Parenting Roundabout

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.​​On a scale of sharing Ketchup Chips to watching The Emoji Movie, we gauge our willingness to play the martyr.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.​This report on how much our little darlings cost us got us complaining about all the expenses we've covered over the years, from the predictable to the (unpleasantly) surprising.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine was influenced by Sherry at Young House Love to buy her daughter a candle warmer lamp. Nicole's labeling everything in sight with her Niimbot label maker, and Terri's fostering independence with the Liddle Griddle, which is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches (and maybe also for pancakes).​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A New York Times newsletter item suggesting that today's adult kids are doing better than their parents think they are got us obsessing about what it really means to be independent and launch into the world, both today and in past generations.

A Psychology Today article about sources of tension between adult children and their parents got us complaining about our old friends, the listicle and the alleged expert, along with the fact that parenting adult children is just as hard (if not harder) than parenting little ones.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Ted Lasso crew goes on a somewhat trippy trip to Amsterdam. The players vow to stick together as a team, but everyone else is isolated in their own storyline. We'd like some ensemble back in this ensemble show, please! Next (in two weeks): Season 3, episodes 7 and 8. Mentioned: The "Beard After Dark" episode from season 2; reviews/commentary from Linda Holmes and the Fug Girls; the immersive Van Gogh exhibit.On Brothers and Sisters, Justin is home from Iraq and trying to recuperate from a serious injury with his mother hovering, while Sarah and Joe split for good. The best thing about this episode is the appearance of Denis O'Hare as the senator's campaign manager. Next (in two weeks, as Terri will be recovering from surgery next week--sadly without a Nora to take care of her): season 2, episode 3, "History Repeating."

It's prom season, and the youngest of our kids is attending two events this year (which came as something of a surprise to his mother).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.​Terri's daughter found out the hard way that Facebook doesn't look too kindly on name changes made just for fun.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.​In this episode, we complain about all those sports, activities, camps, and classes that we thought would be the answer to our prayers, but fell short (sometimes, way short). Who knew trying to help our kids find their passion and their tribe would be so hard?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's marveling at the power of her Corkcicle water bottle. Terri enjoyed the story, writing, and narration, all by Julia Whelan, of Thank You for Listening (Whelan also narrated another of our past Roundup items, Flying Solo by Linda Holmes). And Catherine recommends Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, a charming, bittersweet, family-friendly movie.​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

When we heard about an upcoming mother-daughter book by Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, we obsessed about the books we could write, given that we all have mothers and daughters and writing experience (just no Academy Awards). Mentioned: Social Print Studio, Storyworth, S**t My Dad Says, The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters.

Catherine's son got his temporary driver's license almost three years late, and Terri's made his confirmation at age 30. So we complained about artificial timetables and the people who try to make us and our kids stick to them.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, "Signs" was the last episode of Ted Lasso for Shandy (we hope) and Zava (we wonder). We saw a lot of plot points coming, but not Zava's retirement. Next: S3 E6, "Sunflowers."Then, we jumped right in to season 2 of Brothers and Sisters with "Home Front." It had a little bit of everything we expect from the Walkers: Public arguments, sharing TMI about one's sex life with one's siblings, and a birthday party turned tragic. Next: S2 E2, "An American Family."

An article on baby first-aid kits got us talking about essentials for bigger kids: We've traded the nasal aspirator and the tiny medicine droppers for KT Tape and chewing gum (but two of us can't seem to keep un-expired over-the-counter meds in stock).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.​​Inspired by the funny ladies of I Mom So Hard, we riff on the labels that should come with your firstborn.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.​On today's episode, we talk teensplaining: That lovely way that adolescents have of knowing everything and not being the least bit shy about sharing that knowledge, especially with their ignorant parents. From laundry to driving to law enforcement, our (completely uncredentialed) kids are the experts!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine updates her recommendation for Hugimals weighted stuffed animals. Nicole's rocking some comfy Rockport dress shoes, and Terri's ears are full of Catholic podcasts: Catholic Latte, Restore the Glory, and Beyond the Beacon.​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A question about how our first kids are different from their younger siblings got us obsessing about personality, birth order, nature vs. nurture, and what our kids' relationships are with each other now vs. when they were younger. They definitely agree on one thing: Their mothers can be so annoying.

Prompted by a Huffington Post query, we complain about how and why it's so hard to let others help us, when we are perfectly willing to extend a hand to neighbors and friends in need. What's your position on asking for and granting favors?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Ted Lasso's team may have had a "big week," but the episode was fairly small and restrained. We'd like our jokes back, please! Next: Season 3, episode 5, "Signs."On Brothers and Sisters, of course nothing is ever small or restrained, and that includes Senator McCallister's relatives, which show up to his engagement party and proceed to out-Walker the Walkers (until the Walkers all jump, fully clothed, into the pool). Next: Season 2, episode 1, "Home Front."