The Mom Hour

What’s a mom to do when one kid feels left out of outings his younger sibling gets to do while he’s at school? A listener about to move to a new city for just one year wants tips for finding mom friends quickly, and another listener’s question about how common it is for moms to feel the need to keep spirits up in a family with moodier characters really gets Meagan and Sarah thinking about their own families. Finally, a newer listener is curious about Meagan’s backstory of young motherhood and journey to becoming a mom of five. In Episode 374 we take these questions from our community and – for the first time! – include words of wisdom from members of our contributor team in addition to our own advice. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan is struggling with a fly infestation in her sunroom! Has anyone dealt with this before? If so, Meagan would love to know how you solved it! Reach out to her on Instagram.If you’re struggling to find mom friends like our listener Annie, our contributor Catie recommended joining&n

Today we’re talking about advice: asking for it, giving it, and consuming it in general. Things have come a looong way since the days of Dear Abby (we’re looking at you, Facebook crowdsourcing!), and in this fun More Than Mom conversation, Meagan and Sarah share how we individually show up when it comes to receiving advice, whether we’re comfortable giving advice, and how it all has changed for us over the years. We also discuss our mutual fascination with advice-column culture and parse the difference between seeking wise counsel from trusted friends and looking for quick answers from the Internet hive mind. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:New York Times Ask the Ethicist is a current advice column that considers readers’ ethical quandaries.Here’s a link to Megan Leahy’s On Parenting Advice Column with The Washington Post.Our Facebook Mom Hour Listener Community is a supportive place to crowd source (if that is your thing!)More Than Mom: Meagan & Sarah As Kids And Teens is a good pai

We get dueling messages from our culture: On the one hand, come as you are! Accept yourself fully, imperfections and all. On the other hand, you deserve better! Here’s what to do (and buy) to sleep better, eat better, look better, and feel better. It can be confusing to navigate a genuine desire to live your best life alongside the necessary self-acceptance it takes to feel like you’re doing enough today. Do we have this figured out? We do not, but today we’re here to talk about it. Meagan and Sarah share what self-improvement AND self-acceptance look like for them in the reams of wellness, career, mental health, and leisure – plus we reflect on what this balance has looked like at different seasons of motherhood. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan mentioned her interview with Rachel Hughes on Mother Of Reinvention is an inspiration for this conversationMeagan is trying out Parsley Health for her own wellness curiositySarah mentioned our 2022 Goals & Intentions episode (and if yo

Meagan’s first baby shower was – wait for it – twenty-five years ago this summer. To bring her up to speed on how things are done nowadays and what’s new in baby gear, gifting, and registries, Meagan is joined by Kia and Katherine from our contributor team. Both are seasoned moms who have seen trends evolve, and both have had babies much (much) more recently. Join us as we talk about the pros and cons to today’s baby product landscape, what’s changed and what hasn’t, and what we’d do differently when registering for our very first baby shower. Kia and Katherine also share their must-have product recommendations and registry favorites while Meagan puts it all into context for us. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Read How To Make The Most Out Of Your Baby Registry by contributor Sarah LimbergKia and Katherine both mentioned Babylist as a go-to registry siteKia also loves Spearmint Love BoutiqueThe Snoo was discussed (as was the age-old conversation around automated baby-soothing)Meagan w

“How do you know when your family is complete?” is one of the most common listener questions we receive. Meagan and Sarah both now have several years of hindsight separating them from the baby and toddler years, and today we’re reflecting on the idea of a “complete” family unit. We acknowledge that it doesn’t necessarily look like what we imagined it would – and that for many moms there is uncertainty and even grief wrapped up in all of this – but we also find much to celebrate about the current and future states of our proverbial “family tables”. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:It’s that time again–to send us your Listener Questions! Email us at hello@themomhour.com and be sure to put Listener Question in the subject line. We can’t wait to hear from you.Sarah refers to the recent More Than Mom: Meagan and Sarah as Kids & Teens episode when she compares how her sibling relationships were throughout childhood to her kids’ sibling relationships. We reference the Muscle Memory of Mother

Not feeling like an expert in the housework realm? Turns out, very few of feel like we know what we are doing. Last week Meagan and Sarah talked about WHAT we do to keep our households in a state of "good enough," and this week's Part Two is all about the feelings that came up as we tracked a week of real-life housework. We dive into some of our insecurities as home managers, the difference between housework and mothering, and some of the really sticky aspects of finding your identity as a mom and homemaker in the 21st century. We have LOTs of thoughts - and we hope you'll join us! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What we remember from childhood helps build our narrative of who we were - even if those memories are fuzzy or slightly flawed. Today Meagan and Sarah get in the way-WAY-back machine and reflect on what we were like as kids and teens. As a child, Meagan was dreamy, imaginative, chatty, and obsessed with balloons (!!), while Sarah was studious, quiet-but-sociable, responsible, and circumstantially prone to tears. We touch on how our personalities developed as we grew up, whether we were “popular” or not, and if we felt clueless or confident come high school. Join us for this fun More Than Mom to get a glimpse into our growing up years (at least the way we remember it!). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most of us enjoy having a clean and tidy home, but have you ever kept track of how much you do throughout the week to keep it that way? In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah share what seven days of real-life housework looks like in our homes. We reflect on the tasks we knew went into running a home, and some surprising ones we never thought of as housework before (like picking plums and chasing chickens!). Whether you prioritize deep-cleaning on a regular schedule or tend to tidy as you go and hope for the best, it’s eye-opening and gratifying to acknowledge the work that goes into managing a home full of kids. Join us for Part One, and check back next week for Part Two!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah mentioned using this Keepsake Portfolio for all things kids’ artwork and school keepsakes.Like the style of the “Week of Real Life…” episodes? Here’s our Week of Real-Life Dinners series:A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 5): Episode 336A Week of Real-Life Dinners: (Vol. 4) Episode 3058 Moms Share Their Family’s

If you travel with kids, it’s just a matter of time before a trip goes off the rails in spectacular fashion. Maybe it’s a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, or an expensive vacation spent sick in a pricey hotel room. Today Sarah is joined by Catie, Stacy, Emily and Lisa – regular contributors to the show and seasoned travelers with a combined 13 kids – who share their most memorable travel mishap stories. (Full disclaimer: there will be puke-talk.) In sharing these stories, we hope to normalize that travel with kids doesn’t have to go perfectly to be “worth it” and remind you that you’re not alone if this summer’s adventures go awry. Plus, one of the only perks to surviving stories like these is that we get to laugh about them later. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out the Family Travel Hub where our contributors share their tips, how-to guides and all things family travelMeet The Mom Hour Contributor TeamFollow today’s guest co-hosts on InstagramCatie Parrish, Brand Partnerships Manager at The

As moms, we can be hard on ourselves…and sometimes we just need to hear the simplest, oft-repeated pieces of advice and encouragement to remind us that it is all going to be OK. Join Meagan and Sarah for a reflection on eight pieces of wisdom that have carried us through motherhood struggles at every age and stage. We are offering them to you, to ourselves, and to all of our future selves in Episode 369. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Don’t miss chicken content on Meagan’s InstagramIf you don’t know what we’re talking about when we mention toddler Isaac and the viral meme featuring Meagan and Isaac, read this or listen to this or watch thisWe mentioned answering a listener question about gentle parenting in this episodeSarah loved this conversation and mentioned it in the context of not being alone in whatever you’re going through: Jen Hatmaker: What We Win When We Lose It All (We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle)Meagan and Sarah originally introduced these “mom truths” in&

Have you ever fantasized about attending a camp-like environment for grown-ups? Much about the classic summer camp experience is appealing to us (though not EVERYTHING–we could certainly do without the bugs), and the idea of simply showing up for a perfectly curated experience without any responsibility, or planning, sounds AMAZING. Listen to this fun More Than Mom to hear all of our must-have activities (like food and wine tastings, yoga, personal style consults and more!), things that would be a hard no (like swimming in the gross, murky lake or participating in corny, guided crafts) and our daydreams about creating a Mom Hour Retreat (maybe someday?)! Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Do you have a fun idea for a Mom Hour Retreat? Share it with us–we’d love to hear from you!You might also like this episode: More Than Mom: Meagan And Sarah Get Stranded On A Deserted Island9 Perfect Strangers on Hulu is a worthwhile show to watch to give you that fantasy camp feel, it just turns a bit dark.Here are a fe

Among parents, technology and screen time can be a loaded topic. How much is too much? Is that movie too mature? And what’s the best age for a first phone? In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah share the role technology played in our families when kids were little, and reflect on how things changed as they grew. We discuss the tech parenting choices we still stand behind today, and with hindsight, what we could have done differently. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:If you have topic suggestions for this Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done series, email us!If you enjoyed this episode check out Episode 359, Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer PlanningMeagan mentioned past show sponsor Gryphon, is a mesh wifi router system that was created by parents who wanted a better way to control their families’ internet. Check out our Family Travel HubThe blog post Making A Case For Video Games pairs nicely with this episodeMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partners

There are big benefits to getting kids outside as much as possible. But as a mom to young kids, it can feel intimidating to curate the perfect outside experience for them (and you)! In this Voices episode, Meagan chats with regular contributors Jayme Sherrod and Jennifer Carroll about ways to weave nature into your family’s routine. Both Jennifer and Jayme love the outdoors, but their approaches to getting outside with young kids are very different; listen to get their best tips and must-have gear for successful outdoor family adventures. Whether you are looking for encouragement to take baby steps to get kids outside regularly or some inspiration to try bigger adventures, you’ll love this conversation. Enjoy! LINKS MENTIONED:The Seek App identifies wildlife, plants and fungi so you can learn about the organisms all around you.Merlin Birding App helps you identify birdsThese Battery-Operated Spray Fans keep Meagan and her kids cool in the heat.Last Child In the Woods by Richard L

It’s the last day of May, which means that for many families it’s time to stow away backpacks, say ‘see ya later’ to early morning alarms, and settle in for a more laid-back (or at least DIFFERENT) routine. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah tap into the wisdom of our community and share your simple summer rituals and traditions for filling summer calendars with fun – without totally throwing structure out the window. Enjoy this mashup of sweet, family rituals along with clever house rules to help you prepare for summer days ahead!LINKS MENTIONED:The Facebook Mom Hour Listener Community Thread that inspired episode 367The Mom Hour Family Travel Hub is a great place to go for all things travel related like must-have travel gear, water safety tips, keeping kids entertained in the car, and much more! Past episodes that pair well with Episode 367A Summertime Chores, Life Skills & Freedoms ResetPreparing Kids (And Ourselves!) For Summer IndependenceGlad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer Pla

Looking back at old photos is a quick way to feel ALL the feels: everything from “I can’t believe they were ever that little” to “What was I thinking with that haircut?” to “Oh riiiiiiiight, that was one exhausting season of life.” Looking back is also a great reminder of the value in documenting everyday life – whether we share it publicly or keep it tucked away for our future selves. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah take a stroll down motherhood memory lane as we look back at one day (May 24) in our motherhood lives over several years. Spoiler Alert—our kids are cute, we’ve had many life changes over the past ten years and Meagan will forever be paranoid about applying sunscreen (sorry Owen!). Enjoy!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

Products. Just because. Yay! Meagan and Sarah pop into your Sunday feed with a light and fluffy chat about the products we are loving lately. From linen pants to fizzy beverage makers, pens for lefties and Very Many Opinions About Mugs, we cover our latest can’t-live-without products in this fun More Than Mom episode. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The Essential Calendar is perfect to help you get organized this summer (that’s our affiliate link – and you can see what the calendar looks like here)Did you snag The Mom Hour mug from our merch shop yet?Sarah’s loving the everyday mugs from this Etsy shop (the Powers family has the ones labeled “mug,” which are quiet large, and the ones labeled “medium mug,” which are smaller)Sarah bought Meagan this insulated mug for Christmas last yearSarah’s Hydroflask Coffee Mug is the 12oz version seen on this page, and the replacement lids are also listed on the same page. We think the new colors and the 6oz version are both adorab

Between the raging hormones, sleep deprivation, and overstimulation that occurs on the daily, it’s no wonder most moms feel a little “off” for a few weeks after delivery. But how do we know when the baby blues develop into something more? In this episode, Sarah chats with contributors Emily Roark and Kia Hammond, who share their personal postpartum mental health journeys, including how they recognized signs of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, when and how they got help, and which coping strategies worked best. We also get into preparing for mental health support during subsequent pregnancies, how the COVID upended mitigation strategies for pandemic babies, and more. We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation. LINKS MENTIONED:If you’re struggling, you can speak to someone right now about how you’re feeling by reaching out to Postpartum Support International’s HelpLine at 1-800-944-4773. If you ever feel like you might harm yourself or your baby, text HOME to the National Crisis Te

Performances. Plays. Graduations. The lusty month of May is upon us as we ditch our well-oiled, calendar-planning systems and enter our end-of-school-year survival mode. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah share strategies for tackling the extra-ness of this season (like death by a thousand emails), setting intentions for the next few weeks and the many lessons May tries to teach us year after year (maybe someday we will learn?). Enjoy this May madness roundup as you dream of the peaceful, calm days of summer ahead (Ha, wouldn’t that be great!). LINKS MENTIONED:Talking About Our Own Kids. Or Not: Episode 364 pairs well with this episode. For more May madness, check out our Playlist: May Survival Guide for School ParentsMORE 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

As moms, we are our kids’ biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) – and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!). Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan interviewed Will in Real Talk About High School (With A Real Teen!): Voices 71You might also like this episode where we talk about “Sharenting”Here’s a link to additional episodes featuring conversations about our specific eight kidsMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode – airing on Mother’s Day! – Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky ?) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:We’d love to hear your thoughts around opting out of Mother’s Day messaging. Have you ever found that to be helpful? Let us know in the comments below or on this episode’s Instagram post!Here’s the Mother’s Day Ad Spend Data Meagan referencedMeagan’s podcast, Mother Of Reinvention, recently featured an interview with Katie Keating about marketing to – and by – midlife womenFancy, a NYC advertising agency, surveyed 500 women over 40 about their feelings concerning advertising and marketing and highlighted their findings in this post.MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our we