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Happier motherhood starts here.

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New? Start Here.

Welcome! We’re so glad you’re listening to The Mom Hour (or are interested in getting started).

FIRST THINGS FIRST

As of June of 2025, The Mom Hour is no longer releasing new episodes. You can listen to us talk about our decision to sunset the podcast in this episode.

While you won’t see new episodes from us, we hope you’ll enjoy the more than 800 hours of encouragement and advice available in our podcast archives.

You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, including:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • YouTube
  • Pandora
  • iHeart Radio
  • TuneIn

POPULAR EPISODES

Here are some of our favorite episodes for new listeners to start with. You can click through to the show notes and press play on the media player at the bottom of each post, or search for the episode by name in your favorite podcast app.

If you don’t see the topics you’re looking for, use the search bar at the top of the page to see if we’ve covered them. If you want to see one big list of all our episodes in chronological order, we have that here.

Episodes To Encourage All Moms

  • The Life-Changing Magic of Opting Out (Episode 161)
  • 10 Habits of Happy Moms (Part 1) (Episode 137)
  • 10 Habits of Happy Moms (Part 2) (Episode 138)
  • The Myth Of The Mom Tribe (Episode 144)
  • Body Confidence As A Mom (Episode 99)
  • When You Feel Criticized, Remember This (Episode 165)
  • Our Worst #MomFail Moments (Episode 157)

Episodes For Moms Of Toddlers & Little Kids

  • Toddlers vs. Teenagers (Episode 192)
  • Helping Kids With Doctor Visits, Shots, and “Appointment Fear” (Episode 180)
  • Potty Training & Other Bathroom Matters (Episode 156)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Toddler Years) (Episode 24
  • Bedtime Routines at Every Stage (Episode 80)
  • Ignore Bad Behavior & Enjoy Parenting More with Catherine Pearlman (Voices, Episode 16)
  • Kids in the Kitchen (Episode 70)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Starting School Edition) (Episode 62)
  • 8 Milestones & When Our Kids Met Them (Episode 34)
  • Gift Ideas For Babies, Toddlers & Little Kids

Episodes About Working Motherhood or Work/Life Balance

  • Productivity & Time Management Tips For Moms (Episode 169)
  • Stretched Too Thin With Jessica Turner (Voices 29)
  • How Do I Make Time For It All? (Episode 60)
  • Calendar Tips & To-Do List Strategies (Episode 83)
  • Meagan & Sarah’s Working-Mom Lives (Episode 140)
  • Listener Questions (Working Mom / SAHM Edition) (Episode 142)
  • Inside the Lives of 3 Working Moms (Voices, Episode 02)
  • Stay At Home, Work Full-Time, Or Something In Between? (Episode 105)

Episodes For Pregnant & New Moms

  • How Baby’s Personality May (Or May Not) Predict Big Kid Character Traits (Episode 181)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (As New Moms) (Episode 19)
  • Strong As A Mother with Kate Rope (Voices, Episode 26)
  • Newborn Attachment with Alexandra Spitz (Voices, Episode 20)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Breastfeeding Edition) (Episode 114)
  • Pregnancy & Birth, In Hindsight (Episode 38)
  • Getting Ready For Baby (Episode 74)
  • Coping With Sleep Deprivation (Episode 87)
  • How To REALLY Help A New Mom (LIVE From Newport Beach)
  • Postpartum Symptoms & Surprises (Episode 88)

Episodes For Moms Of Older Kids

  • Screen Time Strategies Through The Years (Episode 209)
  • Helping Kids Learn From Mistakes with Jessica Lahey (Voices 35)
  • Helping Or Helicoptering? (Part 1, Part 2) (Episodes 194 & 195)
  • Chores, Life Skills, & Household Contributions (Episode 191)
  • Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes) (Episode 96)
  • Raising Lifelong Learners (Episode 95)
  • Talking Sex Ed, Puberty, & Growing Up with Nora Gelperin & AMAZE.org (Voices, Episode 13)
  • Tweens (Is This A Thing? Yes, It Is): The Mom Hour, Episode 143
  • Choosing The Right School (Not As Scary As It Seems) (Episode 16)
  • How To Be A Happier Sports Parent (Episode 117)
  • Kids & Friendships with Eileen Kennedy-Moore (Voices, Episode 18)
  • Becoming Screenwise with Devorah Heitner (Voices, Episode 13

Listener Questions Episodes

The episodes that feature us answering listener questions are a great way to get to know us and hear a lot of parenting topics covered in a short amount of time. Here’s a handy list of all the episodes and the topics covered:

  • Episode 519: How our friends are showing up for us these days, whether we ever get recognized in public, advice on getting started with writing, what we’ll miss most about The Mom Hour, and what we’re most proud of as moms
  • Episode 518: We air all our old podcast intros one more time, share how our perspectives on parenting have evolved, offer tips on how to get a kindergartener to open up about hard stuff, and on how to figure out what’s next in motherhood—and life. Advice on how to balance being present while modeling healthy phone habits and a quick update on what’s next for our contributors team
  • Episode 502: Handling school emails about your kid’s behavior, accepting that you’re not the ‘fun parent’, encouraging teens to read more, and nudging a reluctant 8-year-old into extracurriculars
  • Episode 501: A preschooler with a hoarding tendency, mom-guilt related to not providing the same school experience to all the kids, and sadness about a firstborn child heading off to college, plus our thoughts on what we’d do differently if we knew then what we know now
  • Episode 480: Tips for finding a therapist, strategies to stay organized amidst the chaos of back-to-school, navigating the “mom culture” that comes with having a senior in high school, and small steps to ease the back-to-school transition
  • Episode 479: How we model exercise and healthy eating habits, struggling with toys EVERYWHERE while encourating creative play, info about our process for brainstorming and creating outlines for the podcast, and how to make sure younger siblings feel included and entertained during big-kid activities
  • Episode 462: How parenting changes as kids hit new milestones, finding purpose beyond motherhood, questions about making the right career move, and how to start conversations with teens about household expectations after high school
  • Episode 461: Our thoughts on “husband bashing” and negativity in her mom circles, how to handle being outnumbered once a third child arrives, wanting to feel seen in all we do as moms, different kinds of invisible labor, and an update on our food values
  • Episode 439: Becoming a more confident home cook, strategies for easing the long wind-down at bedtime for a co-sleeping toddle, and traveling with young kids as a solo parent
  • Episode 426: How a stay-at-home mom identity shifts when all kids are in full-time school, getting used to bell schedules and school calendars dominating family life, support for a kid with sensory issues who hates brushing hair and getting dressed, and how to motivate kids to get out the door on time each day
  • Episode 425: How much is enough when it comes to summer plans, rituals for moms to mark the back-to-school season, tips for encouraging a painfully shy kid to walk in the preschool door, how to out of homework in the younger grades, and how to politely decline an invite to a party your child doesn’t want to attend (without lying)
  • Episode 417: Exhausted by dinnertime sillies and in need of help, what to do when a child says, “don’t tell dad I got in trouble at school!”, our thoughts on letting tweens and teens alter their appearance
  • Episode 395: How to make holiday magic happen while traveling, how to facilitate sibling gift-giving, how to keep a curious kitten out of the tree, and suggestions for handling the post-holiday blues
  • Episode 375: Our best tips for getting kids started with their first phone, how to prepare for the first day of kindergarten, fun traditions to help celebrate back to schoo, strategies for maintainin mental health during tough times, and how much of birth order dynamics we can actually influence
  • Episode 374: What to do when one kid feels left out of sibling outings, moving to a new city and finding mom friends, feeling the need to keep spirits up in a family with moodier characters, and Meagan’s backstory of young motherhood and journey to becoming a mom of five
  • Episode 362: What age to start kids in extracurricular activities and how to budget for it, “gentle parenting” and finding the discipline approach that works for your family, and accepting help from neighborhood “mother’s helpers”
  • Episode 361: How to prepare older kids for mom going back to work full-time, helping a toddler who hates to brush his teeth and take vitamins, tips on optimal pantry organization, and how to balance school behavior and discipline at home
  • Episode 349: Advice on siblings who are like oil and water, how to manage preschool-age brothers who are possessive with their toys, the secret to unlocking peaceful car rides, and a mom with a new baby wants to reign in screen time with her older kids, but wonders how she’ll get anything done
  • Episode 348: Feeling dismissed by older moms and authority figures, supporting a kid with a quirky obsession, how to handle kids who have come to expect big fun all the time, how to respond to a preschooler’s white lies, and a twin mom who’s expecting triplets feels nervous about about how she and her toddlers will cope
  • Episode 334: What to do when a toddler has separation anxiety and being apart is optional, how to find childcare solutions when you’re desperate for a date night, help navigating the intersection of motherhood, friendship, and family planning, normalizing feeling bored during long days at home with a toddler, and setting healthy boundaries with Grandma
  • Ask Us Anything: Meagan and Sarah’s Zodiac signs, what frivolous feature we’d add to our homes if we could, whether we’ve had any show topics that didn’t make the cut, a request for writing tips, and advice on landscaping a yard that looks nice, but is also low-maintenance
  • Episode 318: Is it EVER appropriate to correct another mom’s car seat buckling technique?, how to distribute your parenting energy evenly when one kid is struggling, how to get through the day as a mom when you’re the one struggling, and advice for containing a super-creative kid’s projects and experiments
  • Episode 317: Yes or no on requiring older kids to keep their rooms tidy, dealing with cultural and generational divides in extended family, and how to begin setting up playdates and social opportunities when you don’t know anyone at preschool
  • Episode 304: Re-entering the workforce after staying at home, how to talk about working motherhood with our young kids, when it’s OK to leave kids home alone–and how best to get started, house rules around swearing, and the conflicting emotions of motherhood
  • Episode 303: Advice for a mom who is overwhelmed, young adults at a family gathering forget that little ears are listening, helping kids become more independent in the kitchen, a preschool perfectionist, and a mom of all boys wonders if they’ll all grow up and live far from home one day
  • Episode 289: Dealing with screen-time obsession, how to meet the very different needs of multiple kids at the same time, and WHERE DO ALL THE SOCKS GO? Plus, indoor physical play for little kids, talking honestly about the death of a grandparent, and the weirdest holiday gifts our kids have ever asked for
  • Episode 288: Friendships strained by politics and the pandemic, ideas for family bonding as kids get older, Meagan distills her best parenting advice in five minutes or less, and what to do when the sibling bickering is non-stop
  • Episode 275: An eight-year-old with a “can’t-do” attitude and a ten-year-old who struggles to bounce back after little setbacks, a question about how to use an “okay to wake” clock with a clever three-year-old, and advice for a mom of a clingy preschooler with big feelings
  • Episode 274: How to cultivate community after a move, contemplating a third baby, answering questions about puberty and other growing-up topics, and dealing with a five-year-old who is never satisfied
  • Episode 256: Determining whether preschool is necessary if not needed for childcare, considering kids’ birthday timing when planning pregnancies, channeling a physically active toddler’s energy during stuck-inside days, and our most memorable “mom milestones”
  • Episode 255: Working from home with little kids, moving a baby into a shared sibling bedroom, dealing with cancellation disappointment for both mom and kids, and finding small breaks in the long days of stay-at-home parenting
  • Episode 242: How we handle sick days, struggling with accepting help when it’s offered, a six-year-old with a nightwaking habit, and a toddler who only wants dad
  • Episode 240: Wondering when motherhood will start to feel easier, playdates with kids whose house rules differ on video games, dealing with disappointment as a mom, and how to consume the news without getting anxious
  • Episode 224: Kids who have a hard time parting with their stuff, after-school grumpiness, infant nap schedules, and talking to kids about about mass violence in the media
  • Episode 223: Little kids Iand violent pretend play, navigating changing relationships with grown children, starting a toddler preschool program, and talking to our kids about inclusiveness and representation
  • Episode 211: Creating family culture around vacations, whether we let our kids skip school for family trips, how to stick to sleep routines on the road, dealing with kid meltdowns while traveling, and budgeting tips for family travel
  • Episode 210: Coping tips for a mom whose husband travels, our thoughts on whether preschool is “necessary”, Sarah’s response to a listener anticipating a planned Caesarian birth, and encouragement for a mom of three who wonders when her family will all be able to enjoy the same activities together
  • Episode 199: 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
  • Episode 198: 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
  • Episode 176: Parenting a strong-willed kid, handling criticism about your family size or kids’ spacing, the first signs of kid crushes and puppy love, and gift ideas for your kids’ grandparents
  • Episode 175: Losing your cool and yelling at your kids (how it happens to us ALL, how to prevent it, and how to cope after it happens), dealing with a pinching/biting 19-month-old, and extracting your family from a sticky situation with neighbor friends whose parenting style makes you uncomfortable
  • Episode 163: Helping a toddler with nighttime fears, taking a baby to the beach, the ideal age-spacing between siblings, and helping a two-year-old feel special when a new baby arrives
  • Episode 162: Helping a shy preschooler, saving money on groceries, and helping kids learn to deal with frustration
  • Episode 149: Setting up toddler playgroups, feeling overwhelmed by housework, and how to handle teachers who don’t see your kid the way you do
  • Episode 135: A toddler who won’t stay in his room at bedtime, a seven-year-old with a fibbing habit, what to do with a busy toddler while you nurse a new baby, and how to help kids who struggle with playing independently
  • Episode 123: When to start giving kids an allowance, whether or not to pay for chores, getting mentally psyched up for baby #2, and dealing with kids’ annoying habits
  • Episode 122: Closely spaced babies, tips on room-sharing, helping siblings get along, and dealing with super-shy toddlers
  • Episode 111: Transitioning a one-year-old to a big-kid bed, frustrating behavior patterns of toddlers and preschoolers, and evenings chaos at home with four kids
  • Episode 110: Requesting teacher changes at school, finding postpartum body acceptance while sticking to a realistic fitness routine, what to do when safety worries interfere with enjoying life as a mom
  • Episode 94: What we wish we’d worried about LESS in hindsight, what we’re doing differently–and the same–than our parents’ generation did, and our thoughts on sending a 7-year-old to sleepaway camp
  • Episode 93: Preschool boys interested in bad-guy play, fighting stereotypes while raising girls, and how to find the balance between self-acceptance and the desire to grow
  • Episode 73: Letting a five-year-old quit an activity she begged to start, helping a trio of cousins get along, and weaning a breastfeeding toddler
  • Episode 65: When a kid’s fears and anxieties dominate the household mood; a sticky situation involving wild kids, a restaurant, and a big family reunion; and a new mom struggles with her decision to co-sleep
  • Episode 52: Asking for help with childcare, what to do when close friends have dramatically different parenting styles, handling kids’ big emotions with elementary school friendship struggles, and how to stop apologizing for yourself and embrace chaos with confidence
  • Episode 41: Room-sharing siblings, planning first birthday parties, feeling left out when you have your kids earlier or later than your friends do, and the evolution of playdates

CONNECT WITH MEAGAN & SARAH

We launched a new podcast, Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits, in June of 2025. While it’s quite different from The Mom Hour, our friendship and our personality differences and our strong opinions on inconsequential topics are alive and well in the new space. Visit us at midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com, or look for the show wherever you listen.

You can also find Meagan at meaganfrancis.substack.com and Sarah at sarahjanepowers.substack.com.

buy our books

The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read:
An How We Let Our Kids Go & Embrace What’s Next
by Meagan Francis

The Mother’s Gratitude Journal:
An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys
and Milestone Moments
by Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers

looking for something?

find us elsewhere

meaganfrancis.substack.com

sarahjanepowers.substack.com

midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com

We'll leave you with this today, friends. It reall We'll leave you with this today, friends. It really is, for the most part, all gonna be okay. And when it isn't, remember that you're not alone.

💛 Meagan & Sarah
After more than a decade and over 800 hours of con After more than a decade and over 800 hours of conversation, connection, and community, The Mom Hour comes to a close in this final episode. Join Meagan and Sarah as we reflect on what it has meant to share this space with you—our listeners, fellow moms, and, truly, our friends.

Whether you've been with us from the beginning or found us more recently, we hope this episode leaves you with inspiration to carry forward the spirit of The Mom Hour in your everyday life.

You’ve let us into your ears and your lives, and we are endlessly grateful. Thank you for making The Mom Hour what it’s been.

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
Happy Saturday! 😎 It's time for our June spons Happy Saturday! 😎  It's time for our June sponsors roundup, where we remind you of our brand partners and special deals. ALL of our special promo codes and links can be found on the Deals & Offers page on our website. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out.

Thank you for helping support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our sponsors . . .

🛏️ @zlumberbedtools (15% off Zlumber Lock!)
🎵 @carnegiehall (fun music games & quizzes!)
🍋 @hiyahealth (50% off your 1st order!)
🪑 @wayfair (shop outdoor furniture online!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your entire order!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
📅 @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
It's a bittersweet week for your co-hosts as we bo It's a bittersweet week for your co-hosts as we both recorded our last-ever episode of The Mom Hour (yes, there were tears) AND launched a new project out into the world.

Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits is not meant to replace, or extend, or even spin off or pivot from The Mom Hour. It's so different in all the ways, from the back-end tech to our intended audience to our goals to our time commitment. That said, it's the same two pals on the mic, and we're having a blast!

MLLP is available wherever you get your podcasts, and we have a Substack for extended show notes. Click this image at the link in our bio.
New episode! What would you like to accomplish be New episode!

What would you like to accomplish before your next milestone birthday? Today Meagan and Sarah share our personal “five before fifty” lists, giving ourselves the next few years to check off some aspirations both lofty and silly (think big travel goals, creative dreams, home improvements and outdoor adventures). Whether you're approaching 30, 40, 50, or just love a good life list, this episode will get you thinking—and maybe even writing your own!

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
New episode! Time is slippery—especially when y New episode!

Time is slippery—especially when you’re standing in midlife, looking both forward and back. Today Meagan and Sarah continue unpacking one of the most elusive and shape-shifting concepts we wrestle with: time. How do we imagine the future, how do we plan for it (tarot cards, anyone?), and how does our relationship to longterm planning and future-casting change in our forties? We explore the common traps we fall into when envisioning what’s next, the lessons that still haven’t quite landed, and how midlife has reshaped our goals, timelines, and even the way we dream.

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
New episode! After a decade of sharing the ups an New episode!

After a decade of sharing the ups and downs of motherhood, we're wrapping up The Mom Hour this month—and taking one final episode to update you on the kids who’ve grown up alongside this show. From 12 to 27, our eight kids have been a background-but-constant presence on the podcast, and today we'll share where they are now and how they're each thriving in their own way.

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
New episode! As kids grow up, it’s the littlest New episode!

As kids grow up, it’s the littlest reminders that catch us off guard—like discovering a pair of toddler socks or realizing nobody needs a kid’s menu. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share some of the small-but-significant signs that time is, as ever, marching on. It’s a conversation full of warmth, nostalgia, and gentle reminders to savor the stages as they come…and go.

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
It's the weekend 🎉 and time for our May sponsor It's the weekend 🎉 and time for our May sponsors roundup, where we remind you of our brand partners and special deals. ALL of our special promo codes and links can be found on the Deals & Offers page on our website. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out.

Thank you for helping support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new sponsors . . .
🛏️ @zlumberbedtools (15% off Zlumber Lock!)
👶 @sittercity (find high-quality childcare!)

And welcome back . . .
🎵 @carnegiehall (fun music games & quizzes!)
🍋 @hiyahealth (50% off your 1st order!)
🪑 @wayfair (shop outdoor furniture online!)
👡  @vionicshoes (15% off your entire order!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
📅 @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
New episode! Honi asks how our friends are showin New episode!

Honi asks how our friends are showing up for us these days. Laura wonders if we ever get recognized in public (and if it's our faces or our voices that give us away!). Aspiring writer Samm is looking for advice on getting started with writing, Lisa wants to know what we’ll miss most about The Mom Hour, and Erica prompts some reflection on what we’re most proud of as moms. And Ann? She’s eager for the scoop on what’s next—listen to find out!

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

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