The Mom Hour

One of the most common questions we’re asked is how to get kids ready for a new sibling. In today’s Voices episode, Meagan chats with a seasoned mom from our Contributor team about how she’s doing just that! Kia is a former postpartum nurse and about to give birth to Baby #4. With kids ages 12, 4, and 1, she’s being super thoughtful about tailoring her approach for each child and stage. Find out how she’s dealing with everyone’s emotions (including her own), making changes to her home, and her favorite items for making it all go a little easier this time around. And with the holidays upon us, we talk about how having a newborn will impact her plans. (All the cute Christmas onesies, please!) Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Follow @kiamhammond on Instagram to stay up to date on baby news! Watch Kia pack her hospital bag here: How A Postpartum Nurse And 4th-Time Pregnant Mom Packs Her Hospital Bag Meet the Mom Hour Contributor teamKia loves the Hatch Baby app for tracking newborn feedingsKia thinks Audible credits, AirPods, and a Kindle make great gifts for new momsShe loves to gift high-contrast cards, baby feeders, personalized blankets, and Lovevery kits (Lovevery is a sponsor of the podcast, for free shipping when you sign up to receive your Play Kit visit Lovevery.com/themomhour)Some of Kia’s must-haves are this Baby Wrap Carrier, the Wildbird Ring Sling, the Ergobaby, and this felt diaper caddyListen to 10 Things We Love About The 4th TrimesterCheck out all our episodes and blogposts on Pregnancy and BabiesMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s no shortage of IDEAS for making meaningful holidays with kids, but the reality is that time, money, and mama-energy are limited resources. If you’ve ever been curious about how REAL families do Christmas, join Meagan and Sarah as we sit down with two moms from our Contributor team for behind-the-scenes peeks at their holiday magic making, Advent traditions, and gift giving plans. Sarah chats with Jennifer, a mom of 4-year-old twins, who’s smack-dab in the middle of preschool holiday fun and finally experiencing the light at the end of the tunnel of parenting little twins. Then Meagan and Lisa connect over being divorced moms of many children–Lisa has four kids at home. They talk about coparenting, deciding who gives which presents, and how special it is to share the holiday magic with big kids. Listen and discover how other moms are making this season meaningful for their families. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our Holiday Headquarters for gift guides, holiday-themed blog posts, and podcast episodes to help inspire you this holiday season!Support our community of creative entrepreneurs by shopping the small, mom-owned businesses in our Small Business Boutique Check out Jennifer’s Gift Guide for the Adventuring FamilyListen to the last time Lisa was on the podcast: Inside The Morning HustleLisa is giving her youngest daughter an American Girl doll that looks just like herMeet the Mom Hour Contributor teamMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From sharing toys to allowing screens, sleepovers to sibling dynamics, setting some expectations for playdates helps control the chaos (and the tears!). This latest episode in our “House Rules” series is a fascinating peek into how our listeners handle having kids over to play AND sending their kids to friends’ houses. Meagan reminds us there’s only so much moms can control–especially as kids get older, and Sarah shares her personal rule about a certain game that’s NOT allowed to be played in a specific place. Whether your family is just easing into playdates or you need some create some new guidelines, you’ll find some really smart ideas here. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our other episodes in the House Rules seriesCheck out these related episodes: Our Kids & Their Friendships and Kids & Friendships with Dr. Eileen Kennedy-MooreWe recently talked all about How We Host and Being a Gracious GuestCheck out our Holiday Headquarters for gift guides, holiday-themed activities, and great stories to help inspire you this holiday season!Support our community of creative entrepreneurs by shopping the small, mom-owned businesses in our Small Business Boutique MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who gets to claim the identity of Writer? In our humble opinions, there’s way more to it than whether your work is published or not. Meagan and Sarah have had writing careers that have run the gamut, including dealing with hangups, vulnerability, and rejection. Today’s More Than Mom episode paints a picture of our early writing days, touches on our current writing habits(spoiler alert: You’re probably already reading most of it!), and lets us fantasize a bit about our future writer selves. Plus, we decide once and for all to bring back the word “cool.” Writing not your thing? We share tips for diving more deeply into any creative pursuit. If you have any interest in how creativity connects to motherhood, this episode is for you! Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Read How I Started Writing by our contributor Stacey BronecA lot of our writing these days is for The Mom Hour on our website, newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook!We love Wendi Aarons‘s smart, humorous voiceShop small, mom-owned businesses in our Small Business BoutiqueDiscover gift ideas and holiday inspiration over in our Holiday HeadquartersMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meal planning is one thing, but how do you build your recipe collection in the first place? And where do you go when you’re looking to make a change, such as trying a new technique, or cooking an unfamiliar food for the first time? In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah talk about both the challenges of feeding a family healthfully, as well as the sources of inspiration we look to when we find ourselves in a rut. From tearing recipes out of magazines (do people still do that?) to our favorite cookbooks and foodie websites, we’re sharing where, exactly, we get our best meal ideas. We also speak with Megan Lott, the Deputy Director of Healthy Eating Research, who is sharing their latest recommendations on how families can work on healthy mealtime habits. LINKS MENTIONED:Learn more about our sponsor Healthy Eating Research and their new recommendations for kids healthy food habits Megan Lott recommends myplate.gov for great nutrition resources and New York Times Cooking for recipesThe Girl Next Door Podcast did a whole episode on their favorite cookbooksDidn’t I Just Feed You is a fave food podcast for parentsIt’s easy to find a ton of recipes on Instagram, Pinterest, Food Network, and AllrecipesMeagan and Sarah both love the special interest food publications from Better Homes and GardensSome of Sarah’s favorite cookbooks are America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, and Pascale Beale’s Salade: Recipes From The Market Table and Salade II: More Recipes From The Market TableSometimes, our go-to dishes are riffs on recipes from celebrity chefs or food personalities like Alton Brown, Ree Drummond, or Paula DeenEven if we don’t cook any of the dishes, it’s entertaining to watch food shows, such as “Taste The Nation” and “Searching For Italy”Check out all our episodes and blog posts on feeding a familyMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the etiquette to expectations, gatherings are a two-way relationship between the hosts and the guests. In this flip side of last week’s episode on hosting, Meagan and Sarah are talking about our favorite types of get-togethers, the ways we try to be “good guests,” and our strategies for surviving social events (including the ones that feel high-stakes) with little ones. We point out how thoughtful preparation and honest communication–with our hosts, kids, and even ourselves–tempers the stress for everyone involved. To wrap it up, Meagan shares an important reminder AND a mantra moms can repeat when everyone’s on edge. Whether you’re getting ready for holiday parties or looking for tips that apply to any event, you’ll find lots of reassurance here. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our episode on How We Host (And How We Don’t) As Moms Of Many KidsCheck out our gift guides, Small Business Boutique, and more in our Holiday Headquarters!“Decide Once” is a Lazy Genius principle that works great for things like hostess giftsHere’s the backstory behind Meagan’s meltdown photo that became a viral meme. Share your house rules for playdates in our Facebook group. MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosting a gathering can feel like a huge burden, a creative outlet, a ton of fun, and everything in between. In our unofficial kickoff to the 2021 holiday season, Meagan and Sarah are here to look at how we host, how we don’t, and how opening our homes has changed over the years. We remind you – and ourselves – that there are many ways to be a gracious host and that nobody nails it in every category. Whether you’d like to organize a small friend gathering or you’re hosting the Big Meal for a dozen extended family members, this episode will serve as a gentle reminder that you can do it in a way that feels authentic, welcoming, and – yep – even fun. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our episode on Sane & Satisfying Holiday EntertainingThe viral “Company is Coming” video that still makes us crack upWe were channeling our inner Lazy Genius in the second half of this episode – here’s Kendra on hosting and entertainingJoanna (@cafedumartin) has a pre-hosting plan out on our blog later this week – stay tuned!MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

City Mouse…Country Mouse…do we really have to choose? Not in our fantasy lives! Meagan and Sarah have both done stints as city dwellers and have some experience with rural life, but we’ve spent most of our kid-rearing years in suburbs or small towns. Today’s More Than Mom episode is a total indulgence in the fantasies of city living and country life – at their most extremes. We talk about how we’d dress and what we’d eat, what our homes would be like and how we’d spend our days. We also touch on the books, movies, and television that shaped our early understanding of city and country living (turns out we may need a part two JUST about television apartments). It’s a fun one, friends – join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Throughout our lives, our fantasy settings have been inspired by media, including: Harriet the Spy, Sex and the City, When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, the Little House books, All Creatures Great & Small, Anne of Green Gables, and Charlotte’s WebThis isn’t the first time we’ve talked about our alternate fantasy lives, check out these related episodes:Our Fantasy Kitchens, Meagan & Sarah Get Stranded On A Desert Island, The Lives We Didn’t LeadMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From toddler tantrums to big kid anxiety, parents feel so much pressure to tackle these challenges in the right way. Are we expecting too much from our kids . . . and ourselves? In our latest Voices interview episode, Sarah has a conversation with Meghan Leahy, parenting expert and author of a new book, Parenting Outside the Lines. In her signature honest and humorous tone, Meghan shares some valuable insights about what’s going on behind common kid behavior phases. She also reminds us all that WE are the best experts in our kids and that holding empathy for both our kids AND ourselves is the key to combatting perfectionism. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meghan’s new book is Parenting Outside the LinesYou can find information about Meghan’s online classes, coaching, and lots of parent resources on her websiteMeghan Leahy is the parenting expert in The Washington PostOn the topic of kids and tech Meghan recommends Adam Pletter‘s online class iParent 101Meghan also recommends books Screenwise by Devorah Heitner and Raising a Screen-Smart Kid by Juliana MinorMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From taking a detailed phone message and sticking to a meeting plan to utilizing physical resources like paper maps, bus schedules, TV guides, and phone books, there are so many life skills children of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s were just expected to know. In today’s episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah chat about these once-essential abilities our kids lack simply because the world has changed. On the flip-side, we also reflect on the new skills that come so naturally to this crop of kids. In some cases, they’re teaching us! (Multiple remote controls drive anyone else bonkers?!) To wrap it up, we reflect on how to not become gripe-y or grumpy about these natural generational differences. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to related episodes: Life Skills We’re Glad Our Kids Have Right Now (And A Few They’re Still Working On) and Chores, Life Skills, & Household ResponsibilitiesCheck out all our episodes and blogposts about big kidsMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.