Slate Daily Feed Care & Feeding | When a Good Idea Turns Into a Fail
Nov 6, 2025
The hosts dive into a listener's dilemma about how to discuss a parent's military deployment with young kids. They share personal victories and mishaps, from a calm morning to a chaotic day off gone wrong. Tips abound on fostering connection during absences, like using scheduled videos and visual countdowns. Honest communication is emphasized to prevent misunderstandings among children. The episode closes with a call for military families to share their strategies for navigating these challenges.
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Day-Off Drama Ends In House Arrest
- Lucy Lopez put her daughter on 'house arrest' after a disrespectful outburst tied to confusion over a quarter day off.
- The teen later apologized with a letter but Lucy kept consequences to teach respect and revisit rules.
Tourist Ticket Troubles In Rome
- Elizabeth Newcamp missed buying bus tickets in Rome and got fined with her family after police checked fares.
- She used the moment to teach the kids accountability and that sometimes you pay consequences for mistakes.
Tell Kids And Schedule Parent Messages
- Tell children about a deployment but tailor details to their age and emotional readiness.
- Have the deployed parent pre-record videos, emails, or packages to maintain consistent contact and presence.