The Mom Hour

What’s great about our eight? Getting each of them ALONE once in a while. With big, busy families, we recognizing that connecting with each kid individually is important, but we also firmly believe it doesn’t have to be a fancy structured thing. In this installment in our (very loose) “What’s Great About Our Eight” series, Meagan and Sarah go kid-by-kid and talk about what solo time looks like in the stage they’re in right now, what we do together and whether feels like enough, and how we might be more intentional going forward. These episodes are a fun way to get to know our families and get a peek at what parenting looks like at a bunch of different ages and stages. We hope you’ll join us!LINKS MENTIONED:If you like this type of episode check out our other “what’s great about our eight” episodesJoin our Facebook group for listeners, The Mom Hour Listeners Community (be sure to answer the questions to be approved!)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.

Ashley Schafluetzel is a kindergarten teacher and mom of two who lives outside St. Louis, Missouri. Her daughter, Ella, loves big hair bows and Frozen 2, is a great big sister, and is thriving in first grade. However, Ella’s start in life was anything but typical, and through a high-risk pregnancy, premature birth, and extended NICU stay with multiple complications, Ashley and her husband faced challenges that they never expected would come with parenthood.In this special bonus episode of The Mom Hour, Ashley shares an honest look back at her pregnancy, birth, NICU days, and early motherhood experience. From how she learned to advocate for herself and her baby, to growing into her role as a mom of a child with special needs, Ashley’s story is part of an important part conversation that we hope you’ll enjoy. LINKS MENTIONED:March of DimesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)Books that Ashley personally found helpful include:Preemies – Second Edition: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature BabiesTeaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And ProfessionalsPsalm 91 for Mothers: God’s Shield of Protection for Your ChildrenMORE 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 newsletterFeatured image credit: Anna Hollister | Schafluetzel family photos credit: Simply Elizabeth PhotographySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Flu season 2020 ripped through both our houses recently, and we hear from many of you that this year really is as bad as they say. In this week’s episode Meagan and Sarah talk about the implications of being sick when you’re a mom, the challenges of sick days with little kids vs. older kids, and how we personally handle things like high fevers, consulting professionals, administering home remedies, and more. We’re not medical experts, but we’re definitely moms who have been there. Join us!As always, please seek medical advice directly from your providers–what we’re offering here are stories and personal experiences only. LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah mentioned our recent Listener Questions Episode where we answered a question about how we handle sick daysMeagan talked about Febrile SeizuresWe would love to hear from you! Email us hello@themomhour.comMORE 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.

Sarah just hit the big 4-0 and we’re here to talk about it. Join us for a fun More Than Mom episode where we dive into how we feel about big birthdays in general, which milestone years from our past have made for big transitions or lasting memories, and what being in our forties means for fun stuff like comfy pants and skincare as well as more grown-uppy stuff like health screenings and eating well. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:YOUwill find many of the products we have recommended on the show! (affiliate link)Check out Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole familyOur Spotify playlists are a fun way to go back in the archives and listen by topic or theme! February’s lists are the Toddler Parent Helpline and Episodes That Feel Like A HugMORE 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.

The siblings in Sarah’s house are leaning in hard on the bickering right now, so for the latest in our “10 Things We Love About…” series we’re celebrating all the GOOD parts about raising siblings. We know it’s not all sunshine and roses, but when we choose to focus on the positives, even a really challenging season of parenting can be put back into perspective. Join us for 10 Things We Love About Raising Siblings!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our episode 10 Things We Love About ToddlersBe sure to check out The Mom Hour Amazon Store, where you will find many of the products we have recommended on the show! (affiliate link)Our Spotify playlists are a fun way to go back in the archives and listen by topic or theme! February’s lists are the Toddler Parent Helpline and Episodes That Feel Like A HugMORE 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 your kids are tiny, it might feel like you have lots of time before their access to the internet requires you to have “the tech talk” – a conversation about online safety, citizenship, and digital well being. And if having that talk feels overwhelming to you, you’re not alone! Only 4 in 10 parents feel confident enough to talk to their family about online safety.But as moms of many kids in different age ranges, we know that just like with other big topics, it’s not one conversation you’ll have with your kids, it’s many small ones over time that will add up to your kids feeling capable and confident using the internet as safely as possible (and feeling comfortable coming to you when they need support).Join Meagan and Sarah for a little-to-grown rundown of how we talk about things like online online safety, social sharing and communicating responsibly, digital citizenship and more with our kids–plus specific tips for how to make the conversation accessible and fun for you as a parent, not something to stress over.LINKS MENTIONED:Play the interactive learning game Interland at g.co/interlandWe would love to hear from you! Email us hello@themomhour.com, and send us your tips for talking to kids about internet safetyMORE 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 something makes a huge splash and everyone is talking about it, we sometimes find reason to opt out, stay neutral, or even counter with the unpopular opinion. But not always! Sometimes we’re just excited about the latest hit thing as the rest of y’all. Promise. In today’s full-of-laughs More Than Mom episode, Meagan and Sarah share our nominees for pop culture sensations we can get behind, the ones we can’t care about, and a whole bunch in between. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:We mentioned our episode on the Royal Baby & Celebrity Parenting Culture from May 2019Head to our Amazon Store to check out some of the things we have mentioned on the show!Check out Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole familyOur Spotify playlists are a fun way to go back in the archives and listen by topic or theme! February’s lists are the Toddler Parent Helpline and Episodes That Feel Like A HugMORE 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.

Making room in your life for romance can be really tricky for moms. We’re often busy and focused on other things, and if we’re single, maybe we’re burned out on the dating game. In today’s Voices episode, Meagan talks from her personal experienced as a divorced mom with love coach Casandra Henriquez about how to create a love vision, put yourself in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing a partner, and how to keep love alive in your current relationship. In the second half of the episode, Sarah joins Meagan to share an honest look at what love and dating as a married couple looks like after nearly fifteen years. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Find out more about Coach Cass on her websiteFor a free checklist on how to ace your next date, visit relationshipsforbusywomen.comConnect with Coach Cass on social on Instagram, Facebook and TwitterCoach Cass’ next Success In Love Summit is in MayCheck out Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole 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.

Life just feels easier when we have the right gizmos, doo-dads, odds, and ends to take care of ourselves and our homes. Could we survive using the same broom for another 10 years. Definitely. But would we benefit from reading a few Amazon reviews and choosing a really great new broom? Also definitely. Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun rundown of products that we’re loving lately the the arenas of home, beauty, life, and style. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan is loving her new broomuniversal bath tub stoppersthe high sided cat litter box that has been helping to contain cat littera bluetooth adapter for her older carthis folding box spring solved the problem of getting a traditional box spring up her stairs Tiles are going to help her find her keys! Sarah is loving she has found many uses for these magnetsthese slippers from J.Crew (h/t Ashlee Gadd for the original rec!)Small accent furniture on Amazon in general, including this round rug and round mirror she used in her entry way, and the desk, lamp, chair and nightstand she put in Reid’s room Brow pencil from SephoraCuisinart Coffee Center 12-Cup Coffeemaker and Single-Serve Brewerstuffed animal keeper bag from JaneYou can find many more of our product recommendations in our Amazon StoreJoin our Facebook group for listeners, The Mom Hour Listeners Community (be sure to answer the questions to be approved!)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.

From August through January, life is action-packed: we’re on the go from back-to-school through the holidays, and we enter the new year with high aspirations. And then, in the face of that long stretch between mid-January and spring break, things get back to normal – really normal. It can be a relief to return to familiar rhythms, but how can we do that without slipping into autopilot and missing out on special moments with our kids?As the buzz of the new year fades into the comfort—and, sometimes, monotony—of our daily parenting routines without vacations and holidays to break them up, it’s a great opportunity to get intentional about what really matters to us, and to create those small simple moments of connection that are so important for family bonding (even if it means easing up on some of those loftier resolutions). In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah share our own memories and experiences of what can make a long stretch of “real life” both frustrating and special, and offer tips on how moms can connect with their kids and care for themselves by giving themselves permission to embrace the small and simple moments that add up to a meaningful life with kids.LINKS MENTIONED:We mentioned our recent episode about habitsWe also mentioned our episode about playing board games with kidsEmail us at hello@themomhour.com!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.