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The Mom Hour

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

posted on December 2, 2020

Meagan’s Holiday Help, Day 2: Don’t try too hard.

I’ve ushered five kids through various lengths and intensity levels of belief in magical beings, and this bit of wisdom has held true for every one of them: when a child wants to believe, you have to work pretty hard to convince them to stop. And when a child is ready to stop believing, you have to work pretty hard to convince them to hold on. My advice: don’t work too hard one way or the other, and you’ll meet your kids where they are.

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posted on November 30, 2020

Meagan’s Holiday Help, Day 1: Claim your “white space” this holiday season.

Maybe this year you’ll take the time to write a hilarious, Covid-edition version of one of those corny holiday family newsletters, or kick off some big, ambitious baking or crafting project you’ve never found the time for in the past. Maybe you’ll take the time to call your grandma, your aunt, or your best friend from childhood and catch up. Or maybe you’ll just do less of everything, except maybe drink cocoa and stare at twinkle lights.

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posted on October 7, 2020

Surge Capacity, Microstressors & A Monday Meltdown

I think there’s something about the relentless micro-stressors we experience during an ongoing pandemic that can lead to a slightly skewed response to normal issues. Over a matter of a few hours I basically blew off the loss of hundreds of dollars in groceries, but I lost my mind over a few dollars in frozen waffles and all they represented. I had an absolutely crappy morning, including facing the music about my kids’ academic dilemmas and a ridiculous utility bill, but the thing that bothered me most was the loss of a club sandwich delivered to me in a fictional hotel room.

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posted on October 2, 2020

October Spotify Playlists: Prep-Ahead Holidays and Bigger Kids, Bigger Topics

Check out this month’s curated playlists on Spotify! You can listen right from this post, or open your Spotify app and listen there (be sure to follow us too!).

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posted on September 9, 2020

Old Normal, New Normal

Whatever you’re facing right now that feels hard and awkward, that same thing will one day feel routine and automatic. Remember breastfeeding? How long it took and how many accessories it required in the early days? And how, a few months or a few kids later, how it just sort of happened by rote while you also carried on a whole conversation or read to a toddler or caught up on email? The new hard thing becomes just a thing you do and don’t even have to think about. Like wearing a mask to the grocery store or logging into Zoom school.

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posted on September 5, 2020

How To Help Kids Focus At “Zoom School” (And A Few Distance Learning Must-Haves)

My kids–starting second, fifth, and seventh grades this fall–are all learning from home right now. And while I’m in love with some of the cute home learning workspaces I’ve seen shared online, we just moved into this house in July and I don’t even have it decorated from a baseline yet, let alone a refresh for my kids’ distance learning.

So instead of cute decor, my focus has been on pure function. We’ve seen how a few small purchases can make a BIG difference in kids’ ability to sit, focus, and attempt to learn in this crazy environment. Here are a few things we’ve learned so far:

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themomhour

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

The Mom Hour
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
#AD | Okay, so who hasn’t experienced a moment l #AD | Okay, so who hasn’t experienced a moment like this? Bodily fluids of every variety represented, not a free hand to speak of, and...toddler needs you too. Moms know the only thing to do is roll with it and trust that this season won't last forever. ⠀
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Moments like these are what @WaterWipesUSA #ThisIsParenthood is all about: real, raw, sometimes inconvenient...but joyful, too. Parents can trust WaterWipes for everyday use and gentleness on their baby’s delicate skin, and they can also trust WaterWipes to tell the truth about parenting. The #ThisIsParenthood platform is WaterWipes’ way of shining a light on the true realities of parenthood, with the hope that we can normalize a more open, honest conversation around the ups and downs of being a parent. Follow along or share your own messy, real, and beautiful parenthood story using the #ThisIsParenthood hashtag.⠀
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#waterwipes #soloparenting #soloparenthood #singlemom #singleparent  #singleparenting
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