The Mom Hour

There’s plenty to debate about the holidays in 2020 – and it doesn’t ALL have to be gloomy and stressful. We’re kicking off Thanksgiving week with very lively, mostly half-baked debates about holiday controversies that bear little consequence on anything. To find out whether we think eggnog is disgusting or delightful, who among us prefers multicolored exterior illumination, whether Baby, It’s Cold Outside is CANCELLED or actually feminist, and what we actually think of Love, Actually, join us for today’s silly and festive More Than Mom episode. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Follow us on social! We are on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterMeagan mentioned this article from Persophone: Listening While Feminist: In Defense of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”And there’s also this one: from Variety: End the War on ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’! It’s Feminist — ReallyAbout That Maligned Christmas Tree (and That Owl) at Rockefeller Center (Ed Shanahan, NYTimes)Meagan talked about t

Shopping mindfully or practicing conscious consumerism can be a powerful way to show our support to struggling or underrepresented businesses this holiday season. It can also be, to use a phrase we lean on more and more these days, A LOT. It’s a lot to think about, it can be overwhelming to navigate, and it definitely can put strain on your budget. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss where we our in our own shopping priorities, what we’d like to do more of this holiday season, and how we’ve practiced mindful shopping recently. We also talk through some specific purchases we’ve made through small online retailers recently, as a way to get your creative wheels turning. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:If you want more episodes discussing Enneagram, check out Personalities, Part 1 (Myers-Briggs, Enneagram & Introversion / Extroversion), Personalities, Part 2 (Our Myers-Briggs & Enneagram Types & More), and Knowing Yourself As A MomSarah mentioned bookshop.org for shoppin

The animals in our lives have certainly had an interesting year, what with all the working and learning from home. Many families whose work/life situations previously caused them to hold off on pet-ownership took the plunge and got a pandemic puppy. And COVID or no COVID, our kids never stop asking to add to our respective menageries. Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun look at life with family pets, especially through the lens of 2020. We’ll talk about pandemic puppies, the Powers family’s adventure in fostering a litter of kittens, and the merits and drawbacks of various small animal pets. Enjoy!(Listen all the way through for a very special cameo from the littlest of our combined eight kids, animal lover and guinea pig expert, Violet!)LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to our past episodes about pets from 2016 and 2018Want to help us grow the podcast? Leave us a rating and review in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen!MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollo

We know that winter 2020-2021 will require all the tips and tricks to keep us going–and it’s not even mid-November yet! Today’s More Than Mom episode is all about the concept of COZY, and how Meagan and Sarah like to bring it into our wardrobes, menus, and homes. Join us for a fun chat about cozy clothes we’re eyeing, how we manage the temperature in our homes when it’s cold out, and what food and drinks sound best for a cozy mood. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah is loving crewneck pullover sweatshirts lately (this one from the Grayson Threads line at Target is similar to a Halloween one she bought and loved) – affiliate linkThese Women’s Long Sleeve Fitted T-Shirts from the A New Day line at Target are a good base layer (but we continue the search for the perfect long-sleeved tee!) – affiliate linkIs there such thing as a cozy bra? We think so. We’re eyeing this one. – affiliate linkThe famous Ashlee Gadd slippers (AKA J. Crew Factory’s suede faux-shearling moccasin slippe

When Whitnee Hawthorne was a new mom working a full-time corporate job she had trouble finding resources for women in her position–so she set out to create them. Now a mom of two and still working full-time for a Fortune 500 company, Whitnee helps other moms find their joy and achieve their goals. In this month’s Voices interview, Sarah chats with Whitnee about the morning and evening routines that set each day up for success, the regular practices that can help busy moms reflect and remember their feeling of purpose, and the time management tips that every mom needs (whether or not she works outside the home). Whitnee is FULL of tips and insight–enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Emotional Labor, Burnout & Completing The Stress Cycle (Episode 285)thesavvyworkingmom.com@thesavvyworkingmom on InstagramThe 10-Minute Reboot, Whitnee’s $7 self-care workbookMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membe

We’ve all heard the terms ‘mental load’ and ’emotional labor,’ but it’s easy to toss them around without pausing to really understand what’s happening in our minds and bodies when we carry prolonged stress with us in our roles as mothers and household managers. Today Meagan and Sarah look at the different ways stress manifests in our own bodies (and psyches), and offer concrete tips for managing feelings of burnout in a particularly challenging season.This episode was inspired in part by a recent episode of Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us podcast and an interview with authors Amelia and Emily Nagoski about their new book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.LINKS MENTIONED:How to Get Your Partner to Take on More Emotional Labor (Britni de la Cretaz, New York Times)Moms Do More Invisible Labor, But It’s Possible to Lighten the Load (Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping)This episode is inspired by an episode from Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us Podcast, Brené with Emily a

Listener Alana wrote to us recently to ask if we have a handy list of medicine cabinet must-haves for cold and flu season. We do not have such a list, but we have much to say! In Episode 284 Meagan and Sarah talk through various ages, stages, and accompanying ailments we’ve been able to treat at home–we are VERY clear that we’re not doctors, but we are moms who have seen a lot, from owies to skin troubles, fevers to congestion. And if there’s ever a year to make sure your family’s medicine cabinet is stocked with the supplies that best support your home healthcare philosophy, 2020 is IT. Join us!As mentioned in the episode, we’re not providing any medical advice in this conversation. We both consult professionals before beginning any new home remedy approach for ourselves or our kids, and we hope you will, too!LINKS MENTIONED:Sign up for our monthly newsletter here!Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and Badger Balm diaper creams (affiliate links)Check out TruColor skin tone bandages (made by a lo

Meagan and Sarah have both experienced parenting in three different decades now, and it reminded us of those old magazine spreads that talked about fashion or makeup (or fill-in-the-blank) in your 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Join us for a fun More Than Mom episode where we look at both the benefits and challenges to having had kids when we did–with full recognition that there are upsides and downsides to any decade and any motherhood timeline. Enjoy!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#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode contains a story of pregnancy loss.October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and recently we’ve seen online and in celebrity culture a few examples of women talking must more openly about their loss experiences, even sharing very vulnerable photos with the world like Chrissy Teigan did earlier this month. Here at The Mom Hour, we are 100% on board with movements that make moms feel less alone in their experience, so we think it’s really important to continue sharing these stories.In today’s special bonus episode, Sarah talks with Leeann Dearing about her personal experience with pregnancy loss. Leeann is an actress, entrepreneur and proud homeschool mom, and she’s also co-founder of the funny mom duo and viral video company Leeann & Michelle, whose videos you have probably seen taking over the internet. We’re so grateful to Leeann for her time with us today. LINKS MENTIONED:Leeann’s story about losing baby Marian at 18 weeks, as shared on @leeannandmichelle’s In

Older kids and teenagers are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event–and they’re old enough to have thoughts about it. As moms, watching our kids miss out on social interactions and developmental rites of passage is tough, as is finding new ways to support their independence and hold boundaries when they push back. In Episode 283 Meagan and Sarah continue last week’s discussion about the very specific parenting challenges brought about by COVID-19, this time with a focus on big kids, tweens, and teens. Join us!Note: Last week we started this series talking about infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Listen to Episode 282 here.LINKS MENTIONED:Part 1 in this series (Episode 282) aired last week and focused on infants, toddlers and preschoolersSarah mentioned our two episodes featuring psychologist Dr. Erin Lanphier: Removing The Stigma Of Kids In Therapy (Voices 42), and Supporting Kids’ Behavioral Health As The Pandemic Stretches On(Voices 50)We loved this interview with Jessica La

Separation anxiety. Potty training. Speech and language development. Socialization. These cornerstones of child development and the parenting experience can bring up questions or create bumps in the road in normal times–but we are not living in normal times, friends. We’re living in COVID times. In Episode 282 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah look at the really specific (and sometimes heartbreaking) ways that the last eight months have complicated the motherhood experience for parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Join us!Note: Part 2 in this series continues the conversation with big kids, tweens and teens, and young adults. Listen to Episode 283 here.LINKS MENTIONED:New York Times article about parents and mental health right nowNew York Times article about whether kids will be socially behind after all thisDo you have ways COVID is complicating your parenting life or making normal developmental hiccups harder on your kids? Send us an email to hello@themomhour.comMORE HELPFUL L

We’re all dreaming about getting away right now, but traditional travel and typical vacations don’t feel like they’re going to be a thing for, well, a while. So today Meagan and Sarah are dreaming BIG – stranded on a deserted island big. Join us for a silly–but somehow also theraputic in 2020?–exercise in hypothetical thinking. We discuss what we’d bring with us to an island escape, what our fantasy island dwelling would be like, and how we’d spend our time. Enjoy!PS – DESERT island or DESERTED island? We discuss in the episode and, after recording, learned this.LINKS MENTIONED:We mentioned a couple of related More Than Mom episodes, Being Alone (September 2019),Would You Rather…? (July 2018) and Would You Rather…? (July 2019)Check out the details for our Virtual Retreat!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 newsletterS

This month kicks off the fall holiday season in the strangest year of all of our lives, and moms everywhere seem to be asking the same thing: what do we do about Halloween? From helping older kids deal with expectations-vs-COVID-reality, to finding safe ways for littler kids to celebrate, Meagan and Sarah unpack it all in Episode 281. We also touch on some tips for dealing with our own holiday disappointment as moms, and share some insight about holiday traditions in general to set the tone for the next few months. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:This episode was inspired by the comments on this post in our Facebook groupThis post in the Facebook group also goes into listeners’ thoughts on trick-or-treating specificallyWe mentioned our episode Supporting Kids’ Behavioral Health As The Pandemic Stretches On: Voices 50Sarah used Primary.com as the base for Violet’s mostly-homemade deer costume last yearSarah’s family reads Pumpkin Soup (affiliate link) by Helen Cooper every year, and then ma

“I’ve been looking through my closet and I just want to burn it all down and start over.” (Meagan, recently to Sarah)As moms, our bodies change a lot and we don’t always feel like we have permission to invest in our personal style, but what we wear makes a huge difference in how we feel. After Meagan said this to Sarah recently, she decided to call on personal stylist Dacy Gillespie for help…and you get to listen in!Dacy is creator of The Mindful Closet, where she offers both one-on-one personal styling and shopping services, as well as courses and information on editing your closet, shopping more mindfully and creating a look that is really you. And, as Dacy shows us in this episode, we don’t have to spend a lot of money to pare down our wardrobes and add new pieces more mindfully. Dacy also teaches us how to shop online more successfully and offers closet organization tips to make getting dressed easier.LINKS MENTIONED:mindfulcloset.com, Dacy’s website@mindfulcloset on InstagramDacy’s courses 

We’ve covered the hard stuff: leaky everything, blinding exhaustion, night sweats. But the fourth trimester, or postpartum period, has its perks as well. In Episode 280 Meagan and Sarah take turns sharing their favorite memories of postpartum life with a newborn–without glossing over what we ALL know to be true: it’s not easy. Join us for the latest in our “10 Things We Love About…” series! LINKS MENTIONED:Like this format? Check out 10 Things We Love About Toddlers and 10 Things We Love About Raising SiblingsMeagan originated the idea for the series in a holiday episode where she talked about very specific gratitude journaling about being single in DecemberOur episode Strong As A Mother with Kate Rope: Voices 26, all about postpartum mental health, is one of our most popular Voices interview episodes to dateWe talked about our episode Postpartum Symptoms & SurprisesYou might also like our LIVE Episode about how to REALLY help a new momMORE HELPFUL LINKS:V

We challenged you to ask us your most burning questions–but not about parenting for once! And wow, did you deliver. Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun, silly, and sometimes serious More Than Mom episode featuring your questions about our perfect day, favorite Hamilton songs, thoughts on dating after divorce, and whether we consider ourselves religious. PLUS a big announcement at the top of the show that you won’t want to miss. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listener Allison is blogging about her BRCA2 journey at brca2mama.com (here’s a post about the great nipple debate!)Meagan talks about faith sometimes on her InstagramMORE 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#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Zoom school” is in session in both our homes, although the programs and schedules are very different for our six school-aged kids, grades two through eleven. In this week’s episode we check in about how remote learning is going for our elementary, middle, and high schoolers, giving an honest assessment of the areas that are going better than expected (or worse…or just about the same). We also pool our experience to share some strategies for keeping kids motivated and engaged, and recommend some purchases to set up your home as a learning environment. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Our School Decisions for Fall 2020 series aired back in July – here’s Part 1 and Part 2Sarah did a blog post roundup of some of her recent home-learning must-have purchasesHere are all the products we mentioned in the second half of the episode, in the order we talked about them:Meagan’s whiteboardSarah’s laptop standMeagan’s new printerSarah’s desk padsMeagan’s WiFi extender (Sarah’s fami

It’s not if but when: losing your cool with your kids is part of motherhood (especially during a global pandemic). Sometimes we yell, sometimes we cry, and sometimes we stomp our feet like a toddler or sass-talk like a tween. If you do any of these things too, we can assure you you’re not alone–and it’s not too late to practice the art of recovery. In Episode 278 of The Mom Hour Meagan and Sarah talk about the different types of mom-meltdowns we’re prone to, and what repair and recovery can look like when we’ve lost it with our families. Join us!Links Mentioned:Sarah mentioned the article by Tara Haelle Your ‘Surge Capacity’ Is Depleted — It’s Why You Feel AwfulIf you like this episode, you might also enjoy our episode Our worst #MomFail Moments, and other episodes in our Mom Confidence topicMORE 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

Nothing feels the same as it did six months ago, and in today’s return of our More Than Mom series, Meagan and Sarah are looking at the weirdest ways we’ve changed since March. From some out-of-character purchases to new routines and habits, we’re here to discuss some of more idiosyncratic details of our strange new normal. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Email us or send a voicemail with a question for our Ask Us Anything episode coming up later this month!Both Meagan and Sarah use the Revlon Root Erase Hair Color (affiliate link)Sarah bought this Scotch Thermal Laminator (affiliate link)Sarah is getting back into reading with I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (affiliate links)Meagan likes the Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower and Rose Lemonade (affiliate link)MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private li

Meagan and Sarah are both refocusing on personal spending this fall, after a strange pandemic spring and summer brought about changes to the family budget. In today’s episode we look at the areas of our spending that have changed since March, and talk through tips and strategies we’re using to save money right now. From working with a financial planner to buying secondhand, reevaluating dinner delivery and doing an audit on those pesky auto-renew subscriptions, we’re here with seven strategies make a difference to our families’ bottom lines this fall. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Our interview from 2019 with Natalie Taylor has a ton of helpful information about hiring a personal financial plannerMORE 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#d