The Mom Hour

Losing your cool and yelling at your kids (how it happens to us ALL, how to prevent it, and how to cope after it happens), dealing with a pinching/biting 19-month-old, and extracting your family from a sticky situation with neighbor friends whose parenting style makes you uncomfortable. These listener questions PLUS a chat with newly-minted mom of two Alison–join us for Episode 175 of The Mom Hour!LINKS MENTIONED:Shout-out to the Hill Country Casitas and Prep Dish for hosting us at the Prep Dish Podcaster Retreat this week!Mom Meltdowns, Oh No! (the VERY FIRST episode of The Mom Hour)All our listener questions are collected hereOur Worst #MomFail Moments (episode 157)Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction, (affiliate link) by Catherine Pearlman (listen to the Voices interview Sarah did with Catherine Pearlman here)Aha! Parenting from Dr. Laura Markham, Sarah’s favorite site about behavior and disciplineToddler Biting article Sarah mentioned on the 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.

It’s officially fall, no matter what kind of whether you’re enjoying. Meagan and Sarah chat fall décor, fall wardrobes, experiencing fall in different parts of the country, and more in this More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Fall Love, Fall Envy, Fall Favorites (an older episode on the same topic)An Open Letter To People Who Can’t Stop Talking About Pumpkin Spice Lattes (Sarah’s blog post gone viral from 2013)Butternut Squash Soup with Apple & Bacon (Sarah’s family makes this every year…eventually)Meagan’s beef stew is loosely based on Paula Deen’s Old-Time Beef StewMORE 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.

Supporting your child’s school experience doesn’t have to look like tons of volunteer hours, chaperoning field trips, or organizing classroom parties. It CAN (and we salute those who do it!), but it doesn’t have to. In Episode 174 Meagan and Sarah offer simple ways to start the school year off right when it comes to helping teachers and supporting our schools. Plus, Katie Addiss joins Sarah to discuss life lately as a mom of two littles. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Other podcast episodes about starting school, and school-mom-life are collected hereKatie mentioned the magic of the Daiso store–find out if you have one in your area hereMORE 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.

Why? Because I said so. Has a nice ring to it, right? Even better, though (and more specific): because it’s a rule in our house. In Episode 173 Meagan and Sarah are talking about the beauty and hilarity of arbitrary rules, drawing from our own experience and some genius listener suggestions. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Our podcast episodes on Routines, Rituals, & Traditions pair nicely with this one. Here’s Part 1 (episode 128, more about traditions) and Part 2 (episode 129, more about routines and rituals)Our episode on How To Survive (And Even Enjoy) Playing Board Games (Episode 112)Meagan’s blog post For The Mom Who Hates The Swings, which inspired our fan-favorite episode, We Hate FunMORE 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 talk about what podcasts WE listen to in this week’s More Than Mom episode! After a dry spell of discovering new audio shows, we each have a few new favorites–and they’re outside of the motherhood/parenting sphere. We’ll tell you what podcasts they are, who we’d recommend listen to them, and where to start for maximum enjoyment. Join us!Meagan’s Podcast Picks:ZigZag, from Stable Genius Productions (recommended: start at the beginning)Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman (recommended: pick a company/interview guest that interests you and start there)Mother Like A Boss with Kendra Hennessey (recommended: we love Kendra’s solo episodes, and the back to school organization one, but watch for an interview with Meagan coming soon, and Kendra was also a guest on The Home Hour last month!)Sarah’s Podcast Picks:Dirty John, from Wondery and the LA Times (recommend: you MUST start at the beginning and listen in sequence from the oldest episode to the newest!)Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR (recommended: the longer episodes that include the “What’s Making Us Happy” segment are Sarah’s favorites, but you don’t need to listen in order)The Goop Podcast (Sarah doesn’t listen to every one, but liked the Oprah interviewand L-O-V-E-D the Sarah Jessica Parker interview)Other podcasts we love (but may not have had time to mention):How I Built This with Guy Raz (similar to Meagan’s pick Masters of Scale)Up First from NPR (Sarah gets her morning news from this podcast, and we also hear good things about The Daily from The New York Times)Serial (Season One) and S*Town are both great if you haven’t already listenedMagic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert#AmWriting with Jess & KJMore awesome podcasts for moms that you might like if you listen to our show:We did not spend a lot of time discussing podcasts that are similar to ours because we’ve talked about them before, and they’re relatively easy to discover if you’re already into fun/encouraging parenting content. If you haven’t checked them out already, we highly recommend these, many of which are hosted by our good friends and colleagues in the industry:The Girl Next DoorEdit Your LifeWhat Fresh Hell: Laughing In The Face Of MotherhoodSpawned with Kristen & LizThe Coffee + Crumbs PodcastSorta AwesomeJust Add SprinklesFriendlierMomUPThe Middle of EverythingSelfieThe Home HourCrunchy Cocktail HourForever 35MORE 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 moms: are you stressed, anxious, and tired of hearing about this mythical thing called “balance?” You aren’t alone, and you’ve come to the right place. In Episode 29 of The Mom Hour Voices, Meagan talks to Jessica Turner, full-time working mom and author of the new book Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose The Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive. This encouraging interview will help you move past the unreasonable idea of “work-life balance” and make choices that help you set priorities while still attending to the things in your life that matter.LINKS MENTIONED:Get pre-order bonuses before September 18, 2018–details at stretchedtoothinbook.comJessica’s first book, The Fringe HoursJessica and Meagan’s conversation on The Home Hour in 2015MORE 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.

Do you have dirty dishes in your sink right now? So do we, but instead of washing them we decided to podcast about it! Join Meagan and Sarah for a look at the products and practices that keep things moving in our kitchens, plus stories of faulty dishwashers, dishes pet peeves, what keeps us company while we do the dishes and more. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The episode we did about laundry: Loads & Loads (& Loads) Of Laundry (Episode 167)Sarah’s current dishwasher is this one: KitchenAid Top Control Dishwasher in Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel TubSome of our favorite dish soaps and detergents, available at Target (affiliate link)Sarah has this bamboo dish rack from Target and loves it (affiliate link)Sarah also uses these Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbing Pads (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.

You're standing in the checkout line doing that familiar bounce-bounce-sway motion to soothe a fussy baby when suddenly you realize: you don't HAVE a baby. Ever been there? We're willing to be you have, and we're discussing a bunch more mom-habits that are hard to shake in Episode 171 of The Mom Hour.PLUS pregnant mama Alison Thompson joins Sarah to discuss first versus second pregnancies, staying comfortable in the third trimester, maternity clothes that fit and flatter, and more. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Our episode about Mom Fails which, as Sarah mentions in the beginning of this show, includes a story about a stroller in the middle of a busy streetCheck us out on Spotify!Pregnant mama contributor Alison Thompson co-hosts the Crunchy Cocktail Hour podcastAlison's pregnancy must-haves includeSnoogle Pregnancy PillowAZMED Maternity BeltLeTote (Alison's referral 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.

We all make choices about where and how we spend our money–so what areas of home, life, and style to Meagan and Sarah choose to save on, and which ones are our splurges? We discuss in this More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour (suggested by listener Rachel!). Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listener Rachel Holland has a sweet Etsy shop called Faded WildflowerThe Mom Hour on SpotifySarah’s vacuum splurges include (these are Amazon Affiliate links): Dyson V7 handheld trigger vacuum, Neato Botvac, and Dyson Animal upright vacuumOur recent episodes on Lunch Packing and on Productivity and Time Management are good ones if you’re feeling motivated for the new school 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.

Boxes, bags, and bentos–here we go, friends. We’re talking lunch-packing on this week’s episode of The Mom Hour. From the gear we love (or like well-enough), to the stuff we pack (no, it’s not pretty or perfect), to when and how we get lunches packed (and unpacked…ew), today’s episode is FULL of tips and stories to encourage you this school year. PLUS Sarah is joined by our newest new-mom contributor Alison Thompson at the end of the show. Check it out!LINKS MENTIONED:Episode 151: Feeding A Family (Breakfast & Lunch)Laura Fuentes / Momables.comThe Girl Next Door podcast episode about Home Efficiency, and Erica’s Instagram post about freezing sandwichesMeagan’s Lunch Box Challenge series on The Happiest Home (from 2011): Intro, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4Alison Thompson co-hosts the Crunchy Cocktail Hour podcast in our Life, Listened networkMeagan got the Classmate Printed Soft Sided Lunch Box from Lands’ EndSarah uses the Mackenzie Collection Classic Lunch Bags from Pottery Barn Kids and the Classic lunch bags from Pottery Barn Teen (slightly deeper but otherwise similar style)Pottery Barn Kids Spencer Bento BoxEasy Lunch Boxes Bento Lunch Box ContainersRubbermaid LunchBlox Kids Flat Lunch KitCVS Health Peas Hot or Cold Therapy PackFit & Fresh Cool Coolers Slim Reusable Ice PacksSarah has this Thermos brand Funtainer and Meagan’s teens have larger thermoses like this oneSarah sends inexpensive stainless steel demitasse spoons like these to school for yogurtMeagan used the SCOUT Divide & Conquer Open-top Storage Bin on top of her fridge for school snacks for yearsMORE 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.