The Mom Hour

We’ve had lots of time to observe our kids in their natural habitats the last couple months…wherein their “natural habitat” is also OUR HOUSE. Turns out, we’re really glad we’ve passed on some basic life skills to these growing humans, because they’re doing pretty well in a lot of areas. It’s clear, however, that other life skills are still works-in-progress. In Episode 258 Meagan and Sarah take a lighter look at life skills–both the ones our kids have mastered as well as the ones that need improvement. Join us!This episode was recorded on May 21, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities. We’re also working hard to bring you timely, relevant podcast episodes in a world that’s changing very quickly.LINKS MENTIONED:Our friend Christine Koh’s printable list of 100 Life Skills You Can Teach Your Kids In 5 Minutes or Less(be sure you’re listening to Edit Your Life and following Christine on Instagram @hellochristinekoh, because she’s FULL of great resources like this!)Sarah mentioned our friend Jessica Lahey’s interview on Armchair Expert with Dax ShepherdCheck out our new series Pandemic Perspectives, and if you’d like to share your story fill out this form and we’ll be in touchMORE 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.

Kathryn is mom to four small girls and an attorney representing the most vulnerable kids in her state; Robyn and her husband are both on the front lines as an Emergency Room RN and a firefighter/paramedic; Kyria teaches social studies at a Bay Area high school and now instructs students from home while the baby (hopefully!) naps. All three are also moms dealing with the everyday challenges of clingy toddlers, remote-learning kids, and work-from-home demands. Hear what’s hard, what’s hopeful, and what life is like for Kathryn, Robyn, and Kyria in Episode 03 of Pandemic Perspectives.This episode was recorded on April 6-7, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities.AND ALSO: Our Pandemic Perspective guests are moms just like you, doing their best with the resources they have. Their opinions do not necessarily represent those of the podcast, and the information they offer should not be taken as advice, medical or otherwise. 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.

More than a month into safer at home, a day in the life of most moms looks nothing like it did before COVID-19. We’re living in close quarters with small humans (and big humans!) whom we love but may be used to getting an occasional break from. We’re parenting through a time of unprecedented stress. And we’re doing it all against a backdrop of Instagram-era expectations that can make us feel like we’re not measuring up.In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah take an honest look at the toll that nonstop-parenting in the time of COVID-19 takes on moms of young kids. We get real about the struggle, and then we dig into specific tips and strategies moms can employ in the name of building small breaks into long days. We offer tips for encouraging independent play, facilitating mixed-age sibling activities, and how we handle screen-time in our homes–all while helping moms lose the guilt and find small moments of joy during a stressful time. Join us!This episode was recorded on April 21, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities. We’re also working hard to bring you timely, relevant podcast episodes in a world that’s changing very quickly.LINKS MENTIONED:We mentioned our episode on spending one-on-one time with our 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.

From making our first “mom friend” to the first time all of our children could stay home alone, today’s episodes celebrates the milestones that mark new phases of motherhood. Inspired by a listener question and the enthusiastic response we received for a whole episode on this topic, in Episode 257 Sarah and Meagan share twelve mom milestones, moments where we felt like we’d unlocked next-level parenting skills or shifted our identity as moms in a small-but-significant way. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:This episode was inspired by Geralis’ question, which we initially answered last week in Episode 256(our answer starts at 51:17)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.

Jessi watched the national shutdown play out from inside the PICU, where she and her husband were quarantined with their newborn twins (who are now home and doing great!); Gillian’s NYC-based medical practice undergoes huge changes while her family grieves a personal loss; Heather’s husband is on the front lines at the grocery store while she juggles working from home while parenting. Hear what’s hard, what’s hopeful, and what life is like for Jessi, Gillian, and Heather in Episode 02 of Pandemic Perspectives.This episode was recorded on April 6-7, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities.AND ALSO: Our Pandemic Perspective guests are moms just like you, doing their best with the resources they have. Their opinions do not necessarily represent those of the podcast, and the information they offer should not be taken as advice, medical or otherwise. 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.

Does a toddler “need” a formal preschool program if it isn’t necessary for childcare purposes? Did we think about kids’ birthday timing when we were planning (or not planning) our pregnancies? How can a physically active toddler channel his energy for good during stuck-inside days? And what are Meagan and Sarah’s most memorable “mom milestones”? In this week’s episode we answer these questions with our personal stories and (solicited!) advice. It’s a fun one–join us!This episode was recorded on May 21, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities. We’re also working hard to bring you timely, relevant podcast episodes in a world that’s changing very quickly.LINKS MENTIONED:You can find all of our listener questions episodes hereCheck out our new series Pandemic Perspectives, and if you’d like to share your story fill out this formand we’ll be in touchWe mentioned @busytoddlerWe mentioned some of the gross motor, larger indoor activities like this inflatable punching bag, or this indoor trampoline (affiliate links), and more of the suggestions we offered in this episodeIf you missed the story of Meagan getting stuck in a dress, it’s hereWe mentioned our episode about Other People’s 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.

Casey is the director of an after-school program serving vulnerable communities; Megan teaches English online to students in China and watched their families experience COVID-19 before things got serious in the US; Jayme is weeks away from having her second baby and worries that being married to a hospital physician might separate their family. All three are also moms dealing with the everyday challenges of clingy toddlers, remote-learning kids, and work-from-home demands. Hear what’s hard, what’s hopeful, and what life is like for Casey, Megan, and Jayme in Episode 01 of Pandemic Perspectives.This episode was recorded on April 6-7, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities.AND ALSO: Our Pandemic Perspective guests are moms just like you, doing their best with the resources they have. Their opinions do not necessarily represent those of the podcast, and the information they offer should not be taken as advice, medical or otherwise. 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.

Join us for conversations with teachers, business owners, healthcare professionals, social workers, partners of first responders, and others who are living, working, and parenting their kids through the COVID-19 global pandemic in a unique or particularly challenging way.The goal of this series is to better understand what people’s lives are like in different industries, careers, and situations during the COVID-19 global pandemic. In each episode you’ll hear three short interviews with someone for whom this experience has a very specific and challenging impact on the way they live, work, and parent their kids.We hope these stories will offer a different view of this experience than the one you’re experiencing right now at home; or maybe you’ll see your own family’s situation reflected in these conversations in a way that doesn’t get talked about as much. We know that when we have a better understanding of what other people are going through, it makes us better and more compassionate parents. Look for the Pandemic Perspectives series dropping right here in The Mom Hour podcast feed on Sundays this spring. We hope you’ll join us!(And, of course, we’ll continue to bring you brand new episodes every Tuesday with the parenting and motherhood topics you’re used to hearing from us.)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.

Working from home with little kids during COVID-19, moving a baby into a shared sibling bedroom, dealing with cancellation disappointment for both mom and kids, and finding small breaks in the long days of stay-at-home parenting: This week’s podcast episode is dedicated to your listener questions and our advice. Join us!This episode was recorded on April 5, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities. We’re also working hard to bring you timely, relevant podcast episodes in a world that’s changing very quickly.LINKS MENTIONED:You can find all of our listener questions episodes hereHave a question for Meagan and Sarah? Send us your question by email to hello@themomhour.com, or even better we love when you record your questions using Speakpipe!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.

Meal planning is hard enough for busy families; now families are eating nearly all their meals at home, it’s a next-level challenge. So for this month’s Voices interview we’re bringing back cookbook author and Didn’t I Just Feed You? co-host Stacie Billis to talk about grocery shopping, what freezes well and when to freeze it, how to minimize food waste while adjusting to a new normal, the best pantry staples, and more. It’s a helpful, upbeat, and encouraging episode–we hope you’ll join us!This episode was recorded on March 29, 2020.A NOTE ON EPISODES RELEASED DURING COVID-19: Things change so quickly these days–including recommendations for health and safety, as well as our own thoughts and feelings–so you may hear things that feel a bit dated if you’re catching up on older episodes. Just know that we’re experiencing this in real time just like you, and that we’re working hard to follow the latest recommendations for the safety of our families and our communities. We’re also working hard to bring you timely, relevant podcast episodes in a world that’s changing very quickly.LINKS MENTIONED:Find out more about Stacie on her website, and while you’re there check out her other booksStacie’s newest cookbook, Winner Winner Chicken DinnerFind Stacie on InstagramListen to Stacie’s podcast with Meghan Splawn Didn’t I Just Feed You, a podcast about feeding familiesStacie is obsessed with this braiser in addition to the dutch ovenDutch ovens on Amazon (affiliate link)Check out Stacie demonstrating how to spatchcock a chickenInstant Pot (affiliate link)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.