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I like this shirt because it combines the style of a button-down with a trendy twist detail at the bottom. This top also gives the option of rolling and fastening the sleeves into three-quarter length or leaving them down for a full sleeve. It also comes in a whole spectrum of colors. I like the hot pink for a fun pop of color and the port color for a muted color that’s not black (though they also have it in black too!). The top is available in sizes XS–XXL at Macy’s, and depending on color, the price ranges from $20.93 to $59.50. Twist-Front Button-Up Top
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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
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- 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?
GCA says
Fun travel question: what are your best family / toddler recommendations for the Portland, ME area? We’re heading there with close family friends this weekend – a total of 4 adults, two 4yos and two 1yos. We’re coming from Boston and the other family is coming from further up the Maine coast. We’d like to eat at a couple of family-friendly nice restaurants and walk around downtown, but also get outside and make the most of winter. Ice skating for the big kids and a Children’s Museum & Theater visit are on our list, but I’d love to hear any other recommendations you might have. Thanks!
Pogo says
Our Portland faves: Holy Donut, Duckfat, Novare Res (tho more so in the summer when kids can play in the outdoor area), Standard Baking Co, Fore St (probably too fancy for kids? and hard to get a reservation), Rising Tide (again, better in summer), Coffee by Design.
Anon says
+1 to Holy Donut and Duckfat. I also love OTTO and Gelato Fiasco. I personally think Standard Baking Co is overrated, although it’s definitely popular with both locals and tourists (I feel the same way about Tartine in SF, so I guess much-hyped bakeries are just not my thing). If you have a car, you can drive out to Fort Williams and see the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, which is really pretty, and there’s a nice park there for kids to run around. In the summer, there are lobster rolls trucks there but they might not be there in winter.
Anonymous says
Becky’s Diner for breakfast!
So Anon says
Hey! Welcome to my neck of the woods! I second the recommendations for Holy Donut, Duckfat, and Gelato Fiasco. I personally like Two Fat Cats bakery. Walking around the Old Port is fun. There is a fun skating rink at Thompson’s Point, and that area now has some great breweries. For a great view in the Portland area, you really can’t beat Fort Williams. It would be worth the drive and quick jump out of the car if it is too cold for everyone. There is also a really lovely path along the Eastern Prom in Portland that has views to the North and a great playground.
Anon says
I haven’t been yet but Roots Cafe has free child care while you are in the restaurant so if you want a brief kid-free break, I’d head there. Chee Vit Dee has amazing thai food and is never packed since lots of people do take-out instead. It’s nice inside with great people watching and since it isn’t crowded, should be kid friendly. There is a train that runs around the coast that lots of families enjoy. I’ve heard good things about the children’s museum too.
Anon says
I recommend looking at visiting Freeport (home of LL Bean flagship store) and seeing if there are any of the hosted outdoor activities that interest you or seeing if there are any events in the time period you are visiting. They often have really well done free activities — like this weekend they have a kid’s animal track detective program. Walking around the store does have a lot of interesting things (small aquarium, lots of animals, etc) and outside the store they have statues and things to climb on.
Also if you want a fun and easy nature trail walk, I highly recommend Mackworth Island park/trail. Easy loop on an island that looks out to the bay. It is an easy drive from downtown Portland.
Pellegrino says
Flatbread Pizza. Bucks BBQ has a play area. Check out the Portland Kids calendar for events the days you are around. LL Bean campus can be fun. AllTrails app will show you local hikes (make sure they say “all season” and look for reviews in winter). Greenlight Studio or indoor ice skating if you need to be indoors for weather or whatever. If you are staying at a hotel, an indoor pool is always a go-to activity.
GCA says
Thanks for the recs – I had totally forgotten about Holy Donut! Duckfat is around the corner from our hotel. And now that I think about it, we did actually end up at Becky’s Diner once on our way up north to visit said friends.
CDA says
My husband and I live overseas and expecting our first child next month, and the time for coordinating visits by our parents can no longer be delayed. We have good relationships with our parents and aren’t dreading them coming (they’ll probably be quite helpful), but we’ve been putting off deciding who comes when and for how long because we honestly don’t know how we are going to feel about visitors and when their help, love, and support will be most appreciated (and/or best tolerated).
Both sets of parents have some flexibility in when they come, but my MIL would like to come within the first two/three weeks after the birth due another upcoming medical event in the family or she won’t be able come for at least three months (and that may hurt her feelings);my dad would like to come either before the birth or within the first week due to his work schedule; my mom is retired and will come whenever). That said, all acknowledge the timing/scheduling is up to us (and, I think, really mean that), but…the trip is also18+ hours each way, so, realistically, visitors will be expecting to stay *at least* a week and last minute changes aren’t going to be ideal. We do have a spare bedroom available but are also definitely open to getting them a hotel or airbnb nearby.
I feel like coordinating this is an LSAT question but also know there is unlikely to be a perfect solution. So, for those who have had their parents come visit and stay, what are the considerations we should have in mind? Any advice or recommendations on what worked for you (or didn’t)? Thank you!
Anne says
My number one question is when is your partner going back to work? For me, for both kids, that first week with my husband back at work was when I most needed the help. For my first, I was still recovering from childbirth and really needed my mom’s help. I’d line up the most helpful help for then if you aren’t both taking significant time off.
Cb says
Yep, second this.
Cb says
Argh, this is super tricky. My parents are in California, my father-in-law in BC, my MILs in London. We wanted three weeks just the two of us while my husband was on paternity leave, but baby was 12 days late so didn’t get the lengthy time.
Our schedule – MIL1 came up when my son was 5 days old for the day
My parents came a few days before my husband went back to work
MILs 1 + 2 came back a few days after my parents left
FIL + MIL3 came when my son was 6 weeks old
I would have preferred to have my in-laws stay elsewhere. I was figuring out breastfeeding and life, and I did feel like I had to entertain them. A break would have been very welcome.
AnonATL says
Can I follow up on your last sentence and ask how in you express that without hurting feelings? We are having our first this summer, and my in-laws are lovely people but very intense. They live across the US from us, and I know they will want to come out for multiple weeks. I already know I’m going to be a mess and trying to wrangle everything, entertain, feed them while dealing with a baby is going to be a lot. Like sure they are here to “help” but that doesn’t mean I won’t feel compelled to host them.
Also if they stay in our home, they are going to be dealing with baby crying all night just like we will.
Maybe I just make my husband deal with it since they are his parents. We won’t have the problem with my parents because they are local.
rosie says
How is the relationship between your parents & your ILs? Any chance your parents could help host your ILs (either have them stay w/them or take on a lot of the entertaining, to the extent it’s needed)? Do your ILs have the funds to get an airbnb or extended stay hotel near you when they’re visiting? Weeks are a long time to stay w/someone, even if you did have a great guest suite setup.
I also think that having a baby is a great time to set the boundary that you are not their host or their entertainment when they have an extended visit.
Cb says
It was tricky. My husband communicated our preferences, and basically blamed our childbirth classes. ‘The NCT recommends X for bonding and for maternal mental health’. A total cop out but honestly, I would have really struggled to have my in-laws there right away.
My MILs were helpful-ish and said they were there to help, not be entertained, but sometimes I just wanted to hang out in bed with my baby all day and that didn’t feel possible. They also took really long baths in our one bathroom flat, not great when you’re still bleeding / had a giant headed baby.
blueberries says
I like CB’s strategy to spare feelings. I imagine an OB would be happy to bless waiting a few weeks before having visitors.
For a first baby, I think it’s really nice to have a couple of weeks to figure things out as a family of 3 before visitors. After that, the only visitors whom I would want staying are ones who will be supremely, unquestionably helpful. Kind, but not fully competent to help (of the sort who will pick up takeout, but don’t know babies), visitors can stay in a hotel.
NYCer says
My mom stayed for 3 weeks after my baby was born and it was SO HELPFUL. (My dad was there for about 5 days.) She also came back regularly for long weekends throughout the first few months. I have a great relationship with my mom though, and she is good at knowing when to stay out of our hair. She stays at a nearby hotel, as staying with us would have been too much for me – and her – even though we do have the space. She helped with cooking, cleaning, food/gear shopping, etc., but also was very helpful with the baby. You know your parents and in-laws better than any of us, but I would not discount the benefits of having family there to help at the beginning.
My father-in-law who lives in Europe came about a month after the baby was born and stayed for a week. He was happy to see the baby and us, but was not as helpful in the same way that my mom was (nor did we expect him to be, we were just happy to see him regardless).
Cb says
Yes, it’s very much know your parents thing. My FIL was actively unhelpful, and I’m glad he didn’t come over until later / stay with us the whole time.
Anon says
Generally, if you think they’ll be helpful and you have the space, I wouldn’t worry too much about visitors – you’ll probably be glad for the help. My parents came for two weeks right after our baby was born, and stayed with us, and their help with cooking, cleaning, pet care and baby care was invaluable. They were off duty for ~9 hours at night (sleeping) but during the day they were basically doing childcare or chores most of the day, which enabled my husband and me to rest after being up in the night with the baby. I knew my in-laws wouldn’t be very helpful (my FIL and SIL are spoiled babies who expect to be waited on; my MIL is kind and tries – but fails – to be helpful, and I knew collectively they would be more work than help) so we insisted they come one month or more out (when I was more physically recovered) and we tried, as subtly as possible, to suggest they shouldn’t stay very long. We hoped they interpreted this as “come for a weekend” but they ended up staying for 6 days, which felt like an eternity. My 29 year old SIL threw a full-on toddler-style tantrum because her brother the brand new dad wasn’t spending enough time with her, and my MIL tried to make us omelettes for breakfast and used – no joke – 15 different pots and pans. My house looked like it had been hit by a tornado when they left.
Even if you think they’ll all be helpful, I’d suggest staggering the visits as much as possible, just to minimize the chaos in your house. If multiple families have to come at the same time because of scheduling issues, you can tell them you can only accommodate one set of guests in your home and put the rest in a hotel – sounds like they won’t have a problem with that.
GCA says
– What is your relationship like with each set of parents? Who is most likely to be helpful and who is most likely to feel like an imposition? Whom will you need to ‘host’ – it sounds like you’re on the other side of the world from family, have they been before and will they want to do the Fun Touristy Stuff? (And if applicable – do they know the lay of the land/ local language/ how to go shop for groceries or get takeout?)
– When is your partner going back to work? How much help, and/ or grown-up company, will you want then? (On my second maternity leave we kept kid 1 in daycare and all my introverted self wanted to do was putter around our very small apartment reading, watching TV, drinking coffee, so didn’t really need a lot of help after the first couple of weeks.)
Anonymous says
Part of this depends on your relationship. Will your visitors be there to see the baby, or to help you?
I know nothing is certain, but do you have a family history of on-time births? Two of my kids were a full two weeks late- so if my dad had come the week before my due date, he’d have had to stick around 3 week to meet the baby! (On the other hand, my third was two days early and caught us all by surprise!).
I would suggest perhaps planning all visitors for no earlier than the week after your due date. At that point you’ll either have a baby or be darn close. You’ll also likely have a week of baby care under your belt and will feel slightly more confident. If they are staying your home, make it clear they are on their own. If they are in a hotel, make it clear they are in charge of their stay/meals/whatever.
Anonymous says
Dad comes first week, MIL weeks 2-3, mom after that
anon says
It wasn’t clear to me if dad and mom had to be separate or were planning to come together, but I would say dad (or dad/mom) second week, MIL third week, if you are not having a scheduled birth. Otherwise, dad might come and not get to see baby at all.
My parents waited until the baby was born and then scheduled a trip three weeks out, which was perfect because that’s when DH had the opportunity to travel for work.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Whether they stay with you also depends on how comfortable you are with them seeing you at a very vulnerable time in your life. With our first, and prior to their move here, my parents came out right around my due date for 3 weeks (but first was 2 weeks late so short visit!) but stayed in a hotel, which was better for all of us. I was crying on and off and figuring out b-feeding, and just wanted my husband there at the very beginning so having someone else in my house would have been more stressful than helpful. Same for my in-laws, who came out a month or so after he was born (they came together even though they’re divorced). My parents then came out when he was 3 months and I definitely felt more comfortable then and they were able to help out more as the baby was no longer so floppy and tiny.
Anon says
Take them up on the offer of getting a hotel. It can just get tiring to host people in your house, even if they are helpful.
Really consider whether or not any schedule is “too much” for visitors.
I put a moratorium on visitors during/immediately after my son was born, and it was the right move. (My husband stayed with me in the hospital, and both of us forgot to do things like brush our teeth, shower, or use body wipes when showering wasn’t a possibility with my incision.) My in-laws are fantastic people, but I felt really awkward leaving them alone while I pumped, and that did throw off my BF-ing schedule.
The other thing that happened was that I started to get a little unraveled because I wasn’t holding my son very much. I did the night feedings and held him then, but my in-laws held him when they were there (they live halfway across the country, so I wanted them to get as much time with their grandson as possible). Eventually, I started to break down because I just needed my baby NOW. Any iteration of your proposed schedule sounds like a lot of other people spending time with your new baby.
MomAnon says
I will cosign this comment. My family is local and was able to pop in and out as needed which was helpful. DH’s family was not local at the time, and we tried to hold off on scheduling their visit until after the baby was born, for many of the reasons others have cited (wanting to bond as a family, wanting to see how I / baby was feeling, etc). which was not well received and there were a lot of in-law tantrums. Finally, when we were in the hospital, we relented and in-laws raced to town to visit. They arrived when baby was only a few days old and we had been home for less than 48 hours. They stayed in a hotel so we had some physical separation but it was a disaster that DH and I deeply regretted. Naturally, in-laws wanted to hold.the.baby. nonstop, but I had unexpected feelings about that – she was so new and I did not want to part with her so soon. Also, my daughter ended up having a tongue and lip tie and had difficulty with weight gain so the beginning was a blur of trying to nurse, lactation consultants, weight checks at the pediatrician, etc. These were things that even the most helpful in-laws (which mine are not) could not assist with and it added an extra layer of stress being first-time parents trying to get baby to gain precious ounces, with hormones all over the place, while MIL is was complaining that I went into a separate room to nurse “again.” This is a know your family type of situation and not everyone’s experience, but I wanted to throw it out there as something to consider because it was not something that had ever been on my radar when we agreed that they could come.
SC says
My parents were there for the birth and stayed for a week after. This was not exactly planned–baby was a month early, and they were in town for the shower and to help us set up the nursery while I was on bed rest and DH was working a crazy schedule. They got to meet their grandson right away. They kept us clean and fed for the week. And they took on several large projects around the house that we needed more than we thought we did. Oh, and my mom is a doctor and correctly diagnosed my baby with jaundice early and probably saved us a trip to the hospital.
Anon says
how do i stop eating my kids’ snacks? i shockingly managed to lose all the baby weight i gained with my twins within the first year and kept it off until the holidays, but since then my eating is out of control. i am one of those all or nothing people, so i previously tried not to keep stuff in the house, but that doesn’t really work when you have kids. the snacks i have for them are things like animal crackers, pirates booty, apple chips, etc. but it still doesn’t help my waistline to eat a whole box! i realize obviously this is in my own control, but why is this so hard. after i put them to bed i’m tired and any good intentions i had of not eating all that stuff go out the window. it is almost like an impulse. DH isn’t home most of the time and we live in an apartment so i can’t go upstairs or something to get away from it.
anon says
Oh boy, I get it. I am shameless about my love of fruit snacks. Something that has helped me is only eating the snacks WITH my kids. Then I’m less tempted to dip into the pantry when they’re not around. Or, if you’re really craving it, pour yourself a small bowl of crackers, put away the container right away, and enjoy the heck out of whatever you’ve poured.
rakma says
Seems counterintuitive, but I started buying my own snacks. Things with strong flavors–those triscuts with rosemary, really sharp cheddar, spiced nuts. And instead of sitting down with the package, I make myself a plate or a bowl with the snack. Usually once it’s gone, I’m sitting somewhere comfortable and don’t want to get up for more.
I’d like to pretend this method came from a place of wanting to look after myself, but it happened after a meltdown because I had finished the pretzels my kid wanted the next day.
Anon says
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I would just stop buying the snacks. There’s no reason kids need food like that. There are lots of whole foods you can serve at snack time that take next to no prep (fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, PB&J sandwiches, etc). I don’t hold myself up as some kind of standard bearer of healthy eating (my kids bake cupcakes with me on weekends and eat french fries basically whenever we’re at a restaurant) but I’ve just never seen the need to have processed snack foods lying around at home.
Anon says
I agree. Work those types of snacks out of the apartment and work in healthier snacks. Instead of apple chips, offer apple slices. Fruits, nuts, veggies give you plenty of options.
Anon says
what do you use as non perishable snacks you can take with you out and about that aren’t messy? nuts are a chocking hazard for young kids
Anonymous says
Cheerios, string cheese (takes a long time to spoil), applesauce pouches
Anonymous says
String cheese, clementines.
Anonymous says
Apple slices. We also have a small soft-sided cooler we take sometimes (like what you’d take your lunch to work in). If we go that route, we can also bring yogurt pouches, string cheese, sandwiches, sausage slices (not the healthiest, but one of my kiddo’s very favorite foods, so we have it more often that most people but still in moderation, and I figure “hey, protein”). Plain popcorn. Whole grain crackers like Triscuits. Dry cereal.
AwayEmily says
Yup, string cheese or babybels and endless baggies of Cheerios. I also keep a couple of nature’s bakery fig bars in my purse for emergencies. I am not tempted to eat them because they are kinda gross.
IHeartBacon says
Fresh fruits (a banana, apple slices stored in a snack bag with a little water or lemon to keep from browning, clementines, grapes cut in 1/2, berries, cherry tomatoes cut in 1/2)
Fresh vegetables (cucumber slices, carrot sticks, sliced mushrooms)
String cheese and mini babybel cheeses
Slice of whole grain bread w/PB & J, folded in half
Anonymous says
Agree, too.
Em says
+1 We do have some snacky foods for my son but they are things I don’t want to eat – applesauce pouches, goldfish crackers, and RX bars. We don’t do a ton of snacking as it is, but if he gets a snack it is one of those or a fruit or vegetable. If it is in the house and it something I like, I will eat it, so I just don’t bring it in the house.
AnotherAnon says
This. I started following Kids Eat In Color last week and already have gotten a lot of snack ideas that aren’t processed food.
Anonymous says
I intermittent fast on weekdays, and it helps me immensely. But I also let myself eat whatever I want during the 8 hour window. If I want a chocolate cookie for dessert after both lunch and dinner, I do it. In the evenings, being able to tell myself that I can have whatever treat I want again tomorrow after 10:00 a.m. helps me a lot. I feel much, much less deprived that way. My window is 10:00ish-6:00ish. We eat dinner as a family at 5:30. On the weekends, it easier because I don’t want to undo what I’ve done over the week. And, if nothing else, it is only 2 days out of 7 even if I do eat like crap. IF really helps me because my worst times were early morning (I work from 5-7 a.m while everyone else sleeps), and after kiddo goes to bed. But like I said, knowing that I can have whatever I want in the window as opposed to telling myself I don’t eat X anymore, is so much easier psychologically for me.
Anonymous says
Adding another thought. Snacking is pretty psychological for me. I love a good treat at the end of the day, after kiddo is asleep as a reward for surviving. Good substitutes are a special herbal tea (cinnamon is good if you like sweets) or a cup of flavored decaf coffee with a little Splenda (because I’m basically 90 with my decaf ;) ).
Emily S. says
It sounds like it is an impulse and maybe redirection would help at first until you get used to not wanting to eat after they go to bed. Physically redirect yourself — instead of heading to the kitchen or the room that borders the kitchen immediately after you put them to bed, stay in your room and read or pick out tomorrow’s outfit or paint your nails, or do a load of laundry/fold the clothes, etc. Stay away from the kitchen and after a few days (optimistically, but it might be weeks) your body should get used to not having the snacks and your cravings should cease — bc it is also about training yourself and believing in your willpower not to eat the snacks. Two other things that have worked for me is to close the kitchen after dinner (lights off, dishwasher running, etc.) and putting the snacks in really loud, obnoxious containers behind closed doors so that I have to think twice about someone hearing me and seeing me eat the snack – I can usually resist then, but the M&Ms in the open glass heart bowl on the counter just sap my willpower.
Anonymous says
Something that helps me with night snacking is brushing my teeth right after dinner.
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
I definitely have the night snacking problem. A few things that have helped me: measure out a portion and only have that. Have tea or sparkling water instead. Have wine instead. Put kid snacks on the bottom shelf of the pantry so they’re not at eye level. Eat more than I think I need to at dinner, but of healthy stuff.
Jessamyn says
I only buy my kids snacks I don’t like — pretzels, popcorn. Things they like but I do too like Nilla Wafers, Cheez-Its, etc, do not come into the house, specifically because it’s too tempting. Can you find some things your kids enjoy that are less appetizing to you?
Also not to be that person, but my kids’ most frequent snacks are fruit, peanut butter spoons, and cheese sticks. We don’t keep a lot of processed carbs around for them to snack on, aside from the aforementioned pretzels (and popcorn, which requires going through the effort to pop a bag, at which point I send them upstairs with the entire bowl).
anon says
I brush my teeth with my kids, so I am not tempted to eat anything after they go to bed. I’ll also make myself some mint tea and let it steep while we’re reading books, so I have a little something to look forward to after they go down. (i think its ok to drink it after brushing…?)
farrleybear says
I do this too, with mint or ginger tea. I’m pretty sure it’s fine as long as no milk or sugar in the tea:)
anon says
Should’ve known that the “no processed foods!” camp would come out on this one.
Anon says
I’m the person who made the original comment and maybe “processed foods” isn’t the right term (I know many healthy foods are “processed” in some way…). I was just trying to find a catch-all term for packaged snacks like Pirate’s Booty and animal crackers. I don’t think they’re evil, but OP doesn’t want them in her house because they’re tempting her, and my point was just that they aren’t necessary and there are lots of alternatives for snack time. Even if she wants boxed foods for convenience, things like plain Cheerios would likely be equally appealing to her kids and less tempting for her.
Jessamyn says
I mean… yeah. They’re literally engineered by the manufacturer to be addictive and difficult to stop eating once you start. They pay chemists and biologists lots and lots of money to make you want to stuff your face with their product. The best way to control temptation on them is not to even start.
It’s not like OP DIDN’T ask for advice on how to control her snack cravings. “Stop snacking on processed foods” is the best advice I can give.
Anon says
aren’t cheerios also technically “processed”? as is anything not grown in nature…
Jessamyn says
Absolutely, they are. And have you ever been able to sit down and eat just one bowl of Cheerios? I know I sure can’t…
Anonymous says
I don’t understand the hostility against this advice?
anonn says
yeah, what’s next the “juice is just sugar water!” camp or the “earth is round!” camp.
sorry for the snark, I’m just over people giving my kids crap food all the time and acting like I’m the fun police.
Anonymous says
I literally made a NY resolution about not eating after dinner this year because I’d fallen into the same habit. First, I told my husband that I wasn’t eating after dinner so he wouldn’t offer me things. Then I put a “closed” sign on the fridge. Then I started drinking tea as a stand-in for munching. So far so good! It was hard at first, but it only took a couple weeks to break the habit.
Anonymous says
Honestly I avoid this problem by not buying that kind of snacks. It’s the only way I can make it work. If I ever even buy a box of crackers I end up just eating them all. So the only snacks our kids (1.5 and 5) get are fruit (usually fresh but sometimes dates, prunes, or raisins), string cheese, and nuts for the older one. If we are at home they might get a piece of toast or yogurt for a snack. It sounds so austere to write it out but hey, it works!
Anon says
Another travel question! What should we do in DC this weekend with 3 three-year-olds and a non-mobile baby? Usually I’d say Building Museum, but that’s closed, so any other recommendations?
Anne says
Hirshorn Gallery is my favorite non-obvious toddler museum. It’s near the metro, small and manageable and most little kids enjoy modern art (at a breakneck speed at least).
Anon says
I haven’t been there in years so don’t ever much about what it’s like inside, so thanks for the suggestion!
rosie says
Museum of the American Indian has a nice kids play area that seems to get less crowded than the one at Museum of American History. I think it’s also much bigger, and the cafeteria at NMAI is tasty. Botanical Gardens is near NMAI and may have a kid exhibit, although also fun just to walk through the gardens.
Spirograph says
We did both of these last weekend and my kids LOVED them. The good kid exhibit at the botanical garden is seasonal, but it was still fun to wander through the nice warm greenhouses.
anne-on says
Building off of yesterday’s question about older kids, I’m going on a weekend trip to a nearby city with my son and decided that he’s going to help me with our daily ‘plan of attack’ and manage the ‘navigation’ (bless you paper tourist maps!). The goal is to teach him some basic life skills (map reading, paying attention to the areas around your hotel when you’re traveling, how to organize your day to build in breaks/meals/etc.) with me there to assist if needed. You’d be amazed at how many people I work with, both young and old, seem to lack these capabilities! I also think it’ll be good for him to have more say and involvement in our itinerary as we’re trying to let him have more ‘big kid’ privileges/choices.
I’d like to continue to build on this when we get home as I seem to recall 4th/5th grade was about when we had much more freedom to do short unsupervised trips. Any ideas/suggestions of bloggers who talk about how to help your kid build ‘out in the world’ type of life skills?
AwayEmily says
No advice but this sounds so smart and fun!
Anon says
yes, please report back on how this goes and what you did to teach him
anne-on says
I’m basically looking at it as ‘consulting travel smarts scaled down for an 8-yr old’. Older/wiser seniors/managers (and early road warriorette!) posts were so helpful when I started traveling for work, especially in the days before widespread smartphones/uber/etc. One thing we talked about today was when we get to our hotel, how we’ll go on a short walk (in a rectangle around our hotel) so we know what’s immediately nearby and orient ourselves (I always look for a CVS/coffee shop/lunch place/quick spot to grab dinner that’s open late-ish, a nail salon/beauty salon in case I break a nail or forget a hair brush/grooming tool, and an urgent care. I cannot tell you how many times it has been appreciate to be the associate who can say, oh you forgot xyz – there’s a CVS 2 blocks north of the client site on x road, or a nearby store where you can grab a new shirt when you dumped coffee on you, or I spotted a trader joes so we can make a snack run at 6pm, or a kinko’s for when the business center closed, etc.’
mascot says
I follow HR Mom on FB and she sometimes has content about this.
Beth @ Parent Lightly says
No but I want to write about this! Really really great idea.
SC says
No advice on blogs, etc., but I remember my parents, and my dad especially, teaching me all sorts of life skills. When I was 7, I rode on a plane for the first time, and he made me read the signs and find our gate. When I was old enough, my parents handed me guide books and let me plan one full day of our vacation (within a reasonable budget, but mostly I took us on really long walks around cities and made everyone climb towers–still two of my favorite vacation activities).
My ideas for other “out in the world” life skills:
– Challenge your kid to navigate to home or school or a friend’s house. Even though our phones have navigation systems, it’s good to for kids to basically know their way around in case their phone or data is not available.
– Have kids order at restaurants, speak to receptionists and health care providers at doctors’ or dentists’ offices, and pay at stores.
You can also involve them in your weekend “plan of attack.” Or have kids plan short day trips.
So Anon says
Totally agree, and this is something that I emphasize as well. One other thing I tend to do is if we are at a place (hotel or resort) where we are ordering a cab, shuttle, or room service, I have a child call to practice physically calling the number and telling the person what room we are in and what we need. I generally hop on the phone at the beginning or end to verify that they are allowed to be ordering. Mine are younger, but I also use this as an opportunity to reinforce knowing my full name and cell.
EP-er says
I had my 10 year old plan a family vacation and it was fun? funny? He picked a hotel which had no on-line reservations, so we had to call on the phone. They sent us a paper reservation in the mail! We went to AAA and got a paper map and he highlighted our route & navigated. He checked the times of the attractions we went to and came up with the plan. It was a lot of fun.
I mostly make sure my kids order properly at restaurants. Once we went to a fast food place with my nephew and didn’t have anything to eat, because he wouldn’t order! I don’t want my kids to be in that position….
Anon says
this literally made me lol. i didn’t even know such hotels still existed.
Pogo says
This seems like a question you should be able to google, but I don’t really have the time to wade through 50 reviews – so, best prenatal with non-constipating iron? The one I am currently taking has ferrous fumerate, which is not the ideal, apparently chelated iron is. Specific brand recommendations?
NYCer says
No idea if it is the “best” but I took Rainbow Light Prenatal One and never had any issues. I took a separate DHA supplement.
Nan says
+1 for Rainbow Prenatal One.
Pogo says
YAY it looks like that is the chelated iron. Thank you!
rosie says
Not what you’re asking, but if you’d consider separating them, Vitron C for the iron supp.
Butter says
Alas, I just take the one they sell at Costco – I think it’s Nature Made – which looks like it has the fumerate kind. I haven’t had issues though, fwiw.
Anon says
I also took rainbow light but sometimes did gummy prenatals + floradix liquid iron. But constipation was still unavoidable and really the big helpers were a squatty potty and Sunkist sour raisins.
ALC says
Has anyone tried Little Spoon or Yumi or some other baby food service? Any thoughts?
Anon says
We’ve used Raised Real for the last 12+ months and I’ve been very happy with it. However, I started using it when we were getting out of the puree stage and into the “tiny pieces of table foods stage” because I found that I despised dicing sweet potatoes up into little tiny pieces. You can technically puree the Raised Real meals if you want to blend or mash them up, but I like the convenience for the table food stage best.
My best friend uses Yumi for her younger baby and has been happy with them.
Hand Foot and Mouth says
Just finished my first week back at work after maternity leave and my daughter’s second week of daycare. HFM was going around her classroom, and she had a mild fever for two days so we kept her home. Then my husband was sick with achey joints and general unpleasantness for 36 hours. I thought I had somehow escaped it but NOPE… I got hit with three days of fever and now the most painful rash I have ever experienced on my palms and the soles of my feet. So embarrassing! I read there’s nothing I can do except wait it out and take Tylenol. Looking for advice from anyone who’s been through this!
Anonymous says
Popsicles. It just sucks. I’m still mad at the friend who brought her sick toddler over to visit and gave it to me.
Cb says
It is terrible. I couldn’t walk for at least a week, but the doctor said I was an extreme case. Pudding, popsicles. You just have to ride it out.
anon says
If you get it in your throat, soft rice. I had to wear my maternity shoes for a week because my feet were so sore. HFM is the WORST.
Meg says
I’m in third trimester and my toddler son just got the WORST HFM for a full week. All of us parents back this week are still traumatized. It’s just really unpleasant and something you have to wait out. Cool, soft foods are the way to go (yogurt, berries, bananas). Hang in there!
Anonymom says
Maybe a dumb question but…my 3 year old is obsessed with dogman? He picked up the book at the bookstore and now its his absolute favorite. He doesn’t read independently yet and I’ve been pushing continuing to read picture books etc., but is there anything wrong with him reading dogman? It seems more popular with like the 8 year old crowd. Am I being crazy?
RR says
My philosophy is generally to let them “read” anything with words that catches their interest. I wouldn’t have any concerns about dogman.
Anonymous says
I wouldn’t try to get him to read picture books. The majority of picture books are more suitable for parents to read to children than for actually teaching reading. “I can read” and early chapter books are designed for emerging readers.
Anonymous says
I think it is fine. At 3 you can always edit the text when you read it if you find something objectionable. My son’s daycare classmate loved Captain Underpants – I think they were 3 or under when his mom gave it to us as a gift.
blueridge29 says
I wouldn’t worry about it, but if you want an alternative drop by a local library and talk to a librarian. The number of cartoon/graphic novels for kids is pretty impressive these days. You may be able to find some similar books that hold your 3 year old’s interest, but are more fun for you to read.
Good luck, my eldest is obsessed with Dogman and Captain Underpants. I have tried to distract him with Calvin & Hobbes and Star Wars graphic novels, but so far no luck. :(
JDMD says
May I recommend the Hilo series? It’s a really sweet, silly, smart graphic novel series that my kids both loved starting at age 3 and still love four years later.
anne-on says
Entirely your call, but we banned Dogman and Wimpy Kid books at home (though I know he reads them at school). My son is a good enough reader that he had SO many other options. I’m fine with mild potty language/silliness but the attitudes towards girls, rudeness to siblings/teachers, the multiple references to how school is ‘boring’ and ‘the worst’ and flat out disrespect was not something I needed around. He’s also note quiiiite old enough to have fully grasped ‘they did this silly thing in a book and got away with it because fiction’ vs. ‘If I do this ‘silly’/rude/disrespectful thing at home I will be punished because real life’. Cue multiple meltdowns when I didn’t ignore the same thing ‘Greg’s’ (awful!) parents did.
anon says
I wanted to get one of the moms in a playgroup a little something for her new baby. I don’t know her too well, but she’s lovely and someone I’d like to know better. She has two boys that are 3.5 and a newborn (boy) that’s about 10 days. What kind of gifts would be most appreciated? I was thinking of dropping off some food and a little book / toy for her older boys, since everyone will get them baby things. What toys are popular with the 4 year old boy crowd?
TIA!
Anon says
That’s nice of you. In this particular situation, I would try to steer clear of anything that will involve heavy/any involvement from the parents in order to play with, which in my house would eliminate heavy crafting items, play dough, games, or non duplo legos.
Age appropriate puzzles might be good. My 4 year old boy loved dinosaur figurines. Or my 4 and 5 year olds had independent fun with this for awhile: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1FYWLZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zYdrEb1WNRCB7
Anonymous says
I would do a coloring book and pack of Crayola markers that smell – the ‘stinky’ pack is hilarious to every preschool aged boy that I know. One book and one pack of markers per kid.
Anonymous says
A quiet activity they could do with minimal adult help would be great, E.g., Melissa and Doug water wow book or reusable sticker set (vinyl clings like colorforms), or maybe an Alex Jr craft kit. You could also get the baby a book the kids could “read” to him, like a Tana Hoban black and white wordless book, or some of those black and white image cards.
Anonymous says
PS – definitely get 2 of the same thing, one for each 3.5 year old!
CCLA says
check out the chuckle and roar tray puzzles at target. they are animal themed and come in a 4-pack. my 3.5 yo adores them and can do them herself (and at that age they still take a decent time for the more numerous ones). kiddo also likes the non-tray ones from same brand but needs adult help to get the border done on those first.also
Anon says
Seconding this. My 2.5 year olds can quickly do the 12 and 24 piece ones, so I’d go for the next level up for 3.5.
Salmon mom says
Looking at this shirt I have no idea what is happening. o_O