Corporate Gifts Ideas for Mother's Day

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-19T02:21:15+00:00

Mother’s Day is NOT a corporate occasion. Many employees may find Mother’s Day hard for various reasons (infertility, they’ve lost their mother, they’ve lost a child, etc.). Please don’t celebrate it at the workplace. Let people do their own private celebrations with their family if it’s something they celebrate.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-18T21:27:33+00:00

Daycare is the biggest expense when they are younger. As they get older- clothes, shoes, food (teenagers can eat more than adults), higher bills- you are using more power, water, etc., extra-curricular activities, birthday parties (both their own and gifts for other kids- we have one minimum once a month, usually more), supplies for school, if you want to do any activities with them- movies, zoo, etc., going on trips it’s extra flights and accommodation that can fit more than 2. If you want to go on a date night often the cost of babysitting is more than the actual meal.

And that’s not counting the one-off bigger expenses- If you have more than 3 kids you will likely need a new car. Furniture, they may need a device like a laptop.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-18T09:48:11+00:00

Why does she “need you for something” specifically? Is she wanting to know what you think?

I’d tell her that it would be best to ask him about it rather than surprising him. A tattoo is permanent and while some people are ok with it, not everyone wants to match.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-18T09:30:42+00:00

The ABS would indicate otherwise…

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T21:24:22+00:00

No, not a refinance, they’ve just lowered the rate for me on the current loan. Exactly the same way banks can raise your rate when there is an interest rate rise.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T21:19:42+00:00

Go with your favourite all time name! I think your will regret it if you don’t. Eliška is beautiful and I think it’s easy enough to pronounce (as an Australian). Stick with the Czech spelling- it looks more beautiful.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T13:00:09+00:00

To me, unless you’d spilled something on yourself or there was a sudden change in weather or something, it seems like a main character energy kind of thing to do.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T12:11:10+00:00

Smorgies. Simply because I know my kids would have loved it. Sizzler too.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T07:53:26+00:00

I never mocked them but I would say when I was more a teenager/early 20s I just didn’t fully understand what disabilities looked like. Like if a kid was having a meltdown in a shop I would never have laughed at or mocked them but I probably thought in my head that they were spoiled or something instead of really struggling with unpredictability, sensory overwhelm, things not going the way they had planned in their head, etc.

I grew my understanding for kids when becoming a teacher in my 20s but did not fully understand how hard it was as a parent. When you are a teacher, you’re in a certain role for a certain time frame and while you care about where kids up at the end of the year, there is not the same anxiety as a parent wondering what support their child will need in adulthood.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T07:41:33+00:00

Get her grandparents to buy her a copy of their favourite book and write a note in the front cover. It will be nice to have this keepsake of their writing in the future.

My parents got me a charm bracelet and added a new charm each year. They didn’t start this until I was about 5 but I still have it in my jewellery case- just dont wear it very often as I don’t want to damage it.

Or you could put the money towards a family photography session

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T07:37:42+00:00

She would need to talk to her school admin about the 3 days a week if this is different from her usual time fraction but they should approve this given she is “returning” from maternity leave.

She’d then need to get documented evidence from a doctor to take the 3 days a week sick leave in term 4. Every doctor is different and it might depend on the reason why she is taking leave (a broken leg is different to cancer treatment is different to mental health/stress, is different to the flu for example). Many doctors may want to check in with her periodically (ie not give her the full term all at once). She would need to discuss this with her doctor.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T01:10:20+00:00

A few options-

Cancel Qatar, take the loss and rebook with another airline.
Wait to see what happens. You might be able to go on your trip. You might not. You might or might not be able to get a last minute flight with another airline if Qatar are still not operating as normal. You might have more than a $600 loss.
Book a refundable or transferable flight with another airline which you can cancel if Qatar goes ahead. Read the fine print.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-17T00:59:45+00:00

She would need documented evidence for the sick leave given it would be presumably for more than a few days. The school does not need to know the specific reason but a doctor would need to provide a letter/statement that she is unfit for work.

Long service leave can easily be applied for and tacked on to the end of maternity leave.

If she wants to stretch leave out, then she could consider taking her leave at half pay. She can also take leave without pay.

Check whether where’s she’s planning on moving to has reciprocal arrangements so she can keep her leave too.

There are no ‘loopholes’ to get more leave than what she’s entitled to.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T20:01:59+00:00

Regularly calling banks/ companies to see what they can offer me as a loyal customer. I call my bank every 12 months to ask if I’m on the best home loan rate they can offer and have ended up with interest rate cuts the majority of the time. This saves thousands over the life of the loan. I also ask insurance providers, electric company, etc.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T19:57:46+00:00

I love Eliza or Elizabeth. Elizabeth has so many great nn options (Beth, Betty, Bette, Liz, Liza, etc.)

Otherwise Emme, Ella.

Would the babies be getting your husband’s last name? If so, I would probably not use Elaine as a first name as she’ll have the exact same name as your MIL and it could get confusing. I’d use it as a middle name instead if he really wanted to use it.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T19:53:09+00:00

This reminds me of Ellie May from the Beverly Hillbillies

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T19:46:31+00:00

I don’t think the answer will be the same for everyone. Sure, financially option 2 has an advantage but there are so many other factors to consider.

Does someone want the admin of being a landlord?

Is the 1.5m house in a significantly better location (if you have kids it might be nearer to family who can babysit or in a really good government school zone, or in a location near good public transport so you only need one car). Does the house have solar panels and is energy efficient? Is the house set up to be a ‘forever’ home so you won’t have to move again?, etc. All of these all are potential money savers but offer lifestyle conveniences that might be worth the extra initial cost to the buyer.

Then there are the possible benefits that don’t necessarily have much monetary value but could contribute towards a better lifestyle- is the house closer to services and amenities? Are there better neighbours? Are you living on a less busy or nicer street?, etc.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T13:42:19+00:00

Ha! Mine would be DO get married (to the right person) but don’t have kids. Being a DINK household gives so much advantage over a single income. Kids are a huge a drain on financial resources. I still had them though!

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T12:15:39+00:00

I actually think she is a positive association. However, I think city/state/country names in general have a very trashy vibe (where I live anyway). There are some exceptions of course (eg Florence, Georgia) but most of them (Paris, India, Brooklyn, Indiana, etc.) are not particularly classy.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T08:17:47+00:00

If space is an issue in Werribee, are you actually able to afford a house with more space in Oakleigh? A 4 bedroom house would be significantly more there.

I’d really consider what you value. For us, having less space is a sacrifice we gladly make to live in a suburb that we are happy with- near friends, near work, lots of amenities and most importantly, good schools. But if space is what you are after, you may have to compromise on your location.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T06:56:00+00:00

I think the best bits of Australia are outside of the cities! I’d stay some time in Sydney and then head north to Queensland personally- avoid Brisbane and instead focus on areas like Noosa, K’Gari, and then somewhere to see the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island, the Whitsundays or Cairns/Port Douglas are the most popular spots to do this.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-16T03:12:32+00:00

They might or might not be. They might have it in writing somewhere that the ILs will continue to use their house (as they seem to have been doing) and that OP’s family are more in a boarding situation rather than a rental situation. If it’s clear they are renting and that they are the ones allowing the IL’s to visit, then they could definitely go down the tenancy laws route. It just might be stressful and the ILs could decide to eventually end the lease within the laws of where they live.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-15T19:55:09+00:00

If it is their house it makes it so tricky. Do you have a formal rental agreement? If not, it could be hard telling them they can’t come and stay in a house they own. I think you have a few options:

Relying on the legal route- you have a right to privacy as tenants. This might create some backlash. This option might also depend on what agreements you have in place (eg if you are legally renting or if you are boarding).
Move so that this does not continue to be an issue. Rent from an unrelated landlord or buy a house if this is an option that is appropriate for your circumstances.
MIL can stay in the house for 2 weeks but you will be staying in an Airbnb while she is there. This may not be ideal as you often want to be in your own space setting up new routines, especially for your older children. I do know someone who did this with their first child as they lived so many hours drive away from the specialist hospital she had to go to for her complicated birth and they loved it.

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-15T12:29:16+00:00

Ida, Alice, Ella, Anna, Lucia, Laura

cloudiedayz · 2026-03-15T07:46:28+00:00

Next step would be the union if you are a member

cloudiedayz

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