In the special segment "What the Hack?!," Shanna and Laura share some of their favorite parenting tips, including a simple trick that will cheer you up instantly, a hack for handling car trash, a tool for managing time with kids and more! Also, Shanna shares the unexpected incident that derailed her family this week, and Laura reports on struggling with work-life balance. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years o...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In the special segment "Internet Insanity," Laura and Shanna share the wild and wacky parenting-related content they've found online recently, including a story of cheerleading sabotage involving deepfake videos and Laura's hilarious attempt to use AI to design her family's holiday cards. Also, Laura reports on her sons getting their very first professional haircuts, and Shanna talks about witnessing a car accident while her kids were in the car with her. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs ...
Jan 15, 2024•56 min
In the special segment "Never Have I Ever: Parenting Edition," Shanna and Laura share the hilarious and unexpected situations they have never found themselves in until becoming parents, including a surprising discovery on a 4-year-old's iPad, a harrowing yet bizarre rescue mission involving cleats, hair and a zipper, and more! Also, Shanna reports on her daughter's fifth birthday party, and Laura discusses her family's adventure to Legoland. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. ...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr
In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna dive into the fascinating topics of a shocking sperm-meets-egg story, a fecal phenomenon, a baby-saving antibody, and more! Also, Laura reports on her son's increased emotional dysregulation, particularly in relation to video games, and Shanna talks about her mom-fail at her daughter's recent heritage performance. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years...
Jan 01, 2024•1 hr
As 2023 comes to an end, Shanna and Laura reflect on their last 12 months of parenting with honesty, humor and insight. As they look back on 2023, they share their biggest laughs, struggles and realizations, including a hilarious report Laura got from her son's school director, the unexpected thing Shanna learned about herself this year and more. They also report on the most memorable events of the year, their favorite podcasts, books and shows of 2023 and advice they wish they could go back and...
Dec 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min
In this special bonus episode, Laura and Shanna answer listener questions about how to talk to kids about guns, how to handle when your kids have birthdays that are close together and more. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything mini-sode, email us at [email protected], or reach out on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast! This episode's show notes can be found here. Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey podcast is hosted by Laura Birek and S...
Dec 27, 2023•20 min
In the special segment, "They Said What?!" Shanna and Laura discuss the funny, outrageous or offensive things people have said to them recently about parenting, including comments about pets, infertility, dead celebrities and more! Also, Shanna reports on overcoming some deeply frustrating feelings about parenting, and Laura talks about her reaction to her son's food choices on Thanksgiving. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’...
Dec 25, 2023•1 hr 4 min
In this special bonus episode, Laura and Shanna answer listener questions about getting botox as a mom, parenting strengths and weaknesses, tandem nursing, the importance of routines for your child when they get a new sibling and more. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at [email protected], or reach out on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok! This episode's show notes can be found here. Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey podcast...
Dec 20, 2023•31 min
In the special segment "Loose Ends," Shanna and Laura give updates on topics they left hanging in previous episodes, including life with a kitten, sleep after ear-tube surgery, after-school restraint collapse and much more! Also, Laura reports on her four-year-old's participation (or lack thereof) in a recent theater production at his school, and Shanna discusses the challenges of parenting while having migraines. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7....
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Laura and Shanna divulge their most outrageous and embarrassing parenting moves in the special segment "Mom Confessions," diving into the topics of mortifying things our kids do in grocery stores, the lengths we go to to get out the door with our kids and more! Also, Shanna reports on the challenge of getting her 4-year-old vaccinated, and Laura talks about achieving a significant parenting milestone. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, ...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 1 min
In the special segment "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Laura and Shanna explore the things that have caused their little ones to melt down recently, including unexpected emotional outbursts about TV time, Target trips, telepathy and more. Also, Laura is befuddled when she discovers that her four-year-old has been refusing to participate in his theater class, and Shanna is overwhelmed by her daughters' aversion to socks and homework. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids ar...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr
When Shanna's 7-year-old asks to get her ears pierced, Shanna considers all her options, including Claire's Boutique, local piercing parlors and more, and Laura celebrates her 4-year-old's artistic triumph when he draws a very detailed, albeit spooky, creature. Also, in the special segment "Throwback," Shanna tells the story of the time in sixth grade when her mom accompanied her to her flute audition for district honors band. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids a...
Nov 27, 2023•54 min
Shanna and Laura give you a head start with your 2023 holiday shopping by sharing some of their favorite, tried-and-true gift ideas for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kids, partners, grandparents and more! Whether you are looking for big-ticket items, stocking stuffers, or anything in between, we've got you covered. To see our entire gift guide, including items we weren't able to cover in this episode, visit https://bigfatpositivepodcast.com/gifts Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Se...
Nov 22, 2023•54 min
Laura hits a parenting milestone this week when she hears her child use a swear word for the first time and must think on her feet to appropriately handle the situation, and Shanna attends parent-teacher conferences for her 4- and 7-year-olds and is caught off guard by the information she receives. Also, in the special segment "Throwback," Laura tells a dramatic and hilarious tale of vacationing on the Jersey Shore with her family as a teenager. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the we...
Nov 20, 2023•59 min
In part two of the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," Laura and Shanna answer listener questions about how to reconnect with yourself after becoming a mom, important questions to ask potential babysitters, VBACs vs. C-sections and more! Also, Shanna talks about recharging her batteries (literally and figuratively) on a weekend trip to the mountains without kids, and Laura reports on a long-awaited makeup trip to Disneyland with her family and her mom. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs f...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr
In the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," Shanna and Laura answer listener questions about extended breastfeeding and weaning toddlers, trying to conceive when finances are tight, when to start gentle parenting with your infant and lots more! Also, Laura reports on taking her sons to see "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" in the theater, and Shanna gives an update on how she handled the softball-team-mom situation that she talked about in Episode 275. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for t...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Laura and Shanna get in the Halloween spirit with a very spooky version of "Stump the Moms" (or should we say "Stump the Mummies"), in which they quiz each other with Halloween-related trivia questions about costumes, candy, creepy movies and more! Also, Shanna reports on taking her daughters to see a movie in the theater for the very first time, and Laura talks about how she is helping her 2.5-year-old handle his fear of scary Halloween decorations in the neighborhood. Finally, they share their...
Oct 30, 2023•54 min
In the special segment "Mom Wins," Shanna and Laura celebrate their recent parenting successes, including strategically getting out of an unpleasant pottying-in-public situation and finding a creative solution for averting a meltdown with an understimulated and dysregulated kid. Also, Laura talks about a new project that has consumed her time, and Shanna reports on the newest member of her family. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and ...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr
Laura and Shanna air their petty parenting grievances in the special segment "Gripe Water," sounding off about kids' birthday parties, unrealistic parenting videos and more. Also, Shanna shares the details of her four-year-old's new singing class, and Laura reveals news about a very special neighbor she has! Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2.5 years old. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laur...
Oct 16, 2023•47 min
Shanna shares an incident that made her realize she needs to work harder to develop social connections that don't rely on her kids' activities and her kids' friends' parents, and Laura discusses her journey to address her four-year-old's emotional and behavioral struggles after school. Also, in the special segment "What I Googled This Week," Laura and Shanna share the interesting, funny or embarrassing things they have asked the internet recently about parenting, including questions about slime,...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In the special segment "Super Moms!," Shanna and Laura share the true stories of remarkable and inspiring moms, including some women who went to great lengths for the sake of their children. Also, Shanna reports on spending a special morning with her younger daughter, and Laura talks about how her family handled an unexpected health emergency. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2.5 years old. Want ...
Oct 02, 2023•58 min
In the special segment "What the Hack!?" Laura and Shanna share some of their favorite parenting tips, including a trick for how to pump on the go and an idea for engaging kids in the sandbox. Also, Laura reports on her family getting taken down one-by-one by a virus, and Shanna discusses the revelation she had while playing pretend with her four-year-old. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2.5 yea...
Sep 25, 2023•49 min
Laura and Shanna welcome guest Dr. Linda Sayyad, aka "The Vagina Doctor," a pelvic floor physical therapist and the owner and director of Feminocentric Physical Therapy and Wellness in Pasadena, CA. During their conversation, Dr. Sayyad teaches Shanna and Laura what exactly the pelvic floor is, how pregnancy and birth affect the pelvic floor, how to get help for pelvic floor issues such as postpartum leakage, prolapse, diastasis recti and more. Visit Dr. Sayyad on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok,...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 10 min
In the special segment "OMG I'm Freaking Out!," Shanna's kids get her all in a tizzy at Target, and Laura's family is feeling the financial strain of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Also, Laura reports on her two-year-old's first day at his new preschool, and Shanna relays the highs and lows of her family's vacation to Hawaii. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2.5 years old. Want to get...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 6 min
In the special segment "Internet Insanity," Shanna and Laura share the wild and wacky parenting-related content they've found online recently, including a humorous research study involving Legos, videos of people experiencing simulated period pain and more! Also, Shanna talks about the questionable ways her four-year-old spent her time during the day while Shanna worked, and Laura reports on her family's recent road trip to Big Bear. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Laura reports on how her husband has offered to take the lead on filling their four-year-old's summer break with exciting activities, and Shanna discusses an important lesson her family learned about the value of sticking with commitments. Also, in the special segment "Never Have I Ever: Parenting Edition," Shanna and Laura reveal funny and unexpected situations they’ve never been in before having kids, including a shocking trip to the port-a-potty, a terrifying encounter with a bug and more! Fi...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 2 min
In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna dive into the fascinating topics of period-product research, playgrounds of the past and more! Also, Shanna reports on her efforts to reclaim some parts of herself that have been absent lately, and Laura talks about her four-year-old's last week at preschool. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2.5 years old. Want to get in touch with Shanna a...
Aug 21, 2023•54 min
Shanna talks about advocating for her daughter even though it wasn't the most comfortable thing for her to do, and Laura reports on her son's post-ear-tube surgery progress, including how it has been affecting his sleep at night. Also, in the special segment "They Said What?!" they discuss the funny, outrageous or offensive things people have said to them recently about parenting, including the topics of small talk with strangers at parties and in the locker room. Finally, they share their BFPs ...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Laura reports on her 2-year-old's ear tube surgery, and Shanna talks about having to push through her discomfort to advocate for her daughter. Also, in the special segment "Loose Ends," Shanna and Laura provide updates on topics that were left hanging in previous episodes, including picky eating, parenting techniques, big feelings, weaning, triggers and more. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2 year...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Laura and Shanna divulge their most outrageous and embarrassing parenting moves in the special segment "Mom Confessions," diving into the topics of bizarre mom crushes, odd fashion choices and more! Also, Laura has an exciting update on her four-year-old's ongoing TK conundrum, and Shanna spontaneously tries a new bedtime routine with her daughters. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4.5 and 7 years old, and Laura’s kids are 4.5 years old and 2 years old. Wan...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 6 min
