The Mom Hour

From structured gratitude practices to spontaneous texts, this time of year provides lots of opportunities to appreciate the moments–and the people–in our lives. In this second part in our special series on Creating Holiday Memories, Meagan and Sarah talk about cultivating a habit of gratitude and appreciation–for ourselves as well as with our families. Join us!This episode is part of our 3-part series on Creating Holiday Memories. Check out Part 1 here, and Part 3 here.LINKS MENTIONED:Download the Chatbooks appListen to Part 1 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-not-sell-my-info.

Moms are great at planning the holidays. Check-listing the holidays. Executing the holidays. But for those of us who want to create lasting holiday memories for ourselves and our families, it starts a much simpler place: noticing small moments of connection, beauty, and magic all around us. In this kickoff to our special series on Creating Holiday Memories, Meagan and Sarah offer our thoughts on the importance of noticing, and how busy moms can incorporate it into their holiday season this year.This episode is part of our 3-part series on Creating Holiday Memories. You can listen to Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.LINKS MENTIONED:Download the Chatbooks appSarah’s essay about noticing holiday decorations with little kids: Comet, The Red-Nosed MinivanMORE 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.c

Feeling distracted, forgetful, or just sorta fuzzy? We’ve been there. Listener Erin asked about “mom brain” and how we’ve handled it over the years, as well as how to keep your adult conversation skills from completely atrophying when you’re in a phase of life that doesn’t provide a lot of opportunity for intellectually stimulating discussions. We dive into small talk, how to navigate awkwardness in groups of adults where everyone seems to know each other, and how to nurture interesting conversations in mixed company. Join us!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.

Heartburn in pregnancy means babies born with lots of hair; boys are harder when they’re little, girls are harder later on; third babies are super chill: These are just a few myths and supposed truths that beg to be tested by reality. We asked YOU, our listeners, to help us come up with as many mom myths as possible, and in Episode 234 Meagan and Sarah discuss whether they’ve held true for our combined eight kids. It’s a fun one–join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The Mom Hour Podcast Club is going to be available in just a few days! Check it out at themomhour.com/clubYou can always reach us by email at hello@themomhour.comGet to know more about our sound engineer Brian Thomas at YokaiAudio.com.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-se

Meagan and Sarah have been lifting weights this fall! After bemoaning our fitness situation back in late summer, we got (sorta) serious about doing trainer-led workouts–and we found a way to do it “together,” remotely! In today’s More Than Mom episode we’re full of updates, from how sore we are to what changes we’ve noticed after 6+ weeks of weight training. We also discuss where we want to go from here with our fitness routine, tips for working with a trainer or accountability group, how we feel about smartphone apps for fitness, and more. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Kansas City, MO area listeners can check out Mark’s new gym Fit Street coming to the Crossroads neighborhood (20th & Washington St) in 2020Interested in training with Mark through the Train Heroic App? Contact Mark at fit30gym@gmail.com, or email us at hello@themomhour.com 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 q

Taking your child to see a counselor, therapist, or psychologist feels heavy…but it doesn’t have to be. As our understanding of childhood mental health expands and the stigma associated with seeking help shrinks, the growth and support opportunities for our kids that exist with the help of a trained professional are worth approaching with curiosity, not fear or sadness.In this month’s Voices interview Sarah chats with child psychologist, professor, and therapist in private practice Dr. Erin Lanphier. Dr. Erin explains patiently, and with all the detail Sarah loves, what the process of finding and working with a therapist for your child is like. We also discuss anxiety and childhood fears, how to know whether it’s time to seek outside help, and more. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:You can always get in touch with us by emailing hello@themomhour.com (let us know if you have a question for Dr. Erin or would like to hear her back on the show on a particular topic!)Phoenix area listeners can reach Dr. Erin

The road to extracurricular insanity is paved with good intentions…or so the saying goes. Sarah has always resisted the pressure to sign her kids up for multiple sports, clubs, and activities, but somehow Fall 2019 landed the Powers family with a crazy after school schedule. Join Meagan and Sarah as we discuss how it happened, what it revealed, and how it’s all coming to an end this week. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:You can always get in touch with us by emailing hello@themomhour.comMeagan mentioned the episode Nurturing Kids’ Talents (And When To Let Them Quit) (Episode 164 from July 2018)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.

From gift giving to special meals, family gatherings and classroom celebrations, creating special birthday traditions for your kids is a multi-faceted affair. Even if you’re not into big parties, there is still plenty to think about–and to keep you busy when multiple kids have birthdays in the same season, as is the case for Meagan’s family. Join us for a thoughtful look at the family culture around kids’ birthdays in Episode 232 of The Mom Hour. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Want to hear more on the topic of kids’ birthdays? Check out Kid Birthdays, Part 1 (The Kids In Your Family (Episode 68 from September 2016), Kid Birthdays, Part 2 (Other People’s Parties) (Episode 69 from September 2016), and Birthday Parties The Easier Way (Episode 155 from May 2018)Queue It Up! Sarah is a guest on Best of Both Worlds with Laura Vanderkam and Sarah Hart-Unger this week, AND both of us chat with Alana Dawson on The Podcasting PartyMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out de

Weirdest thing Meagan and Sarah are afraid of? You’ll never guess in a million years (and please tell us if you share our weird fears!). And then there are the more typical things that creep us out, from the minor heebie-jeebies to the big-time stuff that truly terrifies us. Join us for a fun, funny, not-at-all-scary More Than Mom episode all about the things that scare us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan is right about “heebie-jeebies”We talked about thrill-seeking personalities in our Adventure As A Family Value episode, and its More Than Mom counterpart: Adventures Great & Small, which is more about adventures in our own livesSarah once wrote about her scorpion encountersYou can always get in touch with us by emailing hello@themomhour.comMORE 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 C

Roasts, stews, gourd-shaped baked goods, and soups that pair with a storybook read-aloud–we are leaning in hard this fall to cozy seasonal cooking. Join Meagan and Sarah as we discuss what we’ve been feeding our families lately, what we aspire to make and bake this fall, and how we like to bring the season to our table in both the food and décor departments. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:This episode was inspired by Sarah’s recent interview with the hosts of the Didn’t I Just Feed Youpodcast, Feeding Your Family Without The Guilt, and a recent episode about feeding families on the The Girl Next Door PodcastMeagan’s kids love her pork and sweet potato hash – here’s a step-by-step recipe as written for her young adult son IsaacBuy Meagan’s Nordic Ware Wheat & Pumpkin Loaf Pan on Amazon (affiliate link), and see the recipe on MomAdvice.com for Easy Homemade Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread that inspired the purchase!Sarah’s favorite chili recipe (originally from Americ

From cars to houses to groceries to college, there are some functional elements to growing your family that give a lot of couples pause. We’re not here to convince you one way or the other, but we do have experience to share when it comes to going from two kids to three (and then, in Meagan’s case, to four… and five…). We also acknowledge the emotional and psychological implications of parenting a bigger brood, and we’re here to discuss it all in Episode 230. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Want more discussion about growing your family? You might like:Are You Done Having Babies? (Episode 7)Should I Get Pregnant Again? (Episode 87)Queue It Up! Sarah suggested Episode 213 from June, Adventure As A Family Value, as well as her recent voices interview Spending Saving, and Living Your Values with Natalie TaylorMORE 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 new

Curious what it’s like to run a business with your good friend? Or how we navigate money conversations, time commitments, and growth tension while mothering a collective eight children? Today’s More Than Mom episode pulls back the curtain on our 4-year business partnership (and 7+ year working relationship) with an honest look at how we keep the love alive and what we’ve learned about partnership through it all. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Check out two similar behind the scenes type episodes, More Than Mom: Behind The Scenes & Business Updates (from August 2018) and Behind The Scenes: How We Make The Podcast (Episode 91 from February 2017)Sarah referenced the episode Knowing Yourself As A Mom (Episode 203)Join Meagan and Sarah at the Blissdom Conference in Nashville this November!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

Teaching manners and social graces is about so much more than pleases and thank-yous; it’s years of modeling and coaching with many shades of gray that bring together regional and cultural differences and expectations, and with a line of sight toward courtesy that’s much bigger than any one dinner party or social faux-pas. Join Meagan and Sarah as we confess the manners our kids are still struggling with, celebrate the areas where things are working well in our families, and take a big picture look at raising courteous humans.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.

Navigating traditional employment while mothering small children brings up so many questions–from negotiating flexible schedules to getting hired while pregnant, promotion challenges and where to pump. In this month’s Voices interview Meagan aims to answer the most common questions in a conversation with Colleen Curtis, head of community at The Mom Project, an organization dedicated to building better workplace environments for moms, and helping mothers remain active in the workplace, while acknowledging our need for flexibility and respect in their role as a mom, particularly in the early years of parenting. LINKS MENTIONED:Check out The Mom Project at there website for more about what they doInterested in learning more about The Mom Hour’s new Podcast Club? Sign up here and we’ll keep you posted!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 fo

Do we set family rules that apply to everyone, or adjust our expectations for individual kids’ and their different strengths, struggles, and personalities? Yes. Both. And it’s complicated. We loved answering listener Hannah’s thoughtful question about parenting “fair” versus parenting to each kid’s individual needs, with Sarah discussing how it works with younger families and Meagan shining the light on how things look with teens and young adults. It’s a great conversation and we hope you’ll join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The Mom Hour Podcast Club is coming soon! Check this link for more info and to sign up to get notified when it’s available!Our episode on The Life-Changing Magic of Arbitrary Rules is a fan favoriteEpisodes on siblings and birth order you might like are on this pageQueue It Up! Sarah suggested Episode 86 from January 2017, How (And Why) To Spend One-On-One Time With Your KidsMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our

Mom-friends are a true gift–but they’re just one type of female friendship we’ve benefitted from over the years. Today we’re talking about building relationships with women we admire – mentors, colleagues, fellow entrepreneurs, and just generally awesome ladies. From where we find them and how we initiate a first friend-date to what kinds of friendships we like to have in our professional circles, we’re unpacking all the benefits to surrounding yourself with women you admire.  PLUS Katie Addiss joins Sarah for another Books Talk segment, where you’ll hear our list of picture books we’re never giving away – these are the keepers on our shelves that have been loved for years, and for good reason. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The Mom Hour Podcast Club is coming soon! Check this link for more info and to sign up to get notified when it’s available!We fangirled about Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest from Edit Your Life. If you love them as much as we do, check out these links:Asha on The Mom Hour in 

With kids back in school, we’re looking at taking care of our bodies through regular exercise. Meagan’s already established a new early morning workout routine with some accountability buddies, and Sarah’s ready to start. We talk about what’s worked in the past when committing to a new fitness routine, what obstacles we have to look out for, and how the reasons behind our desire to work out regularly has changed as we’ve gotten older. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Aaptiv is an audio-based training app with all kinds of workouts that we’ve both enjoyed in the pastMORE 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.

Time-strapped, mom? You’re not alone. This week Meagan and Sarah look at time management through two different lenses: first, how to find pockets of time in your existing schedule to make small but meaningful improvements to your overall productivity, AND second, how to carve out larger blocks of time for big changes and important priorities, even during busy seasons of life. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan talked about Steven Covey’s book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (affiliate link)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.

Fall means football, whether you care a little bit, a ton, or not at all. This inspired us to talk about the way sports fandom relates to family culture in a broader way–from bonding across generations over a favorite team, to navigating marital stress when one partner prioritizes game day over family time. We also look at the positive lessons (and potentially troublesome ones) that kids can learn from watching televised sports, and how even fair-weather fans can find teachable moments in sports culture. Join us!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.

Recently both Meagan and Sarah took trips where they spent significant time alone–like, alone-alone, not “5 minutes in the bathroom with a kid outside the door” alone. This got us thinking about alone-ness in motherhood: the quest to get some, how we feel about it when we do get it, and what types of activities we prefer to do alone vs. with others. This conversation also leads us into topics like anxiety, fear, loneliness, extroversion/introversion, and more. Join us for another More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan documented her solo trip in Northern Michigan through micro-essays on Instagram. Check them out on these topics:Heading Out, Alone (Bear Fears Notwithstanding)Gentle Nature & Surprise BlueberriesLake SuperiorWritten Somewhere In My MemorySehnsucht, or The Inconsolable LongingThe Forest FloorMORE 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 que