As this incredibly strange and stressful school year winds to a close, parents are looking ahead to next fall and wondering: Should I send my 5-year-old to kindergarten, or wait a year? Will my first grader remember how to make friends since she’s been behind a screen all year? Will the struggle that was virtual learning mean my kid never learns to love school again? These are understandable worries, especially for those who are in the middle of their own first experience as school parents. This...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 6 min
If you have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day, you’re not alone. For some, it’s a reminder of loss or grief, unmet expectations or missing people we love. For others, the social media buildup and commercialized clichés create expectations that can lead to disappointment. And even for those who don’t completely dread Mother’s Day, it can be hard to articulate what we really want to the ones who want to spoil us. In short: it’s a lot. In this week’s Episode 311, Meagan and Sarah validate why Mothe...
May 04, 2021•43 min
Are we “car people”? Turns out, yes and no. After 25+ years of driving, Meagan and Sarah have many stories and a few opinions on what we want in our four-wheeled rides. From first cars to true lemons, minivans to post-divorce pre-mid-life-crisis splurges, this More Than Mom episode is an ode to our vehicles. We also chat about the process of procuring a new car, how much haggling at the dealer is a sport we do NOT enjoy, and what we hope for in our future cars. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED: We last ...
May 02, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Big news: Sarah is joining the Parents Of Teenagers club! In honor of Sarah’s oldest turning 13, Meagan taps into wisdom gained from over a decade of parenting teens and gives Sarah the real story. We unpack some stereotypes about teens (they’re moody! they’re smelly! they’re obsessed with their phones!) and find out what’s totally true, what’s sometimes true, and what might very much depend on the kid. We also explore some of the best and sweetest parts of parenting teens, validate that these a...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Whether it’s a career pivot, a creative passion, a relationship change, or just one of life’s unexpected twists, most women find themselves in a season of reinvention at least once. Today Meagan and Sarah are here with a surprise bonus episode, chatting about the idea of reinvention, how it intersects with motherhood and raising young kids, and how Meagan’s new podcast celebrates women reinventing themselves in a variety of wonderful ways. Join us for a fun conversation, followed by an extended ...
Apr 23, 2021•38 min
Whether it’s pulling out the puke bucket juuuuuussst in the nick of time, or speeding across the room while pregnant to save a toddler from a toppling accident, we all know that feeling of doing what needs to be done in the moment without so much as a conscious thought. Call it quick-thinking, mom-heroics, or just another day in the life of parenting young kids, but these are moments that deserve to be celebrated. In Episode 309 Meagan and Sarah share stories from our own in-the-trenches days — ...
Apr 20, 2021•52 min
Hobbies outside of everyday work, life, and parenting ebb and flow as your season of life changes, but it’s fun to think about what creative pursuits you’ll add back in as time opens up. In today’s More Than Mom episode Meagan and Sarah speak from the perspective of moms whose kids are getting older, and who are pursuing hobbies in our own (often very different) ways. We talk about what hobbies we’re enjoying now, which ones we could imagine trying, in theory, without needing a total life overha...
Apr 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Conversations about friendship in motherhood often center around those ride-or-die besties that you just can’t imagine life without (which, as we discussed last week , isn’t always helpful). But as pandemic life has shown us in all kinds of ways, regular interactions with acquaintances, co-workers, fellow school parents, neighbors, and other “friendlies” are also really important to feeling rooted in a community and fulfilled in the friendship space. Today Meagan and Sarah look at these outer-ci...
Apr 13, 2021•40 min
In a year that changed nearly everything about how humans connect and communicate, it’s no surprise that friendships in motherhood have changed. Some deepened over the past year, as the pandemic gave us new ways to bond (and hard stuff to get real about). Some fell away, strained by distance or differences. And pandemic or no pandemic, not every close friendship is created equal, and they all go through seasons of change. In today’s episode, part one of two all about friendships in motherhood, M...
Apr 06, 2021•46 min
Our habits around media consumption are as unique as each of us is–and, when you think about it, there are quite a few little details that go into how each of us decides when , how , and where to listen to a podcast or pick up a book–not to mention the actual what of the content itself. Today’s More Than Mom episode is a look at how Meagan and Sarah currently consume their listening and reading media, from bluetooth struggles to library holds. As we go, we’ll recommend some shows and titles we’v...
Apr 04, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Imagine being 13, the daughter of an influential megachurch pastor…and pregnant . That’s how Sarah Jakes Roberts began her journey to motherhood – and she grappled with feelings of shame and questions surrounding her self-worth while wondering if she could ever afford to “dream big” again. Today, Sarah is a happily married mom of six kids, a pastor and sought-after speaker, and five-time book author. In today’s Voices episode, Sarah tells Meagan about her journey from scared teen mom to mentor a...
Apr 02, 2021•32 min
One year ago, springtime plans got canceled, Easter dinners and baby showers and birthday parties and all the rest vanished from our calendars one event after another. As we shake off winter and look at the spring of 2021, there’s something in the air. We know we’re not out of the pandemic woods, but there’s a feeling of optimism that was missing last year, and we’re leaning all the way into it. In Episode 306 Meagan and Sarah share spring memories from when our kids were little, favorite ritual...
Mar 30, 2021•52 min
Desiring a family culture of travel and adventure is one thing; pulling it off–and paying for it–is another thing altogether. But just because you’re not jetting off to international destinations doesn’t mean you and your family can’t cultivate that adventure spirit in meaningful ways. In today’s episode, Part Three in our series on family travel, Meagan looks back at many years of family adventures and meaningful memory-making. She offers validation for moms whose travel dreams don’t match up w...
Mar 26, 2021•28 min
Have you ever dreamed of taking your family on the road? It’s tempting–especially with the changes to work and school many families have experienced this past year. Chelsey Christiansen is a full-time working mom, and she and her husband and toddler son currently work and travel full-time out of their fifth-wheel camper. In today’s episode, Part Two in our three-part series on family travel, Meagan and Sarah chat with Chelsey to find out what road-living is like with a toddler, what they’ve lear...
Mar 25, 2021•40 min
Taking small kids on a trip is daunting: Where and how will everyone sleep? Can a rental cottage be baby-proofed? How will little ones used to a schedule and the structure of home deal with time zone changes and grandparents whose house rules differ from what they’re used to? In Part One of our three-part series on family travel, Sarah looks back on her extensive experience traveling with babies, toddlers, and kids–especially trips to the grandparents’ and in-laws’–and shares what worked, what d...
Mar 24, 2021•34 min
Planning meals for the week is one thing; pulling them off is another altogether. In this fourth installment of our popular Week Of Real-Life Dinners series, Meagan and Sarah share what we served and ate the week of March 8, 2021. From springtime twitterpation that led to spontaneous fast-food tacos, to a reptilian kitchen squatter, things did not go as planned for us that week–which is part of the fun. We also share real-life meals served by listeners who wrote in with their own meal plans. Joi...
Mar 23, 2021•52 min
It’s always a toss-up: when discussing a new topic, will Meagan and Sarah be EXACTLY ALIKE (to the point that it’s almost weird) or TOTALLY OPPOSITE? Turns out when it comes to our fantasy kitchens, we have a lot in common. Join us for a fun More Than Mom deep dive into the kitchens we grew up watching on television and in movies, thoughts on current home design trends and how we feel about them, and what our dream kitchens would look like. Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED: Meagan mentioned this article w...
Mar 21, 2021•49 min
A stay-at-home mom wonders how best to re-enter the workforce, and another listener has questions about how to talk about working motherhood with our young kids. A mom of big kids wants our opinions on when it’s OK to leave them home alone–and how best to get started. Listener voicemails about house rules around swearing and the conflicting emotions of motherhood round out another Listener Questions episode this week. It’s a fun one–join us! LINKS MENTIONED: We mentioned our episode with Career ...
Mar 16, 2021•58 min
A mom of two littles is overwhelmed and yelling more than she wants to be; young adults at a family gathering forget that little ears are listening. Helping kids become more independent in the kitchen doesn’t always go smoothly; a preschool perfectionist is a head-scratcher for mom; and a mom of all boys wonders if they’ll all grow up and live far from home one day. Today’s episode takes on these questions from our listener community, and Meagan and Sarah offer a mix of validation, encouragement...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 1 min
The real question is: are we still entertained by squirrels as much as we were last spring? You’ll have to listen to find out! In today’s More Than Mom episode Meagan and Sarah take a deep dive into diversions, 2021-style. We’re not as cooped up as last March, but things aren’t back to normal yet either. From this in-between place we talk about a little of everything: board games for adults, TV and books, home improvement and gardening, fitness, beauty, and more. (And squirrels, obvs.) Join us! ...
Mar 07, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Kendra Adachi is The Lazy Genius. Either you know and love her already, or you’re about to. Kendra’s principles for finding YOUR best middle ground between perfectionism and giving up are helping moms everywhere decide what matters, ditch what doesn’t, and get stuff done. In this month’s Voices interview Kendra joins Sarah to talk about how Lazy Genius principles got put to the test during the early months of the pandemic, how moms in the trenches can be gentler on themselves and still feel fulf...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr
Whether schools in your area are open in-person, on a hybrid model, or fully remote, chances are that March is looking different than September did. And believe it or not, we’re already looking toward the end of the year. In Episode 302 Meagan and Sarah share how our own kids are doing at this point in the year, what’s changed and how school has evolved in our respective communities. We also offer validation for those who worry about kids’ academic progress this year, and our hopes for finishing...
Mar 02, 2021•52 min
Whether it’s for a weekend, a season, or a decade, parenting on your own introduces challenges and complications at every turn. Expanding on the conversation we began last week, today’s episode–part two in our This Is Solo Parenthood series–dives into practical tips from seasoned moms on how to survive solo parenting’s tougher moments. From bedtimes to me-time, routine changes to feelings of loneliness, Meagan and Sarah share some been-there-done-that tips from our own seasons of parenting solo,...
Feb 26, 2021•46 min
One of us co-slept throughout the baby and toddler stage, and let naps happen whenever and wherever. The other sleep trained and held tight to nap schedules even through the preschool years. While our differences in the realm of sleep are worth digging into, just as interesting are the shared feelings we experienced, even at opposite ends of the spectrum. We both felt judged at times; we both made choices around our social lives because of how our babies slept (or didn’t sleep). Among our combin...
Feb 23, 2021•55 min
Sarah is wearing children’s sweatpants and leaving the house in her slippers. Meagan has cracked the code on being Zoom-face-ready AND workout-available with a single outfit. It may not look like the mom-style we aspired to you a few years ago, but it’s working for February 2021. Today’s More Than Mom episode is a (very) honest, semi-pantsless look at the state of our style situation right now. We share what we’re wearing, what’s working well, items we’re in search of, and where we need serious ...
Feb 21, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Whether it’s for a weekend, a season, or a decade, parenting on your own introduces challenges and complications at every turn. Expanding on the conversation we began last week, today’s episode–part two in our This Is Solo Parenthood series–dives into practical tips from seasoned moms on how to survive solo parenting’s tougher moments. From bedtimes to me-time, routine changes to feelings of loneliness, Meagan and Sarah share some been-there-done-that tips from our own seasons of parenting solo,...
Feb 19, 2021•55 min
Today’s episode is a party and YOU’re invited! Yes you, whether you’re a brand-new listener or have been with us from the very beginning. Ever the planner, Sarah surprises Meagan with a some fun facts and a pop quiz; ever the fun one, Meagan shows up ready for anything. We share some memories, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and reflections on the community that has grown around this podcast over the last 300 Tuesdays. Come on in, and enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED: Join our special Facebook Group for The M...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Early in the pandemic, takeout from local restaurants, pantry cleanouts, and epic baking marathons made a lot of sense for the crazy new world we were living in. An entire year in, however, and the lingering habits and longterm effects of feeding our families in survival-mode are more clear. Today Meagan and Sarah look at what’s changed about the way we snack, cook, shop, and serve in the last year – for better and for worse. We share the parts of feeding our families that are working well right...
Feb 09, 2021•52 min
It’s February, and everybody loves a deep dive into childhood crushes, right? For this week’s More Than Mom episode, Meagan has many questions for us both about our failed early attempts at love and relationships. From preschool through high school, from celebrities to real-life boys from days gone by, we’re laughing our way through this walk down a rose-petal-strewn memory lane. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED: We mentioned this article on the Mandela effect Join our special Facebook Group for The Mom...
Feb 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min
The pandemic has shaken everything up, and our kids’ diets and family’s eating habits are no exception. In this month’s Voices interview, Meagan talks to Julie Revelant, food and health writer, mom of two, and host of the new podcast Food Issues . Listen to Julie’s thoughts on how COVID-19 has affected everything from school lunches to snacking habits, the sneaky ways marketers are introducing junk food to children (including “kid influencers” and even online learning platforms!) and how you can...
Feb 05, 2021•39 min
