“Entertaining” sounds intimidating, but how about “open your doors and let people in”? Meagan and Sarah want you to feel like opening your home to guests is an opportunity, not a potential Pinterest-fail, and we’re here to offer some tips for scaling back the expectations and making entertaining fun, sane, and satisfying for everyone. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED Did you catch our Gift Guide Specials? Listen to them (and see all the products) here! Past entertaining episodes of The Home Hour and The...
Nov 28, 2017•40 min
Need help with gift ideas for the teens and adults on your holiday shopping list? Meagan and Sarah are chatting about unique, surprising, and time-tested gifts for teens and adults in our third Cyber Monday Special Episode. Join us! Gift Ideas for Teens & Adults Amazon and Target links are affiliates. That means if you click through and make a purchase you’ll be helping support The Mom Hour at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping us continue to produce the podcast! Footie pajamas...
Nov 27, 2017•38 min
Kids ages 6-12 can be hard to shop for, having outgrown the obvious little-kid toys but still young enough to enjoy creative play and good old fashioned fun. Meagan and Sarah offer suggestions for gift giving to big kids and tweens in this Cyber Monday Special Episode. Join us! Gift Ideas for Big Kids & Tweens Amazon and Target links are affiliates. That means if you click through and make a purchase you’ll be helping support The Mom Hour at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping u...
Nov 27, 2017•38 min
hopping for babies, toddlers, or preschoolers? Sarah and Katie sit down in a Cyber Monday Gift Guide Special to brainstorm great gift ideas for ages 0-5. We share more than 40 ideas in about that many minutes–come along for the ride! LINKS MENTIONED: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym, Blue/Green Plan Toys 50 Unit Blocks Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks Alice in Wonderland: A BabyLit Colors Primer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A BabyLit Camping ...
Nov 27, 2017•39 min
Routines help us move through the day as busy moms, so what can we do to instill healthy ones, change up the ones we’ve outgrown, and add meaningful rituals into our family culture? Join Meagan and Sarah as they offer tips for using routines to make your life as a mom easier and more fun–have a listen to Episode 129! This is a continuation of our conversation from last week, which focused more on traditions, especially in times of change. You can listen to Episode 128 here . LINKS MENTIONED: Rou...
Nov 21, 2017•35 min
Meagan’s divorce has shaken up the family schedule and plans for the holidays, and both she and Sarah are interested in exploring what happens to routines, rituals, and traditions in times of major change. Join us for a look at all this and more in Episode 128 (the first in a two-part series!) of The Mom Hour! Plus Katie Addiss joins Sarah to talk about leaky nighttime diapers, reusable baby food pouches, and the upsides to weaning. Listen all the way to the end of the show to catch Katie’s segm...
Nov 14, 2017•51 min
Are all East Coast parents uptight traditionalists grooming their kids for the Ivy League? Are all West Coast moms drinking kale smoothies while practicing yoga on a paddleboard? Of course not, but in this special episode of The Mom Hour Sarah (of the West Coast) is joined by guest co-host Margaret Ables (a New Yorker) of the What Fresh Hell podcast to embrace the stereotypes for a bit and discuss regional parenting differences we’ve observed parenting kids on opposite coasts. This episode is pa...
Nov 07, 2017•53 min
Amy Tripple is a Chicago-based photographer who understands that it’s hard to get little ones dressed and out the door on a normal day–let alone for a family photo shoot. In Episode 19 of our Mom Hour Voices series Amy and Sarah talk about how to make the most of professional family photos, what to do when a photo session isn’t in the budget, ideas for improving your own photography, and more. LINKS MENTIONED: Amy’s website Shoot Along , the weekly online photography project for parents Prime le...
Nov 03, 2017•52 min
Meagan’s family is full of cousins and Sarah’s more sparsely “cousined”, but we both have a lot to say about the cousins we grew up with as well as the cousins our kids have. Join us as we discuss these unique and meaningful extended family relationships, and how to make the most of them. PLUS, Meagan’s kids Owen and Clara appear in a special kid segment at the end of the show–take a listen! LINKS MENTIONED: Raising Siblings Who Like Each Other (Episode 29) MORE HELPFUL LINKS: Visit our website ...
Oct 31, 2017•36 min
Too early to make meaningful progress on holiday to-do lists? Sarah says no, and Meagan is curious but skeptical. Whether you’re a plan-ahead type or not, we’ve got some practical tips for making December less hectic by doing a little planning right now. Join us! (For clarity’s sake, we are Team NO Decorations/Music Until After Thanksgiving…but that doesn’t mean we can’t make lists and plans, right?) LINKS MENTIONED: Chatbooks –one of our favorite photo book options (affiliate link) On Greed and...
Oct 24, 2017•35 min
It’s been a rough few weeks and we want to talk about it. Join Meagan and Sarah for an honest discussion about how we manage our media intake when the headlines are heartbreaking, how to identify the feelings that come up when we’re triggered in some way by the news, and how to help when we feel totally helpless. This episode was inspired in part by fellow podcasters Asha and Christine of the Edit Your Life show, Kristen and Liz of Spawned , and Sarah and Kristen of Selfie , all of whom have tac...
Oct 17, 2017•52 min
When to start giving kids an allowance, paying for chores, getting mentally psyched up for baby #2, and dealing with kids’ annoying habits–these are the parenting challenges and motherhood topics we’re tackling in the latest Listener Questions episode of The Mom Hour. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED: Episode 15 on Chores & Delegation (which has more discussion on allowances and paying for chores) The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Leiber, where Sarah’s husband got the Powers family spend/save/give syst...
Oct 10, 2017•46 min
Helping kids navigate friendships and social dynamics is one of the most commonly-requested topics from our listeners. That’s why we’re so thrilled to welcome Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, an author, psychologist, and expert on children’s friendships, to this special episode of The Mom Hour Voices series. Sarah asks Dr. Eileen about helping kids who feel left out a school, how to handle the emotional ups and downs of elementary school friendships, and why playdates are so much more important than we...
Oct 06, 2017•50 min
Closely spaced babies, tips on room-sharing, helping siblings get along, and dealing with super-shy toddlers. These are the topics we cover in this week’s episode–all of which are inspired by listeners’ real lives and kids. Join us as we hear from YOU and then offer our advice (which is as usual, mostly “hang in there…it gets better…that’s totally normal…you’re doing great”). Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED: Facebook thread about closely spaced babies MORE HELPFUL LINKS: Visit our website Check out deals...
Oct 03, 2017•32 min
Sarah’s the Type-A, detailed one; Meagan’s the free spirit who’s super laid-back. Right? Or is there more? In Episode 121 we share the ways in which we break type from our typical molds–go figure! we’re not two-dimensional!–and challenge the idea that any one mom is either totally chill or totally stressed. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED: CTFD? Dear Parents: it’s OK to care. (Meagan on The Happiest Home) Sometimes It’s OK To Be A Control Freak (Meagan on The Happiest Home) MORE HELPFUL LINKS: Visit ou...
Sep 26, 2017•38 min
How much do we pay our babysitters? (Yes, we get real about numbers.) Do we expect sitters to do the dishes? (One of us gets super weird about this.) And what’s the best way to get the potentially awkward conversations out of the way and start building great relationships with the people caring for your kids? (Early, often, and as clearly as possible.) Join Meagan and Sarah for Part 2 in our discussion about sitters and caregivers (Part 1 aired September 12 and you can listen right here ). LINKS...
Sep 18, 2017•50 min
We’ve learned a lot from our own mistakes over the years about finding, hiring, and building relationships with non-family caregivers. In Episodes 119 and 120 we’ll go on a deep dive into this topic, starting with general tips today for finding great sitters and making sure your childcare needs are covered–even if you’re the primary parent at home. Next week we’ll get into the details of the parent-caregiver relationship–everything from how much we pay to how to communicate expectations. Check b...
Sep 12, 2017•51 min
Sarah sits down with fellow writer-turned-podcaster, mom of three, and California girl Lesley Miller in this month’s episode in our Mom Hour Voices series. Join them as they talk about their semi-parallel lives, the process of adjusting to life as a mom of school-aged kids, being a sorta-working/sorta-staying-home mom, and more. LINKS MENTIONED: Choosing The Right School (Not As Scary As It Seems) (Episode 16) Sarah’s interview on The Coffee + Crumbs Podcast The Magic of Motherhood (the book!) C...
Sep 08, 2017•43 min
From Ma Ingalls to Claire Huxtable, Mrs. Pteranodon to Marmee March, we’re discussing our favorite moms from books, TV and movies this week on the podcast. We hope after listening you’ll be as nostalgic for classic literature as we are (and maybe that you’ll also want to binge-watch Arrested Development ). Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED: Blueberries For Sal (Robert McCloskey) No, David! (David Shannon) Make Way For Ducklings (Robert McCloskey) Little Golden Book: Mommy Stories (Jean Cushman, Margo Lunde...
Sep 04, 2017•42 min
What’s your favorite way to help a new mom? In this very special episode–recorded LIVE at The New Mom School in Newport Beach–Meagan and Sarah offer some outside-the-box ideas for helping a new mom, PLUS our amazing live audience chimes in with stories and tips from their own new mom days. Enjoy! Links we mentioned (or should have!) in this episode: 5 Unexpected Ways To Help A New Mom (Sarah’s blog post that inspired this topic) Other episodes of The Mom Hour for new moms: Things We Shouldn’t Ha...
Sep 01, 2017•51 min
Sports and activities should add fun and fulfillment to your family culture–not suck the life out of it. And yet, between keeping wiggly babies occupied in the gymnastics waiting area and driving all over town for team sports commitments, it’s easy to feel like there’s a high cost to all that “fun”. Meagan and Sarah offer concrete tips for being a happier sports parent as we head into this new school year. From opting out of mommy-and-me classes to letting older kids dabble instead of specialize...
Aug 28, 2017•53 min
Whether you have kids heading back to the classroom or not, this time of year feels like an opportunity to renew routines, set some goals, and tackle some overdue projects. Back to school is like another New Year for moms, and in this episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah get specific about their own “resolutions” in the areas of work, creativity, health, home, food, and parenting. LINKS MENTIONED: Lask week’s episode about our own kids’ back-to-school season this year All our school-related...
Aug 22, 2017•47 min
We’re looking ahead at the new school year and talking about what it means for each of our combined EIGHT kids, ages 4 through 19. Join Meagan and Sarah as we go age by age and discuss what the challenges, opportunities, and unique situations are for each grade level–everything from transitioning to middle school to hoping for a certain teacher to having to get up earlier in the morning. Enjoy! Looking for even more Back to School fun with Meagan and Sarah? We’ve collected all our previous episo...
Aug 15, 2017•45 min
Supply envy, pumping woes, and prop overload: These are just a few of the things that Meagan, Sarah, and resident-nursing-mom Katie realize in hindsight that we worried way too much about in our early breastfeeding days. Join us for a frank discussion about the things we wish we’d known about breastfeeding, plus our tips for worrying less and enjoying your nursing days more. LINKS MENTIONED: Other episodes in our “Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About” series: New Mom edition , Toddler Year...
Aug 08, 2017•46 min
Dr. Catherine Pearlman has been helping parents with behavioral challenges and family dynamics for nearly 20 years through her private coaching practice and career as a social worker. Her new book is Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction , and in this special episode of The Mom Hour Voices, Catherine sits down with Sarah to talk about strategies moms can use to curb frustrating behavior patterns and enjoy parenting ...
Aug 04, 2017•33 min
What does “healthy” mean for your family? What are the behaviors and values around food you try to model for your kids? And what little things can we do as parents to show our kids a healthy relationship with food and eating that will (hopefully) create a lasting impression? These are the questions Meagan and Sarah take on in Episode 113 of The Mom Hour. It’s not about any one nutrition philosophy–it’s a big-picture look at our own families’ food culture and how we model sensible, mindful eating...
Aug 01, 2017•39 min
If one more game of Candy Land or Monopoly threatens to send you over sanity’s edge, this is the podcast episode for you. In Episode 112 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah offer practical tips for making game play as a family tolerable–and even fun. We talk about including little players who can’t quite keep up, modifying games to minimize hurt feelings, and how to help kids win and lose gracefully as they grow. Plus we share our favorite family games and tips for storing and organizing board gam...
Jul 25, 2017•50 min
Maryanne asks if we’ve ever requested our kid change teachers at school, Danya hopes to find balance between accepting her postpartum body and sticking to a realistic fitness routine, and Janine shares that her safety worries are keeping her from getting out with her little ones. In Episode 110 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah tackle these three listener questions–listen to see what we have to say! LINKS MENTIONED: Like this episode? All our Listener Questions shows can be found here . Want to ...
Jul 11, 2017•44 min
Anyone who’s been through a divorce or other major life change knows that stress, uncertainty, and feeling out of control are unavoidable. But you CAN find ways to quiet the chatter in your head, take care of yourself, and take steps toward creating the kind of life you want to live – no matter what circumstances you’re in. In episode 15 of The Mom Hour Voices, Meagan chats with Jessica Ashley, certified divorce coach and founder of Single Mom Nation , about managing stress and getting your feet...
Jul 07, 2017•50 min
What do parades, pretend play, Dr. Seuss books, and playground swings have in common? If you’re a longtime listener, you already know the answer. They’re all things Meagan and Sarah kinda-sorta hate and aren’t ashamed to admit it. Episode 109 is an encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes to date–the one where we confess to hating fun. You’ll hear an update on how things have changed for us in the fun-hating department and lots of fresh commentary and new laughs on the subject, pl...
Jul 04, 2017•1 hr 4 min
