The Mom Hour

For those who love to plan ahead, the past year has been a huge challenge–and the shiny promise of a brand new year feels a little lackluster as we look toward 2021. Is planning and goal-setting permanently on hold, shuttered just like schools and gyms and concerts? Sarah Hart-Unger says no.Our first Voices interview episode of 2021 features two Sarahs: host Sarah Powers chats with guest Sarah Hart-Unger about how to approach planning and goal-setting this year. We talk about the importance of reflecting on 2020, even though it didn’t go as planned, how to “pandemic-proof” your goals for 2021, and why the annual exercise of looking back and looking forward is still valuable. Sarah also answers your listener questions on the nitty-gritty of planning and goal setting. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Last year’s Voices 44 episode with Sarah Hart-Unger: Staying Organized & Motivated As A Full-Time Working MomSarah Hart-Unger’s blog and website: theshubox.comListen to Best Laid Plans (SHU’s planning podcast) wherever you get your podcasts (all the show notes are on her site here)Sarah Powers loved these episodes especially: Ep 6: Getting Started with Planning and Ep 17: Technique Spotlight: Monthly ReviewSHU referenced the 2021 Goals episode of Best Of Both WorldsShortening Your Gaze, For Now (we referenced this essay of Meagan’s)SHU’s recommendations for books and podcasts about planning and goal-setting:Books by Cal Newport: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Deep Work (Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World), and his podcast Deep Questions with Cal NewportAtomic Habits by James Clear168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura VanderkamOrganize 365 PodcastMichael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller’s podcast Lead to WinAnne Bogel’s What Should I Read Next? PodcastMORE 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.

Meagan and Sarah tiptoe very cautiously into the waters of futurecasting in today’s episode, still through the hazy, cheese-filled lens of that strange week between Christmas and New Year’s. We talk about where our kids and home lives will be one year from now and what that means for the evolution of our family units. We meditate on all that was stripped away in 2020, and when and how it may start to return in the coming year. And we also share the things we’re MOST excited to return to post-pandemic, as well as a few things we don’t ever need to go back to the way they were. Join us for the final 2020 episode of The Mom Hour!LINKS MENTIONED:In case you missed it, this is loosely the third part in a series that talked about Holidays Past and Holidays PresentIf you’re already getting excited for Friday’s Voices episode with Sarah Hart-Unger coming up on January 1, listen to the interview we did with her last yearMORE 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.

Last week the ghost of holidays past took us on a tour of our past lives as moms of littles during the Christmas season. This week, as we continue the loosest of adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Meagan and Sarah sit with the reality of the present moment. We talk about how this holiday season will differ from the 2020-that-could-have-been, and about how things have changed as our kids have grown, with or without a global crisis. As we head into the final few days before Christmas, we also share some of the small details about what our homes and lives are like right now, in an effort to capture–and even be grateful for–the present moment. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:We were both wearing leggings from Jane when we recorded! Sarah has these Slimming Fleece-Lined Leggings ($6.99!), and Meagan loves these jeggings in black (both affiliate links, and don’t forget you can click “Notify Me!” on any Jane deal and you’ll get an email when they’re back in stock!)Listen to our episode from last week on past holidays, Remembering Holidays PastBe sure to check out our blog, where Meagan is doing a 25 day holiday pep talkMORE 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.

In our very own motherhood-inspired take on A Christmas Carol, Meagan and Sarah are visited by the ghost of holidays past for today’s episode. Join us as we peek in at our younger-mom selves by sharing moments and memories from years gone by. There are gift mishaps, angry pregnant lady meltdowns, Christmas tree disasters, and convenience store dinners–all shared to help you remember that no matter what goes down this month, someday it will be but a memory. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Be sure to check out our blog, where Meagan is doing a 25 day holiday pep talkSign up for Meagan’s email list hereMeagan loved this version of A Christmas Carol growing up, and we both like the Muppets and DisneyversionsMORE 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 spiced nuts to festive cocktails, traditional meat-and-sides dinners to nostalgic or cultural throwbacks, holiday menus are wide open for interpretation. In this More Than Mom episode, Meagan and Sarah chat about the holiday food memories we carry from childhood, how those patterns changed as we formed our own families, and what a typical Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meal looks like these days. We share favorites and recipes, along with family quirks and fuzzy memories; it’s a fun one–join us! LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s family is obsessed with this pickled shrimp recipe Meagan makes this baked eggs recipe she found on Martha StewartMeagan has also made a French toast casserole like this one using day-old Jimmy John’s breadPeanut Butter BlossomsFrango Mints from Macy’sMeagan’s family has loved getting gift baskets from Wolferman’sRisamalande is a Danish rice pudding dessert–with a traditional Christmas Eve “game” of one lucky bowl containing a whole almond. You can read more about it here.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.

When you feel the pressure to do, make, or be something this holiday season, pause and ask yourself three questions. Does this TRULY matter to me? Is the PROCESS joyful or meaningful (or is it that others make the product look so easy)? And–a big one–what if I DON’T? In Episode 290 Meagan and Sarah offer gut-checks on some of the biggest pressures moms feel during the holiday season–from magazine-worthy living rooms to the mental load of shopping for (and giving gift ideas to) a large extended family–and offer concrete tips for releasing yourself from expectations of perfection in pursuit of a peaceful season. Join us, friends!As always, our holiday episodes often make brief mention of magical night visitors. If you have curious ears about, you’ve been warned!LINKS MENTIONED:The “What if I don’t?” question comes from Sarah’s conversation with Whitney Hawthorne in our November Voices episodeMeagan talked about her interview with Ashley Brown for December’s Voices episodeJoin our special Facebook Community for The Mom Hour Listeners (make sure to answer the questions to be approved!) Be sure to check out our blog, where Meagan is doing a 25 day holiday pep talkPast episodes that are similar in tone to this one:December Intentions For Busy MomsMoms Deserve A Magical Holiday, TooMORE 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.

Obsessive nail-painting rituals, facial hair secrets, fussy skincare routines, and blame-it-on-COVID changes to our general beauty and personal grooming habits: today’s More Than Mom episode is 9 parts confessional, 1 part helpful…but oh, we think you’ll enjoy it. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share–sometimes sheepishly–the bizarre beauty rituals and personal grooming habits we just can’t quit. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:For more makeup talk, check out our episode Makeup & Mom LifeWe mentioned Sarah James’ Instagram, @whoorl for lip color inspirationMeagan interviewed her sister Kathreen in a voices episode, Surviving A Major Health ScareMeagan uses the Tinkle Razor on her face (affiliate link)Meagan and Sarah both like Essie nail polish, and mentioned the Essie Expressie Quick Dry Polish(affiliate link)We both love Voluminous Mascara, and the Voluminous Primer Mascara (affiliate links)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.

Routines: everyone has them, whether you’ve created them intentionally or fallen into them by chance. In today’s episode, Meagan talks with Ashley Brown, a full-time working mom of two girls ages 3 and 1, enthusiastic Enneagram 1, and the creator of Routine & Things. After leaving the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom to her oldest daughter, Ashley found herself depressed and struggling to stay afloat; creating intentional routines around everything from self-care to cleaning the kitchen proved to be the secret sauce that helped get her life back in order. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Ashley’s website Routine and Things is a site and shop dedicated to helping moms create effective, and flexible routines so they can manage their homes and lives with more freedom and funFollow Ashley on InstagramAshley mentioned her Enneagram Type. Check out this episode if you’re not familiar with the personality test!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.

A preschooler is obsessed with screen-time after some COVID-related relaxation of the rules; how can the family get back on track? Another mom wonders how to meet the very different needs of multiple kids at the same time, and still another wants to know: WHERE DO ALL THE SOCKS GO? Then we tackle indoor physical play for little kids, talking honestly about the death of a grandparent, and the weirdest holiday gifts our kids have ever asked for. It’s a jam-packed Listener Questions episode–join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our other Listener Questions episodesYou can access all of our episodes in our archivesMeagan will be doing a 25 day blogging pep talk on our blog starting today!For more ideas on how to keep kids busy indoors, listen to Stuck At Home? Us Too. Here Are Some Ideas (Episode 252 from March 2020)Sarah mentioned resources for dealing with a death in the family:How to Help a Child Who Is Worrying About DeathBooks To Help You Explain Death To ChildrenTalking with a 3-year-old about deathTalking with a 6-year-old about deathMORE 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.

When friendships are strained by politics and the pandemic, how can a lonely mom re-envision her social life? What ideas do we have for family bonding as kids get older? Can Meagan distill her best parenting advice into five minutes or less? And finally, the sibling bickering is non-stop–what’s a mom to do? Join us for Episode 288 of The Mom Hour where we take YOUR listener questions and offer our best solicited advice. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our other Listener Questions episodesIf you want to hear more on the topic of friendships, listen to Female Friendships & Women We Admire(Episode 227 from September 2019),  The Myth of the Mom Tribe (Episode 144 from February 2018), and Keeping Friendships Alive (Episode 78 from November 2016).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.