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The Mom Hour

The most fun you've ever had with two moms you've never met.

in Episodes on June 18, 2019

Adventure As A Family Value: Episode 213

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It can be as small as trying a new food or as big as starring in the school play; helping our kids feel the thrill of adventure doesn’t have to mean putting them at risk or forcing an indoor-loving kid outside. In Episode 213 Meagan and Sarah talk about why creating a family culture around adventure is important to us AND tackle some of the obstacles to living a life of adventure when you have small children, including nudging anxious kids out of their shells and getting over our own hangups in the process. Join us!

Sponsor Spotlight: Save The Children

Save The Children’s Read A Story, Change Their Story campaign gives moms like us a way to help kids in need. All you have to do is read with your little ones and log your time online, and generous partners will support Save The Children’s education initiatives with books for schools and other resources.  Get started at at savethechildren.org/read.

Partner Offer: FREE Photo Book From Chatbooks

We have a gift for YOU: $10 off a photo book from Chattbooks! Download the Chatbooks app or create an account at Chatbooks.com and use promo code THEMOMHOUR at checkout to get a 30-page soft-cover photo book at no cost (upgrades and shipping may apply; if you decide to make your book longer or add other upgrades, you’ll still get $10 off your total). Offer ends 6/30/19–hurry!

Sponsor Spotlight: Paint Your Life

At paintyourlife.com, you can have an original painting by a world-class artist done by hand from a photo. 100% Hand-painted portrait paintings from photos in oil, charcoal, pencil, pastel, watercolor or acrylic. For 30% off your painting and FREE shipping, text MOM to 79-79-79.

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Your input helps us improve the show. Thanks! (If you don’t see the button above, try this link: http://themomhour.com/survey.)

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 213:

  • Listen to our More Than Mom episode on adventure
  • Meagan mentioned two movies about stories of adventure that are good to watch with kids; Big Fish and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
  • We mentioned our episodes on helicopter parenting, Episode 194 and Episode 195
  • Sarah referenced the book The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey (affiliate link)

Queue It Up!

Featured podcast we think is worth checking out:

Spawned with Kristen and Liz of Cool Mom Picks is a fun and hopefully funny podcast about parenting and parenting culture, full of helpful takeaways and mostly non-judgmental advice. Available at CoolMomPicks.com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

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« Public Mom-Shaming & The Ones Who Suffer
More Than Mom: Dating As A Divorced Mom »

Comments

  1. Kya says

    August 3, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    I am in the same boat…my son is about to turn 6 and I am so excited for all of our soon to be adventures! He is growing so quickly. We have been really great at Service and Creativity as a family value…excited to add some adventure into the mix.

    Reply

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Top 10 parenting podcast hosted by @meaganfrancis (MI) & @powersofmine (SoCal). 8 kids between us, little to grown. Happier motherhood starts here.

The Mom Hour
Every so often, Sarah and I take a week to record Every so often, Sarah and I take a week to record what we call A Week of Real Life Dinners. We try not to over-plan, or over-perfect during those weeks...it's a week of REAL LIFE dinners, after all, not "best-case-scenario" dinners, or "wishin-and-hopin" meal plans, or "Instagram perfect" menus.

Recently I've been trying hard to make better use of our leftovers, because throwing away food makes me sad, and grumpy, and also poorer. And coming up with brand new meals every night of the week is a lot more work than coming up with meals two or three nights of the week.

See all that food in that yellow Tupperware container (passed down from my mom, by the way!)? That's the leftovers AFTER feeding the whole family. We definitely have enough for another whole night. Tomorrow I'm making an 8 lb pork shoulder. Ummm, I think we're going to have plenty to get us through the weekend. Hopefully I won't forget about it and have to figure out how to dispose of long-forgotten meat later. (Ask me what I did with the LAST pork shoulder that didn't get finished off...)

Those question marks on the menu board for Friday and Sunday are just that: questions. I have no idea what we'll eat those days. I often won't know until the day of. But unlike ten or fifteen years ago, I've finally acquired the kitchen skills and confidence to know that on those "question mark" days, I can reach into the fridge, pull out ingredients, and cook up something resembling Real Food for my family.

It all takes time. And lots of trial and error...and yes, tossed-out, forgotten-about leftovers along the way. But every day, every week, I do a little better and know a little more. Ten years ago, a week of Real Life Dinners may have been frozen peas and chicken nuggets. These days, it's just as easy for me to braise a roast or roast a chicken. But I'm still learning, just like everyone else. One question-mark meal at a time. -M

(Want to join in our Week of Real Life Dinners? Record what you REALLY make and eat, not what you HOPE to, for the week of March 8-14 - just a quick description is fine! - and email to hello@themomhour.com. If we can, we'll incorporate YOUR Real Life Dinners into the show!)
It's a More-Than-Mom Sunday, and it's a fun one!⠀
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The real question is: are we still entertained by squirrels as much as we were last spring? You'll have to listen to find out! In today's More Than Mom episode Meagan and Sarah take a deep dive into diversions, 2021-style. We're not as cooped up as last March, but things aren't back to normal yet either. From this in-between place we talk about a little of everything: board games for adults, TV and books, home improvement and gardening, fitness, beauty, and more. (And squirrels, obvs.)⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Checking in on the responses to our listener surve Checking in on the responses to our listener survey, and this stood out:⠀
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84.6% of moms who responded say they've dealt with overwhelm or burnout in the last six months. Let that sink in. Eighty-four point six percent.⠀
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More than half of respondents said they've struggled with their own mental health. More than half have experienced loneliness. More than half have gone through relationship stress.⠀
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Whatever you're going through, we promise: You. Are. Not. Alone.⠀
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There's a link in our bio that'll take you to the survey, or you can pop http://themomhour.com/suvey into a browser and find it there. The survey is anonymous, the questions are quick and easy (no essay questions!), and your answers help us understand our audience, your listening habits, and what kind of content would help you best in the months ahead. Thanks so much for taking the time to help us help you. 💛
New Voices episode up in time for weekend listenin New Voices episode up in time for weekend listening!⠀
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Kendra Adachi is @thelazygenius. Either you know and love her already, or you're about to. Kendra's principles for finding YOUR best middle ground between perfectionism and giving up are helping moms everywhere decide what matters, ditch what doesn't, and get stuff done. In this month's Voices interview Kendra joins Sarah to talk about how Lazy Genius principles got put to the test during the early months of the pandemic, how moms in the trenches can be gentler on themselves and still feel fulfilled, and why acknowledging the season you're in just might be the key to enjoying it. PLUS, Kendra helps Sarah solve a frustrating home management issue using The Lazy Genius method in real time.⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
#AD The leaves say autumn, the slippers say winter #AD The leaves say autumn, the slippers say winter, but Sarah's new pajama pants from our sponsor @mynestdesigns are HERE. FOR. SPRING. 🌸🍄🍓So soft, such a great weight - and hey, if we’re all working from home in our pjs anyway, why not update the look for spring?

Nest Designs makes sleepwear and apparel for babies, toddlers, kids and women - plus crib sheets, bandana bibs, diaper bags, and more. Their fabrics are incredibly soft and sustainably made, and their new Spring/Summer 2021 collection is so cute.

We love spreading the word about a small company doing big things - Nest is based in Vancouver BC and supports a different charity with each new collection. Check out ALL their great stuff at nestdesigns.com and use code MOMHOUR for 10% off your purchase!
I (Sarah) shut the computer and drew with my daugh I (Sarah) shut the computer and drew with my daughters tonight while we listened to the exciting conclusion of “From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” on audiobook. It felt good. ✏️ 📖 🔊
New podcast episode!⠀ .⠀ Whether schools in yo New podcast episode!⠀
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Whether schools in your area are open in-person, on a hybrid model, or fully remote, chances are that March is looking different than September did. And believe it or not, we're already looking toward the end of the year. In Episode 302 Meagan and Sarah share how our own kids are doing at this point in the year, what's changed and how school has evolved in our respective communities. We also offer validation for those who worry about kids' academic progress this year, and our hopes for finishing out the year on a positive trajectory.⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Friends, meet Renly. Renly was 5 or 6 months old Friends, meet Renly.

Renly was 5 or 6 months old when our family got him back in 2013. He was adorable - and high-strung, jealous, and skittish around boys and men (a real problem in a house full of boys-becoming-men.)

I made an offhand joke on a recent episode - something about "getting rid of" a dog because he wouldn't stop sleeping in our bed.  That wasn't the real reason, but the episode wasn't about animals, so I decided not to elaborate further.

But after getting a really angry review (pictured) I figured I'd set the record straight here.

As I mentioned, Renly was high-strung and jealous. If I didn't pay enough attention to him, he'd "punish" me. One notable time, he jumped up on my dining-room table, looked me straight in the eye and pooped.

That was bad, but the deal-breaker was that Renly kept biting little boys and men - specifically, on their butts and privates. 

After doing a LOT of searching, I connected with a young couple who had just gotten the OK to get their first pet. They fell in love and had the time to give Renly what he needed. Everyone was very happy, perhaps Renly most of all. 

As much as Sarah and I joke about our "dog ambivalence", we are both responsible and caring dog owners. I won't personally say "dog mom" as that is not how I relate to my pets.  My older dog Moxie isn't my child, but she IS treated like a well-liked roommate. And I think that's OK.

It is fashionable these days to go from zero to outraged in seconds, based on very limited information. But there are two rules I'm making an effort to adhere to in my life: "assume positive intent" and "don't jump to conclusions." Usually, it's the big picture that tells you what you need to know about someone, and a small, offhand moment doesn't (or shouldn't, anyway) override the broader view.

Just remember, every joke someone tells about their bad experience with a dog may have come at the expense of the gnawed butts and testicles of several little boys, a pooped-on tablecloth, and a busy mom at her very wits' end.

Adorable, abominable Renly...who knew I'd still be talking about you all these years later? -Meagan
Our monthly newsletter is going out TODAY (3/1) - Our monthly newsletter is going out TODAY (3/1) - with a special message from Sarah, plus all our sponsor promo codes in one handy list. Are you on our email list?⠀
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Sign up at the link in our bio so you don't miss March's letter!
Sarah: I’m not going to buy desserts for a while Sarah: I’m not going to buy desserts for a while. If you guys want something you can bake it.

12yo: 🧁

(Bakes mini chocolate chip cupcakes with buttercream frosting from scratch.)
Raise your hand if the forecast impacts how you fe Raise your hand if the forecast impacts how you feel about the week ahead! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

What’s the first week of March looking like where you are? And how’s your mood as a result?

(Yes this is an entire post about the weather. Come for the mom tips, stay for the exciting conversation. 😂)
In partnership with @waterwipesusa, we’re contin In partnership with @waterwipesusa, we’re continuing our special series on solo parenting today with a conversation that picks up where left off last Friday. Take a listen at the link in our bio, or wherever you get your podcasts, and thank you to our sponsor WaterWipes for helping make this project possible.⠀
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Whether it’s for a weekend, a season, or a decade, parenting on your own introduces challenges and complications at every turn. Expanding on the conversation we began last week, today’s episode–part two in our This Is Solo Parenthood series–dives into practical tips from seasoned moms on how to survive solo parenting’s tougher moments. From bedtimes to me-time, routine changes to feelings of loneliness, Meagan and Sarah share some been-there-done-that tips from our own seasons of parenting solo, as well as tap into the wisdom of The Mom Hour community. #ThisisParenthood
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