The Mom Hour

We’re back with more on the topic of kids’ birthday! Last week’s podcast episode was all about the kids in your house and this week we turn our attention to other people’s parties. Join us as we discuss RSVP etiquette, how and why you might want to opt out of going to EVERY party you’re invited to by a child in your kid’s preschool class, where we shop for affordable birthday gifts, and 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.

Welcome to a two-part episode all about kids’ birthdays! From simple family traditions to parties and classroom celebrations, we’ve got you covered. In Episode 68 we focus on your own kids, and how to make their birthdays special without making yourself crazy. Next week we’ll turn our attention to other people’s kids’ – getting invited to school friends’ parties, shopping for gifts, etc.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s mini muffin/cupcake tin is like this oneStream the Jonny & Meagan Mornings radio show from 6:00-9:00am Eastern Monday through FridaySubmit a question to Ask Meagan (not necessary to be a SW Michigan local)An oldie (2010!) but goodie on The Happiest Home from Meagan: The Good-Enough BirthdayFrom our friend Sarah at Bluegrass Redhead: Why I Throw My Kids Over-the-top Birthday PartiesMORE 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.

Mornings can be a challenge for busy families, and now that school is back in session we thought we’d take a deep dive into those tricky hours between dawn and drop-off. Join Meagan and Sarah for practical tips and “we’ve all been there” confessions on everything from wake-up times to breakfast routines and lunch-packing to getting out the door on time.We are also so thankful to have the input of Kelsey, Elizabeth, and Angie, three full-time outside-the-home working moms you might remember from an episode earlier this summer. They sent in their best working mom tips for making mornings easier and we share them throughout the show.LINKS MENTIONED:Kelsey’s podcast, The Girl Next DoorElizabeth’s blog, Teaching Sam & ScoutInside the lives of 3 working moms (the interview show featuring Kelsey, Elizabeth and Angie)Routines for a happy mom life (a show we did last year that pairs nicely with this one)Kelsey’s freezer breakfast burritosBryan’s smoothies usually include: frozen berries, assorted fresh fruits, banana, oats, spinach or kale, and almond milkHow I Use Music To Get Us To School On Time (Heather of Rookie Moms, which inspired Sarah’s system)SONOS Play:1 (starter speaker set from the system Sarah’s family uses)IKEA PUGG Wall Clock (in Sarah’s kitchen)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.

In this month’s bonus interview Meagan chats with financial writer and mom Kimberly Palmer, whose new book Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family speaks to the challenges facing many parents today.LINKS MENTIONED:Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family (Kimberly Palmer)Kimberly-Palmer.comPalmersPlanners, Kimberly’s Etsy shop featuring printable financial planners and worksheets for momsMORE 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 you’re a longtime listener, you know that Meagan and Sarah like to occasionally set aside issues of parenting and family life and talk about all the other things making them happy: books, movies, podcasts, style, food, and creative pursuits. In this week’s show we kick off a new semi-regular series where we do just that. We’re calling it The More-Than-Mom Hour!LINKS MENTIONED:Thirteen Moons by Charles FrazierThe Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix SweeneyAlexander Hamilton by Ron ChernowThe Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica LaheyThe Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups by Erika ChristakisDopamine by BØRNS (the band Meagan went to see)Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast Recording)NPR Politics PodcastThe Girl Next Door Podcast#AmWriting with Jess & KJMagic Lessons podcast and Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertTarget shorts! We’re pretty sure we both have these (left, below), and Sarah has some similar to these(right, below). Meagan was excited about the 4″ length options this season too.Fabletics tops and Victoria’s Secret lace bralets, similar to those pictured belowMORE 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 time for another episode where Meagan and Sarah take on questions from YOU, our listeners! Big thanks to Becky, Claire and Amanda for allowing us to talk through some really common issues for parents.First we hear from Becky, whose son is going through a tough phase of fears and anxieties that are dominating the household mood and her energy. Then we tackle Claire’s sticky situation involving wild kids, a restaurant, and a big family reunion. Finally, we help new mom Amanda think through her decision to co-sleep.LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to Becky’s question about kids and anxiety at 01:15The Opposite of Worry: The Playful Parenting Approach to Childhood Anxieties and Fears by Lawrence J. CohenListen to Claire’s question about how to handle wild kids that aren’t hers at a family reunion at 16:25Listen to Amanda’s question about co-sleeping at 25:20The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Nightby Elizabeth PantleyThe No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Child’s Sleep by Elizabeth PantleyMORE 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 tragedy strikes and our news feeds fill with heartbreak and outrage, it’s hard enough to manage our own feelings of sadness and worry, let alone find ways to talk to kids about what’s happening and help them understand what they heard on the playground or saw on the screen.In this special bonus interview Sarah sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Jennifer Freed to understand what’s at stake when our kids encounter scary news, how to talk to older kids about tragic events, how to promote empathy and emotional learning starting with babies and toddlers, and how to get our news without letting it dominate our state of mind.LINKS MENTIONED:JenniferFreed.comAHA! Attitude. Harmony. Achievement.Dr. Freed on Facebook and TwitterThe phrases Dr. Freed recommended searching, along with the name of your area, to find local organizations similar to hers, are “social-emotional learning” and “mindfulness education”CHARACTER: Empowering Yourself with Emotional Intelligence (Dr. Freed’s FREE workbook for teens, available via Amazon for Kindle)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.

Are your floors dirty? So are ours, most likely. While you sweep, vacuum or mop, why not pop your earbuds in and listen to Meagan and Sarah talk about keeping a clean-enough house in Episode 64 of The Mom Hour!We offer practical tips and advice room-by-room, talk about some of our favorite cleaning products, and discuss the sometimes-sticky topic of hiring cleaning help. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:The Happiest Home’s Deep-Cleaning Challenge from 2014 (a zone-by-zone approach you can do in 30 minutes a day)FlyLady.net (the cleaning schedule Meagan subscribed to as a new mom)Edit Your Life Episode 46: Should We Force Our Kids To Be Tidy?10 Upgrades That Make Cleaning Less of a Chore (Meagan for The Happiest Home)The Help: The Truth About Hiring A Cleaning Service (Meagan for The Happiest Home)Sarah likes Home Ec 101 for how-to cleaning advice, and loves this list of articles by topic on their siteMORE 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.

After last week’s episode all about starting school we heard from listeners who wanted some insight into the middle school years. Since Sarah’s kids aren’t quite there yet, she puts Meagan in the spotlight in this week’s show, asking about everything from academic expectations to awkward physical changes. As always, we’re judgement-free and totally honest. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Episode 62: Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Starting School Edition) The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed (Jessica Lahey)Our recent discussion about tweens and social media can be found in Episode 61 (skip to 32:50 to hear us talk about 12-year-olds)As promised, middle school photos of Sarah (pictured in 6th and 7th grades, side-by-side) and Meagan. Be sure to listen to the episode for the behind-the-scenes hair stories.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 it’s your kid starting preschool or kindergarten for the first time, every detail seems mission-critical. But having sent our kids off to new classrooms year after year for quite a while now, we’re here to tell you: It’ll all be OK.In this fun addition to our “Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About” series, Meagan and Sarah look back at the things we fretted over when our kids went off to school for the first time. With the benefit of hindsight we’ll help ease your mind about everything from potty training your preschooler to finding all the school supplies on that crazy list.LINKS MENTIONED:Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About: New Mom and Toddler EditionsThe episode we did last year about Choosing The Right School For Your KidsDebunking The Myth of the “Good School Mom” (Episode 21)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.