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posted on March 21, 2022

How To Keep Kids Entertained On Long Car Rides

Every year we take long road trips, usually at least once to a beach and often somewhere else. I also love going on day trips to explore fun places closer to home. I try to prepare as many fun things for my kids to do as independently as possible, so that I can focus on driving, navigating or just so I just don’t have to hear “Are we there yet?” over and over. Here are some of the best ways I’ve found to keep kids of all ages entertained on long car rides…

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posted on March 18, 2022

“This Is Too Hard!”: How I’m Showing My Kids The Importance Of Doing Hard Things

No matter how old we are, it is so helpful to realize that feelings like frustration, overwhelm, incompetency, and fear are valid and normal. One way we can help our kids learn how to work through struggles is to let them see and hear us work through our own. If your home is anything like mine, you’ll have opportunities to model moving through frustration, overwhelm, incompetency and fear multiple times every day.

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posted on March 18, 2022

Preparing Kids (And Ourselves!) For Summer Independence



From day camps to sleep-away camps, playdates with new friends to sleepovers with grandparents, summer vacation can be a great time for your child to hone their independence skills. But it can be scary, too. Sometimes a health issue, disability or allergy can make our kids seem especially vulnerable. Sometimes we’re just not sure they’re ready to take that next significant step in self-sufficiency. So how do we balance guarding them from harm with encouraging their growth?

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posted on March 4, 2022

Raising Active Kids: Voices 70 With Larissa Maloney



We hear about the benefits of movement and exercise for our own physical and mental health – but kids are just … NATURALLY active, right? Turns out the answer is a bit of a Yes, AND…. In this month’s Voices interview Sarah chats with former professional beach volleyball player, personal trainer, coach, and mom of three Larissa Maloney about the physical and mental benefits to keeping kids active throughout the day. We talk about the difference between traditional organized sports and a more holistic approach to active lifestyle, the brain and body benefits to moving our bodies, and how fun games and activities can get the whole family moving without feeling like an obligatory “workout.” Larissa also shares how growing up a competitive athlete and natural risk-taker led her to take big risks in sports, business and life.

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posted on February 15, 2022

Mothering Other People’s Kids: Episode 352



Whether you’ve known them since they were babies or they’re part of a crew always hanging out at your house, there’s a special relationship that can form between you and kiddos that aren’t your own. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are chatting about the “mom vibe” we’re going for, little ways we adjust behavior (both kids’ AND ours), and what happens if a child isn’t a great fit for our fam. Meagan also shares what it’s like to cultivate meaningful connections with teenagers and grown nieces and nephews. So get comfy, and join us for this heartwarming episode . . . Meagan’s passing out blankies, and Sarah’s got the good snacks!

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posted on January 21, 2022

Carly’s Playlist (Family Values, Siblings, Routines & Hacks)

With nearly seven years and more than 600 episodes in our library, it’s both fun AND daunting for new listeners to try to find episodes that fit your specific season of motherhood. And I’d like to help! Here’s a playlist for Carly, mom to three kids ages 8, 6, and 5.

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If you listened to this week's episode, you heard If you listened to this week's episode, you heard @cafedumartin talk about the zone-by-zone home reset she does every January (and.... into February). Swipe to see the playroom that zapped Joanna of her reset mojo for a couple weeks - and keep swiping for some more bite-sized tidying she's done recently!

Joanna shares LOTS of in-progress decluttering on her Insta, so pop on over there and give her a follow!

Any questions about what you heard in the episode? We (both Sarah & Joanna) are around to answer - just drop a comment!

#homereset #januaryhomereset #decluttering #livingwithkids #mariekondo #beforeandafter #blacktrashbagenergy #momlife #stayathomemom
New episode! Big black trash bag energy is in ful New episode!

Big black trash bag energy is in full effect over here! In this episode Sarah is joined by contributor @cafedumartin for a conversation about how, why and what we are getting rid of this January. We talk strategic home resets, major junk-hauling, and tips for ongoing clutter maintenance. And while on the surface this episode is about physical stuff, we also acknowledge the emotional complexity that surrounds getting rid of stuff.

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
This recent picture of Eric and I adventuring in t This recent picture of Eric and I adventuring in the snow, well into our third year of dating, captures so much. 

But there's a lot it doesn't tell you, too. 

It doesn't tell you about the heartbreaking experience of watching my former marriage dissolve.

It doesn't tell you about the confusion and loneliness in the aftermath of my divorce six+ years ago.

It doesn't tell you about the time that, while driving home in the dark on a snowy evening, I reflected on the fact that nobody was expecting me to check in with them that night - that if I skidded into a ditch nobody would think to look for me for days.

It doesn't tell you about the twenty-five - yes, TWENTY-FIVE - first dates I went on prior to meeting Eric (the vast majority of those never turned into a second date.)

It doesn't tell you about the disappointments and doubts and tears leading up to finding my person.

And...

It also doesn't tell you about how much I (grudgingly) grew during that period of singleness. 

The strength and resourcefulness I discovered through having the space to run a household on my own and determine my own path in life. 

The peacefulness of a home run under my own steam, its rhythms based on my own values and priorities. 

The joy (and necessity) of getting back in touch with myself.

If you’re single and looking, I really do hope you find your person soon. I am so grateful for having found mine, and I know how hard it is to hear "your time will come, too" when you see no evidence of that on the horizon. (Especially going into February, right?)

But while you're waiting, there's another person (you) who deserves your attention...

and hard as it may be to see when you’re in the thick of doubt and disappointment…

that person is enough.
Looking for unique classroom valentines *and* a gr Looking for unique classroom valentines *and* a great deal? We love everything about @minted, from the high-quality paper and printing, to the ability to buy unique designs, freshly sourced from a community of independent artists. And right now, Minted has great deals on all things Valentine's Day!

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The Mom Hour is part of Minted's affiliate program, which means if you shop our links we'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes f Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes for February and March classroom projects! Valentine boxes and leprechaun traps are around the corner, and shoe boxes are so much harder to come by these days. Consider this a friendly head’s up from a mom who’s been there.

Want more help and tips, plus reassurance that you’re doing a great job? (You are.) Search for The Mom Hour in your favorite podcast app and hit subscribe!

#kindergarten #firstgrade #valentinebox #leprechauntrap #shoeboxcraft #roomparent #roommom #classroomvalentines #parenting #momlife #parentingtip #tipsformoms
Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for presch Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for preschoolers? Even for kids who want to GO GO GO all day long, having a built-in pause in the day can help develop independent play skills, encourage rest, and - of course - give caregivers a chance to reset as well.

Since this week's podcast episode is all about kids and alone time, we thought we'd revisit this resource on the blog by Sandy Hsu:

👉 How To Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine. 👈 

Sandy (@hopefulsmiles) give tips for implementing a successful quiet time routine AND rounds up products and activities that help make independent play more likely - even in young preschoolers. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#quiettime #parentingtoddlers #parentingpreschoolers #momoflittles #stayathomemom #stayathomeparent #activitiesforpreschoolers #activitiesfortoddlers #threeyearolds #fouryearolds #fiveyearolds #momlife #sahm #sahmlife
New episode! Does solitude come naturally to your New episode!

Does solitude come naturally to your kids, or are moments of solo play far and few between? Meagan and Sarah read some research recently that challenged us to think about the importance of alone time, and whether our kids get enough. In this episode, we dive into our own childhood memories, how our children embrace (or run from) solitude, and how challenging it is to find that just-right balance. Join us! 

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! With all the day-to-day planning requ New episode! With all the day-to-day planning required to run a household, it's easy to put longterm planning on the back burner. Today Meagan and Sarah share lessons we've learned (or are still learning) that help us look ahead at a whole year, quarter, or month at a time. From knowing ourselves and our seasonal rhythms to figuring out where they keep next year's school calendar, we've picked up a few things over the years, and we're ready to dive in for 2023. Join us! 

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! Been meaning to check out a deal y Happy Saturday! Been meaning to check out a deal you heard on our podcast? You're in luck because here's our sponsor roundup for January. Once a month, we use this space to thank our partners and remind you of their special offers. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight or search the brand name on our website. And when you do check out our sponsors + use our links and codes, it helps support our show! We also collect ALL our active promo codes in our email newsletter - which is full of our latest episodes and blog posts, personal updates, community news, and more. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today.

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Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, high school registration. As we discussed in this week's episode, we still get all the feels when older kids meet cultural or developmental milestones - even if they cringe when we celebrate and share.

Would love to hear what you're celebrating about your older kids! Everything from learning a new skill to blossoming independence - leave us a comment! 

PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#parenting #parentingbigkids #parentingteens #parentingtweens #bigkidmilestone #teenagers #tweens #momoftweens #momofteens #momofteenagers

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