Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Evan Urquhart. Evan covers anti-trans propaganda on Assigned Media, writes for Slate, and manages Slate’s comments section. Today we’re going to be talking with Evan about his recent piece, There Are Two Sides to the Debate on Health Care for Trans Kids. Here’s What You’re Missing About One of Them. People and resources mentioned: Julia Serano, Assigned Media, and Trans Safety Network. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends the Dear Culture podcast. Evan recommends the Washington Post-KFF Trans in America survey. Zak recommends letting kids watch TV during breakfast on school days. 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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Earth Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to bring more parks to more people across the country. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Evan Urquhart. Evan manages Slate’s comments section, covers anti-trans propaganda on assignedmedia.org, and has experience fostering teens, which will be extraordinarily useful for today’s questions. We recently got two letters from listeners who are thinking about becoming foster parents and are specifically interested in caring for teens. We’ll dive into what they should know. Then on Slate Plus, we are talking about Utah’s new laws restricting minors' ability to access and use social media.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 NEW 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, Elizabeth and Zak talk about their experience with video games — and then Elizabeth speaks with Ash Brandin, also known as @TheGamerEducator, about their tips for parenting young gamers. Then the hosts issue recommendations, and respond to a listener letter asking for tips on the latest and greatest in books for young eyes and ears.Recommendations: Zak recommends: Abigail LapellElizabeth recommends: Free Run Wild My Child Treasure Hunt Jamilah recommends: Swarm on Amazon Prime Books for beginning readers:E: Usborne My First Readers  & Elephant & Piggie & Usborn Phonics ReadersZ: Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, The Color Monster: a story about Emotions. J: Can Read books, including Ty’s Travels and Amelia BedeliaGraphic Novels:E:  EL Deafo & This Was Our Pact & The Witch Boy (upper elementary & Middle) & Peter & Ernesto A Tale of Two Sloths (lower elementary)J: Twins (lower elementary) The Baby Sitter’s Club (lower elementary)Books about Loss:E: One Wave At A Time  & The Invisible String & When Dinosaurs Die & Circus Mirandus (older readers) Z: Lilah Tov Good NightJ: A Kid’s Book About Death, The Sad DragonJust Really Good Books:E: Hello Universe & We Dream of Space (both by Erin Entrada Kelly)& The Big Umbrella & Anything by Aaron Reynolds (Teddy’s favorite, see President Squid) Z:The Napping HouseJ: The People Could Fly, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters 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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Maura Currie and Zak Rosen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a listener who is having a family travel dilemma. The letter writer is wondering how to handle retired in-laws who live far away, while balancing full-time work, pets, and a child who hates flying. All of that, and dealing with a guilty spouse – who feels like they should prioritize visiting his family over taking vacations. Then on Slate Plus, they dive into a New York Times Opinion piece by Jessica Grose. It explores the unique challenges facing middle-aged millennials as they navigate parenthood, careers, and aging parents. 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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Zak Rosen and Maura Currie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak first answer a question about teaching a blunt kid to hold their tongue, for the sake of a friendship. Then they tackle a question about pets being underfoot now that there is a new baby in the house. Recommendations:  Jamilah recommends Jared from Subway: Catching a MonsterZak recommends Have I Ever Told You? By Shani KingElizabeth recommends SQUILT Music 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 NEW 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 bonus episode from our friends at Slate's How To! podcast—Keith prides himself on being a good dad to his three sons. But in a post-pandemic world with looming student debt and uncertain opportunities, the future can be really scary. He’s especially worried about his middle son Ben, an introvert who doesn't know what to do after he graduates high school this year. On this episode, co-host Carvell Wallace brings on Rebecca Lavoie. She’s a versatile podcaster and former co-host on Slate’s parenting show Mom and Dad are Fighting. She’s also a recent empty nester, and has some tough love for Keith about how he can stop fretting and find more joy in his own life.If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Fill an Empty Nest”Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.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 How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a listener who is worried her kid’s backyard birthday party won’t compete with the other kids’ extravagant parties. They come up with some budget-friendly ideas for creating an awesome birthday celebration. Then on Slate Plus, they talk about Everything Everywhere All at Once winning at the Oscars and all the love moms are getting.  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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah and Zak help a listener whose six-year-old has started telling them “f*ck you.” Swearing is allowed in their house but this feels pointed and categorically different than a casual curse. How can they curb the cursing before it gets worse? Recommendations:Jamilah recommends giving Flaming Hot Cheetos a second chance. Zak recommends The NuggetElizabeth recommends Edx Education Fun Play Number Rods. 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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak answer a listener letter about a preteen who is interested in converting to Islam. Her parents are supportive and have offered opportunities to explore the faith. But instead of starting with learning more deeply about the religion, she wants to start with wearing a headscarf to school—which makes our letter writer worry that this is a performative move. Our hosts talk through ways to be supportive, but also frank about the seriousness of religion.They also dive into their ‘triumphs and fails’ of the week, which include: some “light bullying” and conflict resolution, successful LA meetups, and violent language softened by the Mountain Goats. Then, on Slate Plus: the ‘dadfluencers’ who have taken Sweden by storm.  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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah are joined by Lizzie O’Leary, host of Slate’s What Next: TBD. First up—when (if ever) are toddler leashes OK? Then they discuss In my work I see tragedy daily and think: someone worked so hard to keep this person alive by Ankita Rao. Finally, they end with recommendations. Lizzie recommends Babybug magazine.Elizabeth recommends getting ChatGPT to tell bedtime stories. Jamilah recommends Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. 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 NEW PHONE LINE: (646) 357-9318! Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices