Parenting Roundabout

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We continue to enjoy hanging out with the Shrinking folks, who do seem to be moving forward as this episode's title promises. We'll be sad to see them go after next week's season finale, "Closure." (But we can listen to the show's playlist on Apple Music, and look forward to season 2 at some undisclosed time in the future.)We do not, however, enjoy hanging out with the Walkers, Harpers, and other Brothers and Sisters characters who are really quite mean to each other in this episode (sometimes they deserve what they're getting, and sometimes they don't). Next: S1 E21, “Grapes of Wrath.” Sounds jolly!

With Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from January 2020.New phone frustration has us wondering if we're too old to be technically savvy, or if it's technology that needs to do a better job meeting our needs.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.Having built up a good head of steam on our first topic, we keep it up with some complaints about kids' activities. Can no one plan ahead anymore?!

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.​This article on young people starting businesses led us to ask whether our kids could capitalize on their obsessions. Either we don't have enough imagination, or the market hasn't caught up to their passions just yet.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's Country Music Minute brings us Morgan Wallen's latest, "One Thing at a Time." Nicole's resting easy on a new King Koil mattress, and Catherine's becoming a bird-watcher thanks to her suet log bird feeder (although hers is made from an actual log, not a log-like resin like the one linked).​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

An article about kids' astrological signs got us obsessing about whether they matched our own kids' temperaments and behaviors. First, we had to figure out what their signs even were. Mentioned: Starscroll horoscopes.

When we're casting about for something to inspire a rant, an article about "fill-in-the-blank parenting" is usually a safe bet. This week, it's "lazy parenting." Surprise! It's not lazy at all!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking gave us some fun new combinations of characters (and a great business idea) in "Boop." Next: S1 E9, "Moving Forward."The combinations on Brothers and Sisters were far less fun, as Kevin made a fool of himself on a blind date with Senator Handsome's brother (thanks to Kitty) and Joe made a pass at Sarah's half-sister. Not cool, guys. Next: S1 E20, "Bad News."

We're late to the TikTok party of sharing inside info from our professional experiences--as parents. But we have plenty of stories and "it worked for me" advice, so we're talking about it today. Mentioned: Terri's toy-store hangouts.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.​Inspired by the viral "I Swimsuit So Hard" video, we gripe about all the uncomfortable and impractical clothes women are expected to wear.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.​Terri may have just had a milestone birthday, but today Nicole is complaining about the little annoyances of aging. This is our reward for 20+ years of raising kids?!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, hip young traveler Nicole recommends TRU by Hilton hotels. Today's Instagram Minute is from Catherine, who suggests Animals Doing Things (cute and funny things). And Terri's Catholic Minute returns, this time with the Universalis app (mentioned: a past Catholic Minute pick, the Liturgy of the Hours from Word on Fire.)​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

An article about parents of a newborn who buttered up their neighbors with free booze prompted us to obsess about what peace offerings we'd provide, and when (and whether they're needed at all).

Terri confessed to an error she would've yelled at her kids for making, so Nicole and Catherine had to chime in with their own goofs to make her feel better. Plus, we all complained about the frustrations of aging. Mentioned: A laptop cleaning kit that Nicole recommended and Catherine has already ordered.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it's parties everywhere. The Shrinking gang, in the episode titled "Apology Tour," deals with post-party consequences (and still manages to have another party by the end of the ep). Next: S1 E8, "Boop."Various Walkers are of course partying in various ways in "Three Parties," an episode that felt like treading water in many ways--but with artichoke-themed cocktails. Next: S1 E19, "Game Night."

A roundup of the best shampoo subscriptions got us talking about all the things we'd like to see delivered regularly to our doorsteps, from the practical (kitty litter) to the treat-yoself (Diet Dr Pepper and beauty products). Mentioned: Overnight Oats, Blackout Coffee Co., Black Rifle Coffee, Grounds and Hounds Coffee, Ipsy.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.Attention, app developers: We have some ideas for you, because we need help scheduling, nagging, and shopping. Mentioned: Mom-matchmaking app Peanut.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019 (and it's a coincidence that it's our second Walker Hayes mention this week. What can we say--we've got a superfan in our midst).Inspired by "Don't Let Her," a sweet song from Walker Hayes, we obsess over all those details and quirks about our kids (and pets) that are important, but known only to us.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, It's Terri's turn for an Instagram Minute: She's passing along a recommendation from her ENT (hi, Dr. Lee from Summit Health) for The Dumb Dads on Instagram. Nicole is taking manicures into her own hands with a gel nail polish kit, and Catherine suggests a book called This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

There will always be some family issues that we want to keep within the immediate family, or maybe we want to keep from the kids just a little longer. On today's episode, we obsessed about what and how and when and why (or why not) to spill to our kids as they get older, when it's OK to lie to protect them, and whether that even works.