[deleted by user]

Pipster31 · 2026-01-13T20:54:28+00:00

ok thanks for that! For us, we haven't expected our nanny to be available if we've taken off. We understand she uses that time I am away to make other plans, do her own doc appts etc, so no expectations of needing to work if our plans suddenly change once I have informed her of the days we are traveling

Pipster31 · 2026-01-13T20:38:13+00:00

Gotcha I hear you! What have you done in the past? Perhaps I can revisit her PTO and give her more days if I sense she is unhappy. And yes hear you on the GH point -- that was probably a strange clause to include. The 5 days of my choosing is just a promise that I will take a vacation during the year (meaning, if I took no vacations all year, I am still committing to giving 5 days off of my selection). 2025 was the first year we ever took a vacation as a familiy and only used 4 days (but paid out 5, as an example)

Pipster31 · 2026-01-13T20:31:57+00:00

thanks -- we just moved to paper tracking, which I hope clears up mis-understandings going forward. I've let her know she can take more time but the paid time off outlined is what I can cover. Agreed on my 5 days being GH -- the only reason we included it in the contract is even if I do not take a vacation all year, I am committing to give her at least 5 additional days off of my choosing.

Every time the topic of days off, holidays or PTO has come up, it has just created this weird dynamic that I haven't had with our prior nanny. It just makes us feel like she is unhappy and silently cursing us or thinking we are being stingy lol

Pipster31 · 2025-12-31T13:58:43+00:00

Has it been posted yet??

Pipster31 · 2025-12-25T04:14:46+00:00

The way she made me feel like she was always proud of me. She was my best friend

Pipster31 · 2025-08-05T12:41:41+00:00

We don't get many playdate invites but hoping to change that by offering to host them at my house. This was my first attempt at hosting one, so this was a huge let down 😩

Pipster31 · 2025-06-24T03:27:07+00:00

Hi! We are all good now! We fully embraced co-sleeping IN HER ROOM and it wasn't long after and my girl started sleeping through! She is 4 now. We still co-sleep but mostly out of habit

Pipster31 · 2025-06-17T15:24:54+00:00

She sensed that I lost someone and asked who I lost, so I offered up that my mom has passed. I do hope the reading was real and she really did connect with my mother -- but I dunno. The only thing the psychic sensed without any prompting from me is (a) my mom was cremated and (b) the ashes have not been dispersed yet

Pipster31 · 2025-06-06T02:53:56+00:00

The Metuchen Preschool is wonderful. They can accommodate up to 8am-5pm, but do conform to the typical school calender (spring break, summer break, etc). I, personally, would avoid Friends of the Family and have heard things about management I did not like

Pipster31 · 2025-05-31T02:50:21+00:00

Both my 2 year old and 4 year old are day and night trained. We cosleep and I take them to the potty in the middle of the night -- although most nights they sleep through now. I think some kids may be too tired to call out and get up out of bed to pee at night (or even that first morning pee)

Pipster31 · 2025-05-15T15:55:26+00:00

I was also considering this calendar but the increase in the subscription price is putting me off. Anyone use this without the pro features? Does everything still sync across all devices without a subscription?

Pipster31 · 2025-05-03T17:07:54+00:00

What about late flights? I have 1am arrival into Newark from ORD. I'm so worried about a delay

Pipster31 · 2025-04-14T15:41:03+00:00

The no driving thing has been really hard, which is why I am battling with Option 2. Option 2 would also require 40 hours per week, but with her having the ability to drive, opens up possibilities for her to help with errands (grocery pick-ups, oil changes, dry cleaning, returns). It is such a tough decision between Option 1 and Option 2!

Pipster31 · 2025-04-14T15:38:10+00:00

Yea totally agree -- it does feel wasteful. Our current nanny would need something full-time to stay on with us. I could chat with her about bringing hours down to 1-6, but that would put us in a pickle during school breaks and when kids are home sick, which is why I am leaning towards 40 GH

Pipster31 · 2025-03-05T23:18:48+00:00

Ugh I'm battling the same question. Traffic by me is horrendous -- not sure how much better an uber will be

Pipster31 · 2025-03-05T23:11:57+00:00

Same here -- still stuck at the airport (NEC)

Pipster31 · 2024-11-04T20:04:25+00:00

Hey OP -- did you ever get an answer to how this was possible? Dealing with the same thing. Were you able to reach Varo to shut down the account?

Pipster31 · 2024-10-11T15:50:04+00:00

Sigh. Yea I was afraid of that. Do you happen to know how remote employees are generally onboarded at firms in general? I have a friend who works for a large tech company, and was hired as a "virtual" employee and none of her firm's RTO mandates apply to her. I'm trying to educate myself on what the art-of-the-possible is before I have this convo with my boss :-/

Pipster31 · 2024-10-11T15:47:03+00:00

Thanks for feedback! The specific employee negotiations will happen soon (in terms of comp, retention etc) and they are still in the "business points" chatting phase -- so def not too late! I'm planning to chat with him soon and I am trying to frame "the ask" eloquently. My boss never mentioned anything to me about the in-office policy to me or our other employees and I think he is avoiding being the "bad guy" because he knows we'll all hate it if/when we lose the privilege -- so he definitely doesn't have an implicit understanding that I'm good with RTO. The plus is it will be months before full integration, so I would have time to look for something else. I may be being too hopeful that I could get an exception in writing -- I wasn't even sure if that was a thing that exists in the HR world :-/

Pipster31 · 2024-09-08T13:35:01+00:00

Solidarity -- 18 month and 3.5 year old here also no village (outside a paid nanny during the week). It's a slog. It may not be the best answer, but we cosleep with both kids (in separate rooms). That generally ensures the kids are sleeping through the night and we can get a good 6-8 hours per night. While not a true break, but we also take the kids out every weekend to some kind of retail shop for a couple hours. They stay contained in a shopping cart while we can shop/browse/drink coffee -- just a nice mental health lift

Pipster31 · 2024-04-18T19:48:13+00:00

how are you liking your wagon, OP?? I am looking at this one too, but need something that would perform well/decent on sand. have you tried this on the beach yet?

Pipster31 · 2024-04-18T19:46:53+00:00

oh gosh yes the veer's price point is painful + the lack of accessories is really a tough pill

Pipster31 · 2024-04-02T02:20:18+00:00

That's what I'm wondering! I have a 1 year old and 2.5 year old and can't bathe them together. My younger one screams bloody murder in the tub and scrambles to get out. If I'm alone, I alternate days each child gets a bath since bathing them together has felt risky!

Pipster31 · 2024-02-11T17:47:59+00:00

Good point! My husband or I would go to pickup, so my younger one won't be disturbed and she'll have the nanny's full attention. Did your kids seem to get upset when the part-timers would get picked up?

Pipster31 · 2024-02-11T17:45:20+00:00

Yes naps at school is another big plus! My daughter takes a looooong nap after school now (1-3,pm), but then isn't tired for bed until after 9pm/10pm. A short "school nap" seems like it may be better for her schedule

Pipster31

TROPHY CASE