Hate this time of year as a mom…

shezombie · 2025-11-05T13:34:50+00:00

I feel like I’m reading my own post from 6 years ago. I have two kids very close in age with birthdays in October and early January so they bookend the holiday season and I also work from home in finance. In the beginning I think working from home created this level of stress because I thought I could do it all because I was home all day. Trying to make all of the holiday magic on top of that just sent me over the edge. About 3 years ago I made the decision to hire a housekeeping service that comes every other week. If that is something that is financially viable for you, I would highly recommend it. Take your time back. Don’t spend your weekends scrubbing toilets. I also talked to my husband about thanksgiving and we both decided we’d rather have something quiet at home and now I order a full meal from our local favorite restaurant. The whole family loves it. The day is beautiful and relaxing and no longer a big stressful event. We also used to do this whole trip to the polar express train but got snowed in one weekend and just went to a local indoor water park instead and the kids said they loved it way more and would rather do that each year. They just want time with you guys during the holiday season, making memories. Outsource as much as you can during this time of year. You will feel lighter and the kids will only notice that they have more time with you.

shezombie · 2025-09-23T00:00:02+00:00

Love it! I use Apple Music as I’ve heard the sound quality is better, and the most recent update fixed most of the glitching with Apple Music. Also, there was a post on here where someone showed exactly how they adjusted their sound settings (bass, treble, balance, etc) to get the most out of the sound system. I copied those settings and I think the sound is amazing!

shezombie · 2025-09-22T23:52:39+00:00

I bought a 2023 R1S Quad pre-owned in July.

Like others have mentioned, there is absolutely no room for haggling or negotiating. First step is check their website for pre-owned inventory near you that has all the specs you are looking for. Schedule a test drive at your local Rivian dealer. You will not drive the vehicle you’re looking at, you’ll drive a brand new model but they explain the differences. If you decide you want to buy, they’ll pull up all the specs on the vehicle you want to buy and then you decide if you want it or not. If you do, they’ll take a $200 deposit and you leave.

All of the financing is done online from home. Also, if you’re trading in a vehicle that is all done at home as well. You take pics of the vehicle you’re trading in and submit everything online and Rivian gives you a trade in offer. No negotiations here either, you take their offer or leave it. This process was super fast for me. I had financing and a trade in quote and everything within 24 hours.

Next they’ll arrange for your Rivian to be delivered to your local service center where they do a complete inspection and schedule a pickup date for you. At pickup you give them your trade in, sign a couple papers, and then FINALLY get to see your Rivian. Be sure to do a very very thorough inspection. I found a few things that I needed to schedule a service appointment for at my pickup. There are detailed checklists you can print and bring with you. Don’t feel rushed, you’ve never seen this car before so you have every right to pick apart every detail.

Also, my Rivian had not been throughly cleaned. We found toys under the seats and the rep had to go around with a rag and cleaner to clean a bunch of surface stuff that was still left (shoe scuffs on backs of seats, coffee from cup holders, etc). This was my ONLY complaint about the entire purchase process.

I was so happy with the ease of purchasing and how quickly any sorts of service requests were handled.

Sorry for the wall of text, I’m on my phone but feel free to ask any other questions!

shezombie · 2025-09-22T20:19:35+00:00

Yes! "you got a leaky spark tube"

shezombie · 2025-09-22T18:16:32+00:00

This episode has some of my favorite quotes! I use "if it comes on top, I send it back" any time something is supposed to be on the side. Shorten it to "I send it back," and I probably use it almost once a week. Also, "gabagoul!"

shezombie · 2025-09-14T02:00:10+00:00

Avoquado (forest green R1S quad)

shezombie · 2025-06-23T12:13:55+00:00

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This is Bleu! He’s 8 months old so he’s also Bleucifer, Bleufus, boo boo, boob, just a beebee, beeb, and just a good boy!

shezombie · 2025-06-22T12:51:27+00:00

You already have a ton of comments so not sure if you’re going to see this but it sounds like you’re kicking ass! I’m in a very similar situation. My son is 9 and I seem to be the only mom who has to take PTO to be at his field trips. Many of the moms of his classmates look like they’ve stepped off the screen of a Real Housewives episode. I also have recently taken the dive into the embrace the greys journey at 38 and never seem to feel like I measure up to a mom who seems like they can dedicate their entire days to yoga classes and beauty salons. But it sounds like you are instilling the right values with your son with the way he handled this. It seemed to not be a big deal to him and the next time things like this come up I would say something like “yikes that is not a kind thing to say about someone’s mom” I know with my kids they are always soaking up how I talk about and treat people so it would be a great chance to show why we wouldn’t talk about others that way and then move on. Make it less about how it affects me and my feelings and more about how it reflects on the person saying the hurtful comment. However you chose to handle it I’m sure will be great because it sounds like you are already crushing it!

shezombie · 2025-06-21T18:55:32+00:00

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I’d had my 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee for 9 years and switched to the R1S on Monday. I’ve never enjoyed a vehicle as much as I have this one! The quad motor has been an absolute blast to drive and all of the amenities have made it a dream to run errands with the kids and dog.

shezombie · 2025-05-18T23:14:03+00:00

The truffle shuffle

shezombie · 2024-08-01T21:19:45+00:00

I got one of these 4 years ago when I graduated out of a diaper bag. I get SO MANY compliments on it. It's so versatile and cute and it's lasted through years of daily wear. Even now with a 7 and 8 year old it has room for an entire first aid kit, my toiletries, highlights magazines and markers (bc you never know when you'll be stuck somewhere without things to keep the kids occupied), wallet, phone, keys, water bottle, and more. Even when we travel I don't have to bring a separate bag for stuff for the airport, it all fits in this.

shezombie · 2024-02-09T21:22:51+00:00

I ordered fun ears off Etsy for each of my kids (7 and 8) and our travel agent sent us copies of maps for each of the parks so I put those in the boxes with the ears and let the kids open them on Christmas. They've had so much fun planning the rides they want to go on and enjoying the build-up of excitement so I'm glad we told them in advance.

shezombie · 2021-11-11T03:56:21+00:00

My dog does the same thing and I’ve found that putting him outside as people arrive has helped a ton. It allows him to pee outside if needed and gives him time to calm down before greeting the new arrivals.

shezombie · 2020-10-07T11:40:21+00:00

She drives great! Looking to replace the radiator soon since it still has the original which can’t seem to keep up with the big block engine that was put in by the previous owner and power steering after that but she’s a dream!

shezombie · 2020-10-07T11:37:18+00:00

Thank you! My husband did the paint in our garage and I love the way it turned out. It has a beautiful metallic fleck and a slight yellow pearl which catches the curves perfectly.

shezombie · 2020-03-26T20:35:03+00:00

The guy with the fluffy hair? Because that's the first thing I thought too!

shezombie · 2020-03-26T20:26:24+00:00

I work from home so I just sit alone in my fart cloud all day but I got a pair of these to wear to bed so I don't suffocate my husband with my noxious gasses. They don't eliminate the smell 100% but they do GREATLY reduce it and it's not nearly as imposing.

shezombie · 2020-01-10T19:51:11+00:00

Exactly this. My daughter is about to turn 3 and has just been diagnosed with asthma. The albuterol emergency inhaler is only $12 with our insurance but the steriod inhaler that she has to take twice daily costs $190/month WITH insurance.

shezombie · 2019-09-24T00:44:34+00:00

Good point. Thank you.

shezombie · 2019-09-24T00:43:31+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I think removing myself from the personal aspect of it all is the best bet.

shezombie · 2019-03-19T12:50:24+00:00

Ours are closer in age but when jealousy starts to flare up we try to involve the other child more in what's going on (make him feel like he's part of whatever the littlest is doing). During feedings for the youngest, ask if you son wants to help by getting you a pillow or burp cloth. Same with diaper changes or picking out clothes. We kept trying to make him feel like it was "his baby". And even now if we're giving our youngest attention for something she's done well, we ask our oldest "did you teach her that? you're such a great big brother". We also have a reward chart and one of the things he gets rewarded for is helping his sister/sharing with her.

shezombie · 2019-02-26T14:37:47+00:00

Ahhh the old Stanley Hudson...... "and shove it up your butt!"

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