The Mom Hour

One of the most common questions we’re asked is how to get kids ready for a new sibling. In today’s Voices episode, Meagan chats with a seasoned mom from our Contributor team about how she’s doing just that! Kia is a former postpartum nurse and about to give birth to Baby #4. With kids ages 12, 4, and 1, she’s being super thoughtful about tailoring her approach for each child and stage. Find out how she’s dealing with everyone’s emotions (including her own), making changes to her home, and her favorite items for making it all go a little easier this time around. And with the holidays upon us, we talk about how having a newborn will impact her plans. (All the cute Christmas onesies, please!) Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Follow @kiamhammond on Instagram to stay up to date on baby news! Watch Kia pack her hospital bag here: How A Postpartum Nurse And 4th-Time Pregnant Mom Packs Her Hospital Bag Meet the Mom Hour Contributor teamKia loves the Hatch Baby app for tracking newborn fe

There’s no shortage of IDEAS for making meaningful holidays with kids, but the reality is that time, money, and mama-energy are limited resources. If you’ve ever been curious about how REAL families do Christmas, join Meagan and Sarah as we sit down with two moms from our Contributor team for behind-the-scenes peeks at their holiday magic making, Advent traditions, and gift giving plans. Sarah chats with Jennifer, a mom of 4-year-old twins, who’s smack-dab in the middle of preschool holiday fun and finally experiencing the light at the end of the tunnel of parenting little twins. Then Meagan and Lisa connect over being divorced moms of many children–Lisa has four kids at home. They talk about coparenting, deciding who gives which presents, and how special it is to share the holiday magic with big kids. Listen and discover how other moms are making this season meaningful for their families. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our Holiday Headquarters for gift guides, holiday-themed blog posts, and podcas

From sharing toys to allowing screens, sleepovers to sibling dynamics, setting some expectations for playdates helps control the chaos (and the tears!). This latest episode in our “House Rules” series is a fascinating peek into how our listeners handle having kids over to play AND sending their kids to friends’ houses. Meagan reminds us there’s only so much moms can control–especially as kids get older, and Sarah shares her personal rule about a certain game that’s NOT allowed to be played in a specific place. Whether your family is just easing into playdates or you need some create some new guidelines, you’ll find some really smart ideas here. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our other episodes in the House Rules seriesCheck out these related episodes: Our Kids & Their Friendships and Kids & Friendships with Dr. Eileen Kennedy-MooreWe recently talked all about How We Host and Being a Gracious GuestCheck out our Holiday Headquarters for gift guides, holiday-

Who gets to claim the identity of Writer? In our humble opinions, there’s way more to it than whether your work is published or not. Meagan and Sarah have had writing careers that have run the gamut, including dealing with hangups, vulnerability, and rejection. Today’s More Than Mom episode paints a picture of our early writing days, touches on our current writing habits(spoiler alert: You’re probably already reading most of it!), and lets us fantasize a bit about our future writer selves. Plus, we decide once and for all to bring back the word “cool.” Writing not your thing? We share tips for diving more deeply into any creative pursuit. If you have any interest in how creativity connects to motherhood, this episode is for you! Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Read How I Started Writing by our contributor Stacey BronecA lot of our writing these days is for The Mom Hour on our website, newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook!We love Wendi Aarons‘s smart, humorous voiceShop small, mom-owned

Meal planning is one thing, but how do you build your recipe collection in the first place? And where do you go when you’re looking to make a change, such as trying a new technique, or cooking an unfamiliar food for the first time? In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah talk about both the challenges of feeding a family healthfully, as well as the sources of inspiration we look to when we find ourselves in a rut. From tearing recipes out of magazines (do people still do that?) to our favorite cookbooks and foodie websites, we’re sharing where, exactly, we get our best meal ideas. We also speak with Megan Lott, the Deputy Director of Healthy Eating Research, who is sharing their latest recommendations on how families can work on healthy mealtime habits. LINKS MENTIONED:Learn more about our sponsor Healthy Eating Research and their new recommendations for kids healthy food habits Megan Lott recommends myplate.gov for great nutrition resources and&n

From the etiquette to expectations, gatherings are a two-way relationship between the hosts and the guests. In this flip side of last week’s episode on hosting, Meagan and Sarah are talking about our favorite types of get-togethers, the ways we try to be “good guests,” and our strategies for surviving social events (including the ones that feel high-stakes) with little ones. We point out how thoughtful preparation and honest communication–with our hosts, kids, and even ourselves–tempers the stress for everyone involved. To wrap it up, Meagan shares an important reminder AND a mantra moms can repeat when everyone’s on edge. Whether you’re getting ready for holiday parties or looking for tips that apply to any event, you’ll find lots of reassurance here. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our episode on How We Host (And How We Don’t) As Moms Of Many KidsCheck out our gift guides, Small Business Boutique, and more in our Holiday Headquarters!“Decide Once” is a Lazy Genius principle that works gr

Hosting a gathering can feel like a huge burden, a creative outlet, a ton of fun, and everything in between. In our unofficial kickoff to the 2021 holiday season, Meagan and Sarah are here to look at how we host, how we don’t, and how opening our homes has changed over the years. We remind you – and ourselves – that there are many ways to be a gracious host and that nobody nails it in every category. Whether you’d like to organize a small friend gathering or you’re hosting the Big Meal for a dozen extended family members, this episode will serve as a gentle reminder that you can do it in a way that feels authentic, welcoming, and – yep – even fun. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our episode on Sane & Satisfying Holiday EntertainingThe viral “Company is Coming” video that still makes us crack upWe were channeling our inner Lazy Genius in the second half of this episode – here’s Kendra on hosting and entertainingJoanna (@cafedumartin) has a pre-hosting plan out on our blog la

City Mouse…Country Mouse…do we really have to choose? Not in our fantasy lives! Meagan and Sarah have both done stints as city dwellers and have some experience with rural life, but we’ve spent most of our kid-rearing years in suburbs or small towns. Today’s More Than Mom episode is a total indulgence in the fantasies of city living and country life – at their most extremes. We talk about how we’d dress and what we’d eat, what our homes would be like and how we’d spend our days. We also touch on the books, movies, and television that shaped our early understanding of city and country living (turns out we may need a part two JUST about television apartments). It’s a fun one, friends – join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Throughout our lives, our fantasy settings have been inspired by media, including: Harriet the Spy, Sex and the City, When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, the Little House books, All Creatures Great & Small, Anne of Green Gables, and Charlotte’s WebThis isn’t the first t

From toddler tantrums to big kid anxiety, parents feel so much pressure to tackle these challenges in the right way. Are we expecting too much from our kids . . . and ourselves? In our latest Voices interview episode, Sarah has a conversation with Meghan Leahy, parenting expert and author of a new book, Parenting Outside the Lines. In her signature honest and humorous tone, Meghan shares some valuable insights about what’s going on behind common kid behavior phases. She also reminds us all that WE are the best experts in our kids and that holding empathy for both our kids AND ourselves is the key to combatting perfectionism. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meghan’s new book is Parenting Outside the LinesYou can find information about Meghan’s online classes, coaching, and lots of parent resources on her websiteMeghan Leahy is the parenting expert in The Washington PostOn the topic of kids and tech Meghan recommends Adam Pletter‘s online class iParent 101Meghan also recommends boo

From taking a detailed phone message and sticking to a meeting plan to utilizing physical resources like paper maps, bus schedules, TV guides, and phone books, there are so many life skills children of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s were just expected to know. In today’s episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah chat about these once-essential abilities our kids lack simply because the world has changed. On the flip-side, we also reflect on the new skills that come so naturally to this crop of kids. In some cases, they’re teaching us! (Multiple remote controls drive anyone else bonkers?!) To wrap it up, we reflect on how to not become gripe-y or grumpy about these natural generational differences. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to related episodes: Life Skills We’re Glad Our Kids Have Right Now (And A Few They’re Still Working On) and Chores, Life Skills, & Household ResponsibilitiesCheck out all our episodes and blogposts about big kidsMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals fro

Aspirational meal plans are ubiquitous, but drilling down to what families ACTUALLY eat in a given week is a lot harder to find. For that reason, we–and our listeners–love our ongoing series of “what really went down” at mealtime. Meagan and Sarah are sharing what we actually prepared and ate for dinner the week of October 4th, 2021. We also have fun bringing in seven of our contributors to share how they fed their families. This episode has a wide range of typical dinners (including chili all the ways!) from variety of families. You’re sure to find some dinner inspiration and validation that however you’re doing it, you’re not alone! Join us. LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to more of our Week of Real-Life Dinners episodes (we also referenced back to this recent episode: Envisioning A Week Of Ideal Meals)Get to know all of Our ContributorsMonday:Emily loves this Iowa Girl Eats’s Signature Smoky, Spicy, Sweet ChiliEmily’s favorite oatmeal-chocolate chip cookiesTuesday:Sarah’s Jo

We’ve talked about fashion on the podcast before, but personal style is one of those things that’s always evolving. With today’s trends, cuts, colors, and various ways of shopping, there’s a fine balance between dressing up-to-date AND feeling like ourselves. In today’s More Than Mom episode, Sarah and Meagan chat about the state of our current wardrobes, the challenge of putting on “public-facing pants,” the pieces we’re surprised we like, the ones that aren’t for us, and share some outfits we looked–and felt–cute in. We also figure out what color, exactly, is “puce.” Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Last time we did a style check-in was in this February 2021 More Than Mom episodeMeagan’s chat with Dacy Gillespie on How To Create A Mindful Closet (And Discover Clothes You Truly Love)Sarah’s favorite travel pants (influenced by Kelle Hampton of @etst)We mentioned our More Than Mom episode #Influenced a couple of timesMeagan likes the brands prAna and Kuhl for outd

When do you decorate for Halloween or carve pumpkins? What costumes are allowed? And exactly how much candy do kids get to eat? As we’ve said before: You get to decide! And once you do, it cuts down on SO many battles and questions. In our latest “House Rules” episode, we’re sharing our listeners’ best arbitrary rules for trick-or-treating, choosing (and trying on) costumes, and more! Meagan and Sarah share how they’ve approached Halloween in their families, and talk about how some of their policies have evolved (or been eliminated!) as kids grow. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Apply to be included in our Small Business BoutiqueCheck out all our episodes and blog posts about HalloweenMeagan’s essay “Yes, That Might Be My Teen At Your Door on Halloween”Get to know Kia, and the rest of Our ContributorsMost of the House Rules we collected for this episode were comments on this post in our Facebook groupJoin our special Facebook Group for The Mom Hour Listeners (make sure to answer the

What do you do when your toddler has separation anxiety and being apart feels somewhat optional? A mom of a baby and a precocious toddler is looking for tools to help with emotional drop-offs at the church nursery. A mom with four young kids is desperate for a date night and looking for outside-the-box childcare solutions. Another mom whose age doesn't match up with her friends' wants help navigating the intersection of motherhood, friendship, and family planning. A part-time SAHM wonders if it's normal to feel bored during long days with her toddler. (Spoiler alert: YES!) Meagan and Sarah give advice for ditching the guilt. We also send our love to a longtime listener who is struggling with setting healthy boundaries with Grandma. We tackle a lot of tough stuff in this episode of Listener Questions. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Here's our episode on Getting (And Giving) Help During Hard TimesCheck out all our episodes and blog posts about toddlersListen to our series on Friendships in Motherhood: P

A listener is curious about Meagan and Sarah’s Zodiac signs; she also wants to know if we could add any frivolous feature to our homes, what would it be? (Meagan recommends a llama to complement Sarah’s dreamy detail.) A longtime listener asks if we’ve had any show topics that didn’t make the cut. An aspiring blogger asks for writing tips. And finally, a new homeowner is looking for advice on landscaping a yard that looks nice, but is also low-maintenance. For this Sunday spin on listener questions, we’re stepping outside the realm of parenting to weigh in on a wider variety of topics. This was a fun one. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:More about Bookshop.orgExhale, Coffee and Crumbs’ online creative community#amwriting is a great hashtag and podcast to follow for writing support and inspirationAll of our Listener Questions episodes can be found hereMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer

When you’re going through A Thing, what kind of help feels most…helpful? Is it practical stuff, like a delivered meal? Is it emotional support, or humor and distraction? And does the way you feel most supported influence the way you step up for your own friends? Meagan and Sarah tackle these questions and more in Episode 333, all about the ways we give and receive support during hard seasons of life and motherhood. We look at our own personalities, our relationship patterns, and how all of this has evolved over time. (We also have a couple of real-time on-air epiphanies!) Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Esther Perel talking about comparative suffering on Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking UsMeagan’s selfie and essay about caring for yourself on IGWe talk about our personality types in our Knowing Yourself As A Mom episodeListen to our discussion about Love LanguagesRing Theory is the “dump out, comfort in” concept that helps you know the right things to do and say in a crisisCheck out all our e

From travel sports teams to competitive dance, elite kids’ activities and their impact on family life often get a bad rap. In this month’s Voices interview episode Meagan chats with Kelly Rippon, author of Parent Up: Inspire Your Child To Be Their Best Self and mother of former US champion figure skater Adam Rippon. Kelly shares a much more encouraging side of being an “opportunity creator” for your kids, including her unique perspective as a single mom of many now-grown kids, all of whom were accomplished and active in extracurriculars. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Buy Kelly’s book Parent Up: Inspire Your Child To Be Their Best Self (Bookshop.org affiliate link)Learn more about Kelly’s Parent Up workshops and more on her websiteKelly’s InstagramAdam’s InstagramListen to our episode on Managing Kids’ ExtracurricularsMORE 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 ques

From hand washing to changing undies, bath time to brushing teeth, staying on top of your kids’ hygiene is essential to keeping them healthy and not (too) stinky. In our latest “House Rules” episode, we’re sharing listeners’ hilarious, straightforward, and down-right-genius methods for taking the guesswork out of getting everyone clean. And in the spirit of keeping things VERY real, Meagan and Sarah both tell stories about times their kids seemed embarrassingly clueless about simple hygiene practices. Listen along for some ideas that might make YOUR family hygiene regimen less of a struggle. LINKS MENTIONED:Most of the House Rules we collected for this episode were comments from our Facebook pageJoin our special Facebook Group for The Mom Hour Listeners (make sure to answer the questions to be approved!)Check out our other episodes in the House Rules seriesListen to our episode on Potty Training & Other Bathroom MattersMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from

Meagan is an experienced camper, while Sarah likes the IDEA of family nature time, but isn’t so sure. There’s sleeping on the ground, critters (both mild and wild), plus all the logistics. And with so many options for “roughing it,” from rustic backpacking to glamping, what even qualifies as camping these days? In today’s More Than Mom episode, Meagan’s breaking it all down for Sarah – and for our listeners! From packing to food prep, how to stay comfy and how to get clean(ish), follow along as Meagan shares her tips for figuring out what kind of camping might be right for you. Along the way, Meagan gets real about how she handles when nature calls, tells a funny story about a time she panicked about a snake getting too close for comfort, and talks about storing her gear. It’s an adventure–join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Read the blog post “Yes You Can Take Your Kids Car Camping” by our Contributor, Jennifer Carroll. That time when Meagan owned a camperMeagan’s guide on Beginner Hiking and Camping

Doing better by the planet is a lofty goal: but what does it REALLY look like in the homes of busy moms with lots of kids? Less plastic, no plastic, better plastic? Zero waste, composting, recycling? It’s objectively overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean it’s an all-or-nothing decision. As with any kind of improvement we talk about on The Mom Hour, we’re all about small, repeatable actions you can incorporate into your existing routine, and that add up to meaningful change over time–and in today’s special episode we’re applying that framework to sustainability in the kitchen. Meagan and Sarah share how we identify our personal values when it comes to kitchen sustainability, what small changes we’ve made (and stuck with!), and how we keep from getting lost in all the “shoulds” as we navigate doing just a little bit better for the planet, in ways that work for us.MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answe