The Mom Hour

Can a wild toddler become mellow teen? A shy preschooler an outgoing tween? Or do our littles’ personalities predict their big kid identities? As usual, we’re saying it’s a little of both, or somewhere in the middle. In this week’s episode Meagan and Sarah break down our combined eight kids and how they were as babies and toddlers vs. what they’re like today. PLUS Alison Thompson joins Sarah to discuss postpartum recovery. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Other episodes where we talk about our eight kids:What’s Great (And Less-Great) About Our Eight (Episode 152)Awesome Things Our Kids Are Doing (Episode 103)Eight Kids, Toddler to Teen (Episode 61)Sarah and Alison discussedEpisode 88, Postpartum Symptoms & Surprises, as well the Voices interview Sarah did with Kate Rope about postpartum mental healthMORE 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.

If your kids are little, maybe you’ve wondered what it’s really like to send a child off to college. Or maybe you’ve pondered how your mom-life – and the way you relate to the world – might change as your children grow. In this episode, Meagan and the always warm, wise and wonderful Asha Dornfest discuss parenting older kids, “growing up” as a mom while and looking forward to what’s next, and even have a (totally non-partisan) conversation about politics, the importance of listening to each other, and how YOU can make a difference in your world – even if you’re still in the overwhelming baby and toddler stages. LINKS MENTIONED:Asha’s website, ashadornfest.comAsha’s book, Parent Hacks: 134 Genius Shortcuts for Life with Kids (affiliate link)Asha’s podcast, Edit Your LifeAsha and Christine’s co-authored book, Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less (affiliate link)Asha was our very first interview when we started the Voices series on The Mom Hour! Listen to her chat with Sarah 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.

Hiding under the exam table, screaming and flailing, flat-out refusing to open up for the dentist: Our kids have done it all in the name of avoiding the needle or the checkup (or even a haircut!).In Episode 180 we cover appointments of all kinds and how to survive them when your kids are fearful. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pets are fun, but they’re not easy. Meagan and Sarah both love animals, but we also keep it real about the times in our lives when pets have brought more trouble than delight to our busy homes. We also tell hilarious stories about the pets of our childhood and relive a few animal-related traumas. Join See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

First babies get all our attention…but they have to endure our most rookie mistakes and newbie neuroses, too. Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun flashback at how we planned for, fed, celebrated, and parented our firstborn kids in contrast to their younger siblings. Thanks to our Patreon Facebook community for chiming in with great suggestions on this topic, too!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan mentioned this videoMORE 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.

Co-parenting is tough, and we’re here to talk about it. In Episode 178 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah talk about getting on the same page as your co-parent, how to handle personality differences and baggage from our backgrounds, and why we think kids benefit from different parenting styles (mostly). Plus, Alison Thompson joins Sarah for a fun chat about choosing baby names. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Our episode about How To Be The Parent Teachers (and Schools) LoveOur episodes about Routines, Rituals, and Traditions (Part 1 and Part 2)Queue It Up! Check out Traveling Spouses, Traveling Selves, Episode 36 and Episode 37 from February of 2016MORE 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.

It’s an all-Broadway edition of More Than Mom! We talk about Meagan’s recent performing stint as Roxie Hart in Chicago!, the stage shows we’ve seen lately or want to see, and respond to listener response to our first installment in this conversation, the More Than Mom episode on Movie Musicals that we did back in June. Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED:More Than Mom: Movie Musicals (the part one to this episode, from June 2018)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.

Halloween costumes come with parenting questions: Will baby keep the hat on? How scary is too scary? Can you figure out how to master that face painting technique your kid is dying for? When and how to veto a costume choice that isn’t your jam? How to help make costume dreams come true without spending a fortune? Meagan and Sarah chat all things Halloween costumes in Episode 177 of The Mom Hour–plus Katie joins Sarah for a roundup of our favorite Halloween picture books. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Violet wore this leopard costume last yearSarah’s and Katie’s favorite Halloween books are up on the blog!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.

All movement is good movement, according to mom of twins and fitness/motivation powerhouse Jenny Schatzle. It’s not about getting our bodies back after baby (wait until you hear Jenny’s response to that one!); it’s about choosing to live life in alignment with who we want to be. Jenny gets vulnerable about her transition to motherhood, her role as a leader and entrepreneur, and the tricky business of staying authentic AND positive online when you’re a public persona. Join Sarah and guest Jenny Schatzle for this month’s Voices interview–it’s a must-listen conversation. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Jenny on InstagramJenny’s Tedx Talk: Rewiring How You Look At YourselfJenny’s new online 14-day courseJenny’s blogSarah talked about the Instagram video where Jenny works out with two crawling babies–see below, or check it out here if you can’t see the embedded video 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.

Parenting a strong-willed kid, handling criticism about your family size or kids’ spacing, the first signs of kid crushes and puppy love, and gift ideas for your kids’ grandparents. Meagan and Sarah take on these questions and offer our advice in Episode 176. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Last week’s Episode 175 was also a Listener Questions showAll our Listener Questions episodes are available on this pageParenting A Strong-Willed Child (Aha! Parenting from Dr. Laura Markham)Why it’s good to have a strong-willed child, and why you should let up on them (On Parenting from The Washington Post)In our discussion of grandparent gifts we talked about Canvas People canvases (text MOMHOUR to 484848 to get a free one), Chatbooks photo books and Storyworth (sponsor link!), the service that prompts your loved ones to write down family stories and memoriesOur 2017 Holiday Gift GuideMORE 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.