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I really love this blazer that is available in several size options, is in a stylish cut, and is machine washable! I also love the color offered — “Italian olive.” I like that it can play off of a cream colored pair of pants, or black, and it looks really cute with jeans as styled on the website. The open front with no button and the longer length look sleek, and I like three-quarter sleeves on blazers for comfort. I also love the longer, thinner lapels and think that this shape blazer would be flattering on any body type. It is available at Loft for $130. Three-Quarter Sleeve Open Blazer
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Sales of note for 11.28.23…
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
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- Zappos – 29,000+ sale items (for women)! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
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- Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
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- Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!
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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?
Clementine says
Anyone else just over the nonstop winter sickness?
My hands are literally raw from handwashing, I’ve ditched my normal hippie dippy cleaners for clorox wipes, and nothing seems to help…
And my kids have been ‘healthier’ than others!!
Cb says
Everyone seems to be really ill, not just normal winter colds. I’ve had a cough for 4 weeks. My son’s nursery teachers have been dropping like flies.
Anon DC says
I had the 4 week cough between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I fear it’s returned. Kindergartner is getting over influenza A (luckily it was a short bout, but it throws everything off). I hate winter, and I hate not being able to just rest enough to actually get over something properly.
Cb says
I had it in the autumn as well, 6 weeks of awful hacking. I just find it exhausting.
So Anon says
Me! Right here. I feel like I should not say/type this out because it will inevitably jinx things, but… both of my kids are at their winter break camp today! I wrote about this last week or maybe the week before; time is blurring as I go through bottles of children’s tylenol and advil. Someone has been sick in my house since late December. The latest fun was a nasty cold that turned into a double ear infection for my daughter (6) complete with high fever and no sleep for a week. I hit a point where I called my sister sobbing because I was so exhausted and at the end of my rope. I checked in with our pediatrician who assured me that this is a tough winter. Here’s hoping for an early spring for all of us!
Anonymous says
This winter hasn’t been too bad overall for us, but February has been brutal. My entire family has bad colds right now and we’re not sure it’s the same cold, we think we might each have different ones (I told my husband last night we need color-coded tissues to avoid spreading germs to each other!). My toddler has had a runny nose for the entire month of February, had an ear infection in early February and just started antibiotics yesterday for another ear infection. And apparently half of our small town has the flu, so we’re just waiting for that to hit us.
A says
Same, same. I was just thinking how grateful I am we’ve been healthy for a while, and then I realized it’s only been ten days since anyone in my house was last sick. Ugh. And we learned yesterday that two kids in my toddler’s daycare room are out with the flu. I hope we can avoid that one and that there are healthier days ahead for everyone!
JDMD says
I commented on this last week when someone else posted with the same issue. It’s been AWFUL. We’ve been sick nonstop since the first week of November. We claw ourselves back to allllllmost normal and then *bam* it starts all over again. I’m counting the days until it’s warm enough for the kids to play outside without it triggering their asthma.
ALC says
Totally over it. Baby seems to be fine now, but both my husband and I have had lingering colds/sore throats/coughs since January.
Anon says
Yes. This is our first year in preschool, so that is exacerbating it. DD and DH were sick pretty much constantly from Sept.-Nov. (I avoided it). Healthy for Thanksgiving, but the week after DD got croup and passed “adult croup” to DH and me which lingered (in us, not DD) for four weeks. All healthy for new years, then in late January DD and DH picked up a cold with some stomach issues for a week, followed by what is now the second week of a terrible head cold (which DD seems unfazed by other than a few sniffles, but DH and I are struggling). I’ve put a complete ban on any indoor play places, and we are super careful about playdates with friends. The preschool has flu going around and is doing heavy sanitizing, lots of extra handwashing and sending around lots of reminders to keep sick kids home, and here’s hoping our flu shots are effective. My mom is immunocompromised, so for at least 2 weeks before we plan to see her, we essentially go on full lockdown hermit mode to try and avoid picking up anything that would prevent our visit.
Anon says
Adult croup is the worst! I had it in October and was so miserable.
TheElms says
Me me me, so over it! I have the hacking cough currently, its awful. Since returning from maternity leave 3 1/2 months ago I’ve had a cold that turned into a sinus infection that needed antibiotics, another cold, HFMD, another cold, stomach flu, current cold and hacking cough.
Anonanonanon says
Same. The kids appear to have two different illnesses right now. Toddler has no fever but dark green snot and the sniffled. elementary-schooler has a high fever (in the 104 range before meds) and sore throat but is negative for strep. I’m worried it’s the flu despite the flu shot. Sigh.
Sick says
Vent/pessimism ahead. It is hard to tell with just anecdotes, but I look at all the children with asthma, allergies, eczema and so many health things going so wrong for so many . . . and all the adults that seem to catch cold after cold and have weird, chronic health symptoms . . . it just feels like the Earth is getting sick and it is making us sick, and it is just going to keep getting worse and worse for a long time until it gets better. Everyday I read about some new, terrible thing that humans are putting in the air or the water or the soil. I see the trees dying and the insects dying (do you remember as kids the gross insects splatters there would be on the windshield if you went for a summer evening drive, and now there just aren’t). It just makes me so sad. I’ve wanted two children, but I think we will settle on one, and there are days I am glad that I am not bringing another child into this world even though I would love to have two. Maybe adoption, someday.
Anon says
Please get help for your anxiety and read up on some basic science. People are describing illnesses (colds, flu, strep, croup) that have existed for centuries if not millennia. Conditions like asthma are also not new and have a huge genetic component – I have it and it goes back in my family at least 5 generations. If more people have asthma now, it’s because we do a better job of treating serious illnesses like that, so asthmatics don’t die young, taking their genes with them.
I can understand fearing for the planet big picture but the illnesses discussed here are not caused by climate change and we’re much better off health-wise than our parents’ and grandparents’ generations due to vaccines, antibiotics and the invention of things like the nebulizer, which saved my life as a kid.
Anonymous says
I dunno. I agree with you (anon at 4:05) in the specific case of this season’s worth of illness, that humans are better off health-wise than ever before in history, and that better reporting and longer life expectency is the “cause” of a lot of increase in chronic conditions… but I also think it’s really likely that current human activity is having some detrimental impacts on our environment and therefore our health that we’re only going to understand and quantify in hindsight, and anecdotal observation like Sick’s is the individual-scale view of that.
Sick says
Anon, thank you but I have all the medical help and science I need. Out of my child’s preschool class, approximately 30% have food allergies of some kind. When I was growing up, that was just not the case. I knew one kid—one—with a peanut allergy. The world is changing and it is absolutely impacting our health. You can look up the increasing rates of allergies, asthma, insect and tree deaths. You can also look up all the ecosystems being killed by modern pesticide use, development, marine activities, plastics pollution, etc, etc. It is naive to think that doesn’t effect the health of the food chain. This is science and it is in peer reviewed journals.
anon says
I really want the pink version of this blazer.
AnotherAnon says
Go for it! I was expecting a fuchsia number but this hue seems very office appropriate.
Lily says
I’m really struggling with something. Since having a baby (15 months ago), my sensitivity to reading news about atrocities/murders/cruelty has just skyrocketed. To the point where if I read a news story about something particularly egregious (especially involving a child) or even watch a tv show/movie involving something like that (like the show the Outsider on HBO), it really stays with me for a long time. I feel so much despair about the world I brought my kid into. I don’t think I suffer from clinical anxiety or depression but I do worry a lot about my daughter’s safety and my own. Does anyone else feel this way regularly?
Anonymous says
Yes, in two ways. 1) I am extremely disturbed by true and fictional stories of children in danger. Even certain movie previews will reduce me to tears. 2) My child is much older than yours, but I often worry that she is too timid and finicky to survive an emergency on her own. She lets other kids shove in front of her in line, won’t speak up for herself, refuses to eat or drink when she doesn’t feel well or doesn’t like what’s available (to the point of starving herself), etc., and I’m afraid she wouldn’t fight back against an attacker, would get trampled in a stampede, or would just give up and let herself die instead of doing whatever it took to survive. Her lack of assertiveness and mental toughness holds her back in many areas of life, but I’m most worried that it’s a real threat to her safety.
Anonymous says
This is a really very disturbing take on your child and I hope both of you are getting mental health treatment.
Anon says
Wow. Not a generalized sort of fear for you then? You’ve really analyzed this from every angle. Not meaning to be snarky, but this is very intense.
Anonymous says
“Her lack of assertiveness and mental toughness”…what a nasty way of describing your child! A kid who is refusing to eat because they don’t like what’s offered actually sounds extremely mentally tough to me. It doesn’t require mental toughness to do what your parents order you to do.
Anonymous says
Yeah I also find this really shocking. Letting other kids online first is not a bad thing.
Also anxious mom consider grey man theory- in the apocalypse people who blend in and go unnoticed are more likely to survive than fighters.
Anon says
Some people describe me this way. Others say I am the bravest person they know, because I go to the mat when it counts. If people want to be rude to me, whatever. If a predator needs to be stopped, I am your woman.
Do not mistake a refusal to engage in petty battles with the inability to kick -ss when called for. That is general life advice.
Anon says
Same. I’m very shy to the point that it’s hurt me socially and probably professionally too. But I’m also incredibly tough, and would not hesitate to stand up for myself or my loved ones when necessary. So far my toddler seems to be the same way. Most people describe her as shy and reserved, but her teachers told us they’ve never met a toddler who is so difficult to distract once she makes her mind up to do something. Please don’t pathologize your daughter’s normal behavior of choosing her battles.
IHeartBacon says
“Do not mistake a refusal to engage in petty battles with the inability to kick -ss when called for.”
+Infinity
Anon says
Wait, what!? You think your daughter doesn’t have any will to LIVE because she’s shy and let’s other kids boss her around in a totally typical and age-appropriate manner? That is beyond cray cray and you’re going to give her a complex.
Anonymous says
Yeah completely agree
So Anon says
I see a couple of different issues here: (1) The media. I review my local paper and the NYT every day, but I do not need to read an in depth story about a murder, atrocities or a child in danger. When I see the headline, I say a prayer for the parents involved in my head, and I regularly give financially to agencies that offer aid, especially those aimed at children. But I cannot hold all of the hurt in the world on my own. (2) I think your reaction is part of becoming a parent. All of the sudden, when you look at a story, you are no longer capable of just seeing a kid. You see a child who was held by their parent, loved and cared for, and it makes the vulnerability of human life very very real. I think this is why parents can be forces of nature when they care about an issue. I worry about my kids and my safety, but I do not let it stop me from living.
DLC says
Hey anon @9:45- I think this is a very brave and vulnerable thought you shared. I have similar thoughts about my daughter who is a pushover and a bit of a crowd follower and people pleaser. I feel like we are inundated with articles/ media/ etc. about what it takes to survive in the world and I worry because she does not display any of these characteristics. Being able to see where life might be challenging for your child and feeling worried about it does not make you a mean, nasty or crazy mother.
anonanon says
I can only speak from my own experience here but… When I do these things it’s often from an intense desire to be a people-pleaser. For example, I won’t tell Timmy not to cut in line because it will make him angry. A few things have helped me. First, learning how to confront people without being confrontational. Second, therapy, frankly. In my case people-pleasing started early and is definitely part of my family-of-origin structure. I’m trying hard (not always successfully) to keep it out of my own family. You’re not at fault – every family has oddities and this may not even be one of yours – but it’s probably worth thinking about whether this pattern appears elsewhere in your family.
Spirograph says
+1 to DLC. Anon at 9:45, I just want to say that I don’t think anything you said is a disturbing or “nasty” way to think about your daughter. If you are really anxious about this, therapy is something to consider, but I read your comment as you as a parent being concerned for your child’s safety in a way that is universal and normal. Being aware that your child’s personality might present challenges in certain situations is part of knowing your kid. That said, although hopefully none of our kids will ever need to fight off an attacker or survive a stampede, I have a lot of faith that pure animal survival instinct will trump any personality traits honed in civilization.
Audrey III says
This describes me to an absolute T, except my kids are 5 and 2. The latest one that got me was the episode of the Crown about the school in Wales; I can’t stop thinking about it. And following b/c I’m looking for good tips on how to deal, if anyone has them.
Anon says
Pregnancy and motherhood will cause you to be more anxious and risk averse. It is actually a documented effect of hormones on your brain.
It eased up with me after I gave birth, but is still hard.
Anon says
I think it’s pretty normal. As long as it’s limited to avoiding certain kinds of entertainment and news, I don’t think you need to do anything about it. If your anxiety starts, eg,. keeping you awake at night or causing you to change plans for a family vacation because you fear your kid getting kidnapped, then you’d want to talk to someone.
Anonymous says
This seems normal to me, or at least I am somewhat similar. Personally, I don’t watch many movies or TV shows other than HGTV type stuff. It is more stressful than entertaining for me. I also limit how much news I read.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Yes, and it’s normal, because stories like that just remind me that it could happen to my kids and how much that would destroy me. I don’t think the world is any worse now that it was in the past, we just have more access to every bad thing that’s happening out there. I try to limit my news intake (easy when all I have time for is work and childcare at the moment) and also remind myself that the whole purpose of news is to create fear and anxiety, and to draw you in to focus on the rare tragedies. There are very few reports of things going well, or just average days of average people, but that is the more likely scenario.
Anonymous says
Y’all I couldn’t even handle a funny story on Twitter where a babysitter meant to text the parents that the baby monitor died but left out the word monitor and they freaked out. Just seeing those words together made my heart race! I probbbbbably have got a bit of the ol’ anxiety.
AO says
Would someone please create a ratings system for TV/ movies/ etc that has a mom trigger category? This is consistently a problem for me, too. Reading about conditions for children at camps in Syria or Iraq moves me to tears on the subway.
anne-on says
+1. I simply can’t/won’t read or watch stories about child abuse/children dying/child r@pe/etc. Like, I know Room was supposed to be uplifting and a story of survival but I just couldn’t watch it. Heck, I was barely able to hold it together through Wonder and that was both fictional and actually ended well!
I’ve also given up on just about every historical fiction novel about women surviving through WW1/2 as they all inevitably have horrible stories about how the children died/starved/were tortured/etc. I get it, it was bad, I don’t need to read about it on my downtime, thanks.
Also – any tips for how you DO hold it together when explaining historical events that are very personally upsetting? We’ve tried to answer questions about Sandy Hook/9/11/the Holocaust in age appropriate ways but I think my (immediate, teary) reaction to talking about them upsets my kid more than the information itself.
Spirograph says
I just cry when I’m talking with my kids about terrible things. Not like a blubbering mess of crying, but tears come out of my eyes and my voice cracks. I try to be matter of fact, keep distressing details to a minimum, and end with reassurance that people are trying to help make things better, but I mean… I tell my kids that it is OK to feel sad and angry (but you still need to control your actions), and shouldn’t we all be upset when thinking about current and historic violence/atrocities? I am OK with them knowing those things make me angry and sad, and I also tell them that we are donating money to XYZ because the current state of affairs is upsetting to me and this is a small way I can try to do something about it.
My kids know I cry easily (either because things are actually sad, or because the commercial was designed to hit my sentimental nerve. seriously, it does not take much), so I don’t think the crying itself upsets them. They usually try to give me a hug and kiss to make me feel better, which is really cute and does not stop me from crying.
Anonymous says
Common Sense Media is helpful with this.
A says
This is such a basic question, but what do you do on weekend mornings? My kids are 1.5 and 5, and it seems like everyone is up and ready to go by 6:30 and then cranky and fighting by 8. My husband and I each try to sleep in or go to the gym one weekend day, so that leaves one parent trying to manage both kids. I realize this will get easier as my toddler becomes less of a maniac (and once the weather is not so awful), but right now, it seems like someone is always crying and we are trying to plow through until bedtime.
Anonymous says
My kids (2, 4) are in the middle of a 6-week indoor soccer program in the neighborhood. They have back to back “practices”, so by the time we get breakfast and dressed, walk there, they both practice, and we spend an hour at the playground afterwards, that takes us from 7-lunch time. After lunch, the 2 year old naps.
I’d try to get out of the house, even if it’s bad weather. Playground, indoor playground, library, anything.
Lily says
I only have one kid (15 months) but it’s helpful to us to have a routine. So weekend mornings everyone is usually up by 6:30 (only occasionally one of us “sleeps in” meaning sleeps until 7 or so), she gets her bottle and a little bit of breakfast, we play, get dressed, etc. and leave around 8 to go to a coffee shop, where we get coffee/breakfast and give kid a fruit/veggie pouch and some croissant. Sundays we have music class from 9-10; Saturdays we go to the park/walk around/play at home after coffee shop. Kid gets a bottle/snack around 10:30. That leaves another hour or so to entertain her before lunch. Lunch is at 12, she goes down for a 2-3 hour nap at 1 pm.
Anonymous says
Breakfast then I usually bake mini muffins with them. I use a bowl and spoon to stir so I don’t have to worry about little hands and the mixer. I also bake egg-free so the kids can eat some. Sets me up with snacks for a couple days. They get some tv time while I clean up or I set them up at the kitchen table with playdoh or coloring supplies, then I get them dressed. DH is back ‘on duty’ at 10am, and I’m off 10-12pm (I’m off early on the Sunday, and he’s off late). I usually go to a 10:30pm pilates class, shower and dress at the gym afterwards. DH usually takes the kids outside in the garden while I’m gone. We eat lunch together when I get home. Afternoons are some combination of birthday parties, outdoor play and grocery shopping/errands.
Anonymous says
We used to each by ‘off’ until noon on one weekend day but we found it works better to have an early and late ‘off’ shift. Usually the off person will leave the house (DH runs early on Saturdays) or stay in the master bedroom (I slept until 9am on Sundays, shower/dress to be back on a 10am). If we’re ‘off’ but around the kids, it doesn’t work.
anon says
Sorry to be a downer and a threadjacker, but wanted to mention that if you are using conventional flour for this baking, no one should be eating the uncooked batter. (Unless you mean you bake egg-free because your kids have allergies and couldn’t eat baked goods with eggs? In which case ignore!) There have been several recalls recently related to raw flour, so better safe than sorry.
Anonymous says
Thanks. I’m comfortable with the risk though. We haven’t used any products that were recalled and I don’t feed them spoonfuls but I don’t stress if they lick their fingers. I know every one has to find the right balance for them. I’m lax about baking but super paranoid about car seat safety (5 point harness to end of grade 1).
Anonymous says
Adding that for anyone who is more cautious – you can just toast the flour before hand for a few minutes – https://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/safe-to-eat-cookie-dough
SC says
I let my kid eat a little of the raw egg batter and don’t stress about it.
Anon says
You can even buy heat-treated flour, if you’re really lazy.
Anon says
I feel you. I only have one toddler but I find it helps to get out if the house as early as we can – indoor playground at the recenter, grocery shopping (may be harder with two), or the library are our go-tos. My husband will take our daughter to REI or Home Depot just to kill time and look around. There are more options when the weather is nicer.
Anon says
so we have 21 month old twins. they sleep till 6:45/7ish. When they were younger, we would both get up. Now DH gets up with them, gives them their milk and then changes them and they play. I come out around 7:45/8 and give them breakfast. then one of us cleans up breakfast (they still make quite the mess), while the other entertains the kids. we take turns getting ourselves dressed/getting the kids dressed and aim to leave the house by 9:30/10 to go somewhere – typically a playground, children’s museum, etc. then we come home or go out for lunch, then nap. usually one day during their nap DH goes to workout or play tennis, while i fold laundry or take a nap. post nap is kind of a repeat of the morning. some weekends i might run to the supermarket while DH feeds the kids breakfast, but the past few weeks i’ve actually gone to the supermarket while DH is feeding the kids dinner/putting them to bed, which works better for us. i do a lot of solo parenting during the week, so this works well for us.
AwayEmily says
This is an excellent question. On one weekday morning I make pancakes with one kid while my husband takes the other one to the basement to “help” with laundry. On the other weekday morning we all (whole family) take a trip to the grocery store. We’re usually there by 8, and home by 9ish — just in time to have a snack and get ready for when everything opens at 10. Bonus is that the store is usually quite empty by then.
Also, 1.5 is a hard age, and this also may be a season of life where having one parent watch both kids is just not worth the trouble . Could the one parent do a gym trip during naptime instead?
Other ideas: libraries (though around us most open at 10; only one opens at 9), a walk around the neighborhood (we like to walk to get a coffee/croissant).
Boston Legal Eagle says
One of our local libraries is only open from 1-5 on Sundays (Saturdays are more normal from 9-5)… why?!
GCA says
Oh gosh, this is a thing in every Boston-area town I’ve lived in. Cambridge, Boston, Quincy…and the Arlington library system has about the randomest hours I’ve encountered.
Anon says
My library, too! Also Greater Boston, but because of budget cuts in our otherwise affluent/high-taxation town. Gotta love the Prop 2.5 override season!
Anonymous says
Our library is not open at all on Sundays.
Anonymous says
In NOVA… our local branch is totally closed Sundays. Waaaah.
Cb says
My son has started sleeping later but we do a decent number of early morning playdates. Either playpark or meet at someone’s home for coffee and croissants. They are super casual, just another family with a child the same age as our son. And sometimes the mom and I skip out on these, and send the dads.
The DIY store and IKEA are also hits for wet/snowy days.
Boston Legal Eagle says
“but right now, it seems like someone is always crying and we are trying to plow through until bedtime” – I feel this so hard with an almost 4 year old and a 16 month old. Here’s our usual routine for weekends in New England:
6:00am – One or both are up. Husband gets them, turns on the TV for the older one, and I usually “sleep in” until 6:30. Then we do a bit more TV and then I entertain them while he cooks breakfast. We all eat breakfast together (or for however long they sit), then we get ready to either: Go to the grocery store, go to an indoor playspace or have my parents take both or the older one somewhere. Some combination of this until lunch, then lunch and nap for the younger one, hanging out for the older one and then nap for the older one. Older one has a swim lesson right before nap one day, but we’ve avoided other scheduled activities because it feels too much like a daycare morning when we have to be somewhere at a certain time, and everyone drags.
It’s easier in the warmer months as we can take them to the park or in our yard now.
Anon says
I typically get up with DD (2.5), while DH sleeps in (he’s home with her during the week, and also needs more sleep than me). We get up, change the diaper, and then I put PBS kids on. I ask what she wants for breakfast, and frequently she will request I make pancakes, which we do together – she knows it’s just kodiak mix, an egg and milk and likes to help pour and stir. Then she eats her pancakes and watches some morning TV while I eat my breakfast (not a pancake fan) and sit on the couch and try to wake up myself – usually either catching up on work or playing on my phone, sometimes with a cup of coffee if DH is up by now (I don’t know (and don’t want to know) how to work his fancy coffee machine). Once she finishes, we then typically play with her toys – trains, megablocks, timber tots. If she’s really antsy I will put a coat on over my PJs and supervise her out in the backyard or go for a short walk. When DH gets up, I typically go shower and he takes over.
SC says
If Kiddo wakes up before 8, we hand him an iPad and let him play ABC Mouse until we wake up. On Saturday mornings, one of us (usually me) takes Kiddo to swim class. The rest of Saturday is usually a fun day–zoo, park, hiking, brunch, etc. On Sundays, we have a more relaxing morning, then usually a workday with laundry, dishes, etc. This past Sunday, we all woke up and watched Mulan on the couch while we ate breakfast and had coffee. So… basically, we start weekend mornings with screen time. DH and I are not morning people.
Anonymous says
One parent can take one kid out to do grocery shopping and other errands early before the stores are crowded, leaving the other parent to manage just one kid. I only have one child, but errands have always been our special one-on-one time.
Anonymous says
Two kids, same ages. Luckily both sleep/stay in their rooms till 7. Finally they are starting to be able to play together for longer periods, so they will often play for 30-60 min before big kid has breakfast (little one demands breakfast immediately on awakening whereas big one refuses to eat till later.) We try to get going somewhere out of the house by 9ish, though, because it’s just too much whining otherwise! Often that is just a walk around th neighborhood but could be religious services, a larger nature outing (trying to explore all the parks/natural areas in the region), go to the track, do yard work, etc. YMMV but we live in the PNW and it’s never really too cold or hot to go outside if you have appropriate rain gear.
GCA says
My usually early risers (age 1.5 and almost-5) have been ‘sleeping in’ till 6.30 lately. We only have the one activity, dance class for the big kid, and that’s late morning Saturdays and it runs into baby naptime. So we putter around, fit in a grocery shopping trip, husband takes big kid to dance, I hang out at home and play with the toddler / feed her lunch/ put her down for nap. Library, playground, family swim etc. in the afternoons. If we run or go to the gym, it’s usually during naptime.
DLC says
My husband takes my oldest to 7am mass on Sundays, and I’m often with my two younger kids solo (3 and infant). Unless it is pouring rain, we take a long walk (to the park, or even just around the block) as soon as we’ve eaten and gotten dressed. On Saturdays, when I work, my husband takes them out on errands as soon as possible, if we don’t have an activity. Costco is great for this. But we prefer to get out of the house first thing.
OP says
Thank you all for your thoughts on this. It sounds like getting out of the house is really the key, as is having a conversation with my husband about how to make our weekends more fun. He really prioritizes efficiency, and my goal is to not be miserable. :) Anyway, I’m glad to know I’m not alone!
S says
Anyone have success stories for a pregnancy with a initial low progesterone level? I’ve had one miscarriage at 13 weeks, one healthy baby, and two subsequent chemical pregnancies. During my healthy pregnancy I had an initial progesterone reading of 12. I took oral progesterone supplements and all was well.
I underwent unsuccessful fertility treatments during most of 2018 (primarily IUIs, no IVF), and started to give up on the idea of a second child. After some trying but not really trying, I got a positive home test result on Monday. Yesterday I went to the reproductive endocrinologist for some blood work, and while my HCG level was great (586), my progesterone was not (7.6). I’ve started the supplements (suppositories this time), and I go back for more blood work tomorrow to see if my levels are increasing appropriately.
This pregnancy feels more solid than the two chemical pregnancies, but of course I’m a bundle of anxiety because of the low progesterone level. Any reassuring stories would be wonderful.
Leatty says
I’m still in the first trimester (11 weeks), but I had an almost identical progesterone reading when I was around 5 weeks pregnant. I started taking the progesterone suppositories, and everything looked great on the ultrasounds I had at 6.5 weeks (went in for spotting) and 9 weeks (regular appt). I’m still anxious since I previously had a missed miscarriage at 8 weeks (baby stopped growing around 5-6 weeks), but trying to stay positive until my 12 week ultrasound. FWIW, my OB office does not retest progesterone levels once they start you on the suppositories.
S says
Oh, this makes me so happy to hear. Best wishes to you and your little one. I know getting through the first trimester is a huge relief, and you’re on the 5 yard line!
AnotherAnon says
No advice but I just wanted to say hugs to you. It’s frustrating and lonely.
S says
Thank you so much. It really is. I hope that I have a better team in place this time (my regular OB/GYN’s office dropped the ball several times on my chemical pregnancies in a way that felt sub-human). The RE seems to be more equipped to handle the anxiety that comes with multiple losses, so that’s a plus, but it’s still hard.
cryptictove says
I can’t remember my readings, but I had 3 consecutive miscarriages and then had progesterone suppository supplements during my 4th, successful pregnancy. They are gross (pasty mess) and I had a major breakout because the first set had a white/pearly exterior, and the refill happened to have a burgundy coating. The red coasting dissolved into a pink/red discharge – not what I wanted to see at that point, and I don’t have any idea why someone would make it that way. Normally pill color is irrelevant, but in this case, anything that will produce a false alarm for blood is just a horrible idea. If you have red ones, be aware, or maybe ask for white ones?
cryptictove says
breakout = freakout, I can’t edit
S says
Mine are pink. It’s Prometrium (or a generic equivalent, not sure). They can look a bit ominous sometimes but nothing like red would! Whose genius idea was that?
Thanks for sharing your experience.
rosie says
OMG why would anyone think that is a good idea. The feeling of them leaking was disconcerting enough, why oh why they would add color to it (I used generics that were white).
Go for it says
I had 2 (over 35 years old) successful pregnancies with very low #s ~ I used progesterone internal suppositories daily for 14 weeks each time
1st Rxwas Crinone, 2nd Rx was compounded at local pharmacY. My then insurance really balked at the compound Rx, eventually they agreed.
S says
Thank you. I’m 36 and my successful pregnancy was at 28, so looking at this through the lens of “advanced maternal age” (what a joke) has upped my anxiety even more. Thanks for replying.
XStitcher says
I know it is late in the day, but I did want to chime in that I had low levels as well early on in my successful pregnancy (I had a second trimester loss of my first pregnancy before that one with no definitive cause). I was on the suppositories until about week 14ish. I had some irritation from being pasty and damp constantly so I changed panty liners multiple times a day. I had other issues with that pregnancy, but it was successful!
S says
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m becoming a bit more hopeful.
AnotherAnon says
Do any of you have a very skinny kid who is average height? My son is about to be 3. His 2T pants are all too short but also too big in the waist (he’s very small). He straight up can’t wear any of the Gap chinos we’ve been handed down. I’ve had some luck with the Children’s Place and Carter’s but all of those are now too short. Any tips or brands to try? Day care is folding his waistband under to hold his pants up. He has to be able to dress himself to use the bathroom so I can’t just buy a belt.
Anonymous says
Try H&M or Old Navy. H and M has a lot with adjustable waists (buttons as the waist band) For Old Navy, I tie the adjustable drawstring at the right spot so pants stay up but can be tugged up or down without having to untie the drawstring for pottying.
Anon says
My almost 3yo twins are like this (27 lbs, 37″ and all their height is in their legs).
For jeans, anything with the elastic adjustable waist is key, as mentioned above. We have them from a bunch of brands (hand-me-downs) but the ones I can think of are Primary, H&M, and Children’s Place. 2Ts are too short (and would still fall down if we didn’t tighten the waist), but 3Ts are usually long enough and can be tightened around their waist.
The other option is leggings, if your kid will wear them. Cat&Jack 4T leggings fit my kids great, even though normal 4T pants won’t stay up.
Quail says
We have a similarly skinny kid. Some brands just don’t work. I have stuck with Carter’s and Target’s Cat and Jack pants that have either a true drawstring or the button-adjust waistband. I buttoned the waistband at the tightest setting and it worked until the pants got too short – the internal button-belt is elastic.
Anon says
Are you checking inside the waistbands to see if they have adjustable elastic? Many The Children’s Place jeans do, and I’ve seen it in a number of other brands, as well (Osh Kosh, I think some Gap…) There’s kind of a hidden elastic and a button and you can tighten or loosen the waist from the inside. We use those or pants with working drawstrings.
shortperson says
tea collection might work. it works for my skinny girl but i dont know about boys. or maybe crewcuts. both have adjustable waists.
mascot says
Gap makes a slim version in some of their pants and they have an adjustable waist. Drawstring pants were hit and miss- they were hard for my kid to tie tight enough and then he couldn’t get the knots undone. If you want to try a belt, we’ve had good luck with elastic belts with magnetic buckles- the river site sells multipacks in different colors.
Anonymous says
With drawstring pants I think you have to tie them and leave them tied (double knot) to work. The trick is finding the sweet spot where they stay up but can also be pulled up and down easily.
Anon says
This is why I prefer the adjustable elastic waists, there’s a little more flexibility in ‘tight enough to stay up but loose enough toddler can pull down himself’.
anon says
That’s my boy, although he’s older than yours. I’d look at Children’s Place, H&M, and maybe Old Navy. Jeans and chinos are honestly easier than athletic pants because they come with adjustable waistbands. (My older kid refuses such pants for school, but a toddler is probably less likely to protest!)
AwayEmily says
Definitely Primary! Both the shirts and the pants are too skinny for my non-skinny kiddos, but the length is fine.
Anonymous says
Yes. But we’re fortunate that our kiddo is a girl, so she wears leggings. Regular pants really don’t work for her very well.
Anon says
Primary for sure. My child is very tall and relatively slim (99th percentile height and ~40th percentile weight) and Primary is cut too narrowly for her. I think you have to be reallllllly skinny for Primary to fit you well.
AwayEmily says
right?? I got a 2T shirt for my kid who JUST TURNED two and I can barely get it over his stomach. And he’s 50th percentile! I feel like they also have less stretch than other kids clothes.
Anonymous says
Ha, maybe they’ve changed? The ranges are often two sizes, like “4-5,” and are often waaaay too big for my 99th percentile height but average BMI child – I mean the jump between sizes is so much that when he has outgrown the 4-5, the 6-7 is way too big. But my 18 month old is wearing hand me down size 3 primary leggings, so maybe it’s just variable?
Anon says
Yes, they have NO stretch. They also combine sizes which drives me crazy – they have a 2-3T and a 4-5T in many items but like….2T and 3T aren’t the same?? And they seem to fit only the smaller end of that range. My child is the same age as yours and is in a 4T, pushing 5T, in most brands due to her height. The Primary 4-5T clothes are both too short and way too skinny, but if we size up to 6-7T they are comically long (of course, because my child just turned TWO).
I love their styles and their customer service, but the fit has just been a disaster for us. Most other brands work fine if we size up to accommodate height, especially in tops/dresses (she has short legs and a long torso).
Katy says
Similar issue for my kiddo – he has almost grown into the 2T waistband but the pants are too short.
I got these half belts to cinch things in the back. It works best on pants that actually have belt loops and a button to undo to pull them up and down (so you don’t have to undo the belt. You can use the clips on other waistbands, but that would be hard to get on / off I found this works much better than the Children’s Place self adjusters. [I also had success with suspenders on specific “Special Christmas pants” – hahaha. This is an adorable look but too much of a pain for day to day wear]
H&M pants are long – but the waistbands can be all over the place.
ACTUALLY – does anyone know of shirts that are cut long in the torso? While we have a modest issue with pants, 3T shirts which are way too baggy are just long enough to not leave massive exposed midriff when he lifts his arms up. 2T shirts fit his “width” but just graze his waistband when standing normally. All suggestions welcome. (Current shirts are a mix of old navy / gap / H&M / carters mostly). (at least his shirts can’t fall off!
Anon says
Have you tried 3T girls shirts? They’re usually cut slimmer.
Anonymous says
I purchased some black leggings for my son when he was going through that phase. He did not seem to notice the difference (nor did my husband) and it solved the problem
Anon says
I guess this wouldn’t work for boys (for most people anyway) but we buy exclusively dresses for this reason. My toddler is very tall but also has a buddha belly so she’d have to size up about 6 sizes to get something that fully covered her torso. So we buy dresses long and start them as maxis, and then she wears them until they’re tunics that barely cover her bum, but at least her stomach is covered.
RR says
Gap Slim Fit were our saving grace.
Anon says
can you take two toddlers to an open house or is that considered rude? a more basic question – how exactly do open houses work? i recall going a few times with my parents as a kid, but that was ages ago.
Anon says
I took one toddler to an open house for my inlaws (where, coincidentally, she confirmed the giant hill in the backyard was a massive fall risk (for young and presumably old) when she went head over heels down it). Basically you show up, poke around, the listing realtor is typically there to make small talk, answer questions, etc. Depending on how how the market is there will likely be other people there at the same time, potentially with their own realtor.
Anon says
I don’t think taking them is rude at all, but letting them run around or open drawers, get into stuff, etc. would be – so this might be logistically difficult and stressful depending on ages and personalities. I’ve taken one toddler before but he is still young enough that he tolerated being carried.
Anon says
How old? With 18-month-old twins we wore them on our backs for open houses so we could focus on looking at the house without worrying they’d destroy something. Now at almost 3, is trust them to hold a hand and wait patiently, so wouldn’t worry about it.
Anonymous says
Yes. At least in my area, they’re very informal. You show up, Realtor gives you a flyer and is generally available to answer questions/talk, and you walk around and look. I definitely would not waste weekend babysitter time on this without extenuating circumstances. I also would not buy a house without doing at least one private showing with my own Realtor. At that showing, I wouldn’t bring my kiddo and often schedule them over lunch where DH and I can meet at the property on our lunch break.
Anonymous says
You mean a real estate open house, not a social open house? Real estate – not rude. Social – ask the host.
OP says
yes real estate. i would never just assume a social event is kid friendly (i hate when people do that)
NYCer says
You can definitely take toddlers to a RE open house. Just keep an eye on them and don’t let them get into things or make a mess (common sense).
Anon says
It depends – my 2 year old would run around the house and try to destroy stuff, and that feels rude to me (even if we successfully prevented her from actually destroying anything). If it’s an older child, or if you plan to bring screens and distract your children with those, it could work. I wouldn’t do it personally but I think it depends on your own comfort level.
Anonymous says
We were lucky enough to have a realtor that would take the toddler for a few minutes at showings/open houses. Not something I thought of when looking for a realtor, but I ended up being so grateful for it when we wanted to take another look at a bathroom or go into the basement without the toddler or whatever. Definitely something to consider. She wasn’t a mom, but she did a lot of work with a nonprofit that worked with moms/toddler, so she had games on her phone that she was willing to pull up, or she would do a silly dance with the toddler in the backyard, or stuff like that. She was also an incredible realtor and just amazing person all around.
rosie says
I think it’s fine as long as they can be trusted not to inflict major damage and you are going to supervise. I will warn you that the one open house we went to with my toddler, there were clearly kids living there at the time and lots of toys that were tidy but by no means hidden. Super exciting for our kid, but a little awkward and difficult to try to minimize how much she played with things/made a mess.
Anon says
I would because, as mentioned, definitely not getting baby sitters to go to open houses.
But also, if you aren’t looking tooooo far from your current place and you have a partner, we’re trying the divide and conquer…1 parent goes to look while the other stays home with the kids. If the 1 likes it, goes home and sends the other to look. Since they are usually open a few hours this can work. More often than not the 1st parent eliminates the house due to things not obvious from the photos and we’re glad we didn’t drag the whole family. When we do find one we REALLY like (fingers crossed eventually!), we will arrange to see privately together after the initial check out probably so we can discuss things.
Jessamyn says
I don’t think “rudeness” really comes into play — these people are trying to sell a house, they should be happy they have someone who is interested and wants to look. The issue is more whether you’ll actually be able to see and evaluate the house while trying to wrangle your kids and keep them in sight. Honestly, I would bring screens for screen time if you can, and just park them somewhere.
anon says
For those of you that did sleep training using CIO, what age did you do it? I did CIO with my 1st kid at 6 months, worked really well. I now have a 12 week old who does not sleep at night and I’m at my wits end. Not sure I can wait until 6 months.
Anonymous says
I think 12 weeks is too young, they may (and usually do) still need night feedings at that age. I’d say 4 months is the bare minimum and that’s common across books and pediatricians. Can you try to increase the number of daytime feedings and do a dream feed? Our first was a terrible sleeper as a baby so I’d put her to bed at like 6-6:30 (once she was in daycare), I’d shower while DH did dishes/loaded up bottles/made lunches, go to bed by 8pm and he’d do a dream feed at 9ish, so she wouldn’t wake up until close to midnight. So then I at least got 4hrs in a row. I’d take the rest of the night feedings cause of nursing.
NYCer says
My baby stopped eating at night around 12-13 weeks. She was bottle fed, so we knew exactly how much she was drinking during the day, any our ped was totally fine with it. She was always a very good sleeper, so we didn’t really have to do an extreme version of CIO, but that is when she started sleeping through the night consistently.
Bottom line, I don’t necessarily think it is too early to do CIO.
Em says
I also did CIO when my kid was 6 months (he’s 4 now, so it was 3 1/2 years ago). At the time all the recommendations cautioned against doing it any earlier than 6 months. I have two friends whose kids are around 1 and did CIO around 3 months based on the recommendation of their pediatricians (they asked my advice about how I handled it, which is how I found out), so maybe the recommendation has changed now? It’s worth asking your pediatrician if you are having a hard time. I was sort of shocked that it would change that much in such a short amount of time, but I wasn’t about to make a comment to them to that effect.
Anon says
I also did it at 6 months. You can ask your ped if it’s ok to do it earlier. If I have a second baby, I will probably try to do it earlier because it made such a huge difference. Some books I’ve read say you can start at 4 months, but why not just call your pediatrician to get reassurance on what to do? CIO is a little harrowing and so it’s good to have complete confidence in your decision ahead of time.
EB says
Have you tried the online course “takingcarababies”? I have heard great things. Haven’t done it myself because we are just kind of not sleeping and it’s not bad enough to justify the cost.
DLC says
I think if you are sleep deprived than you can try whatever you think will work. Although I do agree that they might still be getting up to eat at that age. do you have a partner with whom you can work out how to share the night coverage schedule?
AwayEmily says
Ask your pediatrician! Both my kids were gaining weight just fine so my pediatrician gave me the go-ahead at nine weeks. But like someone else said, the important thing is that YOU feel confident about it — one of the reasons I felt okay doing it early is because neither of them ate much or often during the night, so I knew that those feedings were not a major source of calories for them.
Anon Lawyer says
Taking Cara Babies has a 3-4 month online class that was a lifesaver with my baby at about 11 weeks. It’s not CIO since they’re not ready for that but she gives strategies to minimize wake ups. I think it was $35.
anon says
OP here: thanks for this. Did you also follow the newborn class? Is it worth it to buy the 3-4 without having done the newborn class first?
Anon Lawyer says
I didn’t do the newborn class and this worked great so I don’t think it’s necessary.
AwayEmily says
Do watch some of her stuff first to make sure it’s up your alley. I had a good friend who paid for the whole course and ended up feeling super stressed and judged and just really hated it. For her baby, and her personality, it was not a match. She was much happier when she ditched Taking Cara Babies and read a sleep book instead. But it works for lots of people so definitely give it a look.
Spring Water says
Ask your pediatrician and take your baby and family situation into account, such as if your baby was born early. I think Weissbluth (who wrote one of the more famous CIO books) recommends 4 or 4.5 months for a healthy baby. You might want to read his book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Anonymous says
CIO is more useful when they are falling asleep. If the issue is night waking I’d look at increasing feeds. Either cluster feeding in the evenings or a dreamfeed if you are nursing or increased bottle size if bottle feeding. If formula feeding, you could try changing up the formula. Much to my chagrin, each of my twins liked a different formula. Even the books that suggest CIO before 6 months, will usually indicate that baby should sleep through the night a few times themselves first so it’s clear they can do it.
anon says
OP here: Thanks all. Ped says that baby should be 15 lbs at least and we are about 1 lb away from that. I put him to bed around 9-9:30 and he sleeps for 2-3 hours. Then the rest of the night is up every 40min-90min. I’ve been giving him a bottle of formula around 8pm and try to breast feed as much as possible during the day. When he wakes at night I nurse him back to sleep. I know I should probably stop doing that but its the path of least resistance. He did have a week or two where he was sleeping 4 hours, then only waking twice at 1am and 4am, but that was short lived. If we did CIO I would be fine with waking to feed when he needs it but I suspect he’s just comfort nursing at this point.
Anon Lawyer says
This is definitely what the Taking Cara Babies class has strategies to minimize (I’m an evangelist apparently.)
CCLA says
I highly recommend getting into a daytime routine with scheduled feedings on an eat/play/sleep routine and a solid bedtime routine that is the same every night at around the same time. Also, most sleep books recommend a much earlier bedtime for a kiddo that age (not saying you must, just something to consider). When I spoke with a sleep consultant, they said before 3 months the above are the best ways to maximize nighttime sleep. This may be what Taking Cara Babies does, I have not looked into it but have heard lots of good things from others. On that note, if you have the funds, consider hiring a sleep training consultant who can either assist with CIO or advise on other ways to help sleep if you’re not ready to start CIO based on pedi advice or otherwise.
Anon Lawyer says
Anyone have advice on the City Mini? I have a three-month-old and have been using it with the pram attachment. That’s been great because she doesn’t love being strapped into her car seat for walks. But I’m wondering if it’s time to transition to using the regular stroller on a reclined setting. She has pretty good neck control.
AwayEmily says
Go for it! Also, google the Summer Infant Snuzzler, you can use it in a reclined stroller to help with the head issue.
Anon Lawyer says
Thanks! That looks great.
AwayEmily says
We got it as part of a giant bag of hand-me-downs and when I first took it out I was like “umm…is this a super creepy doll?”