. There’s less direct competition when there are more kiddos who have different attributes/skills. Comparison are more measured, and not zero sum games. The same theory would apply to girls – I just happen to have boys.
Am I looking for a reason to have 3? Possibly. But it would be helpful (even if exclusively anecdotal) to hear about adult brothers who are close.
Anon says
My husband has 3 brothers. He’s extremely close with one, quite close with another, though they don’t stay in touch as often as the first 2, and not at all close with the third. I think it’s all down to their individual personalities. He just doesn’t get along well with the personality type of his third brother. In case it matters, my hubs is the second oldest, and he’s closest to the youngest, then the oldest, and the one he doesn’t really get along with is just below him. I don’t think in his family birth order mattered though; it’s all about their personalities. As a kid he fought a lot with the oldest, but they grew out of that in their twenties.
Meg Murry says
My husband and his brother are fairly close now, but since they were 5 years apart they really weren’t close until they were both adults and living in the same area, and it probably doesn’t hurt that my BIL is nearly always single and broke and therefore always down for hanging out with his big brother when big brother is buying the beer or letting him use our washing machine. I think the fact that we live in the same town also makes a big difference – I doubt they would bother to keep in touch as much if they had to actually call or email instead of just hanging out over a beer.
FWIW, I spent a long time wanting 3 kids because I was jealous of how close my cousins with 3 or 4 kid families were compared to my sister and I. But now that I’m coming to terms with only having 2, I’m realizing that a big part of the sibling closeness and overall family dynamic was also due to the choices the mothers made and her personality- in the families I’m most envious of, the mother either was SAH, worked from home (ran daycare out of home, for instance) or worked a very part time schedule, and the women also tended to be home-maker types of the “always had cookies baking and big homemade family dinners” stereotype, and were often very extroverted and demonstrably affectionate with their kids. For a TV example, think of the show “Parenthood” – how the family is always spending so much time together, and the 4 siblings love each other so much, etc. I’ve come to realize that I am not that woman, and that adding a 3rd kid to my family isn’t going to magically transform us into that 3 kid family that I wanted with super close siblings – it’s just going to make me a stressed out, stretched thinner version of myself. If a 3rd kid were to happen, we’d roll with it and I don’t think it would be a tragedy, but I’m coming to terms with the idea that a 2 boy family is actually a place I’m pretty happy to stop at most days.
Just my 2 cents on looking for external reasons to have a 3rd kid – feel free to consider or ignore.
ANP says
My husband is the younger of two extraordinarily close brothers. He came along 3 years after his big bro and I still marvel at their relationship (and we’re all in our early/mid 30’s now). They even played the same sports in high school and it wasn’t too competitive/weird for them to be in the same arena, if that makes sense. I believe it helps that they now have some kids who are the same age, although his brother’s oldest child is five years older than our eldest and DH/my BIL were still close even when my husband didn’t have kids.
It’s also interesting to note here that my SIL and I get along but would never be considered close (or even “friends”) by any stretch of the imagination! So it’s not like my relationship with her is facilitating their closeness or warmth. I believe this brotherly love goes back to how the boys were raised and, really, how their parents set the tone in their house growing up.
For comparison, my sister and I are five years apart (no other sibs) and are super-distant from one another. I also have two incredibly dysfunctional parents, and again I believe the mom/dad/caregiver relationship in the family sets the tone for sibling relationships. Note that this is my completely unscientific and untested theory!
Edited to add: we live in the same town as my BIL’s family, and the two of them have shared interests (playing/watching basketball, golf, etc.). Not sure how this would have panned out if those circumstances were different.
BoysBoysBoys says
This is awesome to hear. It does seem that – in addition to the parental tone – the same geographic location really helps. I would love to know more about the general tone of your husband’s household growing up, to the extent you are aware of it/can describe it.
ANP says
Sorry for the late response. My husband’s parents are great — there were definite rules in the household, but they had a ton of fun, too. The family is fairly religious (and I am not, which has made for some interesting — not bad, just interesting — extended family dynamics) and most of the boys’ lives were structured around school, extracurriculars (sports — always sports!) and church. Their parents were (are) beloved by both kids, but also feared a little bit — not in a, “They’re going to beat us” kind of way, but in a “They’re in charge” fashion. Does that help?
EB0220 says
My husband has just one brother and they get along well. Lived together and did lots of outdoor activities together in college and grad school. Our families are still reasonable close although with small kids we don’t get together quite as often anymore. My husband and his brother are doing an obstacle race together this weekend, though!
RDC says
My husband and his brother (2 years younger) are very close, and it’s just the two of them. Lots of shared interests, and even though we don’t live close, they talk on the phone about every week.
NewMomAnon says
I babysat for 3 families that had 2 boys (and only 2 boys). Of those 3 sets of brothers, 1 set is extremely close as adults (ack, they are graduated from college adults!), 1 set is somewhat close, and 1 set is not really close, but they get along at holidays, etc.
The brothers who are very close had a SAHM who was very loving and creative when they were little boys, but the homelife became rough when they got older (divorce when the boys were pre-teens, domestic abuse between parents, parents cheating on each other). The somewhat close boys had two working parents who were involved and loving, and the boys are still very close with their parents and voluntariliy hang out at social events together. The more distant brothers had a working father and a SAHM, idyllic family life, but one of the boys was very sick as a little kid and was diagnosed later with Aspbergers (and the other one probably also has Aspbergers).
Which is just to say – I know three families with only two boys and those boys grew into adults who get along with their sibling. So there is hope. And I suspect that those early years are very important, so you’ve probably already done almost everything you can do to develop their relationship.
BoysBoysBoys says
Thanks all – there’s a lot to think about here. I love hearing about two close brothers – it makes me extremely happy.
It’s interesting to read the common thread of the mother and parental role in how adult siblings interact. The most dysfunctional relationship 2 brothers I am aware of grew up with a mother who actively pitted the boys against each other (“Why can’t you do X like your brother” was a common refrain). But having more kids doesn’t fix that – it starts with the parents. To that end, Meg Murray – your line ” it’s just going to make me a stressed out, stretched thinner version of myself” resonates. I dream of my children growing up with a close, healthy relationship, and 3 kids doesn’t necessarily mean 3 close happy kids. It may mean less attention, more competition, etc.
Also, the somewhat sexist issue I am trying to avoid considering – My family has a lot of very dominant women, who seem to drive the relationships, and I also have worried that my guys will drift without someone (me? a sister? wives?) to keep our particular family close.
(former) preg 3L says
Honestly – your last paragraph – if you raise two boys to respect women, they will keep your family together. Raise them to be close, respectful, wonderful boys and they’ll grow into close, respectful, wonderful men, who may choose to marry a “dominant” woman (your word), or may not. Sounds like you’re doing great, mama.
Meg Murry says
Not going to lie – I’m a bit concerned about the idea that I’m not necessarily going to have the same relationship with my adult sons as I might with an adult daughter, especially once they have kids – I know as much as I like my MIL, when my kids were born I gave preference to my mother over my MIL – sometime consciously, sometimes not. However, I’ve decided not to try for a 3rd on the hopes that 1) the 3rd would be a girl and 2) the girl would be any closer to my than my boys, as much as I sometimes dream about that.
The things I am doing to (hopefully) circumvent this are:
1) Encourage my husband to have a close relationship with his family – both as a whole group and him going to hang out with them without me (either with or without my kids) and letting my sons see this.
1a) Trying not to step in and be the coordinating conduit between our family and my MIL or BIL but rather let my husband do it even when he frustrates me, so my sons don’t get the message that family coordinating is only handled by the women (or at least to even it out, since in my Mother’s family it is 95% women coordinated). Hopefully he’s setting a good example for them when he picks up the phone and calls his mom :-)
2) Being kind to my MIL, even when I don’t especially want to hang out with her, in the hopes that the karma pays it forward. Little things like taking her dress or shoe shopping absolutely make her day.
2a) I don’t ever, ever b*tch about my in-laws in front of my kids, even when I really want to – because I don’t want to set the tone that that’s normal or ok. I also try not to let them hear me complain about my sister, because I grew up listening to my mom gripe about her sister (she is close to her brothers and SILs, but never has gotten along with her sister) and I don’t think it sent my sister and I a good message.
Does your husband have siblings, and how close is he with them? What about you? I think modeling good sibling relationships can go a long way toward helping raise close kids – at least I hope so. And even if they aren’t close as kids (my sister and I weren’t, neither were my husband and BIL) they may get closer as adults.
Lorelai Gilmore says
Meg Murry, this is really wonderful advice. I completely agree with you about modeling the kind of behavior you want your own children to emulate.
anon says
My husband has one brother, and they get along great! I think they had a rough year or two in college (went to the same college at the same time), as many siblings do, but while they don’t, say, talk on the phone daily, they get along really well now. We also now live in the same geographic area, so the brother can come see our kid all the time. They’re not as close as I am with my brother, but I think that is just their family’s way — we are much more talk-y than my husband’s family is.
TBK says
My dad and uncle were the only children in their family and they’re really close. I honestly think it’s just the luck of the draw in terms of personalities. My husband and BIL NEVER got along, but they were always very, very, very different people. My step-father and his brother weren’t close when they were younger, because their personalities are so different, but have become closer in middle age. On the other hand, I know of siblings in bigger families that don’t get along — or, worse, two out of three siblings are really close and then the third is kind of an outsider. I tend to lean on the fact that mine are twins when I worry about this (because I’ve never heard of twins who aren’t at least somewhat close in adulthood) but really they’re just two random people who happen to have been born into the same family. Maybe they’ll be best friends, and maybe they won’t.
Katarina says
My FIL has a very close relation to his brother, and they are now retired. My husband is also close to his brother as adults, and is also close to both of his parents, he is just overall very family oriented.
Anon says
On the topic of maternity work pants, I’m really impressed with the ones I ordered from loft. The quality seems great for the price (I bought them 40% off). They’re much thicker than expected and the fabric looks great. I wish they had pencil skirts in the same fabric. I ended up with the Japanese Weekend pencil skirt featured here awhile back. I like the length, but the fabric quality is not that impressive. It’s thin and a little shiny. I’d return it, but I already tried and returned a bunch of maternity pencil skirts; I didn’t find anything great.
Liz says
I found a great maternity pencil skirt at a pea in the pod last winter. I bought 2 and wore them a ton. They worked great from early second trimester till about month 8. At which point nothing was comfortable at work anymore!
anon says
ah, but the Loft maternity panels are SO TIGHT!
Anon OP says
I sized up one size from my pre-preg size (I know from previous experience that my rear and thighs get pregnant too), and I’m only 20 weeks (but I have several other kids and am obviously pregnant at this point), but I’m finding them comfy so far. When I have a panel that starts to feel constricting (Gap skinny jeans looking at you), I fold it down and use it like an under-belly roll-down band.
Manhattanite says
Why are so many maternity work pants bootcut or even flare? Not only do I feel like I swallowed a whale, but those pants make me feel so frumpy, too! This is why I wear skirts and dresses most of the time during the week and leggings on the weekends.