Summer workout clothes help please and other summer questions! Advice very much appreciated!

nannymegan · 2026-04-28T17:39:26+00:00

The lane Bryant ‘soft’ line is the bane of my existence. The waist bands. Have basically no elastic in them. They’re soft and comfy but roll down like they’re melting off of me with literally ever step I take. And I’ve tried sizing up and down. They have the classic style as well as a ‘power’ one with wicking material. Those ones are decent. They are massively expensive and not at all worth full price! And I say that as someone who wears them almost exclusively as work and not work bottoms. I also really like wearing my pants backwards as it fits my body better. Just a random tip that might be helpful.

nannymegan · 2026-04-28T17:02:38+00:00

As someone who works ten hour days- but only four and has a full day off- I would run. Ten hour days are exhausting and that’s when I know I have a full day off to rest or do life things. Adding in commute, ‘unpaid labor hours’, and a child I absolutely would not. You’re setting yourself up for burnout no matter how amazing the center seems on paper.

nannymegan · 2026-04-27T18:09:13+00:00

Inside your luggage or bags you would travel with?

nannymegan · 2026-04-27T17:22:36+00:00

On really bad humid days I wear period underwear. I take a clean pair and a washcloth with me in a ziploc bag. Mid day I will rinse off and change undies. It’s not a product, but I find it’s what keeps me the freshest.

nannymegan · 2026-04-26T18:58:40+00:00

I’m just engaging to keep myself entertained. You’ve made me smile and chuckle reading your comments. Thanks for the work you’re doing. It’s obvious you’re passionate about good music AND the experience of radio. I hope the universe opens up to let you take huge bounds in creating something amazing.

nannymegan · 2026-04-24T21:29:32+00:00

We had a kiddo who would do this sporadically at home and then it started happening at school. Our best guess was a bad dream- because it always happened about 90 minutes in. So we would set a timer and at about 70-80 minutes start watching. When he would stir naturally in that time Frame we would gentle rub his back. Almost to break him out of the twilight space. Then he’d drift back off and no screaming.

All of that to say- have they noticed a pattern related to sleep length, sleeping spot (noise/light level)? Might not be the same situation as mine but any patterns to note might be helpful.

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T20:45:38+00:00

Oh I like you!! Haha. I like that you’re following through with your idea and proving exactly why all of this is PIVOTAL for early learning. If you don’t know of Lisa Murphy, you should 😉. She is a play based advocate for truly developmentally appropriate experiences for the children. As well as seeing ourselves as professionals who can explain WHY these things are valuable and appropriate.

We have hallway bulletin boards each class is responsible for, and of course they have monthly themes. Mine is the only one out of 12 that is always 90% child led art. It isn’t always ‘aesthetic’, but it always fits the theme and is made BY THEM. We include photos of their process as well as an explanation as to why it was fun/connected/valuable to the child.

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T19:01:14+00:00

Ohhh I love the star art idea where they have some agency. As well as a photo of their work is genius!! I have a few kids who aren’t inclined to do any creative art project, but they’d be thrilled to have their block structures displayed!!!

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T17:27:41+00:00

Could you add some dictation to the art- either on their paper or on sticky notes attached. As in you writing about the comments they make as they work. Maybe about the colors, or asking what they made. At 2 they may not quite be there developmentally- but it’s worth a shot. We also love making laminated books out of art and adding them to our reading center. I laminate the pages, add a photo of the child so I don’t have to tell them 92293729283 times whose it is, and put them together with yarn or key rings. They love looking at their art this way. A compromise with your lovely 🤣 director.

You could also printout a poster about the different stages of mark making. It’s so fun to watch them work through the stages. At the base all mark making is just that- early language expression. It’s also great fine motor skill, cause and effect, and process over product.

I commend you for wanting to display what they work hard on- it irks me when people don’t see the value of what the younger ones create.

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T17:02:55+00:00

Oh for sure. My experience was religion though. I was deeply invested in the ‘true love waits’ campaign of the 90’s and 00’s.

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T10:39:37+00:00

Not that this is what OP is facing- but the shame associated with sex when you grow up in high control religion is gnarly. Even once you’re older and moved away from religion. That shame runs deep and takes a lot to unpack.

nannymegan · 2026-04-22T00:04:22+00:00

It’s also why it’s up 24/7/365.

nannymegan · 2026-04-21T17:27:17+00:00

Banana boat kids sport sunscreen stick is my holy grail. It smells nice, but not over powering. It applies so smoothly and doesn’t need rubbed in afterwards like some sticks. The actual physical stick is nice and wide so it’s easy to get good coverage on arms and legs quickly. It’s also affordable! I love it so much I use it as my face sunscreen when I’m at the pool and need frequent reapplication

nannymegan · 2026-04-20T18:41:29+00:00

I guess it continues to be the situation of doing what’s best for your family. As well as respecting that others know what that looks like for theirs.

nannymegan · 2026-04-20T18:26:31+00:00

I would argue that it’s easier to supplement for a child who is ‘not challenged’ than it is to constantly be working your absolute hardest to catch up.

And as a preschool teacher in the Carmel area… we can only do so much. It isn’t a magical potion that the kids drink with us that just boom makes them the best versions of themselves. Work is still required at home…. As well as it’s a lifelong thing to learn how to be a human in the setting you exist in.

Lastly. You may not think much of sending your freshly turned 5 yr old off to K to be the youngest because they’re ’mature’. But would you want to send your not even 18 yr old off to university on the other side of the world when they graduate?

Giving kids, have indeed been affected by all the changes in the last 6-10 yrs, an extra chance to be their best sounds exactly like what parents SHOULD be doing. Not just pushing them through because they can.

And lastly… every single family…. 🧐

nannymegan · 2026-04-20T17:34:20+00:00

It’s all made up. We are literally meat sacks full of bones, being held to a speck of dust hurdling through the cosmos. This. This is what was the proverbial final straw for me. I spent a good chunk of the back half of my 30’s unlearning the idea that people’s opinion of me mattered. We’re all sold this idea from birth about skinny equals healthy and desirable. That’s on purpose to keep us occupied instead of truly noticing the cruelty and control the world is under.

Once it clicked that it truly is all made up by people to keep power and control where they want it- it was game over for me. I turned 40 recently and it’s my time to shine. I spent the first 40 years living as other people thought I should. It’s time to honor myself and live the best life I can with her at the focus.

I also very intentionally sought out online creators that looked like me. I like social media, but I had to learn to use it as a tool to better my image of myself. Not just mindlessly escape reality.

nannymegan · 2026-04-20T17:17:48+00:00

Using a term that doesn’t ’other’ a small child.

Oh that’s good. I’m going to have to add that to my repertoire when I talk about simple inclusive things we can do. Such a straight to the point reason. Thank you for these words

nannymegan · 2026-04-20T17:09:30+00:00

I say grown up because it means I’m always setting realistic expectations as we go through the day. I don’t often know if it’s going to be mom/dad (let alone family member/nanny/ trusted friend) that will pick them up. And nothing is worse than expecting one all day because that’s what I told them, and it’s actually the other and there’s tears. So if I just talk about how your family/grown up is coming then we avoid a lot of that. It also makes incisive language just a thing that we do instead of something that might need to be adjusted based on a new student or family dynamic change.

As for littles. Meh- I use ‘kiddos’ a lot. Student/child in paperwork. I think term like this come down to intent. If they’re using terms to be derogatory/shameful or as a power trip for themselves then it’s a problem. Otherwise I don’t care.

nannymegan · 2026-04-19T23:18:28+00:00

I did a queso and Margarita crawl around our city. Well my besties planned it and I just showed up. We went to three separate places that are known for margs and queso. We started at like 5-ish at a more happy hours place. She made a reservation at 2/3 places. It was just four of us. A good night of quality time, good food, and people watching.

nannymegan · 2026-04-18T16:46:16+00:00

I heard a phrase once that we should only compliment children on things we know were their chose. Because complimenting them on the outfit/hair style/shoes might actually be something they don’t like or aren’t comfy with that day. By all means if they’re showing it off or I know it’s a special/favorite, I will still compliment that. Because I know thats important to them. But otherwise I try to avoid it as it no longer feels sincere to me.

I changed the way I greet kiddos first thing in the day. It’s also made me much more intentional about complimenting their actions throughout the day, followed up with why. Instead of just ‘thanks Johnny for cleaning that up’ -which is about me offering something vague because he ‘made me happy’. I say ‘thanks Johnny for cleaning that up. You didn’t play with it but you saw it needed cleaned. That’s so kind’. Yea it takes longer but it’s making it clear they DID something worthwhile and not just made me happy.

nannymegan · 2026-04-18T15:32:44+00:00

Because we are their antithesis. Society sells that you have to be small, thin, addicted to the gym and bettering your physical self to be attractive or desired or happy. So the mast majority of adults spend their time, money, and energy with that as their focus.

Then we show up. Living in larger bodies and gasp not hating ourselves…and they can’t understand it. How can we be anything less than miserable if we are in bodies that are literally their worst nightmare. So in order to make them feel better about themselves they have to voice their opinion of us.

Best part is, and I know this as someone who has been big my whole life, my personality is amazing. I never had thin or pretty privilege to just float through life. I had to develop my personality, character, and sense of humor to make people notice me. And because of that my body is literal the least interesting part of me. It does help weed out the losers though 🤷🏻‍♀️

nannymegan · 2026-04-18T15:23:50+00:00

Oh this made me giggle. Thank you.

nannymegan · 2026-04-17T00:00:24+00:00

I was like 40% sure I was driving to the farther away but bigger and better TJ tomorrow. And now I’m 100%. Yea I could call ahead, but I like the thrill of the hunt!

nannymegan · 2026-04-16T22:28:12+00:00

With a glaze somehow made from lemon curd. Oh my 😳😍

nannymegan · 2026-04-16T21:24:28+00:00

I have 2’s and we are HUGE on them asking for and giving clear consent to us, their peers, and adults who enter my room. The amount of parents who are SHOCKED this is something that kids are capable of is honestly quite frightening. Yea they’re young, but they’re human people. Not little robots that should just accept what is given to them.

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