The Mom Hour

The preschool and elementary school years provide lots of opportunities to be involved at your kids’ schools…but for many moms the process of finding their place in the school community takes some time. Sarah is deep into the school years now, and Meagan is in her seventeenth consecutive year as an elementary school mom (!!), so we’ve learned from experience how to show up for kids and teachers in a way that suits our skill sets, our personalities, and the season of life we’re in at the moment. In Episode 245 we look at the different approaches we’ve taken, what we’ve discovered about ourselves and our schools, and what’s next for us as school parents in the coming years. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah mentioned our episode on Toddlers vs. Teenagers, Episode 192 from January 2019Check out our January Spotify PlaylistsYou can sign up now for the Life, Listened course Make Money Podcasting. The deadline to sign up is January 31!MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersF

Weather chat has a reputation for being what you talk about when you have nothing else to say…but we have LOTS to say, and we still love to talk about the weather. Climate and temperature has a big impact on our lives as moms—from the clothes we wear and how we dress our kids, to the activities we can enjoy as a family and even our seasonal moods. This More Than Mom episode isn’t small talk at all—it’s Meagan’s and Sarah’s big thoughts on the weather where we live, all year round, and how it impacts our lives. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out our episodes on winter and summer gear: Must Have Gear For Winter, Kids’ Clothes, Shoes and Gear For Summer and Must Have Gear For The Beach & PoolYou can sign up now for the Life, Listened course Make Money Podcasting. The deadline to sign up is January 31!Check out Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole familyMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals fro

We take the long view when it comes to feeding a family: What kind of food experiences and memories do we want our kids to have? What’s the culture around the dishes we serve and the tone around the table? And what are the core values around food and eating that we strive for in our families? In Episode 244 Meagan and Sarah share some of the “food truths” we aim for in our homes, as well as some specific areas of feeding a family that are working well right now (and a few that could use a 2020 reset). Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan and Sarah’s aspirational food truths:We are grateful for the work that went into preparing every meal, whether or not we enjoy the food.We all have a part to play in making a successful family dinner We linger at the dinner table.We give everyone a chance to speak and be heardWe try new things.We celebrate old favorites.Check out more episodes on the topic of feeding a familyMeagan talked about her budget overhaul in Episode 205 from April 2019You can sign up no

Toddlers get a bad rap – out in the world and even here on the podcast, where we’ve occasionally uttered the phrase: “One-year-olds are the worst.” But there’s so much to love about the toddler stage, too—from verbal explosion to hilarious antics. In Episode 243 Meagan and Sarah share stories from our own toddler-parenting years and offer, with the benefit of hindsight, ten things we love about toddlers. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s essays on toddlers: The World of Two and The Second YearYou can sign up now for the Life, Listened course Make Money Podcasting, and get $100 off when you sign up through that link until January 15Check out Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole familyMORE 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:/

Overhauls and reinventions sound attractive, but they can be overwhelming and even cause us to crash and burn before we ever see results. We’re both interested in the role small habits and little improvements play in our daily rhythms, productivity, and overall happiness—we’re even reading books on the topic! Join Meagan and Sarah for a totally achievable approach to resetting our good habits and improving the ones that aren’t serving us as we head into the new year. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah is reading Atomic Habits by James ClearMeagan is reading Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy WoodSarah is documenting her #40daysto40 over on her InstagramYou can sign up now for the Life, Listened course Make Money Podcasting, and get $100 off when you sign up through that link until January 15MORE 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 P

A full-time physician with three young kids and a couple of side hustles, Sarah Hart-Unger relies on some time-tested systems to make sure she doesn’t miss a meeting, carves out space for her own creativity, and prioritizes date nights with her partner. She’s here to share tips and ideas with Sarah Powers as they chat all things planners, planning, goal-setting, and to-do list management in this month’s Voices interview episode. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah Hart-Unger is one of the hosts of the Best of Both Worlds PodcastThe planner Sarah Hart-Unger uses can be purchased straight from Japan, from Jetpens, or on AmazonOther planners recommended by Sarah are Erin Condren planners, Inkwell Press, Emily Ley Simplified Planner or Day Designer, Agendio, and The Plum Paper PlannerCheck out Sarah’s blog, theshubox.comSarah mentioned following the Instagram account PlannerismaMeagan and Sarah were both guests on the Best of Both Worlds Podcast! Lis

Thoughts on how we handle sick days, encouragement for a mom of two-under-two struggling with accepting help when it’s offered, troubleshooting a six-year-old with a nightwaking habit, and commiserating with parents whose toddler only wants dad–Meagan and Sarah are here with advice, empathy, and our experience as we take on another round of your listener questions. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah talked about the voices episode with Colleen Curtis from The Mom Project on career challenges as moms, Voices 41You can find all of our listener questions episodes hereHave a question for Meagan and Sarah? Send us your question by email to hello@themomhour.com, or even better we love when you record your questions using Speakpipe!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 Noti

We’re not quite ready to get all crazy-intentional about 2020, but we’re also over the holidays and feeling a little reflective. Episode 241 is a casual year-end fireside (we wish!) chat with Meagan and Sarah as we close out another year as moms, family managers, business owners, and humans. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The Spotify video that sums up our growth and stats for 2019Listen to the full archives of The Mom Hour hereCheck out our page for new listeners hereOur Podcast Club has launched!Our Word Of The Year discussion from early 2019Kidliterate, Sarah’s podcast co-hosted with her 11-year-old daughter all about smart media picks for the whole familyExpecting, our pregnancy podcast, launches in 2020You can sign up now for our course Make Money Podcasting, and get $100 off when you sign up through that link Meagan and Sarah discussed that they love Kyran Pittman’s Instagram (specifically her 50th project) and her book, Planting DandelionsMeagan wrote abo

A mom in the trenches wonders exactly when things will start to feel easier, playdates with school-aged boys whose house rules differ on video games, dealing with disappointment as a mom (especially around built-up big days like holidays), and a request for Sarah to share where she gets her news media and how to consume it without getting anxious. Such great questions sent in by our listeners this week! Join Meagan and Sarah for a pre-holiday helping of nuanced advice, gentle encouragement, and our signature “It’s all gonna be okay”.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah mentioned many of the ways she likes to consume news media, including the NPR One App, Pantsuit Politics Podcast, Up First Podcast, and InstapaperYou can find all of our listener questions episodes hereHave a question for Meagan and Sarah? Send us your question by email to hello@themomhour.com, or even better we love when you record your questions using Speakpipe!MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partne

When your baby comes home one with one of those hospital-issued fine-toothed combs, the nurses don’t warn you about awkward baby mullets, the heartache of cutting off toddler curls, or the volume of screeching elicited by soap in the eyes and combing out tangles. They also don’t mention lice, greasy tween hair, bad haircuts, getting slime stuck in long locks. In Episode 239 Meagan and Sarah discuss all things related to kids’ hair, from baby to teen. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Queue it up! Check out Sarah’s new podcast with her daughter, Kidliterate! Each episode they’ll discuss the, books, shows, podcasts, and music that their family enjoys.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#do-not-sell-my-info.

Little kids have big needs when it comes to staying warm, comfortable, and happy in the winter, and even as the season returns again and again, growing kids seem to KEEP NEEDING WINTER STUFF. With Meagan’s decades of experience parenting five kids through Michigan winters plus the latest and greatest tips from our listener Facebook community, we’re rounding up all the footwear, apparel, car and stroller stuff, indoor and outdoor play, and miscellaneous products that will keep your whole family cozy all winter long. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Join our special Facebook Group for The Mom Hour Listeners (make sure to answer the questions to be approved!)All the products we mentioned in the episode are listed by category in this blog post roundupCheck out The Mom Hour Amazon Store for curated product recommendations by categoryWant more ideas for getting through the winter? Check out our episode Stocking Your House For Stuck Inside Days (Episode 145 from February 2018)MORE HELPFUL L

Would it change your life to write thank you letters to the people who’ve helped you get to where you are? That’s what writer Nancy Davis Kho set out to do when she approached a milestone birthday while navigating a challenging series of family transitions and personal loss. In this month’s Voices interview Meagan chats with Nancy about the science behind gratitude and the connection to happiness, and what the thank-you project taught her. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Find out more about Nancy’s book The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a TimeCheck out Nancy’s podcast Midlife MixtapeFind Nancy Davis Kho on Facebook, Twitter or 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-se

Meagan’s last three Christmases have played out like a sad country song (divorce! family emergency! breakup!), and this year she’s going ALL IN on festiveness in an effort to reset the tone for the season and find new ways to enjoy and embrace the holidays as a mom of older kids. There will be Nutcrackers, Messiahs, baking, multiple advent calendars, and even (teen-willing) some ambitious exterior illumination. Sarah’s asking the questions today and Meagan is here for all of us who want to kick off the season with maximum enthusiasm. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan talked with her sister about her medical emergency during the holidays in Surviving A Major Health Scare with Kathreen Francis: Voices 25 (from May 2018)Check out our blog post 6 Easy (We Promise!) Homemade Holiday Gifts You Can Make With Your Kids All of the advent calendars Meagan purchased for her kids this year can be found in our Amazon Store(affiliate links)Listen to our two holiday bonus series: Creati

We may seem set in our ways, but sometimes a change in persuasion comes later in motherhood–and life. This More Than Mom episode is all about the things we’ve changed our minds about, from the inconsequential (pickles?) to the highly controversial (decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving!). Join us as we confessing our changes of heart today! LINKS MENTIONED:Armchair Expert with Dax ShepherdSarah mentioned our More Than Mom episode all about hair, More Than Mom: Hair Styling & Hair MaintenanceThe Teachers Respond To May Madness bonus episode and Elizabeth Chapman (@samandscout) are what made Sarah think differently about school themed dress-up daysCheck our our two holiday bonus series: Creating Holiday Memories (Noticing, Appreciating and Capturing), and Holiday Shopping (Organizing, Planning & Purchasing, Small Business, Maker & Handmade, and Storing, Wrapping & Opening)MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck o

Once the gifts have been purchased, what do we actually DO with them? Hide and hope? Box up and ship? Wrap and display? Stack in cardboard boxes until the eleventh hour? Turns out, it’s a little of all of the above in our houses. In the final installment in our Holiday Shopping series, Meagan and Sarah discuss the tricky time between when gifts are procured and when they are opened. Join us!This episode is part of our 3-part series on Holiday Shopping. You can listen to Part 1 here and Part 2 here!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.

We love supporting artists, makers, and small businesses, but when it comes time to actually DO the holiday shopping, this can be easier said than done. In the second installment of our Holiday Shopping series, Meagan and Sarah offer specific sites, marketplaces, and buying tips for those who want to shop small and give handmade this holiday season. Join us!This episode is part of our 3-part series on Holiday Shopping. You can listen to Part 1 here, and check back tomorrow for Part 3!LINKS MENTIONED:EtsyMintedUncommon GoodsRedbubbleMORE 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.

List-making, idea-capturing, online-ordering, OH MY. It’s time to get serious about holiday shopping, and between us we’ve got multiple spreadsheets and very different tactics when it comes to organizing, planning, and buying holiday gifts. In the first part in our Holiday Shopping series, Meagan and Sarah tackle all the prep and that goes into our purchasing this time of year. Join us!This episode is part of our 3-part series on Holiday Shopping. You can listen to Part 2 here and Part 3 here.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s gift planning spreadsheetMORE 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.

Grab your favorite beverage and cozy up for a catch-all catch-up with Meagan and Sarah! We talk about the season, the weather, our recent travels, and some fun updates from the business! Then Sarah is joined by our resident Books Talk contributor Katie Addiss to talk about holiday books, what we’ve been reading lately, and how we read while traveling–both to ourselves and to our kids. Happy Thanksgiving week, friends!LINKS MENTIONED:Kidliterate is live! Check out Sarah’s new podcast with her 11-year-old daughter, all about great media picks for the whole family, and THANK YOU for your support, shares, stars, reviews, and kind words.We talked about our recent hair episode, and Sarah’s discovery of the Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush (affiliate link)Singer-songwriters we hung out with in Nashville that you should check out: K.C. Clifford, Nora Jane StruthersPodcasters we hung out with at the Blissdom conference in Nashville that you should check o

We’re doing a deep dive into all things hair and hairstyling in this week’s More Than Mom episode! From how often we wash to whether we heat-style, covering grays, DIY color, cutting bangs, salon visits, favorite products and more, we have thoughts about it all. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan uses the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air BrushMeagan swears by the Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal Biotin Dry ShampooWe both really like the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant CrèmeSarah uses the L’ange Hair Aplatir Blush Tourmaline Ceramic Flat IronWe both love the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair RepairMeagan’s Rose Gold hair dye is the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying + Shine Permanent Hair Color, and her color is the 7RB Dark Rose BlondeBetween hair appointments, Sarah touches up gray roots with the L’Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up Gray Concealer SprayA couple of hits from our FabFitFun subscription have been the OUAI

How can we capture sweet holiday moments even while they’re happening? What’s the balance between being the family documentarian and truly participating in the magic as it unfolds? In the final installment in our special series on Creating Holiday Memories, Meagan and Sarah offer easy ways to preserve those fleeting moments in writing, photography, video, and more–without stressing about perfection or performance. Join us!This episode is part of our 3-part series on Creating Holiday Memories. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 from earlier this week, and thanks for listening!LINKS MENTIONED:Download the Chatbooks appListen to Part 1 in this seriesListen to Part 2 in this seriesMORE 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