Registry tips: Baby monitors. Tell me what’s your fave and why? What are its downsides? Please mention if you’ve had multiple and returned one - would love to know your comparative experience.

Parental leave policies. The best and the worst in adland? Please respond with your agency policy. Include policy for fathers and adoptive parents too.

It occurred to me today I’m a minority in almost every way at my agency. I’m not white, I’m a parent (rare at my level), and one of only a handful of males in my department of 30. I have my privileges but damn, it’s getting lonely.

I have $100K liquid cash over and above maxing out 401K, HSA, College fund, investments in Index funds and emergency fund. I plan to leave $25K for contingency. Of the $75K is it wise if I purchase I bonds worth $30K (myself, spouse, kid)? Current combined rate is 9.62 Does anyone foresee the interest rate drastically reducing? I don’t intend to cash them out before 5 years.

**Can I take retirement?**
Hi All,
I have around 29 Lac savings + 5 Lac gold.
And my wife has 28 Lac gold(wedding gift) + 80 Lac(ancestral) Land.
We have a child, his current age is 2 years+
Currently our monthly expenses are around 22k(max), and my CCTC is 15 LPA+ with 8+ YOE.
My age is 29! I don't feel like working anymore.

Seeing all of the moms at bring your kid to work day makes me 😄 I hope I can be like you one day!

I’m halfway through virtual parent teacher conferences. How are your conferences going and how are you sharing student work with parents?

Question for moms past the young toddler phase - at what age did you find your child could safely & independently play/entertain themselves for 30-60 minutes? My just-turned 2 y.o. can play fairly well independently for 5-10 minutes and of course needs to be very closely supervised for safety (he loves to climb).

Just trying to put in perspective when we may get to the next step of having a chance to do something while we know he is safe/playing on his own. Thanks!

Hello my mother is in Delhi and has Covid. Her fever hovers around between101 and 103. It’s the 7th day now (until 3 days ago, the fever was actually around 99-101). She has been on Paracetamol 650. Someone recommended MEFTAL 500. Does anyone here have family members who was put on this medication? Or any other alternate suggestions on how we can reduce the fever temperature? 🙏🏾

Just found out I’m pregnant after a chemical pregnancy and I can’t bring myself to feel excited. I’m just dreading what feels like the inevitable. Thinking of ordering some pregmate strips to continue to monitor HCG levels to make sure they’re rising. Any other tips on getting through these next few weeks?

Any advice for approaching a maternity leave conversation when my company has no policy, no HR dept and I have no contract? I’m a partner shareholder in my company (we’re not in the US), 19 wks pregnant. I know the time off and pay I’d like to negotiate, but my partners are male and weird about money. I’m underpaid in a very senior 6 yr position, my job is stressful and around the clock, so I want proper leave. I can’t afford childcare and our govt stat leave is terrible, it won’t pay my bills.

I’m returning to work from maternity leave can someone tell me if I can reach out to HR to discuss pay review/increase upon my return. I know for a fact through colleagues I’m the lowest being paid at this company. New comers make same amount or even more. How do I initiate this convo ?

My husband and I had a really tough time this past year. With the pandemic, having to take care of a toddler at home, being pregnant with a 2nd child, dealing with a new job, and my husband losing his best friend due to COVID, our marriage has been really strained. We’re both so stressed and tired but we want to work through this and will seek counseling. For those who have been through rough patches during their marriage, do you have any advice or anything that worked for you?

Any other mommas only get real supply from one side while pumping? Getting 0.5 Oz from left side after half hr pumping... Any problems if I just pump and feed from right side? (Baby is 11 months old and supplementing with formula anyway, likely weaning at a year)

My boyfriend and I hadn’t had sex for 2.5 months (with other long breaks before that). I broke and brought up the issue and he eventually explained that he’s not been attracted to me. I’m 105 lbs and ride my bike to get around the city (or at least do a leisure ride on the weekends if I had no errands to run that week), but he still thinks I’m too sedentary and spend too much time curled up on my phone. But the problem is…cont

Did anyone else adopt the new Florida Wonders curriculum? We just adopted it this school year, and I teach 4th grade. My team and I have not found a good flow, schedule, or whatever you want to call it. We feel like it teaches too many skills in one lesson, and we are not able to truly teach anything “deep” enough for students to master. Does anyone have any insight? What do you do? Do you like the curriculum? Why or why not? Would you be willing to share what you do weekly/daily? Thanks!

I have a 5mo old, am about to return from mat leave. Exclusive breastfed and doesn’t take bottles (admittedly I barely try bc I love nursing).

Grandma will be caring for baby in my home while I work, and wants him to take bottle. However I want to just continue nursing. Anyone have a similar experience, am I crazy to think this will work or do I need to force bottle?

WFH 3 days a week which is amazing however, it’s been super annoying & challenging b/c upstairs neighbor 4yr old kid is constantly running/ jumping. That’s all I hear!! I’ve confronted them 2x. Tips?

Any good baby moon recommendations and the best time to go? Currently 12w based in Washington DC area and starting to plan. On the fence about flying right now with Covid numbers, but considering places where masks are still mandatory for air travel (I.e Germany, Portugal)

I applied for few SA roles at AWS after getting the SAA certificate and some badges like the “WAF” and “Advanced Migration”. I also optimized my resume recently trying to match what AWS would look for, but I did not get any 1st call or screening interview!
I also applied to some of the roles using friend’s referral. I have more than 15 years in IT infrastructure mainly in Storage systems (EMC, Hitachi) What could be the problem? Thanks.

Those who left consulting for industry (specifically healthcare). Are you happy? Are you making more money. Regrets? Pros and cons?

Phr vs waiting for sphr?
Taking the credential and want to prep.

Let's be real, the anti-abortion crowd doesn't care at all about "saving kids".

What is best practice for giving two weeks notice while still remote? Do I call the partners I work with before or after calling HR? Do I need to put anything in writing?

Can someone refer me for Tech Support Specialist role in Google. Please let me know.

Anyone here an entertainment producer? Thinking of making the transition but my end goal is to produce TV shows. Is that the same skillset as producing ads?

What's everyone into now? I cashed out some of my CCIV but not sure where to move to next. I feel like IPOF should have some news soon...

FYI
The ladder in EY consulting:

Analyst 1/2/3
Associate Consultant 1
Consultant 1/2
Senior Consultant 1/2
Manager 1/2/3
Senior Manager 1/2/3
Partner/Principal

In the offer letter it's mostly mentioned HR band which is different from this, HR band is just the seniority level as per the org structure just for the reference for HRs.

(Continued in comments)

Hello,
What will be in hand for 35lpa fixed?

Tips for buying more time on a job offer? I have to respond by Thursday but have another firm that I’m waiting to hear back from

What are your top, go-to production houses in LA?

My bf of two years has gotten really clingy. Constantly complaining that we don't video chat enough or that we don't talk enough. Note 8 months ago we became long distance... Any advice?

Why is every single product manager job description some eye rolling template of roadmaps, OKRs, GtM, vision blah blah BS, but then every org is using Product in a different way, and the job is nothing what was advertised?

Seeking some advice : I was hired on to a large company as a third HR professional. Since I’ve started there has been restructuring and we are now down to two. They have plans to bring back a third, however the timeline isn’t muddy.

I have only been with the company for about 3 months but have taken on much more responsibilities and feel under compensated now. Is it too soon to have a conversation about pay and the new roles I’ve absorbed

What are the small things you miss? I can’t wait to eat sushi again.

Are women here having issues finding appointments for initial prenatal visit? The first appointment I got will be at 11 weeks that too I was lucky because I had already scheduled with the doc for some other Obgyn issue back in July and they converted it to a prenatal appt. If I did not have that, I would have not got anything for the first trim. The other docs in the clinic also did not have appts. This sounds very risky. Heard from someone in Texas she did not get an appt until 16 weeks

What are your reasons for wanting a un-medicated birth? currently strongly leaning toward getting an epidural because there’s no reward for suffering. lol but I could be convinced…

Mockingbird vs UPPAbaby. Pros and cons of each. FTM. I’m looking for a stroller that I can add on to as our family grows. TIA!

26.5 weeks pregnant and feeling this lower abdominal pain (under my belly button). It comes and goes. It’s coming in waves and goes away but I can feel it’s there waiting to flash another wave, if that makes sense. I read online that women go through Braxton Hicks contractions. Is that how they feel like? Baby moving as usual so I know (guess) is fine.

First trimester insomnia?
I’m only about 5 weeks, but my sleep schedule has gone off the rail the last three nights. I’m sleepy/drowsy, settled in bed around the same time every night, and yet I cannot fall or stay asleep. I have a white noise machine, comfy bed, cool room.. etc. When I do fall asleep, it’s earlier in the morning and I sleep until 1/1:30pm. This was fine the first few nights since it was the weekend, but it can’t keep up. Anyone else experience this and have any recommendations?

I’m being induced tonight. Any tips or things I should expect or mentally prepare for? Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I’m six weeks and have either a yeast infection or UTI (been awhile since I had either and symptoms since last night can go either way). Have an urgent care apt later today but worried about antibiotics or medications while it’s still so early and the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. Anyone been through this in first trimester?

For moms who have delivered before, I am terrified of the delivery. That day haunts me. I’m a first time pregnant mom, and my own mother lost her first child in child birth, so I’ve inherited a lot of trauma about child birth. How bad is it, really? How scary? Any words of encouragement and honestly telling me what to expect (don’t sugar coat) I would appreciate. I am so scared.

Cross posting: For those of you who have had a miscarriage, did your cycles return to normal intervals immediately after your first period post miscarriage? Asking because I'm TTC.

For background, I was only 5 weeks along in my last pregnancy. Most info I'm finding online is about the first period after miscarriage, not the second

If you felt fine, when did you tell work and why? (Ie not in cases where you were sick, exhausted, etc)

Is it okay to eat albacore tuna sandwich? I read that it's safe and some say to avoid. 🤔

What prenatal vitamins did you all use?

For twin pregnancy when did you start showing?