Parenting Roundabout

A report on a study of helicopter parenting, which you'd think we would be cheering, somehow gave us fodder for complaints: One of us isn't buying it, and another thinks its definition of helicoptering might be wrong. (And speaking of Substacks, the report is on Bruce Feiler's newsletter, which was recommended by Asha Dornfest's, Parent of Adults).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking managed to out-cringe Brothers and Sisters (not easy), thanks to terrible decisions by just about everyone. It's no wonder that next week's episode, S1 E7, is called "Apology Tour."There were still bad decisions on Brothers and Sisters, of course--finally, Senator McCallister puts a foot wrong--along with some bad writing, just for fun. Next: S1 E18, "Three Parties." The Walkers do love a party!

A cute video claiming to use AI to help sell Walker Hayes's home got us talking about what we'd like to put up for sale, and how we could use the latest tech tools to help close the deal.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.From fantastic memory to nerves of steel, we celebrate the qualities we admire in our kids.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.An unwelcome visit from a live frog got Nicole thinking about setting boundaries and making rules. She has some complaints about what happens when your adult kids are your roommates. ​

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's snacking on flavorful, virtuous crackers from 2s Company, while Nicole's laughing with the ladies of the I've Had It podcast and Terri's enjoying Substack newsletters from Alan Sepinwall and the Fug Girls (also mentioned: R. Eric Thomas's newsletter, which is non-Substack, but still very fun).​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A Wall Street Journal article about parents ghostwriting their kids' texts got us obsessing: Our ghostwriting services extend well beyond texts. We are professionals!

Whether it's due to a generation gap or a kid's need to "figure it out" themselves, we can complain about plenty of occasions when we just don't understand what our kids are doing. And we don't think we're alone.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Shrinking folks are doing things they can't face, or at least trying to, while the Walkers, on Brothers and Sisters, are facing the fact that there's another one of them (and making some truly bad decisions about her). Next: Shrinking S1E6, "Imposter Syndrome," and Brothers and Sisters S1 E 17, "All in the Family."

Inspired by TikTok, we chatted about what activities our families like to share, starting with watching TikToks together.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.Find out which one of us bans coffee for kids and teens, and which one fed it to her young child by accident.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.After reading yet another article about how parents only have 18 summers with their kids (they show up every year), we respond with a hearty "So what?" We can come up with at least 18 things about summer with kids that we're glad to be done with.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's fortifying her home with a heavy-duty door security bar from Brinks. Terri is keeping tabs on her health with her very own home blood pressure monitor, and Catherine's soothing them both with a pretty tune from singer-songwriter Claire Kelly called "The Land that Time Forgot."Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

On today's episode, we obsess about the news that Marie Kondo has backtracked a bit on her tidiness crusade (and of course, has written a new book about it). Mentioned: Silk long underwear, tea organizer.

Terri's been through a lot of medical tests recently, which gives us the opportunity to complain about all that entails--from the discomfort to the claustrophobia to the too-long (or sometimes too short?) wait for results. Mentioned: Summit Health on Roundabout Roundup.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we see two views of psychotherapy. On Shrinking, Jimmy is having mixed results with his unorthodox methods, while also trying to juggle his relationships with his daughter, co-workers, and neighbors. Next: Season 1, episode 5, "Woof."On Brothers and Sisters, episode 15, "Love Is Difficult," was perfectly timed for Valentine's Day. And it looks like love is going to get even more difficult for the Walkers, now that their half-sister has arrived in town. Next: Season 1, episode 16, "The Other Walker."

After our friend Mike shared a meme on the topic of "if moms made candy hearts," we decided to devote this almost-Valentine's Day episode to talking about our candy conversation heart ideas. What would yours say?

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.Turns out we're not big jewelry people, but we do each have a sentimental piece or two.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.​As if birthdays weren't enough pressure, Terri's facing one that feels like New Year's Day times 60: What should she do to celebrate? And what should she do to make it count and change her life for the better? She needs ideas.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her own efforts and imploring you to check out the index she's creating of everything we've covered on Round 2: TV shows, movies, books, live theatre, and more. Meanwhile, Catherine adds to Terri's workload by mentioning the Peacock reality show The Traitors, hosted by Alan Cumming.​Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.