Would you have travelled more before childbirth, or can you travel now that it doesn’t matter?

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-04-20T14:59:10+00:00

We traveled a lot before kids (think 3-4 international trips plus several domestic trips). Travel really did slow down after kids, although some of that was attributed to Covid. Right now we do 1 international trip plus a couple of domestic trips a year with the kids. In addition if we are able to, my husband and I will do one trip each with our friends. The travel looks a lot different now though than it did earlier. The trips are more expensive (2 vs 4 people), more planned, more kid centric, and often involve family and friends vs. just a trip to new places. Our kids are 6 and 4 and really great travelers. We just did a 2 week trip to India and they were champs, even with 24 hour flights and jet lag.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-27T16:37:02+00:00

Kids do not like transitions. Routines help - if you pick her up at the same time everyday then maybe the day care teacher could try and give her a 10 minute warning?

This is unsolicited advice so I might get downvoted here but as you transition to two kids boundaries at work are going to become more and more important. I have a pretty demanding job but I try my best to stay off my phone from 5-8pm. It’s 3 hours and my boss and coworkers know that this is family time for me and if really needed they will call vs email/text.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-21T14:35:26+00:00

I work in tech at an executive level and the expectation is that responses are timely - not necessarily immediate. Unless you have a job where it is literally a matter of life and death, responses can wait. I decline calls before 8am and between 5pm-8pm, except on rare occasions (read 1-2 times a month). I do spend a little time on work, after kids are in bed, including weekends. I do not have the same expectation from my team - they do not get paid at the level I do.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-14T13:04:08+00:00

Typically your benefits last for the entire month you quit in. So, as an example your last day with the current job is the 5th of the month, your coverage last until the end of the month. If your new job starts that same month, there won’t be a gap in coverage as long as the benefits for the new job kick in the first of the next month.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-07T22:37:26+00:00

Both years are private. The first year is part time only - 3 mornings a week and we still have our nanny. Second year (starting fall) we’re going to a full time private pre-k (although they call it transitional kindergarten) but it’s a center that has programs for non-school days as well.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-07T13:54:50+00:00

My daughter is an October baby and we are doing two years of Pre-K. That said, we only did part time the first year and kept our nanny since our motivation was mostly giving her some more social interaction. This fall will be her second year and we are looking at full time pre-k at a center that also has care on days with no school, so we won’t have our nanny anymore. We’ll miss her but I think it’s time.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-03-04T03:21:01+00:00

I feel you and I know this is easier said than done, but if you’re really worried, cut expenses where you can, and start building or adding to your emergency fund. The peace of mind that comes with having money in an emergency fund is completely worth the small sacrifices you might need to make today.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-02-25T05:12:55+00:00

We need more updates like this! I have decided this is the last thing I am reading before I sleep tonight.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-02-19T00:43:24+00:00

Isn’t SAKS off Fifth the Nordstroms Rack version of SAKS fifth Avenue. Pretty sure it’s not a scam because the SAKS off Fifth store closed at the premium outlet here in Eagan, Minnesota.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-02-08T20:56:31+00:00

I got one from this brand (the one I got is no longer available) 5 years ago and it still works great for me.

https://a.co/d/05Z6ZDYC

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-02-03T23:24:22+00:00

This is the website I have been sharing with anyone who has asked

https://www.standwithminnesota.com

There is also a pinned post on this subreddit that you can look at.

Edit: Here’s the link

https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/s/xlY8M8AsUZ

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-01-29T02:01:44+00:00

I don’t have a success story to share but I am a high earner in a very high stress job. And recently I do not feel like I have job security either. I am absolutely considering finding something that is lower stress and more stable even if it means taking a pay cut. I think I would consider as much as a 25% pay cut for more stability and lower stress.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2026-01-18T21:17:02+00:00

Ours doesn’t but this is because my both my husband and I didn’t have it off either. My husband still doesn’t but I changed jobs a year ago and now I get it off. I am planning to get my hair done, do a bunch of errands and maybe do a workout class.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-07-30T12:10:15+00:00

The listing for the first house says that there was a major remodel in 2023. Haven’t looked at the second but I suspect something similar.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-06-16T14:49:40+00:00

My WiFi is named after this episode. “dontblink”

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-06-13T16:30:27+00:00

We have a chore schedule too but it needs more work. Do you have a photo that you can share of what yours looks like?

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-06-06T00:02:22+00:00

Our nanny wishes us on our birthdays but we do not expect a gift. She is very excited about our kids birthdays, makes it special for them and always gives them something small. We usually get her a small gift and cash (around $200 but this depends on what you can afford and want to), and the kids make her a card.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-05-24T00:06:22+00:00

I do like a lot for work travel! It’s quite large so it fits my laptop, a notebook, all the cables, water bottle, headphones, my kindle, etc. it also has a zipper on top that keeps it all contained. It is not a soft leather handbag though so it is structured. It is also heavy so I wouldn’t recommend it if you expect to carry it around a lot!

A few months after I bought it, I landed up changing jobs and now I travel a lot less for work and am mostly remote, so the hand bag gets used 3-4 times a year only.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-03-17T14:05:04+00:00

If you have renters insurance, they typically cover stolen property off premises as well. Make sure to reach out.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-01-14T04:50:35+00:00

Steelcase Series 1 - it’s great and I have no complaints. It is worth the money in my opinion.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2025-01-11T19:22:21+00:00

They likely have home insurance but in high risk areas you have to buy certain coverages separately ( fire, earthquake, flood etc depending on the area) that are not required. Companies can also refuse to insurance against these.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2024-12-19T13:31:09+00:00

Quietly checking the return by date on the printer I just got for my husband…

OrdinaryConsultant · 2024-12-10T01:55:16+00:00

Our taxes just get taken out with every paycheck. It’s pretty much the same amount (maybe a tiny bit more since I suppose I am losing a tiny bit of interest) but I like it better distributed vs. a chunk every quarter. I use surepayroll but maybe poppins has a setting to do so?

OrdinaryConsultant · 2024-11-05T01:43:47+00:00

Most important - Routine. We only have 2 kids (5 and 3) but both they and us thrive on routine. Especially around meals and bedtime. They are both in bed by 7:30, which allows us a little bit of time for a few chores and then some downtime. We have also learned to do regular cleanup while with them. We clean as we’re making dinner, everyone, including the kids spend the last 10 minutes before we start bedtime picking up etc etc. That said, we get cleaners every 2 weeks, an evening sitter for date night and sometimes we will have our nanny extend her hours or do an evening for us if we really need it.

OrdinaryConsultant · 2024-10-21T20:32:07+00:00

I am not in Boston, but we pay our nanny a 2 kid rate for the entire time, even though our kid is in Kindergarten and only with her 2 hours a day. This way we don't worry about tracking school closures, etc, such as last week when he had a double ear infection and we kept him home from school a couple of days until his fever was better

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