Waiting Room Woes
Nicole's hours-long passport agency ordeal got us complaining about having to corral kids in waiting rooms and other boring places, and also appreciating the fact that we're past that stage of parenting now.
May 24, 2023•13 min
Parenting Roundabout
Join parenting writers Terri Mauro and Catherine Holecko for a weekly look at the things parents are talking about, complaining about, and obsessing about right now.
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Episodes
What We’re Watching: Ted Lasso “International Break” and Brothers and Sisters “Domestic Issues”
On this week's entertainment- themed episode, a delightful episode of Ted Lasso featured many character breakthroughs and lovely scenes, plus the return of Phoebe! Mentioned: Sam Richardson in The Afterparty . Next: S3 E11, "Mom City." On Brothers and Sisters, more bad decisions, more secrets kept and revealed, and more accusations of bad mothering. So, par for the course. Next: S2 E6, "Two Places."...
May 23, 2023•25 min
Senior Pranks
It's high school graduation season, so we talked senior pranks and other traditional observances, like senior skip day, cap decorating, and the smuggling of inflatable beach balls into the graduation ceremony.
May 22, 2023•14 min
Speed-Round Sunday: Who's Making Lunch?
On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Of our six (teen and adult) kids, only about two can be trusted to feed themselves independently.
May 21, 2023•10 min
Second-Listen Saturday: High School Starts and Schedules
On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019. On today's episode, we complain about high school schedules. Should teens really have to wake up so early? And what about block scheduling, where they're in one classroom for 90 minutes straight? Mentioned: The Start School Later campaign.
May 20, 2023•14 min
Roundabout Roundup: A Man Called Otto and Veeps Livestream Concerts
On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends the Tom Hanks movie A Man Called Otto if you need a good cry (it's based on the book A Man Called Ove ). Also mentioned: Up in the Air . Terri enjoyed a Walker Hayes concert from the comfort of her couch thanks to Veeps . Mentioned: Hayes' song " If Father Time Had a Daughter " and Flymachine , another streaming platform for concerts. Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode....
May 19, 2023•10 min
Take Your Mom to Work Day
Take Your Child to Work Day was a few weeks back. But today, Terri makes an impassioned pitch for Take Your Mom to Work Day. Will no one think of the mothers whose kids won't tell them anything??
May 18, 2023•10 min
How Strict Are Our Parenting Rules?
Today we direct our complaining at a Buzzfeed quiz on parenting which did not necessarily give us sensible responses to choose from. We found that we are pretty aligned with other folks' responses, but we aren't sure that's a good thing.
May 17, 2023•31 min
What We’re Watching: Ted Lasso “La Locker Room Aux Folles” and Brothers and Sisters “States of the Union”
On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, an entertaining (if still too long) episode of Ted Lasso brought us some good new phrases to adopt, Rupert still being a snake, and Rebecca getting to be a big boss lady. Next: S3 E10, "International Break." On Brothers and Sisters , the states of all the unions are not strong (which is not surprising), but we always love seeing Scotty turn up to stir the pot. Next: S2 E5, "Domestic Issues" ... which sounds an awful lot like "States of the Union."...
May 16, 2023•17 min
Happy Day After Mother’s Day
We don't ask for much on Mother's Day, especially now that we have quite a few under our belts. You can just get us some chicken nuggets and take yourself on a hike. Mentioned: Goldbelly and Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots singing " Chick-fil-A (... But It's Sunday) ."
May 15, 2023•14 min
Speed-Round Sunday: Recent Texts to the Family
On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. When we asked "What was the most recent text you sent to or received from a family member?", there was one fervent prayer, one tantrum, and of course, one heart-eye emoji.
May 14, 2023•6 min
Second-Listen Saturday: Weddings Past, Present, and Future
On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019. On today's episode, we compare and contrast our own weddings with those of the Kids Today, with their barn venues and their candy buffets and their gender-switched wedding parties. Mentioned: This McSweeney's Monologue from a barn that would prefer not to host your Pinterest wedding, thanks anyway....
May 13, 2023•17 min
Roundabout Roundup: Upload, Coolibar, Top Chef World All Stars
On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's leaning into the world of AI with an Amazon Prime series called Upload . Terri's protecting her neck, Coastal-Grandma style , with a gaiter from Coolibar . And Catherine's watching TV too: The current season of Top Chef, which is Top Chef World All Stars (set in London, with chefs from around the world). Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode....
May 12, 2023•8 min
Chatting About ChatGPT
On today's episode, we're obsessing about ChatGPT and other AI tools. One of us are excited about the possibilities, and the other two are feeling pretty threatened by the robots that are taking our jobs. Mentioned: An " emotional support" chatbot .
May 11, 2023•16 min
Kids in Public Places
On today's complaint episode, we discuss whether kids are more disliked (and/or less tolerated) today than in the past, and wade into the great Plane Popcorn Spill debate.
May 10, 2023•16 min
What We’re Watching: Ted Lasso S3 E7 and E8 and Brothers and Sisters S2 E3
On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with two episodes of Ted Lasso. Like their predecessors this season, they were long and fairly free of plot, although there were some nice moments. Next: S3 E9, “La Locker Room Aux Folles.” On Brothers and Sisters, most everyone is still miserable, except Kitty, who successfully swats away a threat from Robert's ex-wife, and Scotty, who scores himself some legal advice in exchange for a gourmet dinner for Kevin. Next: S2 E4, "State of the...
May 09, 2023•25 min
What's New With Us
We take one week off and a whole lot of stuff happens! So we're giving you the scoop on all of that today. After all our complaining and obsessing about some of these topics, you deserve some closure.
May 08, 2023•22 min
Speed-Round Sunday: Appliance Time
On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Our appliances let us know when they're ready to be replaced by refusing to do their jobs.
May 07, 2023•10 min
Second-Listen Saturday: Mistakes That Are Definitely Not Our Fault
On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019. When you're juggling as many balls as we are, sometimes one or two get dropped. We obsess about these mistakes, and particularly the shame of admitting to them right when we've worked up a good rant about how they're someone else's fault. Mentioned: Low-Effort Ways to Annoy Your Teen from Annie Get Your Gum ....
May 06, 2023•11 min
Recovery Replay: Self-Advocacy at the Doctor's Office
Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2016. Do your kids represent themselves to their pediatrician, or are you the one doing all the talking? How can you transition teens and young adults to self-advocacy so you can be released from the room where it happens (and the pressure of being the family medical...
May 05, 2023•12 min
Recovery Replay: Your Most Recent Sick Day
Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2016. Being sick is no fun, but sometimes, we wish for the ability to just put school or work on hold for 24 hours and take good care of ourselves. Sick days are few and far between for freelancers, alas, and even sparser for parents. Do you get a sick day sometimes?...
May 04, 2023•5 min
Recovery Replay: The Doctor Will See You Eventually
Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2018. Doctors whose office is closed when you're sick. Orthodontists who don't keep kid hours. What we wish phone physicians could do. Yep, we've got a few things to say about the availability of medical professionals.
May 03, 2023•9 min
Recovery Replay: The Mom Flu
Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2019. Nicole has a cold, and she's griping about how hard it is for moms to take a sick day. How come there's no such thing as the mom flu, equivalent to the man flu?
May 02, 2023•11 min
Recovery Replay: What Is the Worst Thing About Going to the Doctor?
Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2017. It's important to look after our health, sure, but some of the stuff we have to put up with before and during that exam make us kind of sick of it.
May 01, 2023•5 min
Speed-Round Sunday: Parental Martyrdom
On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. On a scale of sharing Ketchup Chips to watching The Emoji Movie , we gauge our willingness to play the martyr.
Apr 30, 2023•14 min
Second-Listen Saturday: The Costs of Raising Kids
On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019. This report on how much our little darlings cost us got us complaining about all the expenses we've covered over the years, from the predictable to the (unpleasantly) surprising.
Apr 29, 2023•15 min
Roundabout Roundup: Candle Warmer Lamp, Niimbot Label Maker, Liddle Griddle
On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine was influenced by Sherry at Young House Love to buy her daughter a candle warmer lamp . Nicole's labeling everything in sight with her Niimbot label maker , and Terri's fostering independence with the Liddle Griddle , which is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches (and maybe also for pancakes ). Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode....
Apr 28, 2023•10 min
Generation Gaps
A New York Times newsletter item suggesting that today's adult kids are doing better than their parents think they are got us obsessing about what it really means to be independent and launch into the world, both today and in past generations....
Apr 27, 2023•15 min
Tensions and Transitions
A Psychology Today article about sources of tension between adult children and their parents got us complaining about our old friends, the listicle and the alleged expert, along with the fact that parenting adult children is just as hard (if not harder) than parenting little ones.
Apr 26, 2023•19 min
What We’re Watching: Ted Lasso “Sunflowers” and Brothers and Sisters “An American Family”
On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Ted Lasso crew goes on a somewhat trippy trip to Amsterdam. The players vow to stick together as a team, but everyone else is isolated in their own storyline. We'd like some ensemble back in this ensemble show, please! Next (in two weeks): Season 3, episodes 7 and 8. Mentioned: The " Beard After Dark " episode from season 2; reviews/commentary from Linda Holmes and the Fug Girls ; the immersive Van Gogh exhibit . On Brothers and Sisters, Justin is...
Apr 25, 2023•30 min
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