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.

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.