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My family recently took my son to a theme park that had a mini wave pool and a big splash pad area. They had lockers to rent, but most people just parked their overflowing strollers in the stroller parking area and left them on the honor system. A few people had these waterproof phone pouches around their necks, and to be honest, I was pretty envious. It held their phone and it could also be stuffed with a credit card, cash, or other important cards instead of bringing your whole wallet to the park.
I wanted to take cute photos but was also worried about my phone getting wet, and this would solve that problem as well. To be honest, it’s probably the least fashionable item you can wear, but in reality, you’re at a theme park, so to me all fashion bets are off and it is function over form any day. Also, no one is confusing me with a Vogue fashion editor with my baseball cap, Bermuda shorts, and comfort sandals, so I may as well turn into the skid. This pouch is $6.69 at Amazon and is eligible for Prime and free returns. Universal Waterproof PouchThis post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
I am having a working mom moment today. Next week is the kids’ last week of summer vacation before school starts. I normally take that whole week off to decompress and spend time with them. But work this summer has been a clusterf*ck, and realistically, I can’t take any time off without missing a major deadline. I am so disappointed, to the point that I’m crying in my office. DH is going to take the older one to an out-of-state amusement park Sunday/Monday. I would’ve loved to go, but it’s not in the cards this time. I’m happy that DS will get some special bonding time with just DH. I’m just bummed and resenting my job, big time. I am so tired of sacrificing my time and energy for work.
The higher ed/nonprofit world is not what it’s cracked up to be, sometimes. I have a pile of vacation time that I struggle to use because our staffing is so lean. Perhaps if I’d managed this differently, I wouldn’t be in this situation — like I said, the last three months have been particularly challenging and crappy.
Anonymous
Aug 2, 2019 10:05 am
We are taking our first trip as a family of 4. I have a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old on a 5-hour flight. Gimme all your best travel tips, especially for flying with a lap infant, as I didn’t do this with big sister until she was older.
FVNC
Aug 2, 2019 10:06 am
Friend question ahead. My family recently relocated to a new city, where we’ll be for a year while husband completes a short work assignment. I left some really great friendships in my old city and I just don’t feel like putting in the effort to find new friends since we’ll be here such a short time. But that seems like a bad idea and a great way to feel lonely and isolated pretty quickly. What would you do? I guess I’m hoping I click with some parents at my daughter’s school, or with some neighbors so I can have a few social outlets but…what if that doesn’t happen? For various reasons we live ~1 hr from husband’s work, so socializing with his colleagues isn’t realistic. I’m not sure what I’m asking; I feel like I’m in this weird limbo!
Anon
Aug 2, 2019 10:11 am
I have a new walker. She still rides in a stroller a lot (of course) and when she does she frequently sticks her shoes in her mouth or licks the soles, which are black from all the gross floors she walks on. I think it’s the grossest thing ever. Is this just something kids just do? Or is there a way to get her to stop? Telling her not to do it seems to make her more interested in it.
Anon lunch
Aug 2, 2019 10:29 am
Does my 2 year old need a lunchbag to hold her planetbox lunch box or can it just go in her backpack? Where do I put utensils, just loose in her backpack?
Do you send milk and water in two seperate cups to preschool at this age? She likes milk before her nap but I like the idea of her drinking milk if she doesn’t eat much lunch.
Anon
Aug 2, 2019 10:40 am
I love these pouches – I’ve used them for years. Great for wet toddler hands during pool break time, keeping sand out of all the crevices on the phone at the beach, and generally not worrying about tossing wet things in my beach or pool bag. I use a gallon ziploc bag for the same purpose to protect my kindle at the pool and beach, and it’s not nearly as clear, durable, or touch friendly (but it does the trick, so c’est la vie).
City or not
Aug 2, 2019 11:19 am
We are going back and forth on the city and suburbs debate. I have an 18 month old, where schools obviously better outside the city with more space, but schools within city are not awful, not great. I do a reverse commute, partner works in the city but still not an easy commute for either of us. I haven’t taken advantage of the museums, etc as much as I would have liked but see myself going even less if we move out. I don’t like driving especially with the baby, but I also don’t want the baby (and any future babies) to just live in 800 square feet. We moved a lot so I want our next move to stick for a long time (either slightly bigger apt in city or small suburb house).
What factors did you consider when making this decision? Anyone increase their driving confidence after moving out? Is the extra space totally needed as they get older?
I'm Way Over Thinking This
Aug 2, 2019 12:23 pm
I have a similar lunch box question to the one above, slightly different. I really like the idea of a bentobox lunch container for my kindergartner (environment, I think may be higher likelihood he eats the stuff if he doesn’t have to open a baggie for each thing, etc.). I gather he needs a lunch bag to put the bento box in for carrying around, & I found a seemingly good system at Target. BUT I find it seems in most cases the bento box takes up all of the lunch bag space. Can I just put his water bottle separately in his backpack and rely on him to carry both to lunch, or however they do that? Or will that be a significant issue that the drink and the food are not in one easy to carry around case? What do bento box folks do? Thanks!
Cradle Cap
Aug 2, 2019 12:28 pm
I posted earlier this week about my 3 year old’s cradle cap. Someone mentioned Babyganics Cradle Cap Cleanser, and several mentioned special combs (very close together teeth). Update: I used these together last night & made significant progress! I think I may need to do a second round, but a lot came off! Thank you all!
DLC
Aug 2, 2019 12:33 pm
About to embark on a 13 hr road trip with a 7 year old and a 2.5 yr old and thought I’d ask:
1) What are your favorite road trip snacks- both for grown ups and kids? Mine are gummy worms, Coke, and salt and vinegar chips, but I feel like I should give my kids other/ healthier options. We are planning on bringing a cooler.
2) what non-screen things keep your kids entertained in the car? The 7 year old loves audiobooks, but I imagine that the grown ups will want a break from “How to Train your Dragon” so we’ll need to give her something to amuse herself while we listen to Daddy Music. Not sure how to keep the 2.5 year entertained.
Dog Walking at Night?
Aug 2, 2019 1:02 pm
Just got word that DH and I will be able to take a one weekish trip solo this fall, as my MIL will be here and happily hang with our toddler and pup.
We live in a huge apartment building, and typically our pup needs to go out one last time around 10:30 or 11 PM at night for a 5 minute walk. DH seems to think it’ll be fine if my MIL quickly takes the dog out while DS (about 20 months right now) is asleep while we’re gone. I’ve done this in a pinch when there are no options, but usually if I’m home alone, we ask our neighbors/very close friends to come by and watch the monitor.
Am I being paranoid? I’m happy to throw money at the problem and ask a friend or dog walker to come by later in the evening, but DH seems to think it will be fine since it’s such a quick walk.
Ifiknew
Aug 2, 2019 1:05 pm
I want to get away from spoon feeding my 2 year old so much but I’ve noticed that so much of her ta trims are related to hunger and when she feeds herself, she eats a small amount and says she’s done done but if I let her play and offer food while she’s playing, she eats so much more and her behavior is so so much better when she’s eaten better. I don’t want to overfeed her and I’d like her to be more indep ndent for preschool and eat until she’s actually full but torn as to how to best handle
Anon
Aug 2, 2019 1:59 pm
My 2 year old is a complete disaster lately. Tons of nos for everything, bedtime and nap time are huge struggles even though she’s so tired. I don’t think it’s anything different but how do you discipline and enforce boundaries with a 2 year old?
Op
Aug 2, 2019 3:20 pm
So helpful thank you guys. I don’t know how to contain my child for a time out she thinks it’s funny and never listens about sitting in one spot? Do your 2 year olds just stay for time out?
Paging Sticker Charts
Aug 2, 2019 7:03 pm
To the poster from the other day looking for sticker/reward chart: saw one in the Dollar Spot at Target during lunch today! They also had some education-based decorations, workbooks, stickers. This was at a City Target location on major west coast downtown FWIW.
I am having a working mom moment today. Next week is the kids’ last week of summer vacation before school starts. I normally take that whole week off to decompress and spend time with them. But work this summer has been a clusterf*ck, and realistically, I can’t take any time off without missing a major deadline. I am so disappointed, to the point that I’m crying in my office. DH is going to take the older one to an out-of-state amusement park Sunday/Monday. I would’ve loved to go, but it’s not in the cards this time. I’m happy that DS will get some special bonding time with just DH. I’m just bummed and resenting my job, big time. I am so tired of sacrificing my time and energy for work.
The higher ed/nonprofit world is not what it’s cracked up to be, sometimes. I have a pile of vacation time that I struggle to use because our staffing is so lean. Perhaps if I’d managed this differently, I wouldn’t be in this situation — like I said, the last three months have been particularly challenging and crappy.
We are taking our first trip as a family of 4. I have a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old on a 5-hour flight. Gimme all your best travel tips, especially for flying with a lap infant, as I didn’t do this with big sister until she was older.
Friend question ahead. My family recently relocated to a new city, where we’ll be for a year while husband completes a short work assignment. I left some really great friendships in my old city and I just don’t feel like putting in the effort to find new friends since we’ll be here such a short time. But that seems like a bad idea and a great way to feel lonely and isolated pretty quickly. What would you do? I guess I’m hoping I click with some parents at my daughter’s school, or with some neighbors so I can have a few social outlets but…what if that doesn’t happen? For various reasons we live ~1 hr from husband’s work, so socializing with his colleagues isn’t realistic. I’m not sure what I’m asking; I feel like I’m in this weird limbo!
I have a new walker. She still rides in a stroller a lot (of course) and when she does she frequently sticks her shoes in her mouth or licks the soles, which are black from all the gross floors she walks on. I think it’s the grossest thing ever. Is this just something kids just do? Or is there a way to get her to stop? Telling her not to do it seems to make her more interested in it.
Does my 2 year old need a lunchbag to hold her planetbox lunch box or can it just go in her backpack? Where do I put utensils, just loose in her backpack?
Do you send milk and water in two seperate cups to preschool at this age? She likes milk before her nap but I like the idea of her drinking milk if she doesn’t eat much lunch.
I love these pouches – I’ve used them for years. Great for wet toddler hands during pool break time, keeping sand out of all the crevices on the phone at the beach, and generally not worrying about tossing wet things in my beach or pool bag. I use a gallon ziploc bag for the same purpose to protect my kindle at the pool and beach, and it’s not nearly as clear, durable, or touch friendly (but it does the trick, so c’est la vie).
We are going back and forth on the city and suburbs debate. I have an 18 month old, where schools obviously better outside the city with more space, but schools within city are not awful, not great. I do a reverse commute, partner works in the city but still not an easy commute for either of us. I haven’t taken advantage of the museums, etc as much as I would have liked but see myself going even less if we move out. I don’t like driving especially with the baby, but I also don’t want the baby (and any future babies) to just live in 800 square feet. We moved a lot so I want our next move to stick for a long time (either slightly bigger apt in city or small suburb house).
What factors did you consider when making this decision? Anyone increase their driving confidence after moving out? Is the extra space totally needed as they get older?
I have a similar lunch box question to the one above, slightly different. I really like the idea of a bentobox lunch container for my kindergartner (environment, I think may be higher likelihood he eats the stuff if he doesn’t have to open a baggie for each thing, etc.). I gather he needs a lunch bag to put the bento box in for carrying around, & I found a seemingly good system at Target. BUT I find it seems in most cases the bento box takes up all of the lunch bag space. Can I just put his water bottle separately in his backpack and rely on him to carry both to lunch, or however they do that? Or will that be a significant issue that the drink and the food are not in one easy to carry around case? What do bento box folks do? Thanks!
I posted earlier this week about my 3 year old’s cradle cap. Someone mentioned Babyganics Cradle Cap Cleanser, and several mentioned special combs (very close together teeth). Update: I used these together last night & made significant progress! I think I may need to do a second round, but a lot came off! Thank you all!
About to embark on a 13 hr road trip with a 7 year old and a 2.5 yr old and thought I’d ask:
1) What are your favorite road trip snacks- both for grown ups and kids? Mine are gummy worms, Coke, and salt and vinegar chips, but I feel like I should give my kids other/ healthier options. We are planning on bringing a cooler.
2) what non-screen things keep your kids entertained in the car? The 7 year old loves audiobooks, but I imagine that the grown ups will want a break from “How to Train your Dragon” so we’ll need to give her something to amuse herself while we listen to Daddy Music. Not sure how to keep the 2.5 year entertained.
Just got word that DH and I will be able to take a one weekish trip solo this fall, as my MIL will be here and happily hang with our toddler and pup.
We live in a huge apartment building, and typically our pup needs to go out one last time around 10:30 or 11 PM at night for a 5 minute walk. DH seems to think it’ll be fine if my MIL quickly takes the dog out while DS (about 20 months right now) is asleep while we’re gone. I’ve done this in a pinch when there are no options, but usually if I’m home alone, we ask our neighbors/very close friends to come by and watch the monitor.
Am I being paranoid? I’m happy to throw money at the problem and ask a friend or dog walker to come by later in the evening, but DH seems to think it will be fine since it’s such a quick walk.
I want to get away from spoon feeding my 2 year old so much but I’ve noticed that so much of her ta trims are related to hunger and when she feeds herself, she eats a small amount and says she’s done done but if I let her play and offer food while she’s playing, she eats so much more and her behavior is so so much better when she’s eaten better. I don’t want to overfeed her and I’d like her to be more indep ndent for preschool and eat until she’s actually full but torn as to how to best handle
My 2 year old is a complete disaster lately. Tons of nos for everything, bedtime and nap time are huge struggles even though she’s so tired. I don’t think it’s anything different but how do you discipline and enforce boundaries with a 2 year old?
So helpful thank you guys. I don’t know how to contain my child for a time out she thinks it’s funny and never listens about sitting in one spot? Do your 2 year olds just stay for time out?
To the poster from the other day looking for sticker/reward chart: saw one in the Dollar Spot at Target during lunch today! They also had some education-based decorations, workbooks, stickers. This was at a City Target location on major west coast downtown FWIW.