Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Zak Rosen are joined by Willa Paskin, host of Slate’s Decoder Ring. The three talk about the beauty of weird little rituals, and help a listener through her ick of tooth fairy-ing. Listen to Decoder Ring’s episode: Who Owns the Tooth Fairy?Jamilah and Zak also share their triumphs and fails for the week. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus: public schools in Akron recently tried out a no-phones policy, and it might inspire some new philosophies for summer screen time. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen and guest host Maribel Quezada Smith advise a couple who have one kid. They thought they were a ‘one and done’ family but they’re feeling the pressure of the biological clock and now don’t know if they should have a second before it’s no longer an option. We also have listeners weigh in on how they approach family composition. Recommendations: Zak: Embrace mismatching socks! Maribel: Laundry bags. Jamilah: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.—the movie. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen and guest host Maribel Quezada Smith help a listener whose toddler will. not. stop. licking. things. Is it just a phase, or can our listener redirect that desire to explore?We also tackle circulating sicknesses, upended routines on family vacation, and friendship trouble at school. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus: a researcher suggests that there’s a better way to raise emotionally healthy children, though it might not be popular. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp and Jamilah Lemieux tackle a heartbreaking listener letter from a mom who longs for her career. But it’s currently being overshadowed by her kids' needs and a system that isn’t built for working parents. Recommendations: Jamilah: Baby J on Netflix.Elizabeth: Animal erasers Zak: OsmoIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Jamilah Lemieux brainstorm some ideas for a parent who is mourning the loss of ‘read aloud’ time with her kid. They also discuss their week in parenting and what’s on the docket for Mother’s Day. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, everyone shares memories of their favorite teachers and professors in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp, Jamilah Lemieux, and Zak Rosen answer a question about a little boy who was mostly potty trained but now is having daily accidents. They’re joined by Dr. Christine Stephenson, a pediatric physical therapist who specializes in kids with urinary and fecal incontinence and chronic bladder infections. She’s also the author of The Constipation Game Plan. Christine has some useful advice for stopping the accidents as well as general advice for anyone either on or starting a potty training journey with kids. Recommendations: Zak: Mr. Farts: Farting Around the HouseJamilah: Never Have I Ever on NetflixChristine: Picking up litter outside with kids. Elizabeth: Does it Fart? The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux sits down with journalist Virginia Sole-Smith to discuss her new book, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture. This conversation is a special collaboration with Slate’s The Waves podcast. Virginia talks about the body shame kids face, reclaiming the word ‘fat,’ and supporting kids in the bodies they’re in. They also talk about how parents, grandparents, and other figures in kids’ lives can dismantle fatphobia and other learned behaviors that perpetuate our current culture.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Rosemary Belson with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth talks with Chris Balme, author of Finding the Magic In Middle School. He explains what drives tweens, why this period is fundamentally different than high school, and how to guide them through this transition. Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth also open up the mailbag and give some recommendations. Recommendations: Zak: Watch David Byrne sing When Doves Cry at a karaoke barElizabeth: Professor Noggin Cards, Binder RingsJamilah: Florida Man on NetflixIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a question from a listener with an estranged mother-in-law who has a habit of sending gifts to her grandchildren accompanied by mean notes for her kids. But the issue has reached a new head, because a man in an unmarked car sat in the listener’s driveway for 15 minutes… before getting out and dropping off gifts. We also go over triumphs and fails for the week… and then for Slate Plus, the hosts take ChatGPT’s parenting advice for a spin with some classic kid questions.  If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth advise a listener who is fed up with her partner’s picky eating. His preferences have made it nearly impossible to meal prep, which he doesn’t help with. On top of that, he’s taken to complaining about the food in front of their kid. Recommendations: Jamilah: Cheetos’ Flamin’ Hot with LimónElizabeth: Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids Zak: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices