The Edition: No. 351
Feb 14, 2023
+ Why everyone feels like they’re faking it.
+ The most comfortable loafers ever. Ever.
+These new “etiquette rules” seem extraordinarily tiresome.
+ Work Outfit. Ivory pants + printed blouse + navy blazer + ivory heels
+ Returning to the office means misery for working moms.
+ The most comfortable boot that I’ve ever owned.
+ Break Out the Instant Pot: Braised Pork Shoulder with Apples.
+ Meet the perfect dinner-date dress. (And it’s <$75!)
+ A great video on re-organizing your closet.
+ Ted Baker’s poppy print is ????, in pink and in white.
+ The toll of layoff anxiety is real.
+ Housewarming Gifts: a round tray, a cute print, a modern vase.
+ Buying Nothing is Everything (thanks, Facebook).
+ Need basic blouses? With sleeves and sleeveless.
+ Six ways to start journaling for emotional benefit.
+ Still the best pants I own — and in inclusive sizing.
One Interesting Read. How to (realistically) find yourself. Because Eat, Pray, Love is a fantasy.
Want a fun Instagram account to follow? Benjamin the Baker teaches you the mechanics of baking, so you never suffer underbaked cupcakes or burnt cookies again. My favorite new follow.
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I am a working mom of 3 who had an in-person job before the pandemic and shifted a fully remote org last year, so I am very much on board with making more jobs virtual. But framing this as a win/value just for working mothers, like the Times article does, worries me. We don’t yet know the unintended consequences of this shift – will employers intentionally or otherwise assume women should be virtual roles, regardless of whether they are parents or not? Will it be harder for women who are in the office if they become more male dominated again? Will women who are commuting to work experience our transportation systems differently? Of course, I don’t think this will lead to removing all women from (in-person) work spaces, but framing this issue just for working moms, rather than for all working parents, seems shortsighted.
Agree with this! Why is this still a working mom problem, not a working parent problem? I think the other thing that the article breezed through was that the expectations of moms, and how they parent, are higher now. Even if you aren’t a “pinterest mom”, there’s still an expectation of gentle parenting, being present, not being on your phone, quality time, no screen time, the expectations are so much higher than they were before. The guilt of not parenting to this high standard is overwhelming.
On the one hand, I agree that words matter and appreciate the sentiment of wanting to use parents whenever possible. And at the same time, I wonder how much of a difference it’s going to make. I guess you’ve got to start somewhere? The vast majority of mothers in my circle are doing waaaay more household and childcare management stuff than their spouse (if they have a spouse). That’s true even when the mother’s career is more demanding. None of us thought we were getting married to a traditionalist dude, but it turns out that you have to fight quite hard to not fall into those gendered expectations. Based on my text threads so many of us are tired, burnt out and isolated. Even my friendships with my single, childless friends have suffered after motherhood because we just can’t seem to relate to each other anymore. So while the articles focus on mothers may be annoying, it’s also very much the reality. Fully recognize I’m preaching to the choir.
Thanks for sharing the closet re-organization how to. I especially love the “not now” categorization to remove clothes from your closet while keeping them for a different season of life.