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in Episodes on December 6, 2016 by The Mom Hour

Listener Questions (Holiday Edition, Vol.1): Episode 79

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It’s time for another Listener Question & Answer episode, and this time it’s holiday-themed! Join Meagan and Sarah as they tackle three questions from real moms about navigating some of the season’s trickier stuff.

First up, Sheri asks how we keep gift spending in check, and whether we have any budgeting tips to avoid going overboard on presents for our kids. (Our answer starts at 01:12)

Then Kelsey from The Girl Next Door podcast wondered about simple advent traditions to start with her two little ones. (We weigh in at 10:56)

And finally Emily is lucky enough to have two sets of parents/grandparents in the town where she lives, which during the holidays can lead to feeling like you’re shuttling kids all over town and never slowing down to relax and enjoy. (We offer our advice at 20:25)

Wait, there’s more!

We had so much fun doing a Facebook Live chat on Sunday evening. Watch our short 5-minute video (click here if you can’t see it embedded below) for our answers to two MORE listener-submitted holiday questions!

Related

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: holidays & celebrations, listener questions, TMHHoliday

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Comments

  1. Anne says

    December 7, 2016 at 8:47 am

    Hi guys,

    Love the new intro! To add to the advent calendar conversation, we were also looking for something non-candy or toy based, and I found the Eric Carle calendar on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/World-Carles-Pop-Up-Advent-Calendar/dp/0811862933/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481118178&sr=8-1&keywords=eric+carle+advent+calendar

    It’s cute and simple, and mostly sturdy enough for my 2.5 year old. My mom also offered the tip of putting the year on the back of the calendar once it’s done and sticking it back in with the Christmas decorations. We’ll probably get a different one next year, but it’ll be fun to look back on.

    Reply
  2. Jill Wright says

    December 7, 2016 at 11:12 am

    We do a super simple paper ring chain (made from construction or craft paper) with 24 rings. We hang it in my son’s room and he tears off one ring each night before bed. He loves watching the chain get smaller and smaller and can count the rings to see how many nights are left until Christmas. It was also a fun and easy project to make together.

    Reply
  3. Alissa says

    December 7, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    I really enjoyed this episode! My oldest’s birthday is the 22nd, so we were somewhat forced into simplifying from the get go. Present-wise, Santa generally brings a large shared gift (Magnatiles, a teepee, etc), and then a book for each kid. It’s worked well so far!

    We’ve had this calendar http://www.lillianvernon.com/product/christmastreecountdowncalendar.do?sortby=bestSellers for the past few years. It’s not the most Pinterest-y, but my kids LOVE it. They take turns hanging the ornaments on the tree, and even rearrange them throughout the day. I was just happy to have one that didn’t involve any trinkets and such, since we have enough going on with a birthday in the mix. (I will say that she absolutely loves having her birthday near Christmas, and on her day we have a “birthday tree” where we add pink ribbon and a birthday hat to our Christmas tree – I store all the stuff in with our holiday decorations!)

    Reply
  4. Janet Moore says

    December 8, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    This is an Advent calendar I love for younger kids. It’s fisher price (so great quality) and fabric/velcro so I have this one hanging in my girls’ bedroom!
    https://goo.gl/images/YvmE8d

    Reply

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #endlesscleaning #housework #cleaning #tidyingup #
Math Quiz: If 3 kids dirty an average of 15 dishes Math Quiz: If 3 kids dirty an average of 15 dishes per day while away at school 7 hours per day, how many additional dishes will they dirty while home all day for summer break?

67. The answer is 67. Yes, I’ve checked my work! Maybe someone who passed calculus can explain? 🤪 -M

#mommath #drowningindishes #summerbreakisnotreallyabreak
Happy weekend - and a big thanks to our June spons Happy weekend - and a big thanks to our June sponsors! Every month, we like to take a little time to shoutout our partners who help support the show + remind our listeners of some of the great deals our sponsors are offering. For more info, specific promo codes, and links, just search the brand name on our website, and they'll pop up in our episode show notes. We also collect ALL our active promo codes (even the old ones that are still working!) in our email newsletter - which is full of other great things we want to share with you, too. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today. 

Meet our NEW partners this month . . .
🗣️ @connectspeech (early language support!)
💙 @appahealth (1st month of mentorship free!)
💄 @thrivecausemetics (15% off your 1st order)

And welcome back to . . .
⭐️ @paireyewear (15% off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @autoapprove ($100 when you refinance!)
⭐️ @outschool ($15 off your child's 1st class!)
⭐️ @mindandchild ($20 off Parenting 101 course!)
⭐️ @flowkey_com (20% off subscription piano app!)
⭐️ @stitchfix ($20 off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @publicgoods ($15 off, no minimum!)
⭐️ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (30% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @ritual (10% off 1st 3 mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on cute shoes!)
⭐️ @project_wren (10 trees planted when you sign up!)
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #travelingwoes #travelingwithkids #familytravelmishaps
New on the blog this week from @kiamhammond: Learn New on the blog this week from @kiamhammond: Learning About Juneteenth, As A Family.

"Like many families, mine is still figuring out how to teach our children about Juneteenth, as learning the history wasn't part of my education or my husband's when we were kids. The good news is, books written for children and families are a great way for the whole family to learn (and there are a lot of them!)."

Click this image at the link in our bio to read Kia’s book recommendations and more ways to start the conversation at home with your family.

#juneteenth #history #blackhistory #parenting #juneteenthbooksforkids #summerreading
New episode! As moms, we can be hard on ourselves New episode!

As moms, we can be hard on ourselves…and sometimes we just need to hear the simplest, oft-repeated pieces of advice and encouragement to remind us that it is all going to be OK. Join Meagan and Sarah for a reflection on eight pieces of wisdom that have carried us through motherhood struggles at every age and stage. We are offering them to you, to ourselves, and to all of our future selves in Episode 369.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #momtruisms #momtruths #parentingadvice #motherhoodstruggles
Just a “hello” from last-week-me, who spent 30 Just a “hello” from last-week-me, who spent 30 minutes moving 25 chickens by hand from their home to the new chicken yard, because they refused to go on their own. And then an hour moving them back, because same.

It reminded me a lot of mothering a toddler, and got me wondering: what’s the most ridiculous thing mom life has brought you in the past week? -M
New episode! Have you ever fantasized about atten New episode!

Have you ever fantasized about attending a camp-like environment for grown-ups? Much about the classic summer camp experience is appealing to us (though not EVERYTHING--we could certainly do without the bugs), and the idea of simply showing up for a perfectly curated experience without any responsibility, or planning, sounds AMAZING. Listen to this fun More Than Mom to hear all of our must-have activities (like food and wine tastings, yoga, personal style consults and more!), things that would be a hard no (like swimming in the gross, murky lake or participating in corny, guided crafts) and our daydreams about creating a Mom Hour Retreat (maybe someday?)!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #summercamps #womenretreats #momretreat
New on the blog this week from @jaymesherrod: LGBT New on the blog this week from @jaymesherrod: LGBTQ+ Resources For Parents (And Anyone Who Wants To Learn!). 

"The fact is, none of us will get it right every time. Not with each other, and certainly not with our kids. But it’s important that we keep showing up and having the conversations anyway."

Click this image at the link in our bio to access Jayme's roundup of resources.

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