The Mom Hour

Is Meagan a yoga teacher now? Did she survive her alcohol break? How is her gut health and body hair? Did Sarah chill out when it comes to reading? Did she stick to her social media Sabbath? Is she a foster kitty mom and standing taller? In this More Than Mom episode, we're revisiting the intentions we set at the beginning of the new year. We share where we've aced it, what helped us be successful, and what's been surprisingly easy. On the flip side, we get honest about how things have fallen apart a little bit, how we're trying to stay level-headed about our habits, and the goals we've made zero progress toward. It's only been a couple months, so we haven't nailed every intention on our lists, but this chat was a productive reality check and helps us think about our paths forward for the rest of the year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

News flash: the babies born at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic are turning two! Their little lives have been marked with fear, stress, sadness . . . and, undeniably, also joy. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are joined by seven moms from our team sharing about their remarkable babies and this historic time they’ve entered the world. You’ll hear different perspectives on how real moms have handled situations like introducing their babies to other people, venturing out into the world, and the little moments that made them think, “Wow, this is a pandemic baby!” Even if you didn’t have a baby in the past two years, you’re sure to appreciate this reflective episode – the first in a two-part series – as we honor the hard and celebrate the specialness of pandemic babies. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our series on Pandemic Perspectives, and these related episodes: How Covid Complicates Parenting, Stage By Stage, and 10 Things We Love About ToddlersCheck out all our episodes and blog po

Whether you’ve known them since they were babies or they’re part of a crew always hanging out at your house, there’s a special relationship that can form between you and kiddos that aren’t your own. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are chatting about the “mom vibe” we’re going for, little ways we adjust behavior (both kids’ AND ours), and what happens if a child isn’t a great fit for our fam. Meagan also shares what it’s like to cultivate meaningful connections with teenagers and grown nieces and nephews. So get comfy, and join us for this heartwarming episode . . . Meagan’s passing out blankies, and Sarah’s got the good snacks!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to these related episodes: Other People’s Babies, Other Adults In Our Kids’ Lives, For The Love Of Cousins, and House Rules For PlaydatesRead our Contributor Katherine DeVries’s blog post, How To Make Mom Friends & Build Community As A New ParentMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on Inst

Meagan’s current romance sitch is a topic we get questions about from curious listeners, so today we’re giving an update, beginning with the meet-cute to end all meet-cutes! Since then, it’s been more than a two-year journey (through Covid, no less!) as Eric has gone from a “Person You May Know” on Facebook to Meagan’s “Special Man Friend.” Sarah asks Meagan how they’re handling sticky stuff, like dating someone with kids, grown-up sleepovers, moving in together (or not), and sharing holidays. And Meagan shares what she loves about Eric and the common ground that connects them. Lest you think this episode is all about warm fuzzies, we also toss in a goodnatured Super Bowl rant and take a moment to figure out Meagan’s real age. This day-before-Valentine’s, More Than Mom episode is sure to put a smile on your face–and lend some hope and comfort to our dating-mom listeners. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to these related episodes: Dating As A Divorced Mom and Dating & Romance (For Single Moms &a

If you feel like your grocery bill has been creeping up, you’re not crazy. Food prices have been rising for a while, and unlike other areas of your budget, groceries definitely fall solidly into the “need, not want” category. So how DO you spend less money on food when you’re feeding a family? In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah get honest about the areas where our food spending starts to spiral out of control, as well as how we approach leftovers, generic products, pantry inventory, and family-favorite cheap-o dinners. We also share some smart tips from an actual budget expert (ahem, not us). Make sure you listen ’til the end to hear Meagan’s best tip! Join us. LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan references this article on food inflationWe mention these recent episodes: Money Saving Ideas, Room By Room, A Week of Real-Life Dinners, Small Steps Toward Sustainability In The KitchenSarah thought the June Grocery Haul Challenge from The Financial Diet was fascinatingSwipe through this

Mothers, in general, are experiencing pandemic-related isolation and stress; Black women, in particular, are in crisis. From access to fertility treatments and pregnancy support to delivery complications and postpartum health, disparities around race impact Black mothers throughout their lives. In our latest Voices episode, Meagan speaks with Monique Dozier, licensed therapist and founder of Journey to Genesis Mental Health Services. Monique shares the questions we should all be asking ourselves AND the specific actions we can take to stand hand-in-hand with communities of color. She also reminds us that educating children is an important step in creating a legacy of inclusivity, and shares some of the many joys of being a Black mother. We hope you’ll listen to this important episode. LINKS MENTIONED:Learn more and connect with Monique Dozier at Journey to GenesisRead more about the challenges facing black mothers: Birthing While Black: Examining America’s Black Maternal Health Crisis, The

With rising prices, many of us are looking for big and little ways to cut back on expenses and spend wisely in 2022. Being smart about when, where, and what you buy AND how you use it adds up to make a big difference in your bottom line. Meagan and Sarah are sharing their best, budget-friendly ideas for everything from clothing and toiletries to furniture and decor. Plus, they share a few times where taking the free advice of a professional helped them save big bucks . . . and Meagan talks about poopy laundry. (Gross, funny, but informative!) We’ll be chatting food and groceries next week, but for frugal tips on everything else, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan finds good deals at TJ Maxx and saves money working CVS ExtraBucksWe both genuinely love our pants from our sponsor BetabrandSarah is a big fan of the laundry pods from our sponsor Public Goods (Use code MOMHOUR for $15 off!)Listen to our Voices episode: Spending, Saving, and Living Your Value

A mom of four seeks advice on siblings who are like oil and water. Another listener asks Meagan and Sarah how to manage preschool-age brothers who are possessive with their toys. An exasperated mom is desperate for the secret to unlocking peaceful car rides. (Aren’t we all?) And finally, a mom with a new baby has an inkling it’s time to reign in the screen time with her older kids, but wonders how she’ll get anything done without it . . . and if her kids can fight through the boredom. Sibling dynamics pop up again and again in this latest batch of listener questions. If you’re a mom of multiple kids, you’re sure to relate. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our most recent Listener Questions episode from last weekThese are some of our fave episodes about siblings from our archive: Raising Siblings Who Like Each Other, Birth Order, Siblings, and Families of Origin, 10 Things We Love About Raising SiblingsWe mention some smart solutions from our House Rules episodes on Sibling Harmony&nb

The Internet gets a bad rap – and sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), it’s justified. But as with most of the “controversial” topics we discuss, we think there’s room for complexity. In this More Than Mom episode, Meagan and Sarah share some of the positive outcomes from our online experiences, and how we’ve evolved as grownups and moms as the Internet itself has changed. We talk about the skills we’ve learned, the real-life friends we’ve met, and the things we never would have discovered otherwise! Plus, Meagan shares a screenshot of a wackadoo product with Sarah in real-time–and her reaction will have you clicking that link in our show notes at warp speed. This reflective episode is a little bit sweet (thanks to a lovely listener voicemail!) and a little bit funny. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:In our episode on #Influenced, we share some of the online-inspired stuff we’ve tried. A cat tongue for humans actually exists. It’s called: LickiRead Sarah’s PSL-essay that was the impetus to conne

A young mom feels dismissed by older moms and authority figures, and also asks for our tips for managing a kid with a quirky obsession. A longtime listener asks Meagan and Sarah how to handle kids who have come to expect big fun all the time. A mom of a preschooler is stumped on how to respond to her little guy’s tall tales, fibs, and white lies–and how to sort fact from fiction. Finally, even though we haven’t been in her shoes, we encourage a twin mom who’s expecting triplets (yes, triplets!) and feeling nervous about about how she and her toddlers will cope. Join us for the latest installment of one of our favorite series–listener questions!LINKS MENTIONED:All of our Listener Questions episodes can be found hereWe dig deeper into fibbing in this episodeAre you a mom of multiples who wants to reach out to Victoria with a note of encouragement? Email us!MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sur

Sometimes, it’s the small things that have the greatest impact–like a wall hook precisely where your kid needs it or the exact right size and number of laundry baskets for your family. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are sharing easy home hacks and perfect products that are making their lives just a little bit less aggravating. As busy moms, too often, we just deal with the minor annoyances that seem trivial . . . until we’re grinding our teeth because the charger we need is missing (yet again!) We hope that listening to this episode will help you identify the persistent frustrations in your own home and inspire you to brainstorm some solutions. Yes, it might mean spending a few extra bucks or recruiting a helping hand, but we promise: The long-term satisfaction is so worth it. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our recent episode: Cleaning Products We Can’t Live WithoutMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook

Now that we’re officially IN the new year, we’re thinking about our hopes and goals for 2022. From physical health to mental health, habits to focus areas, heavy stuff to totally frivolous, Meagan and Sarah share the ways we want to challenge ourselves this year, ways we want to go easier on ourselves, and the ways we plan to invest both in our own growth and in others around us. We’ll be revisiting this topic to see how we’re doing in about six weeks, so be sure to check back in! Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah talked all things planning in this recent Voices episodeMeagan is reading Atomic Habits (affiliate link) by James Clear, a book that Sarah read two years ago, and that we talked more about in this episode: Small Habits That Make A Big DifferenceMeagan mentioned her recent interview with Amy Clark of MomAdvice.com, including mention of the Mom Advice Book ClubWe both follow @ZeenaDhalla, posture expert, on Instagram (Meagan also interviewed Zeena on Mother Of Reinven

Digital task mastery, pen and paper planning, and keeping the family organized: no two moms do this exactly alike – even those of us who love to plan and organize! In our first interview episode of 2022, Sarah Powers sits down with fellow planner people Christine Koh and Sarah Hart-Unger to discuss our favorite digital resources, pen-and-paper tools, and methods of staying organized at work, home, and school. We get into the nitty gritty of color coded everything, what works and what doesn’t for our personalities, and how we use planning tools to avoid over-scheduling and leave white space for joy and (gasp!) even spontaneity. Join us!Note: Sarah Powers chatted Kelsey Wharton from The Girl Next Door podcast for a companion conversation to this episode on Instagram Monday January 10. Watch the recorded video here.LINKS MENTIONED:Watch Sarah Powers and Kelsey Wharton in an Instagram companion to this episode here.Links mentioned by Sarah Hart-UngerFull Focus Planner (affiliate link – shoppin

We’re not experts…we’re two moms with lots of kids and dirty floors. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share our go-to products for keeping a clean-enough house, and feel better about your own dusty corners as we confess the aspects of housekeeping we’re just not great at. We share our favorite way to get dog pee out of the carpet, some tricks for keeping multi-use products like white vinegar and baking soda at the ready, and our shared habit of acquiring a LOT of devices for cleaning floors (and yet? the floors are still dirty). Welcome to 2022, friends. Come on in to our not-very-clean houses for Episode 346!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan’s can’t-live-without cleaning productsInexpensive microfiber dust mop, similar to this one (affiliate link)Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner (affiliate link)Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Surface Scrub and Scrubbing CreamGranite polish (affiliate link)Libman Freedom Spray Mop (affiliate link)Public Goods Glass Cleaner & Refill Kit (Public Goods i

A day at home with nothing on the calendar or the agenda: It’s the best of times . . . and it can be the worst of times. In this final episode of 2021, Meagan and Sarah are reminiscing about how they spent cuddled-up days at home pre-kids and with little ones, as well as what it looks like now that everyone is kinda doing their own thing. We remember games, baking, movie-watching, and puttering (plus lots of making and cleaning up messes). We talk about at-home activities that are fun with kids, the things that make it challenging, little ways to feel productive, and how to cultivate the “day off” vibe you crave. There’s a fine line between snuggly and stifling, and you might be feeling it this week between Christmas and New Year’s. Whatever the age of your kids or your family situation, this episode will give you ideas on how to take pleasure in the slowness. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan describes the movie “Dan in Real Life”Read our Contributor Emily’s blog post on Six Ways to Entertain Your Famil

From feeling like time (or money) is running out to second-guessing gift choices and blaming ourselves for our kids’ behavior, there’s no shortage of ways for moms to feel crummy during the holidays. Even when everything miraculously gets done, you might wonder where the heck’s the magic or feel guilty wondering if you slowed down enough to actually enjoy it (and honestly, would it even be the holidays without a good, old-fashioned mom tantrum?). In this last episode before Christmas, Meagan and Sarah talk through the various ways moms tend to be hard on themselves this time of year, and some ways we’ve learned to reframe our messy feelings. We also chat about how we’re feeling this particular Christmas and how it compares to holidays of the past. Depending on when you listen to this episode, consider it your pre- or post-holiday pep talk–complete with a tasty detour into charcuterie board land. We promise it’s NOT too late to give yourself a little grace. We’re here for you, friends! Enjoy.LINKS MENTIONED:He

When it comes to parenting–and how we generally live our lives–actions speak louder than words. Our behaviors, priorities, emotions, and reactions are all things we’re modeling for our kids. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah try to see themselves through their kids’ eyes, reflecting on the qualities we feel good about and the ones we’re trying to be more conscious of. We talk about how we can’t control how our kids will think about us when they’re grown, but we CAN be thoughtful about the moms we want to be; and even though we’re opposites in lots of ways, we discover a superpower we have in common. This deep-thinky episode is a great one for wherever you are on your motherhood journey. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:This episode was inspired in part by Sarah’s interview with Meghan LeahyWe recently talked about habits in this episode: Where We Nailed It (And Where We Didn’t) In 2021We’d love to hear from you. Email us, or connect with us on Facebook or InstagramHere’s how to leave u

As 2021 winds down, we’re looking at the habits we picked up – intentionally or accidentally – in the past year. Some habits we stuck with and feel great about; some didn’t serve us as much as we thought they might. We celebrate some areas where we totally nailed it this year and get real about the not-so-healthy habits that crept in, too. From self-care and big improvements, to tech use and baby steps, we look at the different ways our habits showed up in 2021, acknowledging that you don’t have to stick with something for 365 days for it to make an impact. We also laugh about the things Meagan does in bed . . . and the new things she wants to try (wink, wink). We end on a hopeful note, with some early thoughts on 2022 intentions (and lots more to come). Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah talked about her planner / goal setting / Todoist (affiliate link) habits when she was a guest on this episode of Best Laid Plans with Sarah Hart-UngerBig fans of this Q&A a Day Journal for Kids an

Over the years, we’ve developed a bit of a reputation for hating fun, but really we just want to give all moms permission to have actual opinions about what’s fun, what isn’t, and how they like to make memories with their kids. If you’re like us, cooking, crafting, outdoor activities, and Mommy-and-Me classes might strike you as are occasionally fun, never-ever fun, or not fun YET. In the spirit of keeping it real, Meagan and Sarah chat about how kids have special ways of tainting activities we normally love, plus we break down how to separate the fun YOU crave from feeling like you have to include your children. We also give real tips for how to make some of these ideas a better fit for your family (spoiler: It might not include you!). And to wrap it all up, we share some encouragement and suggestions for planning future “fun.” Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Our OG episode on hating fun and when we revisited the topic several years agoMeagan’s Instagram post about taking her ki

Matchy Christmas china, snuggly slippers, nice leather bags, and incredible concerts . . . these are a few of our favorite things! What makes a great gift AND how do you increase your odds of actually getting it? Today’s More Than Mom is all about the most memorable gifts of our Christmases Past–plus what’s on our wish lists (and shopping lists!) this year. We talk about gifts from childhood, experience gifts, weird gifts, and gifts that turn into traditions. We also discuss what really makes a gift feel thoughtful and personal, and some of our favorite gifts to give the women in our lives. As a bonus, Sarah also shares a decade-long Christmas gift mystery! This episode is full of inspiration. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Shop small, mom-owned businesses in our Small Business BoutiqueAll our Contributor gift guides are in our Holiday HeadquartersSarah’s fave slippers she heard about from Ashlee GaddWe love shopping Etsy and MintedSarah’s travel mugMeagan’s show and tell&n