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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 89 Comments · by

Everyone Thursday: Bracelet-Sleeve Seasonless Blazer

Everyone· Machine-Washable Work Clothes· Recent Recs

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Washable Blazer: White House | Black Market Bracelet-Sleeve Seasonless BlazerI always like a bracelet-sleeve blazer, albeit possibly because I’m on the border of petite and regular sizes. Still, it can be a lovely look for spring/summer/fall. I like the double lapel and double hem, as well as what they call “the smart back vent.” (Interestingly, they do note that you can machine wash the blazer!) It’s $150, available in both regular and petite sizes. White House | Black Market Bracelet-Sleeve Seasonless Blazer Here’s a plus-size option. (L-3)

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
  • Old Navy – 40% off everything
  • Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs

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Comments

  1. bo says

    Okay so I hired a nanny a month ago for short term care (3 months) until my son starts day care in June, when he’ll be 6 months old. The “problem” is that she is wonderful and I would love for her to stay with our family a little longer. We talked about it and she wants to, but how do I ask daycare? We don’t live in a big city, but I know daycare spots are still hard to come by and they have a waiting list. Ideally we would start in September if they would let us. I’m usually not a phone avoider, but I have been avoiding this call because I’m worried they will say no. Tips for what to say/ask?

    • Anonymous says

      I’d ask in person – might make it harder for them to say no. Be polite, friendly and enthusiastic about baby eventually attending there.

      Would definitely pick a good nanny over daycare for younger babies/young toddlers. Nanny can always take baby to playgroups for socialization down the road.

    • pockets says

      I highly doubt that daycare is going to keep the spot open for you, but maybe they’d agree to keep you at the top of the list for a few months so that as new spots open up you’ll be the first person they call.

      • Spirograph says

        +1 Although my daycare typically moves kids up to the next room at the beginning of the summer and/or beginning of the school year, so September gives you better odds than most other times of year.

        Can I ask what benefit you get out of keeping the nanny on for 3 more months but not any longer than that? I feel like if you’re going to go with the nanny, go with the nanny and forget about daycare until kiddo’s old enough for the socialization in daycare to really be worth it. But if you’re going to go with daycare sooner rather than later, you may be giving yourself a lot of extra headaches by shifting the dates so slightly… and for what? (Of course, if you have a crazy summer coming up with vacations / work travel, it certainly makes sense)

        • Carrie M says

          I also think that transitions can get harder as they get older, so it may be tougher on your child at 9 months to move from the nanny to the daycare than it would be at 6 months. We moved from an in-home daycare to a center at 6 months, and transition was fairly smooth. When she moved from the infant room to the toddler room at the center at age 1, it was a whole different ball game. A lot more anxiety, tears, etc. So if there’s no real compelling reason to move the date back, I might be inclined to do it in June.

          • Lyssa says

            I agree. Also, as a warning, babies tend to go through a big “stranger-danger” phase around 8-9 months, where they don’t want to be held by anyone that they aren’t really well used to. So, a transition in caregivers around that time is likely to be really hard. I would either do it earlier, or wait a year or so to do it later enough that kid is likely to be able to have some understanding of what’s going on.

        • anne-on says

          If I were you, I’d try to keep your kiddo at home with a nanny until roughly 2 or so. They get fewer of the truly icky/scary illnesses at that age, and you’ll get into a daycare before they start requiring potty training to move up. Plus I generally found older kids are both cheaper and easier to find spots for (we switched when my son was 3 and it was soooo much easier).

          • Thoughts. says

            Agree. I started my son in a daycare, but moved to a nanny after 3 months (for flexibility more than anything else). During his time in the daycare, he had pretty chronic ear infections, and was at the point of needing surgery for tubes. It all stopped after we switched to the nanny. I moved him to school at 2, and I think he’s missed one? two? days in the three years since he’s gone to school.

            Not an option for many, and not the preference of others, but if you’ve found a nanny you love, and can swing it, I’d keep her on and investigate a nannyshare potentially as your child gets older to off-set cost and still get socialization.

          • shortperson says

            our baby started daycare at 4 months and it’s been a fantastic experience. her teachers are great and she gets a ton of educational experiences there, plus it is way cheaper than a nanny (although by no means cheap). in 14 months there she’s been home sick only twice, and has sailed through a lot of other illnesses (hand foot and mouth went around her class and she had a rash for an hour one evening). so ymmv.

          • Lkl says

            I don’t mean this in a judgmental way for people who have nannies, but just to give a counterpoint to the opinion above. Our son has been in daycare since 6 months and I think it is fantastic. I love that he is in a group of kids of various ages. He has been extremely interested in the other kids since about 7 months, and I think it’s great for him to be in that gaggle and to adapt to a routine that is different than ours and doesn’t necessarily center around him. This daycare is centered around him enough to put him down for naps when HE needs it, on our schedule, but it’s still a nice little group of kids. By his current age (13 mo) he goes crazy just being in our house for any length of t ime. Plus he hasn’t had to miss a single day for sickness yet (I am sure he will soon).

  2. bo says

    Thanks for these thoughts. I’m on an academic calendar, and am working out of my home office attached to the house until September, so it’s nice having them so close and also nice not to have to do a day care commute just to turn around and drive back home. Also our older son is off in August and she could take care of both of them for the month. Finally, right now he’s on his own schedule, and I just like the idea that he can do that a little longer. But I think your points are good.

    Going to ask in person is an interesting idea.

    • Meg Murry says

      If your nanny is available and its working out and you can afford it, what about keeping her on for another year? Our daycare starts the toddler room at 18 months and there are a lot more spots available then, and its slightly cheaper.

      My only concern with asking to wait until September is if they have a lot of other parents in academia (or school teachers) they may be down in numbers in the summer and have a list of other families also wanting to start in September. But it never hurts to ask. I wouldn’t elaborate, just say “Our situation has changed and it would work a lot better for us to start in September instead. Is that a possibility?” But I’d be prepared also to be told that the only option is to go back down to the bottom of the wait-list.

    • MomAnon4This says

      Can you do half-day at daycare, nanny picks up and takes home for afternoon nap?

    • Anonymous says

      The worst they could say is no (in person or on the phone)- it’s not like they’ll remind your spot just for asking.

      Are there other daycares around where you could get on a wait list now for sept just in case?

  3. Tunnel says

    I think the “Coffee Break: Skimmies Slipshorts” from the main s!te on 3/29/16 should be cross-posted over here! Thigh chafing is a problem I imagine a lot of pregnant women experience!

    • Pogo says

      I feel like the Skimmies are such a mainstay on the main s!te – they’re like the underwear equivalent of The Skirt. I’m surprised they haven’t been featured before!

    • Anon in NYC says

      I think a bracelet sleeve is longer. I think a 3/4 sleeve typically stops above the elbow while a bracelet sleeve falls between your elbow and your wrist.

    • Anonymous says

      I have proportionate length arms and I always feel like a bracelet length jacket just makes it looks like I’m wearing a too-small size.

      • Meg Murry says

        I have short arms, so many 3/4 sleeve items look like bracelet length on me, and bracelet length are often the correct length on me – regular sleeves often droop down to at least my knuckles.

        However, I think I would have descibed this jacket as 3/4 sleeved by the photo. I suspect this model has longer arms than the average mere mortal.

      • Spirograph says

        I have disproportionately long, ape-like arms, and love bracelet sleeve lengths, which come out looking like the model’s sleeve length on me. I can’t win with full-length sleeves, they always look unintentionally too short, but my shoulders are too broad to be able to buy a tall size that isn’t freakishly long. Outside of my suits, which I’ve gotten tailored, I roll up all my blazer sleeves to be 3/4 length.

  5. Lyssa says

    Help me out here. My parents have, in the last 10 years or so, gotten really into cruising, and go a couple times a year. I’m neutral about cruises; they’re nice, but I really like the beach and would probably generally prefer more beach time (we live very far from one). We’ve been on 2 with them in the past, with my siblings (before any of us had kids), and they were nice. My parents are pretty good about not being overbearing or anything like that, and they get along well with my husband, and the cruise was good in that we could easily spend time together or apart. So, they’ve been really pushing doing another family cruise this year, with us and our 2 kids (would be 3.5 and almost 1), though probably not with my siblings.

    The issues: We weren’t really planning to take a big trip this year, as we’re trying to get student loans paid off (we have a shorter trip to NYC planned for my husband’s birthday in the fall, and had talked about doing some family visits). And if we’re going to go somewhere, maybe I’d rather do something that we choose. But, on the other hand, we didn’t get any vacation last year, since the baby came, so it has been a while. And going with my parents has a lot of advantages, since they could take the kids. But, on the other other hand, we stay so busy now with 2 kids that the idea of planning just about any thing just makes me feel exhausted. I find myself fantasizing about taking a week off just to do some stuff around the house! So, I’m concerned that this will be more stress than not. But then, of course, that’s another good reason to go with my parents and on something planned out like a cruise. But if we don’t put that money towards the loans, we might not meet my goal of paying them off by next year’s tax refund. But, then, there’s no rule saying that I have to do that, it’s just my own personal goal (we’ll still be way ahead on payments, and my parents are likely to offer some help with paying for this trip). So, what do I do?

    • POSITA says

      I had friends who took a cruise with kids about those ages and they had a terrible time. Everyone trying to sleep in a single small cabin was misery. The 3 yo kept falling off the top bunk and the 1 yo kept waking everyone up all night. There also wasn’t enough space to move around the cabin to get dressed or ready for bed. The parents also hated having to sit in a dark cabin starting at 7 PM every night with no privacy. The same with naps–and one of the patents would get crazy sea sick from the motion without any view or fresh air. The long multicourse formal cruise dinners were also a source of misery. And the 1 yo wasn’t old enough to go to the kids club and wasn’t allowed in the pools even with a swim diaper. The grandparents also weren’t attentive enough to really help with the kids in a non-child proofed ship, so the parents always had to be on duty. My friend came back exhausted. He swore “Never again!”

      • Maddie Ross says

        Same. I’ve never been on a cruise and frankly have no interest, but I do have friends who have taken them with little kids and I think they really need to be at least 3 (and probably more towards 4-5) to enjoy it. The 1 y.o. is too young for kids clubs, even on a Disney cruise, so there would be no time away. And space can be so limited. I personally think you tell your parents this – that is a lovely offer, we’d love to spend time with you, but we’re prioritizing our student loans this year. Can we talk about a planning something out a year or two?

      • Anonymous says

        I haven’t been in a cruise but the idea of sharing a small cabin with two children sounds like my idea of misery. I just got back from a trip with my 9 month old and it was great because we had a separate bedroom so we could still hang out, cook etc at night once she was in bed. We did all sleep in the same room but having somewhere else to hang out is key I think while kids still go to bed so early.

      • Anonymous says

        H and I went on a cruise alone in August a couple years ago, leaving kiddo with grandparents. There were so. many. families with kids on the ship because it was summer vacation, and the parents of the young children (most of whom appeared to be on multi-generation family trips) looked so haggard and miserable, all we could talk about was how glad ours wasn’t with us. Like posita said, swim diapers aren’t allowed in the pool. The kids club looked great for school-age kids, but I wasn’t impressed with the toddler setup, and I don’t think anyone else was either because I mostly saw people pushing their younger kids around in strollers on the deck. I didn’t see many people attempt the multi-course dinners with kids; they just stuck to the buffet, which looked like a kids’ cafeteria the one time we wandered by.

        I don’t think you get ANY of the enjoyable aspects of a cruise if you bring young kids along. Cruising (esp the Disney line) is great for older kids, according to my friends, but there’s no way I’d attempt it with a 1 and 3 year old.

    • JJ says

      Never been on a cruise, but having been in many hotel rooms traveling with babies at those ages, I agree with POSITA. It’s terrible to only have one room to share with your kids, and I have to assume that a cruise room is going to be smaller than a hotel room. I’ve heard Disney Cruises are actually amazing with 24-hour childcare included, but the kids have to be potty trained to be eligible for that. And, you’d have to pack (approximately) 1 billion different things to make sure you have everything you need for both kids.

      I’d pass for this year. It would be a MUCH better idea when your youngest is at least 2.

      • mascot says

        Not sure if it is a rumor, but I’ve heard that some cruise lines also have a prohibition on swim diapers. Which would make family pool time tricky.

    • CHJ says

      We’re going through something similar right now because my extended family has planned two vacations for this year and are kicking around the idea of another one next year already, and my husband is freaking out that all we do is go on vacation with my family at the expense of a vacation of our choosing. Our compromise is that we’re going on one easy vacation with my family (Disneyworld) but not the other one that would be a huge hassle (Hawaii – we live on the East Coast), and instead we’re doing our own vacation just the three of us.

      Do you like going on cruises? I’m all for easy vacations with little kids, but personally I’d prefer something on land where I could get to a store if I needed something. Would your parents be up for going on a trip of your choosing rather than the cruise?

    • Lyssa says

      Well, darn, after typing all of that out, I had started to think that it sounded like a good idea and we should take advantage of it. Hmm. FWIW, my kids are really good about things like long dinners (something we’re big on), and I’m not too worried about the room sharing, since we’ve done well in hotels before, and we don’t send them to bed very early. But hmm.

      • Lyssa says

        I didn’t know about the swim diaper thing, but I looked it up and it is really restrictive. (No non-potty trained kids in the pools or water attractions at all, except for a “baby splash zone” on some ships.) That certainly does not sound good. The older kid would probably enjoy it, but this might be a real problem with the baby.

      • POSITA says

        Would your parents compromise and do an all-inclusive? It’s like a non-moving ship, but you can get a two bedroom unit with a kitchenette and more space, the 1 yo can go in the pool, and you will have room for the 3 yo to run around. Some may even have a playset for the 3 yo, which is an essential feature of any vacation according to my toddler.

        • Lyssa says

          I think I’m going to ask. We went to a lovely resort in the DR a few years back that seemed to have really great kid/family stuff (I was pregnant at the time, so we were really looking), and wouldn’t wind up costing too much more. They’re really h3ll-bent on cruises lately, though.

          • Anonymous says

            What if they did a cruise leaving from Florida and then met up with you for a week at the beach afterwards in Florida. You could rent a house or condo near the beach.

          • hoola hoopa says

            Ugh, my longer post got eaten. But we did something similar and it was the best vacation I’ve ever done with kids. Even though we had more kids, we had extra adults to help and plenty of space in the large vacation home to separate for naps, etc. There were plenty of activities that interested everyone (swimming, bike rentals/paths, nature center, etc). We are going again next year.

            Re: cabin. I refuse to travel with kids using a hotel room. It’s a condo or we stay home. Life is miserable in one room.

    • NewMomAnon says

      I’ve been on cruises, and I would not want to take a cruise with a small child. Try to figure out what is nice about the cruise and replicate it on land. My family tends to take trips together and rents a big house near a beach; could you suggest that as an alternative? Or I’ve had colleagues visit all-inclusive resorts in Mexico with children, and they love it. My one time at an all-inclusive was like a cruise in that we had all of our meals prepared, activities were planned, there was stuff to do on the resort, and everyone had their own rooms or cabins to retreat to for naps, showers, etc.

      For me, one of the biggest issues with small children on a cruise is the very real potential for illness at sea, with only the ship’s doctor available (who isn’t a pediatrician). I also don’t know what I could’ve done on sea days that would have felt safe for a 1 year old; they are not allowed in the pool, can’t safely toddle on deck, cabin is too small for much excitement, too young for kid’s club.

    • SoCalAtty says

      Oh hell. After reading all of this, I may be in trouble. I’m committed to a cruise in October, son will be 13 months. Over 7 days, there are 3 “at sea” days. I expect I’ll still be BFing at that time, so maybe still co-sleeping, and the kid sleeps through ANYTHING, so I’m not worried about the space (I booked a suite, anyway), but that stinks about the pools. Think I can potty train my 13 month old before the cruise? Ha.

      It’s a “friends and family cruise” with a competitive sports league I’m a part of, and there are lots of one year old friendly shore days, but now I’m worried. Hmmmm…..

      I’m taking a week off of work for it, I wonder if I should cancel?

  6. Pogo says

    If a cruise with my parents/in-laws were my only vacation option (which it sounds like it is based on your schedule/budget), I wouldn’t do it. I don’t see hanging out with family as ‘vacation’, and while I’ve never done a cruise, they creep me out germ-wise.

    I’d personally be annoyed to be using my vacation time and money on a cruise with family (again, if it were my only vacation option- meaning I couldn’t later do a “real” vacation), which sounds like what you’re feeling too. You don’t want to be resentful of the whole thing during/after the fact.

  7. Suburban says

    Help! My baby shower is sunday and despite the fact that it’s 60 degrees and sunny now they are calling for snow Sunday. I’m 34 weeks, already insecure and I’m worries I’ll look foolish on the Easter-y dress I picked out. Anyone want to help with online shopping? I tend to look best in wrap dresses and will need super-express shipping. Shower is brunch at my moms country club so Id hate to wear black.

    • mascot says

      So the dress you have is otherwise appropriate for the venue, your body, the event, and ideal spring temps?
      Wear the lovely spring dress you have, ditch your coat when you walk inside, and ignore anyone who dares to say a word about what a pregnant lady is wearing. It’s hard to dress at 34 weeks anyways.

      • Anonymous says

        Amen. It’s your baby shower. If you show up in a cocktail dress or a toga at 34 weeks, no one should care.

      • Suburban says

        Thanks! That’s what my mom said. I was so excited for the shower but the prospect of people taking pictures when I look like this is just overwhelming right now- I guess Im focused on the wrong things.

        • NewMomAnon says

          *hugs*

          I was so self-conscious during my baby shower, I begged my mom to cancel it. Two years later, and I still haven’t looked at any of the pictures but I do have great memories from the party itself.

          • Spirograph says

            hugs from me too.

            I looked at the pictures from mine… I’d actually felt pretty good about how I looked that day, but the photos tell a different story. The shower itself was fun, but I do wish I hadn’t seen the pictures.

        • hoola hoopa says

          All of this!

          I felt the same way, but put on the dress you have and enjoy the people.

        • Anonymous says

          I don’t get it. Why would an Eastery dress be foolish? It’s a spring baby shower. What’s making you feel insecure? Why are other people saying they felt self-conscious at their baby showers? I’ve never seen a woman who didn’t look beautiful at her shower. Seriously. Why would being pregnant make you look not good? This all strikes me as very strange.

          • NewMomAnon says

            I’m sure your comment was meant to come off as kind, but it felt a bit dismissive – pregnancy and motherhood raise a boatload of emotions, and cause all sorts of physical changes, some of which may come as surprise and feel unwelcome. It doesn’t help to tell someone her feelings are “wrong.” Her feelings are what they are. Thus, hugs and commiseration.

          • Suburban says

            Thanks- to both anon and newmomanon and everyone who sympathizes. It’s pink and blue floral with cap sleeves and I guess I wish I had something less spring-y given that everyone might be in boots. I’m frustrated that I can’t just hit the mall, spend more than I should and feel awesome like I would if I wasn’t pregnant. Everyone has been kind about my shape lately but the constant comments about how big/small/high/low I’m carrying are just too much sometimes. I feel like I’m on display even when I’m just trying to get through the workday. I have to admit, I have never found pregnancy to be beautiful, but I always made an effort to say kind things to pregnant ladies. So I feel like there’s a lot of that going on and it’s just hard you know? * it is also killing me that I can’t pop in a crest white strip and get a good spray tan. Those are my party tricks to feel cute!

    • NewMomAnon says

      I’d put a blazer or sweater over the dress and just go for it. You can always brush off any questions with, “Oh, I’m just so hot at this point in my pregnancy, this seemed like the only thing I could handle.”

      • Meg Murry says

        +1 to this. Plus, the shower is indoors, so its not like you’ll be able to tell from the photos that you were wearing a spring-y dress when it’s snowing.

        Its April and you’re 34 weeks pregnant. Spring-y dress is fine.

        • Suburban says

          Thanks, thanks. I guess part of my insecurity is looking like I can’t handle things anymore. I’m really trying to keep it together and I feel like a failure for having planned badly for the possibility of terrible weather. With regard to it being indoors, Im picturing the room, with walls of windows overlooking the fairways and the water, covered in snow. I have officially won the first-world problems brat of the year award. I hope the sash fits over my belly! Thanks for listening. Really I feel better!!

    • Anonymama says

      Wear the dress you have, I am sure you will look lovely. Who the heck is coming to your baby shower that would make you feel insecure? You’re pregnant, you have a pretty spring dress, it’s spring! (Even if the weather doesn’t agree) and everyone who is coming to a baby shower for you loves you and is excited to celebrate your baby! (And if they don’t, boo to them, and you shouldn’t care about what they think anyway).

      I actually kind of secretly enjoy looking back at the pictures of me when I was house-sized, just because it’s so entertaining/astounding that I was so huge and that a real little person was growing in there, and is now an actual not so little person that walks and talks. Like, that was me, I really did all that on my own!

      • Meg Murry says

        Yes, all this. Even though I don’t actually enjoy looking at pictures of myself pregnant, my kids really like seeing the pictures of me pregnant with them at my shower. They ask to see the album of “the pictures from the party for me when I was in your tummy”.

      • Suburban says

        Thanks!!! You have a point. That said, am I the only one with cousins/aunties/sisters in law/ girlfriends who are snarky as all get out? I have snarkasaurous Rexs here!

        They’re mine and I love them and they love me but there will be a discussion of : my size (especially compared to other pregnant women in attendance), my outfit, how greedy or modest my registry was, whether my mom offered a full bar or just mimosas and bloodies, how scared my husband looked when he showed up at the end (and whether or not he was obviously drinking beforehand), whether my mil looked as happy as she did at my sister in laws baby shower, whether I secretly know the baby’s gender, who showed up, who looked jealous, who gave something crazy generous or handmade, who stayed for afternoon cocktails at the club, how this club generally compares to other country clubs and whether or not my husband and I will join, the fact that I’m going back to work after maternity leave (and whether I “need”to), what flavor cake was served and where said cake was purchased, who the baby will look like, whether or not my husband’s relatives have class or money, and whether or not it was dangerous for me to be wearing high heels.

        Ha! Thanks for humoring me-writing it all out takes a huge weight off. Even though all of the above is true, it’s so beyond my control that I’m just gonna rock my dress and try to have fun.

  8. NewMomAnon says

    Confessions of a toddler mom: I got to work this morning and realized the following: (a) I forgot to put on makeup this morning; (b) the pants that I thought were “right on the edge” of too big were actually falling down as I walked and exposing my underpants; (c) my work bag currently has two board books, a diaper, a child’s hat, and multiple snacks, but no work papers or laptop cord.

    At least tomorrow is Friday, right?

    • POSITA says

      I found a chunk of rainbow playdough stuck to my leg inside my stocking when I got to work. I have no idea how it got there. We didn’t play with playdough this morning.

      • NewMomAnon says

        Unfortunately, they were the “impress the pediatrician with my awesome mothering” snacks, so pouches of spinach puree and dried fruit. My office is stocked up with the snacks I don’t share with kiddo though, so all is not lost on the snack front.

    • Meg Murry says

      Ugh. Happy almost Friday. I would say I forgot to put on makeup, but in reality I gave up on it quite a while ago except for super special occasions. And hey, at least your pants are too big, not too small, right?

      Also, buy yourself a 2nd laptop cord (mine was $20-$30 and available on Prime) so you can leave one at home and one in the office. Makes life much easier.

      • Maddie Ross says

        Multiple laptop cords is the best advice ever. I actually have 3 + a docking station at my office. One lives in my briefcase, one in my kitchen an one in my car. You can probably the guess the various emergencies I’ve had over the years in order to discover I needed them all of these different places. Ugh.

    • JEB says

      I also forgot to put on make up this morning! And my husband laughed hysterically at me last week when I got home from work one night, telling me I was wearing clown pants. I’ve been losing weight, and I guess I didn’t realize how big my pants actually looked. Maybe this is what “having it all” looks like ;)

    • Edna Mazur says

      It took me a good three hours of being at work this morning to realize my cardigan was on inside out. Solidarity.

    • JJ says

      I went to a hearing in court once and, as I pulled out my notebook, three matchbox cars fell out of my work tote and (loudly) clattered onto the table.

      I also currently have wipes and diaper in my work tote. I don’t even know why – both of my kids are potty trained now.

    • Anonymous says

      I have a “terrarium” (jar full of mulch and small plastic animals) that my daughter made in daycare sitting on my desk. It came to work with me instead of my breakfast one morning a couple weeks ago. My work tote has 2 pacifiers and a Happy Meal toy, too.

    • SoCalAtty says

      I walked into work last Friday with really adorable world of Eric Carlyle frog clipped to the belt loop of my jeans (design firm, casual Fridays).

      I had no idea it was there, that’s how I transport toys when carrying my 7 month old. Which means I clipped it on me at daycare dropoff, drove to work like that, and walked the quarter of a mile to work and didn’t even notice it. And I was really put together, too, cute jeans, boots, sweater, scarf, and even makeup! And a green, shiny frog…

      Of course, my CEO saw me walking in and got a huge laugh out of it (we have a good relationship, he has 2 kids in middle/high school, so he gets it). I told him it was all the rage with the interns and I was trying out the new style.

      Oy.

    • hoola hoopa says

      I picked dried baby food out of my hair during my morning call.

      Once I spend an entire work day – including some grocery shopping between office and daycare – with a sticker on my bum.

  9. Anon in NYC says

    I just posed this on the main page, but I wanted to share this recipe for a potential kid meal that introduces your kid to new flavors (or at least, new flavors for my family). http://pinchofyum.com/red-curry-lentils This was delicious and easy, and they’re good both warm and cold (because I’ve eaten spoonfuls straight from the fridge). It is a tiny bit spicy, so you may want to dial back the cayenne or red curry paste if you or your kid is sensitive to spice. My daughter seems to really like it.

    I wound up accidentally pre-soaking the lentils for a few hours (maybe close to a full work day) because I didn’t have time to cook them, and it cut down on cooking time a bit. I think the lentils only needed to cook for about 10 minutes before I added them to the tomato sauce.

  10. weird pregnancy fit question says

    I am 24 weeks and just starting to wear maternity bottoms. Due to being sick all the damn time I haven’t put on much weight. But I am noticing a weird fit issue with my underwear – the leg holes are really tight and making red marks on the front of my legs. And they are really uncomfortable! It’s not tight all the way around, but just really tight from about two inches in from my hip to the inside of my thigh. Would going a size up help this issue? I’ve been wearing ones that are lower cut in the front so they don’t get tight on my stomach, but the leg hole issue is weird because it seems to be only on the front of my legs. I do sit a lot at work so I’m sure that’s contributing. I have no idea if larger underwear sizes mean larger leg holes (I would imagine so?) – and if I buy too big, will the fall down elsewhere? I have generally sensitive skin so things irritating me are not that unusual, but this is just really uncomfortable.

    • Anon in NYC says

      When this happened to me, I sized up. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked and accommodated my growing belly and I used them post-partum.

  11. Jaws says

    Ugh, my 19-month old toddler bit twice today at daycare. This isn’t her first offence — it happened a few times several months ago, stopped for a while, then picked up again a few weeks ago. I had posted about this a while back, got a few recs for books — we’ve been reading Teeth Are Not For Biting on the regular for the last few months.

    One — I’m embarrassed and feel awful. If she wasn’t a biter, I’d be upset my kid was getting bit at daycare.

    Two — I’m afraid she’s going to get booted from daycare. We love our daycare, it’s in a great location, we have a good set up, etc. I don’t even know where to start with a nanny. It would be a real tight squeeze financially if we had to go that route too. They haven’t said anything, and said not to worry about it the first time it happened and that it was normal. I’m going to try to get there a little early today and talk to the director/assistant about it.

    Three — I don’t know why she’s doing this. I am afraid it’s because she does see her dad and I ‘fight’ — not yelling, and certainly nothing physical, but the tone and body language is there. I try to minimize this as much as possible, but he’s usually the one that gets upset, seemingly out of nowhere, and starts it. And this is both with me in front of her and on the phone with co-workers and family. I usually try not to play into it, partly due to hating confrontation in general, partly due to not wanting my kid to hear/see any of it, but then I just feel like I’m being walked all over. We probably need to see a counselor, but that’s a conversation I don’t even know how to start.

    • Anonymous says

      1. Deep breath! Biting is a phase. Most kids go through it, and most parents understand, so try not to stress over it too much. 2x in one day after a lull of months is not really a pattern.

      2. I don’t think this has anything to do with the fighting, but since you brought it up… I get that you want to shield your daughter, and I don’t think you should have major screaming, plate-throwing arguments in front of your kids, but conflict is part of interpersonal relationships. You’re allowed to “fight” in the sense of a tense disagreement in front of her! Don’t be a doormat! I read somewhere that it’s healthy for kids to see their parents fight, as long as they see the whole fight, including the resolution. Also, think about the message it sends when one party is aggressive and the other instantly gives in.

      • Jaws says

        Thanks so much for the quick response.

        She had an incident a week or two ago and a few near misses before that (they caught her in time).

        I do think about her just seeing me back down when my H starts it — it’s the same pattern I grew up with, which is probably why it’s my first instinct. And that’s something I don’t want to pass to a third generation, which is why I think at least I need to see a therapist.

      • Anonymous says

        Yes yes yes! My husband grew up with two parents in a happy, healthy marriage. I grew up with a single mom post-divorce with most of my extended family also divorced. I used to be really uncomfortable with fighting until my husband told me how often his parents fought and how it didn’t really faze him and his brother because his parents always made up. We fight in front of the kids AND we make up in front of them. And we’re not shy about hugging/kissing in front of them, either (always makes me think of Family Ties — the mom and dad were always kissing in front of the kids and the kids were always saying “eww” but you knew it was a good marriage — and whoa I just dated myself, anyone else grow up watching Cosby Show then Family Ties on Thursdays?).

    • RR says

      Kids bite. It happens.

      Your point one – Don’t be embarrassed. The only time I even raised an eyebrow at one of my three kids being bitten was when a little girl in class started face biting. It was a little Hannibal Lecter-like. But honestly, I found it more funny than anything. Her mom stopped me one day almost in tears she was so upset, and I told her it was fine. I had young twins; they bit each other too. They are still babies at that point. And consider the second half of your sentence. The empathy that you are learning from this situation is invaluable. Remember it down the road when it’s someone else’s kid is going through a phase and be empathetic, not upset.

      Your point two – I’ve only seen one kid ever get booted, and it was mini-Lecter. I guess she had been face-biting like a half dozen times a day every day. I still wouldn’t have wanted her booted, but I guess it was pretty extreme. Your situation seems normal, not extreme.

      Your point three – I would suggest counseling because of what you are saying here and how your “fighting” is making you feel. BUT, this is not your fault. This is not your husband’s fault. This is not your daughter seeing you and your husband fight. Kids bite, some more than others, often for no reason other than getting a rise out of the adults. Please don’t blame yourself. She’s 19 months old. She’s doing this because she’s 19 months old and thinks it is funny or interesting or attention-getting or she’s mad and doesn’t have words to express it yet or some other reason that would only make sense to a 19-month old brain. It will pass.

      • Spirograph says

        sorry, I’m sure the habitual biter in your daycare was awful (and the poor parents!), but imagining a mini-Lecter chomping on everyone’s face multiple times a day is giving me a good chuckle.

        To the OP: So much empathy from me. Both of my kids have had pushing/hitting incidents at daycare this week. The toddler also bit someone, the 3-year old was also insubordinate to the point that the teachers actually felt the need to tell us about it (I assume that’s a high threshold when you deal with 3 year olds all day!). I’m a little embarrassed, too. Esp since both of my kids are having trouble at the same time, I can only imagine the daycare staff thinks something terrible is going on in my home (it’s not). But realistically, I know no sane person who has experience with kids judges the parents for stuff like this. It happens to everyone, because they’re kids. It is in no way reflective of your parenting, fights with your husband, or anything else you have control of.

    • CPA Lady says

      As the parent of a bite victim, don’t be embarrassed! I don’t care. I mean, I care, but I realize they are all toddlers and these things happen.

      Also, something my therapist told me is that its okay to fight in front of my daughter, but we also have to make up in front of her too. Lots of parents fight in public and make up in private, and the kids never get to see the conflict being resolved so they don’t learn how to do it.

      • mascot says

        +1
        OP, She’s probably a little young still, but I found Daniel Tiger episodes were really good for learning about how to handle big emotions. We definitely argue in front of our kid, but we are also trying to “use our words” and let him see what resolution and I’m sorry look like.

    • kc esq says

      It’s just something some kids do. I have twins and only one was a biter, so it is not a reflection on their upbringing. Honestly, what seemed to stop my biter was when – finally – after months, his brother bit him back once. He cried and cried. It’s like he could not understand until that moment that he was hurting anyone when he bit. Your daycare has seen biters before and I’m sure they don’t kick them out.

      • TBK says

        Yep. I have twins. One’s a biter, and one’s not. So I’m the mother of both the biter and the bitee. The biter has fewer words and expressive language than the bitee, so it’s really just that he has no other way to control his world. Feel free to ask the daycare for at home strategies to reduce biting, but believe me they have biters in the toddler room all the time. All the time.

        • kc esq says

          My biter actually happened to be somewhat off-the-charts verbal during his biting stage. But I don’t think that saying the ABCs or whatever he could say really did the trick for whatever his emotional needs were. My own theory is that it takes all kinds and it’s hard to ascribe a reason to it. Which makes it all that much more frustrating to solve! Dang irrational toddlers.

    • Jaws says

      Thanks to everyone for all your responses. Makes me feel so much better about the situation. I am going to talk to daycare about how to address it (and what their policy is), hopefully that will provide some peace of mind.

  12. Le Tote? says

    Has anyone on here used Le Tote? Specifically, Le Tote for maternity clothing? Was it worth it?

    • Anonymous says

      In case you see this, I used Le Tote for a bit and just cancelled it. The jewelry was fun, but I thought the clothes looked too shop worn and often came too wrinkled to wear (and I don’t even want to iron my own stuff, much less “rental” stuff). It’s good in theory, but the service isn’t there yet. I could see doing it for maternity for a short time though – the patterns were more fun than I normally buy, etc. The maternity boxes though were more expensive and I don’t know that the brands justify it. For the $69, I might just buy a couple tops at Target instead.

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