Parenting Roundabout

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out IHG Rewards [https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/content/us/en/home], a loyalty program that actually delivered for her. Nicole also found a product that delivered on its promise: Nature Fresh charcoal bags for absorbing (not covering) odors [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QRX9CQT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1]. And Terri's got some comfy new made-in-the-USA undies from BodyForce [https://bodyforcebrands.com/].

A fascinating BBC article [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220104-how-parenting-changes-you] got us obsessing about how our kids have changed us, and how much power we really have, as parents, to change them.

On today's episode, we're talking and complaining about gifts that come with a side of worry and confusion--those occasions where other people give our children gifts, and we can't quite figure out why they did. Do they think we are neglecting our kids' needs?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked out two new TV series and enjoyed them both--but will only continue watching one of them: As We See It, which resolves around three neurodivergent characters who live together as roommates. It can be painful to see the cruelty they experience, but it's also funny and warm and very well-acted. Mentioned: A sibling caregiver story on Once and Again, discussed on the Extra Hot Great podcast [https://www.extrahotgreat.com/392]; actor Rick Glassman (who plays Jack on As We See It) on Undateable [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuWDWbDu_E]; discussion forum about the show on Wrong Planet [https://wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=400783]; the Parks and Recollection podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parks-and-recollection/id1583327243].We also watched the new sitcom Abbott Elementary, which is cute and funny and sweet and not something Catherine can ever watch again, because the handheld camera work gave her a migraine. Instead, we'll check o

Banks are now promoting debit cards for kids, and in an increasingly cashless society, we can certainly see the benefits. They gotta learn somehow! Mentioned: Mint for budgeting [https://mint.intuit.com/].

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. This one is from February 2018, the last time the Winter Olympic Games were held.Upside: No constant blather from NBC commentators. Downside: Below-zero temps. Though we like watching the Winter Olympics just fine, we're not so sure what we'd want tickets for.

Today we're talking about talking on the phone—more specifically, helping our kids make their own calls to employers and insurance companies and other fun places. Why can't we do everything online, please?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole took the Wordle ball and ran with it, finding an app called Wordus that allows you to play Wordle all day long [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordus/id1602940346]. Terri enjoyed an in-home delivery from Enjoy [https://www.enjoy.com/]. And Catherine's happy that The Amazing Race [https://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/] is back after a Covid-imposed hiatus. Also mentioned: Amazing Race coverage at Rob Has a Podcast [https://robhasawebsite.com/shows/amazing-race-2/].

After Nicole heard about a Ring cam capturing footage of a mountain-lion fight, we obsessed over what wildlife we might encounter near our homes. We don't feel too threatened by deer and lake sturgeon, but we all agree that Canada geese have an attitude.

A Wall Street Journal column titled "Moms in Middle Age: Rarely Alone, Often Online, and Increasingly Lonely" [https://www.wsj.com/articles/moms-in-middle-age-rarely-alone-often-online-and-increasingly-lonely-11642860003] resonated with the Gen-X members of our trio (the Boomer is cool with just being left alone, although she does join the others in considering podcast recording sessions a big part of her social life).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we took a week off from TV and watched two movies: The Tender Bar (2021) and Up in the Air (2009). Both were enjoyable character studies, even if they were also very "Man has Man Problems." And speaking of enjoyable characters, George Clooney stars in Up in the Air and directed The Tender Bar. Next week, we're going to check out the pilots of two new TV series and consider whether to continue with one or both: As We See It (on Amazon Prime) and Abbott Elementary (on ABC/Hulu). If you have strong feelings about either, let us know!

Prompted by a researcher's "hey that's not what I meant!" article on note-taking by laptop [https://characterlab.org/tips-of-the-week/take-note/], we discussed the ups, downs, pros, and cons of kids using laptops and other tech to learn. Plus, what happens when hackers take out a school district's technology (hint: It's not pretty).

This or that: Sand and a sunburn or roller coasters and expensive fun? We're not all that enthusiastic about either one, TBH.​

Not only are we obsessed with embarrassing things that happened to us in high school, we're obsessed with trying to protect our kids from having the same obsession (and some of the other growing pains that come with adulthood). ​

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: In spite of the skepticism [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/second-listen-saturday-airpods-more-like-wherepods] she once expressed about AirPods [https://www.apple.com/airpods/], Terri has now acquired a pair and thinks they are pretty cool. Nicole left the desert to visit Vancouver and brought some cute rain boots [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086D4TZTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1] with her. And Catherine's totally on the Wordle [https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/] train (but not spamming her Facebook friends with her daily results).

Some moms might find a group primal scream therapeutic, but we're not buying it. We don't want witnesses to our screaming, so we suggest some alternatives.

An article titled "Being the Mom of Older Kids Is an On-Call Position" [https://grownandflown.com/always-available-for-my-teens/] definitely resonated with us. Our kids might not cry for us in the middle of the night anymore, but they still need us!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we wrap up our Ted Lasso watch with the final two episodes of season 2. It's the less universally beloved season, and we definitely have quibbles with some of the storylines. But we still enjoyed it very much, and look forward to season 3. Next week, a George Clooney double feature: Up in the Air (2009), in which he stars [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/], and The Tender Bar (2021!), which he directs [https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Bar-Ben-Affleck/dp/B09J67JJGC].

An article about uncertain incentives led us to talk about whether our kids are motivated by praise that's intermittent or constant. Say it with us: Parenting is hard! Motivating kids is hard!! Also mentioned: Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach by Howard Glasser; Funds of Knowledge by Norma Gonzalez, Luis C. Moll, and Cathy Amanti; our most recent discussion about motivation [visit https://parentingroundabout.com for links].Fact check: Terri said she heard about the article "Uncertain Incentives" on the podcast No Stupid Questions. But while she did read the article at about the same time she listened to the similarly themed "Which Is More Powerful: Reward or Punishment?" episode of No Stupid Questions, it in fact came in her email as a Tip of the Week from Character Lab, which she heard about from No Stupid Questions cohost Angela Duckworth. It was not something that was mentioned on the podcast episode.

It's a delicate subject, but we do all have some bad diet story or other, from grapefruits to cabbage to partial vegan. There's one we give thumbs-up to, too.