119: Hands Off Hands Off Parents
Probably best if you hear for yourselves. We love you, Steph and Abby
Mar 07, 2019•26 min
Hands Off Parents
Hands Off Parents is a weekly podcast featuring the "momedy" stylings of Steph and Abby. Two moms, three toddlers, four hands off.
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Episodes
118: Momma Strong!
This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome guru and founder of MommaStrong, Courtney Wyckoff. Courtney single-handedly developed MommaStrong as a result of being completely lost in postpartum haze and severe depression following the birth of her second child (sounds about right!). What came out of her own personal need is something that has resonated with thousands of other mommas, new mommas, and soon-to-be-mommas: a strength-training, community-oriented, wellness-focused, and all-out ama...
Jan 28, 2019•1 hr 1 min
117: Go the F**k to Sleep
This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome sleep guru, Nikou McCarra. Because Stephanie has seen so much improvement in her own baby’s sleep schedule, the ladies wanted to share some helpful tips to get your child sleeping through the night, too. Check out Nikou’s website for more information: https://www.thebabysleepacademy.com/
Jan 15, 2019•59 min
116: 2018 Wrap-Up
This week, Steph and Abby reminisce over the 2018 Hands Off season. Which episodes had the most listens, which episodes were most enjoyable, and remember that whole summer Steph was gone? What was that all about? (Lazy.) They also go off on several tangents about the holidays and probably television and/or the Internet WHICH THEY NEVER DO. Happy New Year, love Steph and Abby! Thanks for sticking with us in 2019.
Jan 02, 2019•36 min
115: Your Most Burning Questions...
This week Steph and Abby answer your parenting questions posted to the Hands Off Facebook page, and they answer them very poorly with little to know supporting evidence. What to do with kids who won’t play alone? How do you handle other parents that you hate? How do you handle other kids that you hate? And probably the Instant Pot comes up at least twice. Tune in and then post your questions!
Dec 19, 2018•43 min
114: Holiday Stress
With the holiday season officially in full swing, Steph and Abby discuss some of their holiday stressors, buying the right gift, being the most merry, and over-spending/worrying/justifying/thenmorespending. They decide that their own best approach is to identify the things that get them worried, and do their best to avoid those things. Much easier said than done, but when all else fails, eat chocolate! What are you worried about this holiday season?
Nov 29, 2018•36 min
113: Having Hope
This week, the ladies are thrilled to welcome back Rabbi Josh Fixler to the show! After a particularly tough few weeks living on this planet and parenting small children, Steph and Abby are in need of some serious hope, and Josh has some serious words of wisdom. Of course there are lots of laughs too and Steph really does her best to earn that EXPLICIT rating.
Nov 12, 2018•56 min
112: Is Something Wrong With My Kid?
112: Is Something Wrong With My Kid? This week, Abby and Steph discuss what to do when you are worried that there is something wrong with your kid, behaviorally. Abby has had some concerns and Steph talks her off the ledge (What? Stephanie is the positive one here?) They decide that the best thing you can do for your kids is to be informed.
Oct 29, 2018•43 min
111: Mindfulness In Parenting
This week Steph and Abby are Thrilled (with a capital T) to welcome Marlon Hall to the show. Marlon is a renaissance man with a zillion jobs and talents: anthropologist, yoga teacher, lecturer, director of an arts nonprofit, AND he is a father. He also happens to have an amazing outlook on life and a tuned-in approach to parenting and being mindful. The ladies have been in a bad place of late, and they welcome his refreshing approach to seeing the world and parenting for what it is: a really cra...
Oct 08, 2018•50 min
110: Trash or Treasure?
This week Steph and Abby discuss a recent Atlantic essay about throwing away your child’s art work. There’s just too much of it! But the question always remains: What to keep and what to toss? And are we keeping certain things in an attempt to hold onto the ephemeral nature of childhood or do we really want to preserve yet another picture of a stick figure with over-sized ears? What does it all mean on a deeper level? Is it really about a fear of our own mortality??? OH YES THEY DIVE DEEP TODAY,...
Sep 24, 2018•41 min
109: Dis-cipline
This week, Abby breaks down a bit in her frustrations with disciplining her kids. What should you do to channel all of that kid rage? Why do you feel like you're being held hostage in your own home? How do you get kids to listen when you don’t even know how to talk to them? If only there was a book! Steph reminds her that there is and Abby should listen to this podcast named Hands Off Parents. So should you!
Sep 14, 2018•40 min
108: Back to School Part Deux
Are your kids back to school yet? Did you breathe a sigh of relief or is the back to school craziness making you...er... crazy? This week, Steph and Abby are joined by mother of 25 and all around amazing parent, Annie Stein. The three women share their first week of school successes and failures, among other back to school topics (make lunch the night before or...?) Share your own back to school stories on their Facebook page.
Sep 03, 2018•49 min
107: Back to School (Again!)
In honor of the fact that it's the first day of school here in Houston, and Steph and Abby are having all kinds of trouble getting their s**t together, we present a rebroadcast of an episode from TWO years ago! It's the Hands Off Parents Back to School Throwback episode! On this episode, Steph and Abby are joined by a very special guest: elementary school teacher and parent of two, Brooke Smith! Brooke shares with the ladies all of the darkest secrets from the depths of the teachers' lounge: Wha...
Aug 27, 2018•37 min
106: Parenting Through Fear (or Shame?)
This week Steph and Abby chat about a New York Times piece that's been making the rounds about parenting in a time of fear. This kicks off a lively and scattered conversation about leaving your kids in the car, shaming moms into thinking that they are not good enough and feeling bad about yourself in general. And organizational systems or the lack thereof. Oh, you forgot that Steph and Abby meander in their conversations? Well, welcome back! Meander at them on their Facebook page!
Aug 15, 2018•32 min
105: The PTO: Tales From the Dark Side
This week Steph and Abby welcome Tish Ochoa, mom, business owner and PTO officer. With Abby entering "real school" she has many questions about the PTO, starting with, "So... what's the PTA then?" Tish shares some horror stories but also some of the reasons she feels it's worth being an active school parent. Are you in the PTO? PTA? Do you know the difference? Share in the comments!
Aug 08, 2018•39 min
104: We Got Stephanie!
The summer of mat... JK! Stephanie returns!! Huzzah! Yay! Stephanie returns!! Abby and Steph discuss all the things you might not want to hear: maternity, quitting dairy as a nursing mother, postpartum blood, "wait, you also have a toddler?!" and Ugh you are still wetting the bed? It's a classic Hands Off episode if you ever knew one!
Aug 02, 2018•50 min
103: NO! Your Kids Are Going to Big Kid School (who will wipe their butts?)
This week Abby welcomes back Maryocéane Guy, a now regular guest on the show. Both women are facing a crisis: Their kids are starting real school in the fall and it's frightening. But more than that, Mary has realized that she needs to let go of some things to make this transition smooth for her daughter but also herself. Boundaries are tough! You know what else is tough, audio recording- Forgive Abby for the low volume. Turn your headphones up.
Jul 25, 2018•1 hr 1 min
102: That Time They Took My Baby Away
This week Abby and Dennis (yep!) welcome Roxanne Werner, a mother and foster parent, whose story is not uncommon. Roxanne and her family welcomed a 4-day old baby into their home and ... we're not going to spoil it. You gotta listen.
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr 5 min
101: Summer: The Best of Times; The Worst of Times
The summer of maternity rolls on! This week, Abby welcomes back the lovely Annie Stein. Annie is an old-pro at how to deal with a crew of kids over the summer, and she shares her tips. As helpful as this, Abby has way more questions for Annie that deal with control—of your kids, your life, your friendships? The ladies decide that summer is tough with kids, and, oh yeah, life with kids in general. What are you doing this summer?! Maybe writing a review on iTunes? That sounds awesome.
Jul 11, 2018•41 min
100: Parenting Through Mental Health
The summer of maternity continues! This week Abby welcomes back Dennis Draper, a foster parent to a troubled teen. Dennis shares his touching story about the challenges to raising a teen, a foster, and a child that has mental health issues. These are all tough topics but so important to discuss. Mental Health issues are no joke. If you have any that you would like to share, post to the @handsoffparents Facebook page.
Jul 04, 2018•55 min
99: Extreme Aunt Love
The "Summer of Maternity" continues on Hands Off Parents, and Abby is thrilled to welcome back previous guest, and hilarious person, Stacey Daniels. Stacey is a loving aunt and takes the job very seriously. Coincidentally, she and Abby are both going through some aunt challenges, and they discuss the extreme love you can feel for your siblings' kids. Also, Stacey definitely tells Abby about what makes a cute kid and what doesn't. Is your kid cute? Of course they are! All kids are cute. Post pics...
Jun 27, 2018•50 min
98: Hands Off, Eyes On
Holy Crap We're Back... but not officially because Steph is being lazy "breastfeeding" and "not sleeping" and "raising a baby" (Whatev!). So, Abby is spending this summer of maternity leave having co-hosts and special guests. This week, she welcomes back the amazing Nancy Wozny, mom of two babies who are both pushing 30. Abby has been very freaked out after binge watching the teen drama "13 Reasons Why" and asks Nancy how you raise teens who talk and don't hate you. Nancy is a pro on both fronts...
Jun 20, 2018•47 min
97: The Rabbi Is In the House!
This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Joshua Fixler, who just happens to be a new dad AND an amazing human being. Don't worry! This is not a religious conversation, but rather one about how a rabbi dad does it all (HINT: His wife is amazing). But then, yeah, they spiral into the meaning of life and explore how to MAKE meaning in your own family. At the end of the day, it seems like marking the good moments in your life and simply being grateful for them is what makes for good pa...
May 08, 2018•1 hr 2 min
96: Do What You Love...
This week, the ladies are lucky to have Jill Jarvis on the show. Jill is a mom of four and runs the very popular blog BigKidSmallCity.com, which is every parent in Houston's go-to list for fun family activities. Jill was working as an engineer and one day realized something needed to change. She also wanted to get out more with her kids, so she began her blog. Several years later, she's loving what she does...AND getting paid to do it! She gives the ladies some of her fun summer tips, too. Tell ...
May 02, 2018•33 min
95: A Culture of Appreciation
This week Steph and Abby welcome author and mother of two teens (12 is teen-ish), Katherine Center! Katherine's sixth novel, How to Walk Away, will be released on May 15th but she's already hard at work on her 8th book right now. Yes, she is human. Maybe. Katherine imparts some wisdom to the ladies on how to juggle it all and have fun at the same time. Raising young adults is much different than dealing with toddler tantrums and Katherine assures the ladies that their goals of raising nice peopl...
Apr 23, 2018•1 hr 3 min
94: Making and Taking Space
This week Abby shares some highlights from a recent road trip that her family took to Marfa, Texas. Sixteen total hours in the car with two kiddos, and she lives to tell the tale! Steph spent the weekend stuck in the house, making space for her new baby. Together, the ladies figure out that parents regularly need to take AND make space to keep our sanity. How do you make and take space? Let us know in the comments!
Apr 16, 2018•41 min
93: Down the Google Rabbit Hole
Steph had a rough week: kid challenges, pregnancy challenges, and she needs to put a bunch of Ikea furniture together before she has this baby! She found herself traveling down an all too familiar Google rabbit hole of worry and anxiety. Abby remembers the pregnancy Googling well and wonders if this is just a byproduct of being pregnant in this day and age. People say, "don't Google your symptoms," but perhaps it's more empowering to be in the know then in the dark? Did you Google everything abo...
Apr 09, 2018•38 min
92: Gaining My Religion?
With the conclusion of two major holidays, Steph and Abby get into a discussion of how religion plays a role in parenting. Steph grew up with one religion, but Abby grew up with none really--just a lot of holidays that overlapped and contradicted. How do you raise your own kids when you are unsure of where you stand? What do parents coming from multiple religious backgrounds do? How do you instill religious traditions without the religion part? Lots of questions! Give the ladies some answers on ...
Apr 02, 2018•51 min
91: Mean Girls
This week, Steph and Abby address a listener's request to chat about what to do with (little) mean girls. To help them, they have brought back the lovely Maryocéane Guy, an educator and mom of four-year old Margo. Mary tells the ladies about how she wants to handle mean girls as a mom, but what to actually do from an educated (READ: rational) perspective. This leads the women to talk more about bullies and how to address negative labeling in general. Overall, the three decide the best moves as p...
Mar 28, 2018•42 min
90: The Hardest Decision I’ve Ever Made
They're back, and boy are they back with a doozy! This week Steph and Abby talk with Bev Caplan about the most difficult decision she ever had to make: terminating her pregnancy. Once Bev found out that her baby had a chromosomal abnormality that would ultimately end the baby's life within the first year, or even the first hours, she made the toughest choice of her life. It's one of those stories that will take your breath away but needs to be shared. Share your own stories on the Hands Off Pare...
Mar 19, 2018•57 min
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