The Mom Hour

Seeing our kids struggle is HARD–but the long game involves supporting them through mistakes and even failures in the pursuit of raising kids who take (appropriate) risks and can advocate for themselves competently and autonomously.In this month’s Voices interview Meagan chats with teacher, author, and mom Jessica Lahey about the connection between overparenting and academic learning, when the slippery slope of helicopter parenting really begins, and what parents can do at every stage to support kids’ tolerance for mistakes and the discomfort that necessarily accompanies growth and learning.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.

Meagan wants to go lilac-hunting and Sarah might try something for Earth Day this year. Of course we're also dyeing eggs, hiding baskets, and sprucing up our homes and gardens for a new season. Join us as we discuss the rituals, routines, and traditions that Spring brings to our homes--plus Katie Addiss joins Sarah to talk Spring and Easter books for kids!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah uses this Nordic Ware Spring Lamb 3-D Cake Mold for their lamb cake traditionWe learned a ton of technical tips from this post on MidCenturyMenu.com: 10 Tips For The Perfect Retro Easter Lamb “Lambie” CakeOur Bonus Episode where Meagan interviewed Amy Joyce of The Washington Post's On Parenting section about the college admissions scandalThank you to new Patrons for your support of the show and for joining our community! Learn more at Patreon.com/TheMomHourKatie and Sarah discussed springtime books for kids plus what we're reading lately. It's all covered in this blog post.MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

It’s spring, which means we’re thinking about summer. Cobbling together childcare as a working mom, giving kids a chance to try new activities without over-scheduling them, and making time to enjoy a simpler schedule in your own backyard–we’ve got a lot to talk about. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:More episodes about SUMMERMore episodes about CALENDAR PLANNINGMORE 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 microphones to sponsors, babysitters to sound engineers, the way we make The Mom Hour podcast has changed a ton in the last four years and 200+ episodes. In this fun look-back episode we laugh about what we’ve learned, what has changed, and what has stayed the same. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Episode 200: What We’ve Learned From Each OtherCurious about what gear and services we use to record the podcast? Check out this page.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.

Four years to the day after dropping our very first episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah are here with our 200th show. Join us as we reflect on what we’ve learned from each other, our guests, and you: our community. We also play voicemails from listeners, team members, and fellow podcasters from around the world. It’s a four-year-old birthday party and a bicentennial all rolled into one…join us for the celebration!LINKS MENTIONED:Our friends from other podcasts left us such sweet messages. Go check out their shows at What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood, Edit Your Life, and Welcome HomeQueue It Up! Our very first episode is called Mom Meltdowns, Oh No!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

Were you shocked – but, you know, not really all that surprised – to learn about this week’s widespread accusations of wealthy parents using cheating, bribing, fraud and other nefarious means to get their kids into elite colleges? In a special “breaking” episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan sits down with Amy Joyce, the On Parenting editor at The Washington Post, to find out more about this case, the high-stress culture many kids are growing up in, and how we parents can resist. LINKS MENTIONED:Consumed by competition, parents fuel a college admissions game that few can play (Amy Joyce and Caitlin Gibson, The Washington Post)The college admissions scandal is more proof that helicopter parenting hurts kids (Amy Joyce, The Washington Post)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 Cali

Helping a little kid deal with big feelings about an out-of-state move, traveling as a nervous flyer, finding your groove as an at-home mom when kids are in school full-time, and getting dad involved when a toddler only wants mama–we’re taking more of your parenting challenges and listener questions in this week’s episode. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:More on helping kids adjust to a move in Episode 56 (Moving With Kids & Cultivating Community) and also in Episode 153 (Moving, Remodeling, & Other Home TransitionsKimberly’s question was responding to what Meagan shared in our 2018 recap episode about realizing she is more moody than she thoughtMore on productivity and calendar planning in Episode 83 (Calendar Planning & To-Do List Tips) and also in Episode 169 (Productivity & Time Management Tips For Moms)More on co-parenting and getting dads involved in Episode 141 (Busting Dad Stereotypes with Whit 

Those little squares on our phones are portals to a whole lot of essential–and nonessential–aspects of life. From navigation to shopping, social to fitness, mindless to productive, Meagan and Sarah break down the apps on our phones in today’s More Than Mom edition of The Mom Hour. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah uses Pocket Casts to listen to podcastsWe mentioned Voxer a few dozen times (and! fun fact! our sound editor helped us fox the unheard messages glitch!)Sarah struggles with Google Keep, but wants to love it; meanwhile, Evernote plugs along as a good-enough note-taking solutionSarah likes Accuweather for the radar and mapsHere’s how we figured out our most-used apps: Settings > Battery > “Last 10 Days” > “Show Activity”We talked about our mixed feelings for WazeSarah’s go-to photo editing app is Snapseed, which she learned to use even better after reading Jill Kraus’s eBook Picture PlayWe also talked about the photo of Meagan’s yog

Helping school-age kids start to self-regulate around screens and sweets, navigating an awkward situation with a fellow preschool mom, and organizing the “drop zone” in our homes–we answer these great listener questions in Episode 198. PLUS Alison Thompson joins Sarah to answer more questions from listeners about her transition from one baby to two. We talk sleep, schedules, and getting ready to go back to work.LINKS MENTIONED:Other listener questions episodes are listed hereOur bonus audio classes are available at the Patreon Editor levelSarah’s interview with Eileen Kennedy-Moore (Voices 18)Listen to Alison every other Friday on the Crunchy Cocktail Hour podcastSubmit your listener questions via Speakpipe, or record yourself on your phone’s voice memo recorder and email the file to 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

As a mom of an only child who came home through adoption to a family already rich with diversity, Karen Walrond has thought a lot about what it means to develop a family culture under your own roof. Combining influences from their countries of origin and cultural backgrounds, she and her husband have intentionally set out to give their daughter an appreciation not only for her own diverse background but also for that of others.In this month’s Voices interview Sarah chats with Karen, a photographer, author, speaker, and host of the podcast Make Light, about loving the teenage years, being an one-kid family, and how the process of rebuilding her family’s hurricane-damaged home provided a surprising opportunity to further define their values and priorities. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Make Light, Karen’s podcasta full video tour of Karen’s new houseKarenWalrond.com@HeyChookooloonks on InstagramKaren Walrond, Leadership Consultant on FacebookMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFo

That “surfboard kid” meme you’ve seen all over the internet? That’s a photo of Meagan and her son Isaac in 2003. We’re popping in with the full backstory on the photo, how the meme took off without our knowledge or Meagan’s permission, and what we’re doing to bring the focus back to the real story.Watch the video backstory here.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.

Meagan’s a youngest, Sarah’s a firstborn, and between us we have eight kids (not to mention a bunch of grown siblings ourselves). In Episode 197 we share insights into sibling relationships from little to grown, what it’s like raising a kid whose personality is similar to yours, and how our families of origin continue to influence our parenting styles–PLUS some fun and little-known facts about us and our kids that we haven’t shared before!LINKS MENTIONED:What Fresh Hell podcast’s episodes on similar topics: Why Are Our Kids Such Total Opposites? Episode 68, Middle Kids – Episode 93, and Birth Order- Parenting Each Child Best (More or Less) – Episode 13MORE 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-i

Best purchase we’ve made recently? Product we can’t believe we lived so long without? Splurges that were worth it and cheapos we love? Meagan and Sarah talk STUFF in this fun more than mom — all about the products and purchases that have made our lives better recently. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan’s product mentions:Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & VolumizerBissell Cleanview Upright Bagless Vacuum CleanerKitchenAid KEK1222PT 1.25-Liter Electric Kettle – PistachioSafavieh Monaco Vintage Boho Multicolored Distressed RugSarah’s product mentions:L’Ange Aplatir Flat IronGoody Styling Essentials Start Style Finish Hair Brush, Ventjomparis Modern 12″ Battery Operated Silent & Non-Ticking Wall Clock (mine is no longer for sale, but this one is similar)Lifetime Folding Utility Table, 6 FeetPolar Products Unisex Kids Original Rain BootsArtemas Power Loomed Rust Area RugMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (

Meal plans are one thing; real life is another. Join Meagan and Sarah as we look back at a recent week in our lives, detailing the dinners we planned, the ones that came together as expected, and the curve balls that led to pizza ordered in. We also share cooking tips, modifications for picky eaters, recipes, and more. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:The first time we did A Week of Real-Life Dinners (Episode 72, from October 2016)Fellow podcasters at Friendlier and The Girl Next Door were inspired by this idea and did their own take on itMeagan’s son Will’s band’s first gigRecipes from Kelsey’s meal planBaked Creamy Chicken Cheesy Flautas with Guacamole (Jo Cooks)Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (eMeals) Sarah loves these Bibigo Chicken Vegetable Potstickers, available at CostcoTrader Joe’s items Sarah mentioned: Mandarin Orange Chicken, Cinnamon Swirl Bread (makes great french toast!), red lentil penne pasts, stir-fry vegetable mixMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out dea

From baby safety to impulsive toddlers, school projects to friendship struggles, as moms we’re given a ton of opportunities to get up in our kids’ business or let them figure it out on their own. This week on the podcast we continue our look at helicopter parenting and the challenge of raising confident, independent kids. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:How To Raise An Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims (affiliate link)The Gift of Failure, by Jessica Lahey (affiliate link)Sarah’s Go-To Resources for Parenting Toddlers (a roundup of some great websites and books)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.

Two things always fun to reminisce about: former jobs (especially the crazy ones) and style evolutions (our own, and fashion in general). Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour wherein we share weird or embarrassing things we’ve done for money, the fashion decade we’d most like to travel back to, what our prom dresses looked like, and more.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s prom dress, also worn by Elisabeth Shue hereThe Dream, a podcast about MLMs we’ve both been listening toa fun article from Fashionista.com about the costumes in Mary Poppins ReturnsMORE 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.

It’s not as simple as “helicopter” vs. “free range”. It never is, right? Most of us want to raise resilient, fulfilled, happy future-adults, but the trajectory from high-needs infant to self-assured teen is really murky. What distinguishes over-involved from just, um, involved? What about the cultural pressure to produce kids with impressive, well-rounded résumés? And how can we find that elusive sweet spot where we bear witness to our kids growth and change without trying to control every outcome? In Episode 194 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah start tackling these big questions, in particular looking at ages and stages from baby to teen for opportunities to stretch kids’ independence and let go of our own need for control. PLUS Katie Addiss joins Sarah for our first books talk of 2019–all about fiction for moms. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (affiliate link), by Julie Lythcott-HaimsOur episode with maternal mental h

All moms know that parenting is full of hilarious moments…well, hilarious in the “someday you’ll look back and laugh” kind of way. Tracey Tee and Shayna Ferm – friends, moms, comedians and creators of the Pump & Dump show – have turned those funny (and frustrating) moments into a stage show that invites moms to get out of the house, laugh, commiserate and find community. In this interview they talk candidly with Meagan about what it’s really like to leave your kids behind and travel around the country for performances (hint: not as glamorous as it sounds), why they’re so passionate about creating a supportive and judgment-free experience for moms, and why they decided to quit the sport of competitive social media sharing. Also, listen to find out more about the Pump & Dump show and why Meagan can’t wait to see it in March!LINKS MENTIONED:Tour info and tickets for The Pump & Dump ShowThe Pump & Dump Podcast@ThePumpAndDumpShow on InstagramMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from

Everybody is getting rid of stuff…and we’re holding on! At least we’d like to. Join Meagan and Sarah as we talk about the stuff of motherhood–the material things that may not spark joy, but do hold meaning and memories. We build imaginary time capsules as we talk through sippy cup lids and old Lansinoh tubes, plastic baby combs and LEGO creations: these are the things we’re holding onto, if only in our minds.LINKS MENTIONED:Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on NetflixThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (affiliate link)At Home, by Bill Bryson (affiliate link)Stuff, Junk, and Things, Episode 35 where we first talk about the Kondo crazy and our approach to keeping kid clutter in checkMORE 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-

Ever have an inexplicably grumpy day? (Please say yes.) Meagan and Sarah chat all things grumpiness in this More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour. We laugh about our personal grumpiness triggers, how we survive grumpy days as a mom, and even how our personality types play into grumpiness. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The episodes where we talk about the Enneagram are Episodes 57 and 58These are the personality tests we’ve taken and talked about on the podcast before: MYERS-BRIGGS test from 16personalities.com and the ENNEAGRAM test from ecclecticenergies.com. After you take the tests, we recommend the full Myers-Briggs type descriptions found here, a more in-depth explanation of the Myers-Briggs letters found here, and the descriptions of the nine Enneagram types found here (scroll to bottom of the page).We talked about our words for the year in Episodes 189 and 190MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFo