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The Mom Hour

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

in Episodes on March 28, 2017

Raising Lifelong Learners: Episode 95

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How do we raise curious kids who love to learn, and who discover and follow their own interests? How do we cultivate a home environment that supports kids’ intellectual development without going overboard and zapping the joy right out of learning? These are questions that Meagan and Sarah tackle in Episode 95. Join us!

The Mom Hour Mother’s Day Challenge

Meagan read one of the first letters we received in our Mother’s Day Challenge on this week’s podcast! Can you relate to this one? Know someone who might need to hear these words? Share the image on social media, tagging @TheMomHour and using the hashtag #TMHMothersDay so we can see your posts.

Want to write your own note to a fellow mom? Here’s our address (and more info is on this page):

Life Listened Media
26895 Aliso Creek Road, Suite B-174
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Links we mentioned (or should have!) in Episode 95

  • Painless Learning Placemats – like these map versions from Amazon.com
  • Google Home – what Meagan’s family uses for entertainment/learning
  • 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) – Sarah’s kids love this series from National Geographic
  • Teach Your Child to Love Learning: Keys to Kids’ Motivation (PBS Parents)
  • How to Raise a Creative Child. Step One: Back Off (Adam Grant, NYTimes SundayReview)
  • What the modern world has forgotten about children and learning (Carol Black, The Washington Post)
  • The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups (Erika Christakis)
  • The public school parent’s guide to learning at home (Megan Tietz for The Art of Simple)
  • Other podcast episodes where we discuss kids and learning:
    • Choosing The Right School (Not As Scary As It Seems) – Episode 18
    • Finding Kids Media That Isn’t Terrible – Episode 46
  • Sarah and Katie discussed @PlayingWithChanel on Instagram

Did you like this episode? Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below (or hit “reply” if you’re reading this by email) and tell us how you inspire learning at home with your kids!

Related

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: big kids, preschoolers, school, teenagers

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« Listener Questions (Vol.6): Episode 94
Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes): Episode 96 »

Comments

  1. Katie K says

    March 29, 2017 at 10:11 am

    Hey Sarah and Meagan, I love the podcast. I found you about a year ago and have made it *almost* all the way through the archives! I don’t usually leave comments, but I just had to share two awesome resources based on the Sarah and Katie’s segment at the end of the show about diastasis recti.

    Katy Bowman is a biomechanist with lots of resources to offer – a book titled “Diastasis Recti”, her blog KatySays.com and her podcast Nutritious Movement. She’s a mother of two with all sorts of fabulous information and exercises to help restore our core and gain whole-body strength.

    MutuSystem is a internet-video based exercise program designed by Wendy Powell specifically for postpartum mamas. Its a 12 week program developed by a mom of two that is super gentle and encouraging and just fantastic. She’s also British so I love listening to her accent! 🙂

    I hope that these resources can help someone. In the past two years, I’ve gone from leaking pee frequently and not even being able to flex my core muscles, to being able to run, jump, do 4 pull-ups, lots of pushups, planks, etc. My body feels strong and all my progress is thanks to these two ladies and their work.

    Reply
  2. Katie says

    March 29, 2017 at 10:57 am

    Hi Katie! Thank you so much for sharing these resources from another ‘Katy’! Reading that you have been able to regain strength so significantly gives me so much hope! Not sure if I will ever be able to do a pull-up though! LOL! I will check out Katy’s stuff immediately!!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      March 29, 2017 at 10:58 am

      AND I will check out Wendy’s program!!

      Reply
  3. Dawn says

    April 1, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    I loved this episode for so many reasons. This is one that I will come back and listen to again and again. My first step is to get some of those DK Publishing books on our shelves – such a great tip!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      April 16, 2017 at 2:45 pm

      Thank you Dawn! 🙂

      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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