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I know there are a lot of readers who are Harry Potter fans — people who read the books as they came out, perhaps as part of your childhood, or perhaps now you've got a kiddo or a niece or nephew who's really into them. So I was intrigued to see that Hot Topic has a big Harry Potter collection. If you or your loved one is very into a particular house, you can find stuff elsewhere, but if you're not full-on into Gryffindor and prefer, say, Slytherin (pictured) or Ravenclaw (or, yes, Hufflepuff too!), it can be hard to find products that are cool and beyond your basic Quidditch cosplay stuff. Hot Topic's collection includes these really nice art deco designs, and a ton of other stuff in general for every house.
Hot Topic also has these cool outline logo girl tees, as well as band tees, and yes, even Animal Crossing stuff, if that's your jam right now. In general, it's a great place to stock up on graphic tees if you need some new workout clothes or things to lounge around the house in. They're all pretty affordable right now, because some t-shirts are 20–40% off, but I don't know how long the sale will last. The pictured shirt is $13.74 and up and comes in XXS–3X. Harry Potter Art Deco t-shirt
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Sales of note for 11.5.24
- Nordstrom – Fall sale, up to 50% off!
- Ann Taylor – 11/5 only – 60% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 25% off with your GAP Inc. credit card
- Bloomingdales is offering gift cards ($20-$1200) when you spend between $100-$4000+. The promotion ends 11/10, and the gift cards expire 12/24.
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Fall clearance event, up to 85% off
- J.Crew – 40% off fall favorites; prices as marked
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Up to 30% off on new arrivals
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Buy one, get one – 50% off everything!
- White House Black Market – Holiday style event, take 25% off your entire purchase
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Anonymous
Hive! I will be starting a new job (remotely) on Monday as in-house counsel on a small team. Any advice or tips for success for a successful job transition?
MJ
Make lists of 7, 20 and 90 day goals, and even if remote, those should include scheduling meet & greets (15 mins) with clients (heads of dept you serve, lower folks in the same department). Recommend you put off meeting “clients” until you’ve gotten access to the drives, understand the templates/standard processes the team uses, etc. But you should get up to speed on say, what standard negotiating positions are (if you’re a commercial counsel) or how board meeting prep goes (if you’re a corporate counsel), etc. The 90 day ones will come over time as you identify projects where your expertise might be useful. You got this!
Ellen
I would agree with MJ. You need to be a team member, but if you are remote, it will be more difficult, so make lists, and follow up with your boss on these lists to make sure you are focused on what is important. My job involves me making a lot of meetings and billing for them, so if you are at all in a similar place, keep good records of what you are doing so that if your cleint gets mad about the amount of time you are billing, you will at least have backup. Good luck to you!
Pure Imagination
Harry Potter was a big part of my childhood/teen years (when have I ever gone to a midnight book release besides for that?) and it’s been an excellent call to reread the series now while I’m stuck at home. I usually read it again every few years and the timing is just right. Highly recommend.
No Longer Anon
SUCH comfort reading. <3 I listened to them on audio for the first time in 2018/2019 and it was such a different, but amazing, experience.
Stephen Fry's version of HP 1 is available free to stream on Audible right now! I did love Jim Dale but people seem to adore Stephen Fry, so I'm excited to listen to it!
Anonymous
I’m listening to it on audiobook and I totally agree! Such wonderful comfort listening!
Coach Laura
Yep, I’m in my third re-reading this year. I remember taking my young kids to the midnight store purchase and then reading the books after they were done. Good memories.
Housecounsel
Childhood and teen years, hahaha. I remember staying up until 4 a.m. to finish the last book while I was home on maternity leave and had absolutely no business doing anything except sleeping when the baby was sleeping. No regrets. I am jealous of anyone reading the series for the first time.
Anon
I am almost ashamed to admit this but I could never get into those books. I fell asleep in all the movies. I don’t know what my problem is. I unashamedly read all of the Twilight, Hunger Games, and Divergent series so I’m not a snob about young adult lit. Is there a gateway HP book that might help? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten too bored with the living under the stairs / lightning shaped scar / owl messenger thing to continue
Anonymous
The only one I really liked was #3. #2 and #5 were okay too. #1 was too juvenile, 4 wasn’t that great, and 6 and 7 were a horrible boring slog with no charm or depth of character.
anonshmanon
if you give it another try, feel free to skim the first chapters maybe. I am a fan, but I get little pleasure out of all the Harry gets abused-chapters. The magic starts when Hagrid takes him to Diagon Alley, and then on the Hogwarts Express.
Anon
Agree with this.
LaurenB
I agree with you. I read #1 to my kids. After that? They read them themselves. I think they’re well-written, and I think it’s great that they turned kids onto reading and what-not, but I personally never had any interest and I slept through the movies.
Lyssa
Oh, on this topic, what’s the right age for getting into Harry Potter? My son is 7, and he’s been interested in a few chapter books for the past year or so (Charlotte’s Web, The Magic Treehouse series), but he also still likes most of the standard little kid books. I’ve suggested that he might like Harry Potter a few times, and he always rejects the idea for some reason, so we haven’t tried. They might be a little more complicated then what he’s ready for now, but I would sure like to start reading them with him sometime.
Anon
I don’t know but my daughter is only 2 and I am already anxiously awaiting the day I can read these books to her. They were such an important part of my childhood and I can’t wait to share them!
No Longer Anon
The great thing about the books is that they tend to grow up and become more mature as they go on. I started reading Sorceror’s Stone with my grandpa around age 7, and then as I got older I read each one as it came out, culminating with the 7th book at age 14. I think my grandpa read me 1, 2, and 3 and then I read on my own 4-7. So, I think now is a a great time to start Sorceror’s Stone! You may have to do some explaining, but I think it’s mostly OK.
Anon
Yup, when I was your sons age in the early ‘00s, we started reading the books as a family. Made it up through halfway through the Prisoner of Azkaban, but we stopped because my mom thought the books were getting too dark for us (I’m the oldest and we were reading as a whole family). Started reading them again when I was older, and watched all of the movies as they came out.
Definitely agree that as the books progress, the audience of the books changes. Growing up as the characters grew up and as the books matured was pretty cool, but also practical.
I’d say your son is likely old enough to read the first few books (I was about that age when we started), but later books might be a bit scary for him now.
I think I’m going to start reading them again during quarantine, since I’m a big fan but never actually read them all In a reasonable period of time.
Lyssa
That was my general memory of them, too (that they get more mature as they go on). But I read them in my early 20’s. I can’t figure out why my son keeps saying no to them. How is kid with magical powers not interesting to him? I wonder if I should just get the first book (can’t find my old copy) and then see what he does. My precocious 4 year old would probably be interested, even if it’s lost on her.
Anonymous
My daughter and her friends all read the books in second grade. I thought they were too scary for a 7-year-old and encouraged her to wait, but she insisted on reading them and it was fine.
Anon
I just read the first book (the illustrated version – they’re beautiful!) to my 6.5 and 4.5 year old over the winter. They loved it! We plan to give them a new one for Christmas each year and then read it together during the cold Jan/Feb months.
HW
I love that idea!
No Longer Anon
Oh, yes, the illustrated versions would probably help with some of the comprehension that may be difficult for younger kids!
Also, they’re gorgeous.
Anon
I’ve heard people recommend Christopher Chant as a little more accessible than Harry Potter for younger readers. (I have read both but don’t recall forming an impression of my own of the reading levels!)
AIMS
I think Artemis Fowl is a bit more kid-friendly, but I think that 7 is fine for at least the first Harry Potter
Anon
You are probably right; I am sometimes surprised by the themes in British children’s literature. I read the Golden Compass for the first time to prepare to watch the show, and I had this thought.
Gail the Goldfish
The Golden Compass is tame compared to the other two books in the trilogy. It is heavy for “children’s literature”
Kat G
We read the first 3 illustrated books to my eldest starting around age 5, but I wanted him to read book 4+ by himself because they get so dark (and being able to read it himself would be a sign of maturity). We also wouldn’t let him watch the movies until he’d read each book.
Also, just FYI — free HP digital escape room: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflNxNM0jzbZJjUqOcXkwhGTfii4CM_CA3kCxImbY8c3AABEA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2g3IWGD7aYbK0dDOEJ55u8nJXk6KPW3iA4UXR6An_dF2s3m32jCraL0h0
Junior Associate
I started reading them when I was 11-12 (that’s when the first and second books came out) and anxiously waited for each of the books every year. My friends and I all finished reading the books in high school and were happy to grow up with the characters.
Carrots
This is Hufflepuff erasure and as a Hufflepuff, I’m distraught, but also as a Hufflepuff, acknowledge you’re doing amazing and appreciate you creating the content. :-)
Anon Lawyer
Fellow Hufflepuff appreciates you for making this comment.
JTM
This Hufflepuff agrees with you!
Anonymous
Hufflepuff gets a raw deal. Their traits are loyalty and fairplay–what kind of person disagrees with those personality traits? And the hufflepuff mascot is a badger–have you seen the honey badger video. I would choose Hufflepuff to be on my team any day. Signed Gryffindor with the utmost respect for Hufflepuff.
Not Legal Counsel
It took me a long time to come to terms with being a Hufflepuff, but it’s totally my house. I just with the house colors were better.
Anon
This is not a great time to have a chronic cough. Mine is due to allergies and no amount of Zyrtec and Nasonex keep the cough at bay.
I just coughed on my own back porch and my neighbor standing in his back yard looked at me like he’d caught me murdering kittens.
Anonymous
Seriously with the Corona-Karens! I am practically mainlining allergy meds and Tylenol from the horrifying headache (I will not drill my head to let Athena out; I will not drill my head to let Athena out . . .). My black car is covered in yellow dust, but of course treat me like I’m Patient Zero.
NY CPA
I hear you on this. My allergies are particularly exacerbated when I’m outside, so I tend to get a bit of a cough during my daily walk. It clears up as soon as I get back inside. But I always feel judged by people for coughing (into my elbow, more than 6 ft away from anyone) in public.
Anon
Is It Allergies Or COVID-19? is the worst game to play, there is no way to win :(
Anonymous
COVID is a new or worsening cough
The cough I’ve had since 1997 has had the SOL run.
Anon
OP I played that game with my primary care doctor in early March and she basically told me to stay home and whatever you do, don’t come to my office!
No Longer Anon
Up until a couple years ago I had a terrible cough, every single day. Just horrible. I cannot imagine how horrible my life would have been if I still had it….
I have a bit of a chronic cough now and I want to write “IT ISN’T CORONAVIRUS” on my mask…
Anon
OP here.
My local Nextdoor has a long thread about who was that woman who was coughing in the line for the grocery store? She coughed, walked away from the line to finish coughing, then left. Find her and string her up, I guess.
This is why I haven’t left my house in weeks.
Anon
Ha! That post is in my Nextdoor feed too. Hello East Bay? (Or are there more than one of these stories on Nextdoor? Probably!)
Anon
Berkeley! Hive five!
Anon
Same. I have allergic asthma and am always coughing this time of year. I am using my inhaler more but it doesn’t always help, nor does the daily antihistamine I’m on.
Vicky Austin
My contribution to Tales of Husbands Attempting to Meal Plan in Quarantine: mine very kindly cleaned the fridge out for me this weekend. He chucked a mostly-full, unexpired jar of mayo, but kept the dregs of a pack of celery that were floppy enough to be folded in the crisper drawer.
Anon
Mine siggested we have BLTs this week. We have bacon in the freezer, but no lettuce, tomatoes, or bread. . .
Vicky Austin
oh man. The ingredients are in the name of the thing. This should not be complicated. And yet!
anon
well, to be honest, the lettuce, tomato and condiments are 100% optional :)
anonshmanon
I am convinced that a personal quantum anomaly renders vegetable drawers invisible to husbands.
SC
Solid theory.
Ribena
Vegetable drawers are invisible to me, too. I only ever use them for things that I want to keep cold but aren’t particularly perishable. Cans of drink, spare cartons of oat milk, coffee, that kind of thing. Veg has to be front and centre! (I don’t buy meat so fresh veg is the most perishable thing in my fridge)
Anonymous
Vegetables last better in the crisper drawer.
anon
Yes but I don’t see them in the crisper so then I don’t eat them.
Anon Lawyer
Same. I do buy meat but that’s in my mind because I’m mindful of what I buy. Vegetables need to be visible.
Anon
Fifteen minutes ago, my husband checked the vegetable crispers AND the fruit basket before going to the store.
Vicky Austin
No way.
anon
lol, new troll gaslighting us into believing that #notallmen are hopeless in the fridge?
anne-on
Can he teach a virtual zoom class so I can sign my husband up? Sending him shopping on his own was bad before this but is impossible now due to weird things being out of stock.
On the plus side I’ve fully had him take over the costco run for paper products/canned foods where I don’t care about brand/pet food/cleaning supplies – much higher margin for error there.
Abby
This made me laugh hahaha
DH is a good cook... sometimes
I have the opposite problem: DH likes to make absurdly complicated meals that require alltheingredients. This is fine when we have time, are trying to do something special, etc., but it’s hilarious for regular weeknights. Even in these COVID-19 times, I still prefer to just batch cook and reheat the leftovers. We did a big cooking date on Saturday night and I turned him into my prep chef, but then I didn’t realize quite how much chicken I committed to and so I’m sitting there dicing chicken and trying to tell DH the next steps of three different (very simple) dishes that don’t require a recipe, but if he had a recipe, he would make them amazing. The trick is to either give him a proper recipe or just assign the tasks of browning meat and chopping veggies in whatever way he wants. The middle ground of roughly knowing what this dish I always make includes does not work, even though it’s simple (because it’s all in my head and why would I write down the very malleable “recipe” that doesn’t really exist all that much?).
When will this end?
Is anyone else that lives alone really struggling right now? What are you doing to cope? I’ve been working from home for 3 weeks now, which I’m lucky to be able to do, but this weekend had a bit of a breakdown. I just can’t imagine doing this for another month or two. I have arthritis (which flares up with stress, so this has been especially bad pain wise) and asthma and the medication I take suppresses the immune system so I know that I have to be especially careful, but this is just so, so hard- I miss my family, I’m used to seeing them if not daily, at least 3-4 times a week. All of my friends have young children and are “too busy” to talk. I really need a hug.
Anonymous
I’m sorry I’m right there with you. I’ve been doing lots and lots of walks, trying to pamper myself with tasty food, and do the best I can. It’s not great!
When will this end?
Thank you- you hang in there too!
No Longer Anon
I’m so sorry. I’m also struggling, and I don’t have any great ways to make it better. I’ve been channeling anxiety through doing things around the house, reading, and puzzles. But I’m lonely, and sad, and just generally tired of being alone.
Can you foster a dog? The logistics of actually getting the dog could be hard to figure out but it could get you at least a bit of interaction.
When will this end?
I actually do have a dog- he’s definitely been the bright spot throughout this. I’m sorry you’re struggling, too.
Anonymous
I have lived alone (currently with my family of 4 in 900 sq feet) and worked alone a lot. I always kept the radio on at a fairly low volume or the TV (weather channel or antiques roadshow/pbs). It would usually never break my attention but let my lizard brain feel a bit of human contact enough to let me concentrate and get work done. Then when I was done, I either put on music or things I loved or called people. Otherwise, I’d tend to chat up the cashiers at the grocery store (which they wouldn’t appreciate now especially).
Anonymous
Living alone in normal times is not remotely comparable to now.
anon
She’s trying to be helpful, and she was.
Anon
No, she wasn’t
anonymous.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this right now. Gently, I would say your friends with young kids probably ARE too busy to talk right now. I have lots of friends and family I love and miss, but very little time for anything other than work and childcare right now.
Anon
I don’t know, depends on how young and a lot of other factors. I have youngish kids and I have been keeping up with friends now and then. What is key for me is having a set time, usually days in advance, and bonus if it’s framed as a virtual happy hour so it feels more set and festive. However, agreed on a level that if you just call me randomly there is almost a 95% chance that I can’t talk at that exact moment. (Not saying this works for everyone with kids, just adding that not everyone with kids is off limits to chat).
When will this end?
I understand that they’re busy, but it doesn’t make it easier, unfortunately. I know they’re not being busy “at me” like someone here says, but someone being too busy to talk kind of just highlights how alone I am, even though I know that’s not their fault!
Anonymous
This weekend was particularly hard for me too. I have “Sunday dinner” via FaceTime with my single brother who lives on the other side of the country. It has been really nice. We enjoy surprising each other with our menu choices, and since mealtimes are when I tend to feel loneliest, it’s nice to have some company.
Is there anyone in your family who would join you for a virtual dinner?
When will this end?
I actually just asked my parents to do this with me tonight, and I’m really looking forward to it! Thank you for the suggestion!
Anon
Could you combine households with a family member? Or if the other family member doesn’t need to leave the house (you do all the grocery/pharmacy stops) it would be the same as if you were in a combined household.
Anonymous
Sure she could but some of us are being respectful of the rules!
Anon Lawyer
That’s not against the rules.
Anon
I agree; this isn’t against the rules.
Anon
The rules recommend it actually as it would be less people going into stores. One person per household. The less households the less people in stores.
LaurenB
How odd of a flex. It’s not against the rules for several people to give orders to one person who shops, and then that person drops off groceries on the doorstep of the other people.
When will this end?
I wish I could- my parents live nearby, but my mom is “essential” and still going into work, and my dad, even though he’s in a high risk age group…will not social distance, so in this case it does increase risk. That’s a whole other issue, believe me.
Anon
That sucks. I’m sorry to hear that and it must be really adding to your worries.
When will this end?
Yes, it is- I’ve tried the “anywhere you go, it’s like mom goes” the high risk thing, the protect others like me and people much much much worse off, AND this morning even sent him the Trump press conference where they said these weeks are especially important to stay home, and he just continues to golf and go to the store daily and has even been visiting friends in their homes. He only watches Fox News and thinks this is totally overblown and too much fuss about the flu. He’s smart and successful but stubborn.
Ribena
I had a 3 metre (9 foot) distanced conversation with local (3 minute walk away) family members yesterday – I went to drop off baking on their stoop and then I stood by their gate when they came out to get it. It doesn’t replace a hug, and I had to have a little cry on the way home, but I hadn’t had an in person conversation for two weeks, so I really needed it. Do you have anyone nearby you could do that with?
cbackson
I’ve been thinking about you a lot since your post last week and I’m glad you went to see your family, even if just from a distance.
When will this end?
I may go do this with my parents tomorrow— I read your post last week, Ribena, and my heart broke for you. I’m glad you were able to see your family
Anonymous
DH’s work colleague has ‘combined households’ with a neighbor. They are both single and were finding being totally alone hard. They have dinner together every second day I think. Neither has family in the city so their bubble is just the two of them.
mascot
I know people are hating on video calls right now, but they have helped me feel more connected to people than text chains or whatever. I’ve also noticed that our neighbors are all happy to talk from across yards/streets. People are starting to crave human interaction and make time for it.
For your friends with kids, is there a time that the kids are occupied (naps, Saturday morning cartoons, etc) that would work?
Anon
I am really struggling. I live alone, my work is not interactive at all (I’ve had about 3 calls and 2 meetings over the last 3 weeks of WFH), and it’s so hard. My friends are helpful, but they all live with at least one other person and have more interactive jobs – they like texting during the day but are not in to having a zoom call more than like twice a week. I’ve not talked with a single person today and that may be true until a scheduled call with friends on Wednesday night.
I get why social distancing is important and I’m doing it. But all HATE all the talking like this isn’t hard if you don’t have kids and that I should just be appreciating all my extra time at home.
When will this end?
I’m so sorry you’re struggling too, and your job sounds much less phone based than mine- that has to be so hard. I’m with you on everyone you know living with someone else, and while not having kids during this is easier, it’s hard in it’s own ways too.
Anonymous
I went for a run on Sunday and there was a landscaping company clearing foliage in the train parking lot. I was on a hill looking down on them and I almost shouted hey, good morning, people! People!
Do old-school workout vids
My husband and I had the BEST time doing a Richard Simmons workout over the weekend. YouTube has recordings of the VHS tapes, complete with the cheesy copyright recording (I know, I know, but still). We’re normally hardcore bodybuilder-types, and husband’s rhythmic ability is… questionable. But man, we laughed and we did get a little sweaty, and it was amazing. We’re planning to make it part of our regular weekend routine because it was just absurd and fun and we literally couldn’t take ourselves seriously, which was a nice change of pace, given the current state of the world.
Senior Attorney
HAHAHAHA! I literally thought I was the only person in the world doing those workouts!! High five!!
Do old-school workout vids
My mom used to do them in our living room when I was a kid, and I thought they were cheesy in the ’90s. But man, as an adult cooped up in my apartment? Best. Choice. Ever. The music is so fun, my husband was like, “um how do you know all these songs!?!” He wants to do the same video over and over so he can learn the moves :) And I might drag my sister into the next round, she’s been joining me for Zoom workouts, and she died laughing when I sent her a recording of us sweating to the oldies :)
Senior Attorney
Haha love it!
Vicky Austin
This sounds hilarious and wonderful!
AIMS
Someone sent me the YouTube link to the Eric Nies The Grind workout video, which for women of a certain age is just absolutely fantastic.
anne-on
OMG, that video was hilarious and totally something we watched at sleepovers when I was a kid!
Babies & Dogs
When our baby was born 4 mos ago, we were so relieved that our small dog was just wonderful with the baby. The dog was very attentive and gentle, always wanted to be near the baby, would let us know if the baby had woken up and was fussing, and would get up and stay with whoever was doing the late night feedings. Fast forward 4 months and we’ve got some serious problems. The dog seems to have developed some jealousy issues and is constantly trying to get in the way when I reach to pick up or play with the baby. The dog always wants to be near the baby but now that the baby is big enough to reach for things, the dog gets snarly when the baby reaches for him. He was always such a good and wonderful dog but he’s just driving me crazy and I’m concerned about his demeanor towards the baby. Any suggestions or ideas for resources? Thank you!
Anon
At 4 months old, how is the baby getting near enough to reach for/grab your dog?
First, keep them separated unless you are directly supervising.
Second,ensure your dog is getting enough exercise.
Third, if you’ve been lax about reinforcing the basics, a refresher to basic obedience class. If you’ve never done any training, now is a good time to start and Youtube is your friend. Don’t worry about the baby element here, just work the basics – positive reinforcement, sit, wait, down, off maybe a few tricks if that’s something y’all enjoy doing.
crim lawyer
I have represented multiple people whose dogs have attacked children or other dogs. A dog is an animal. Keep that dog away from your baby. Your instincts are on point. The majority of my dog people clients have been normal people whose dogs have attacked their children or grandchildren. They all thought it wouldn’t happen.
I fully expect to be yelled at by dog people. Go ahead and yell.
Also get a dog trainer if you can (this will depend on your COVID situation). You may need to establish more clear dog and human boundaries. Crate training is fantastic.
Anonymous
Humans are responsible for their pets. Clearly you hate animals and will sell your soul for a pay cheque but lots of us won’t.
mascot
One of the best pieces of advice I got was to treat your dog like a pair of sharp scissors and don’t leave them unattended around little kids. One of our dogs was pretty reactive when our kid was young and it took supervision, training and deliberate changes to keep everyone safe. But, we got through it and they get along great now.
Anon
I’m a dog person, and you’re not wrong. I think you understate the role the adult human has, though.
Most incidents between dogs and kids are a long time coming and SO much of the stuff that parents think is soooo cute is the dog grudgingly tolerating or attempting to remove itself from a situation. Very few incidents happen without lots and lots and lots of unheeded warnings.
So, OP, as the adult and the one with the thumbs, are you willing to commit to fostering a healthy relationship between your child and your dog? If not, please rehome your dog now, before an incident happens and your dog is labeled a biter, vicious and can’t be rehomed. If so, you need to do what it takes to foster that relationship starting now. There have already been some excellent suggestions. It’s up to you to follow through.
Anon
Professional training with a behaviorist, STAT. The one I use is currently doing virtual sessions. Wonder pup dog training DOT com.
busy wife
For those of you that are much busier with COVID how are you juggling things with your spouse who is less busy?
I had a 30 hour job and a 20 hour job basically and now I seem to have a 40 hour job, a 20 hour job and continuous contract work (basically as much as I want). I realize not everyone is in this position. I don’t feel like I can turn anything contract down (it relates to my 20 hour job) but on the other hand we can’t have anyone in the house so laundry, cooking and cleaning are all big issues. I feel like my spouse spends a lot of time watching TV with the kids and his family provide childcare whenever he wants (but never in a way that I feel like I get a break). I’d like him to try and get the kids to do their online classes (the classes are basically optional where we live but it would give them something to do).
To be clear I cook, grocery shop and do laundry and those kinds of tasks every day and most of the weekend work. I’m not expecting perfection here but I feel like there is no effort.
Thoughts?
Coach Laura
You might want to post again earlier tomorrow or on the Mom’s board tomorrow. I think you’ll have to sit down with your spouse – maybe wait until Saturday – and say “Now that we’ve been doing this WFH, homeschooling for a while and know what it’s like, can we brainstorm ideas so that I can get my work done, we can both have down-time and the kids can get their lessons done? I would like you to take a more active role in the kids’ online work and also to give me time to get my work done so I don’t continue to be over-stresed.” And then negotiate. I think you’ll have to be honest and appeal to his desire to have a happy wife and a happy household.
Anon
This is crazy. Even if you were both equally busy, you shouldn’t be doing all the housework. You’re busier, so you should be doing less than half the household chores. Time to let him know in no uncertain terms what you need him to take on.