Biz and Theresa ponder the existential questions surrounding stuffed animals. How many are too many? Do they have souls? If we throw them away will they curse us? Plus Biz has an update and Theresa stops. Check out Theresa’s new book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself is available now wherever books are sold. Our book You’re Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You’re Winning at Parenting! is available wherever books are sold. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumF...
Dec 12, 2019•48 min•Ep. 335
Biz and Theresa explore apologies. Is saying “I’m sorry” enough or is it more important for kids to learn from their mistakes and accept responsibility for hurting someone else? Can apologizing also be used as an excuse for not wanting to try harder? How do we know if we are setting a good example? Plus Biz is worried, Theresa solves a problem and we welcome back Alli Harper, founder of OurShelves. Sign up for a book subscription or a one time gift at OurShelves.com and follow OurShelves on Twit...
Dec 05, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 334
In preparation for the holidays Biz and Theresa think about all the weird shit adults do to kids at family gatherings. From pulling coins out from behind your ear to the old “pull my finger” bit, it’s all reflective of the fact that adults may be a little out of touch. That said…quick…pull my finger! Plus Biz has a backyard miracle and Theresa embarks. Check out Theresa's new book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself is available now wherever books are sold. Our book You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways...
Nov 27, 2019•57 min•Ep. 333
Biz and Theresa continue our "days of the week" series in which we complain about each day of the week. This time our target is Sunday. What was once a day of rest and recovery is now a day of chaos and exhaustion. Is Sunday the new Friday? Plus for Biz nothing has changed, Theresa exists and we talk to Carvell Wallace about parenting advice and Fred Rogers. Follow Carvell on Twitter @CarvellWallace and find out more about his work on his website at Carvellwallace.com . You can listen to his new...
Nov 21, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 332
Theresa is out sick with the pukes, so the lovely Renee Colvert, of Can I Pet Your Dog podcast, returns as our guest co-host. We explore the art of rudeness in children and dogs. Both can leave a mess on the floor at a guest's house and both generate mixed feelings among us and our co-workers when they show up in the workplace. Plus Biz hates Daylight Saving Time and we speak with Sarah Bowen, one of the authors of Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won't Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do Abo...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 331
Biz and Theresa have a little whine with our dinner and poke fun at some of the “child friendly” offerings at restaurants. Of course we should have realistic expectations when eating out with our kids, but really, that grilled cheese is too fancy for a 3 year old. Don’t you have some white bread back there? Plus Biz gives a knowing look and Theresa probably knows what she needs to do. Check out Theresa's new book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself is available now wherever books are sold . Our book Y...
Nov 07, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 330
Biz and Theresa ponder the purpose of correcting our kids when they're wrong…about cute things like saying “Starblocks” instead of “Starbucks.” Will it sort itself out? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the harder thing to correct the way our kids correct others? Plus Biz changes parenting styles, Theresa is not in mint condition, and we talk to Catherine D’Ignazio and Jenn Roberts about the continuing work of making the breast pump not suck. Find out more about all the wonderful things the Mak...
Oct 31, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 329
In this Halloween episode, Biz and Theresa revisit the classic slumber party game, truth or dare? Are we "truth" people or "dare" people? Why did we love playing this game so much and would we still enjoy it now? Plus, Biz talks and talks, Theresa has a diary update and we talk with Alison Rosen about her parenting podcast, Childish. Follow Alison on Twitter @Alisonrosen and on her website at Alisonrosen.com . You can listen to Alison Rosen's podcasts Childish and Alison Rosen is Your New Best F...
Oct 24, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 328
Biz and Theresa wonder if and how our use of the internet in relation to parenting has changed. Looking up “rash” is never a good idea, but is looking up “dangers of social media” any better? However, we also find communities and support on the wild, wild web. In a time when isolation is a real experience for parents, the internet may be the village we need. Plus Biz is all a buzz, Theresa looks back, and we talk to Katherine Goldstein of The Double Shift podcast about working mothers. You can f...
Oct 17, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 327
Biz and Theresa explore the limits of our power as parents. Kids have pretty big ideas about what we can do and it's a life lesson learned that we can’t take them to Ancient Egypt to dine with cats. But what about the more realistic needs and wishes we can’t meet, like that must have outfit, guitar lessons, or that birthday gift they really want? How does all this crushing disappointment make us feel? Hint: Not the best. Plus, nature comes to Biz, Theresa has too much on her brain and we talk to...
Oct 10, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 326
Biz and Theresa discover that there is more to hide than just our feelings. The “good candy” also needs to be hidden! What did you hide as a kid and what did your parents hide from you? Plus Biz is living the impossible dream, Theresa is tired and we talk to comedian Jessica Delfino. Find out more about Jessica on Twitter @jessicadelfino and on her website Jessicadelfino.com . Check out Theresa's new book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself is available now wherever books are sold . Our book You're Do...
Oct 03, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 325
Biz and Theresa talk about when to trust our instincts. Is there really a danger that we need to heed or are we just not up for a parenting challenge at the moment? Plus Biz is trying to be "ok with it," Theresa gets help and we welcome back Dr. Carla Naumburg to help us stop losing our shit. Connect with Carla on her website at CarlaNaumburg.com or on Twitter @SWMama . Her new book How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids is out now. Check out Theresa's new book! It Feels Good To Be Yourself...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 324
We are LIVE from WBUR’s CitySpace in Boston this week as Biz and Theresa explore the range of smells that come with being a parent. From the delightful smell of a newborn's head to the less pleasant diaper genie, we talk about the good, the bad and the odorous. Are our noses a super power or a curse? Plus, live audience genius and fails and we are joined by special guest Liz Sower of the Ghost In The Burbs podcast! Follow Liz on Twitter @ghostintheburbs and on her website Ghostintheburbs.wordpre...
Sep 19, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 323
Biz and Theresa confess to fantasizing about receiving a minor injury in order to get a break, but that quickly dissolves into a conversation about how fucked up that is. Is it actually worse to ask, or gasp…tell the people in our lives we need a real break than breaking a leg? Plus Biz thanks social media, Theresa discovers that at the end of the tunnel there’s more tunnel, and we talk to Nidhi Chanani about her debut graphic novel Pashmina . Follow Nidhi on Twitter @nidhiart and on her website...
Sep 12, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 322
Biz and Theresa celebrate the end of summer with the traditional playing of the calls! Let’s all take a minute to remember that we are all doing a great and horrible job and that we are getting really good at this. We are coming to Boston for a live One Bad Mother podcast!! We will be at CitySpace on Saturday, September 14th. You can purchase your tickets at Onebadmotherpodcast.com/tour . We will also be doing a book signing after the show. Check out Theresa's new book! It Feels Good To Be Yours...
Sep 05, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 321
Biz and Theresa challenge each other to a game of “Would You Rather.” Would you rather get more sleep or time with your friends? Ok, we didn’t ask that one, but it is a good one! Plus Biz is escaping, Theresa has a case of the nerves and we talk to Nnekay FitzClarke of the podcast Minority Korner about biases affecting African American maternal mortality rates and librarians on the front lines of the war on facts. Follow Nnekay on Twitter @mizzfitzie and listen to Minority Korner at Maximumfun.o...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 320
Biz and Theresa wonder, if a parent talks in the kitchen, does anybody hear them? We realize that no matter how much we burn energy telling our kids important information about the day’s schedule or expectations, our kids aren’t listening. “You didn’t tell me!” and “I didn’t hear you!” abound! Plus Biz is back and bored, Theresa gets impulsive and we welcome back Nefertiti Austin to talk about her new memoir Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender and Parenting In America . Follow Nefertit...
Aug 22, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 319
Biz is missing this week, so Theresa is joined by her partner Jesse Thorn to talk about parenting with migraine headaches. What does parenting look like while also dealing with a serious medical condition and how does that affect our parenting partnership? Is there a good way to communicate needs or resentment? Plus we talk to the lead editor of New York Times Parenting, Jessica Grose. Check out NYTimes Parenting at Parenting.nytimes.com . Follow Jessica on Twitter @JessGrose and on Instagram at...
Aug 15, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 318
Biz and Theresa pick up where we left off on last week’s show and explore the sensation of “playing self” instead of being a self. Is the book on my nightstand going to be read or is it a prop to create the illusion of self care? What about that gym membership? Does it really count as self care if we can never go? We put things in calendars, we tell our partners and family it is important and everyone agrees. Then our self care is the first thing to go when something comes up. Why is this so inc...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 317
Biz and Theresa ponder the growing sensation that it feels like we work here but it doesn’t feel like we live here. “Here” meaning any state of existence where we can stop thinking about everything and everyone’s needs but our own. Oh yeah, it's one of those shows. Plus, Biz reads aloud, Theresa receives a pleasant surprise, and we talk to Elizabeth Gilbert about her new book, City of Girls , and about the impossible expectations we place on mothers. Follow Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter @GilbertL...
Aug 01, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 316
Biz and Theresa revisit sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…huh?…..We’re awake! But are we rested? HA HA HA! How has sleep changed now that our kids are older and we have more kids? Even though it is no longer like the early days of "having an infant" lack of sleep, sleep is still important. Can we ever get enough or is every wake up like pulling back the pebble that releases the flood? Plus Biz is reminded that kid parties make her feel bad and Theresa takes her kids to a conference. We are coming to Boston...
Jul 25, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 315
Biz and Theresa are still traveling with kids. We explore how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. Maybe what’s different is that we have more kids and maybe what is the same is that we are still traveling WITH KIDS. Plus Biz has a special shout out, Theresa is so mellow and we talk to Heather Burris about her new book Hair Like Me. Follow Heather on Twitter @heatherhburris and on Instagram at heatherhburris . Heather and Autumn will be doing a live reading of Heather's book at Lit...
Jul 18, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 314
Biz and Theresa are back together again and wonder why we feel like vending machines. Maybe it's because we spend all day being the giver and taker-away of all good things. A child will relentlessly ask for stuff and we have to say "no" so many times a day, then occasionally we say "yes" because we're tired of saying "no!" Then saying "yes" opens many new terrible doors (When! Now? Now? Now?) and the "yes" just feeds this fire. It perpetuates the idea that we are the providers and they should ke...
Jul 11, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 313
Biz and Theresa ponder the hardest question we have faced yet, “So, you are stranded on a desert island and you can only bring things your kids like. What do you bring?” Who will prove the greater survivor!? Plus Biz is probably having a wonderful time, Theresa can’t even have "me" time at 4am and we talk to Meenal Patel about her children’s book Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala. Follow Meenal on her website at MeenalPatelStudio.com and on Instagram at instagram.com/meenal_land . Her book Pr...
Jun 27, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 312
Biz and Theresa are packing our bags for Camp Mom! Camp Mom…an exciting opportunity to save money and spend quality time with your children! It's as easy as staying up after the kids go to bed and outlining a syllabus of science, art, and movement activities that children of any age and any interest level will totally be into. Don’t forget meals! Be it Mom, Dad, a sitter, a grandparent or the dog next door, the counselor is in and doesn’t want talking after lights out. Plus Biz gets parenting ti...
Jun 20, 2019•57 min•Ep. 311
Biz and Theresa explore the pros and cons of our kids sharing good news with each other. “I know you got a goody bag at the party but how about you don’t tell your brother?” “I am so proud of you for your hard work on your project. You deserved the prize you got. Don’t tell your brother!” How do we find the balance of celebrating good news with our kids while avoiding the jealousy and greed that often follow? Plus Biz tells it like it is, Theresa isn’t going to pack a snack and we talk to trans ...
Jun 06, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 310
Summer. It's here! This week let's stop worrying about how to “do” summer with kids of all ages and instead kick back in the warming glow of listener Geniuses, Failures and Rants! You are all doing a great job! Check out our book! You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You're Winning at Parenting! Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumFun.org . Our sponsors this week are Mathnasium and The Floor is Lava from Simon and Schuster . Avoid the “Summer Slide” – ...
May 30, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 309
Biz and Theresa revisit board games and card games and delve into the ethical questions and lessons that arise. Do I let my kid win? If they realize they made a mistake, do I let them have a “do over” during the game? Do I teach one child to let another child win? There isn’t always an easy answer…it’s just how the game is played. (Boom!) Plus Biz can see Katy Belle is about done, Theresa’s village gets a new job and we talk to Dana B. Myers about reigniting some intimacy in our lives. Find more...
May 23, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 308
Biz and Theresa wonder if we can still claim Superbrain or if our brains are just broken now from all the continuous input. Is it a “natural” result to feel like we are failing at many things because our brains are learning so many new things? Plus, Biz has nothing to talk about and Theresa has a mother’s day report. Check out our book! You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You're Winning at Parenting! Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumFun.org . Our s...
May 16, 2019•52 min•Ep. 307
Biz and Theresa wonder if it’s “cool” to be drawn on by our kids. Do we set limits or are we totally broken and therefore willing to have a portrait of the cat drawn in sharpie on our faces if it means 10 minutes of silence? Plus Biz feels like an idiot, Theresa is sooooooo relaxed and we welcome back Emily Oster to talk about her new book Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool . Follow Emily Oster on Twitter @ProfEmilyOster and on Instagram at ...
May 09, 2019•57 min•Ep. 306
