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posted on March 8, 2023

Fun & Practical Easter Basket Ideas Your Kids Will Love

With some intentionality, Easter baskets are great way to refresh your kid’s playthings and activities while also filling in those practical items they’ll need for spring and summer. I find that sticking to a few specific themes or categories when putting together Easter baskets for kids helps to simplify shopping and keep things affordable. Here are three themed Easter basket ideas with gift suggestions for each!

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posted on March 6, 2023

Yes, YOU Can Coach Youth Sports!

You may think that you don’t have the skills, experience or time to fill the role. I completely understand. However, if Ted Lasso has taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need to be an expert – you just need to have heart.

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posted on February 20, 2023

10 Things Your Child’s Swimming Instructor Wants You to Know

If you’re gearing up to start your child in swim lessons this spring, here are some things I can share as a seasoned swimming instructor AND a fellow mom of young kids (including one who cried through swim lessons for an entire season!).

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posted on January 23, 2023

Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine

There’s something glorious that happens every day in the early afternoon: I work on writing in my room with a cup of tea while my daughter, immersed in her imagination, works on a self-directed craft project building her stuffed owl a swing from construction paper: this is the magic of quiet time.

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posted on January 16, 2023

What Teachers & Educators Wish Parents Knew About Making School Decisions

Starting to think about school choices for Fall 2023? You’re not alone. It’s the time of year when a lot of families are starting to think about school decisions, like how to choose a school, how to know whether your child is ready for kindergarten, or just how to best support your child’s education. We have several educators on our contributor team and last winter we asked for their advice on some common questions – enjoy their wisdom as we revisit it this year!

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posted on December 13, 2022

Listener Questions, Holiday Edition (Vol.4): Episode 395



You’ve got holiday parenting questions, and Meagan and Sarah have answers. In this very merry Listener Questions episode, we tackle things like how to make the magic happen for your littles while traveling and spending Christmas at grandparents, how to coordinate and facilitate sibling gift giving, how to keep a curious kitten (or two) out of the tree (this is our reality this year!) and suggestions for how to handle the post-holiday blues of packing away Christmas.

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The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read – Available For Pre-Order NOW!

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October 17, 2024 By The Mom Hour

Playlist: Plan Your Summer Without Losing Your Mind

April 1, 2024 By The Mom Hour

Spring And Easter Picture Books For Kids

March 4, 2024 By Katie Addiss

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The Mom Hour

themomhour

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

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
New episode! Jennifer wants to hear all our old p New episode!

Jennifer wants to hear all our old podcast intros one more time (what a fun trip down memory lane!). Contributor Sarah wonders how Meagan and Sarah’s perspectives on parenting have evolved since episode one. Tricia wonders how to get a kindergartener to open up about hard stuff, while listeners Mel and Lisa each ask how to figure out what’s next in motherhood—and life. Kim wants to know how much she really needs to play with her child—and how to balance being present while modeling healthy phone habits. Plus, we share a quick update on what's next for our amazing contributor team members.

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 Friday! Modern society loves the concept of Happy Friday!

Modern society loves the concept of 'saving time' - but at what cost? There's nothing wrong with streamlining and efficiency, but today Meagan and Sarah push back against the notion that time-saving strategies - and products - unilaterally bring more calm to our days. Instead we look at ways to think about shifting time to our advantage, batching tasks and opting out to free up schedule space, simplifying rather than optimizing, and finding our own peace with our relationship to time.

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! Some days we’re the “Sure, why n New episode!

Some days we’re the “Sure, why not?” mom, and other days we’re the “Because I said so” mom - and often we lean more into one side than the other. Meagan and Sarah unpack what the Yes Mom / No Mom binary really means, the why behind our wiring, how it affects our kids, and how it’s not always so black and white. We look at the balance between freedom and structure, and remind you there are many ways to be yourself and be a great mom at the same time.

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
Very special episode in your feed today! Meagan w Very special episode in your feed today!

Meagan wrote a book—and Sarah has lots of questions. In this episode, we dive into Meagan’s journey from concept to publication. From the initial spark of an idea to the challenges of writing, editing, and getting it out into the world, join us for an inside look at the process behind bringing her book to life. Whether you're a writer, a non-writer who likes to learn how the sausage gets made, or simply want to offer Meagan your support during launch week, we hope you'll listen!

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
Last chance to ASK A LISTENER QUESTION! (Please re Last chance to ASK A LISTENER QUESTION! (Please read the whole post before commenting! 🥰)

We're planning two more LQ episodes before we wrap production, and we'd love to take your questions about ANYTHING. The usual parenting challenges are welcome for sure, but we're also open to answering questions about the podcast, the decade we've spent doing this work, our business partnership+friendship, our future plans, our midlife lady joys and challenges, ALL OF IT.

You can EMAIL questions to hello@themomhour.com with Listener Question in the subject line. (Please don't use the comments on this post to ask your question; we might miss it and it adds organizational clutter to our lives.)

Deadline is Sunday 5/11 at 11:59pm. It's a true 'last call', folks! Can't wait to read your questions! -Meagan & Sarah
New episode! What does it mean to "launch" a kid New episode!

What does it mean to "launch" a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you're still mom, but they're no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving.

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 Monday! 👋 It's time for our April sponso Happy Monday! 👋  It's time for our April 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 sponsor . . .
🐻  @paddingtonmovie (available now on digital!)

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! Raising creative kids isn’t just a New episode!

Raising creative kids isn’t just about paintbrushes and piano lessons—it’s also about noticing how they think, solve problems, and dream up deas. Both Meagan and Sarah come from creative backgrounds and hope to raise creative kids, but we’ve learned that creativity shows up in unexpected places—from storytelling and party planning to building weird contraptions out of couch cushions. We share what’s worked in our own families, where we’ve had to shift our thinking, and some of the misconceptions we’ve had about what being “creative” really means.

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! We've heard from so many listeners w New episode!

We've heard from so many listeners who say that The Mom Hour helped you through your early years of parenting. Your notes of gratitude got us thinking (and feeling all the feels) about what a uniquely intense and tender season “active mothering” really is—and why it inspires a certain nostalgia when viewed later from a distance. Join us as we share some of your own words as well as memories of our own, reflecting on the pop-cultural, sensory, emotional, and unexpectedly specific things that instantly transport us back.

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
To kick off a special series on the topic of Time, To kick off a special series on the topic of Time, we're talking today about busy-ness—that always-running hamster wheel we either can’t get off… or can’t seem to climb onto. Meagan and Sarah each look back on times in our lives when our relationship with productivity felt off—whether we were drowning in to-dos or floating in a weird limbo of not-enough-to-dos. Where are we at now on the busy scale? How do our personalities lend themselves to being busy - or not? And is there even such a thing as the perfect balance?

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! From sandbox maintenance and the end New episode!

From sandbox maintenance and the endless cycle of outgrown kids’ clothes to the rise of sourdough starters and evolving gardening ambitions, today's episode is about how our home management tasks have shifted as our kids have grown. We each share a few “then vs. now” snapshots, offering little insights into what domestic work looks like during different seasons of family life.

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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An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys
and Milestone Moments

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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
New episode! Jennifer wants to hear all our old p New episode!

Jennifer wants to hear all our old podcast intros one more time (what a fun trip down memory lane!). Contributor Sarah wonders how Meagan and Sarah’s perspectives on parenting have evolved since episode one. Tricia wonders how to get a kindergartener to open up about hard stuff, while listeners Mel and Lisa each ask how to figure out what’s next in motherhood—and life. Kim wants to know how much she really needs to play with her child—and how to balance being present while modeling healthy phone habits. Plus, we share a quick update on what's next for our amazing contributor team members.

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 Friday! Modern society loves the concept of Happy Friday!

Modern society loves the concept of 'saving time' - but at what cost? There's nothing wrong with streamlining and efficiency, but today Meagan and Sarah push back against the notion that time-saving strategies - and products - unilaterally bring more calm to our days. Instead we look at ways to think about shifting time to our advantage, batching tasks and opting out to free up schedule space, simplifying rather than optimizing, and finding our own peace with our relationship to time.

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! Some days we’re the “Sure, why n New episode!

Some days we’re the “Sure, why not?” mom, and other days we’re the “Because I said so” mom - and often we lean more into one side than the other. Meagan and Sarah unpack what the Yes Mom / No Mom binary really means, the why behind our wiring, how it affects our kids, and how it’s not always so black and white. We look at the balance between freedom and structure, and remind you there are many ways to be yourself and be a great mom at the same time.

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
Very special episode in your feed today! Meagan w Very special episode in your feed today!

Meagan wrote a book—and Sarah has lots of questions. In this episode, we dive into Meagan’s journey from concept to publication. From the initial spark of an idea to the challenges of writing, editing, and getting it out into the world, join us for an inside look at the process behind bringing her book to life. Whether you're a writer, a non-writer who likes to learn how the sausage gets made, or simply want to offer Meagan your support during launch week, we hope you'll listen!

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
Last chance to ASK A LISTENER QUESTION! (Please re Last chance to ASK A LISTENER QUESTION! (Please read the whole post before commenting! 🥰)

We're planning two more LQ episodes before we wrap production, and we'd love to take your questions about ANYTHING. The usual parenting challenges are welcome for sure, but we're also open to answering questions about the podcast, the decade we've spent doing this work, our business partnership+friendship, our future plans, our midlife lady joys and challenges, ALL OF IT.

You can EMAIL questions to hello@themomhour.com with Listener Question in the subject line. (Please don't use the comments on this post to ask your question; we might miss it and it adds organizational clutter to our lives.)

Deadline is Sunday 5/11 at 11:59pm. It's a true 'last call', folks! Can't wait to read your questions! -Meagan & Sarah
New episode! What does it mean to "launch" a kid New episode!

What does it mean to "launch" a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you're still mom, but they're no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving.

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 Monday! 👋 It's time for our April sponso Happy Monday! 👋  It's time for our April 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 sponsor . . .
🐻  @paddingtonmovie (available now on digital!)

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! Raising creative kids isn’t just a New episode!

Raising creative kids isn’t just about paintbrushes and piano lessons—it’s also about noticing how they think, solve problems, and dream up deas. Both Meagan and Sarah come from creative backgrounds and hope to raise creative kids, but we’ve learned that creativity shows up in unexpected places—from storytelling and party planning to building weird contraptions out of couch cushions. We share what’s worked in our own families, where we’ve had to shift our thinking, and some of the misconceptions we’ve had about what being “creative” really means.

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! We've heard from so many listeners w New episode!

We've heard from so many listeners who say that The Mom Hour helped you through your early years of parenting. Your notes of gratitude got us thinking (and feeling all the feels) about what a uniquely intense and tender season “active mothering” really is—and why it inspires a certain nostalgia when viewed later from a distance. Join us as we share some of your own words as well as memories of our own, reflecting on the pop-cultural, sensory, emotional, and unexpectedly specific things that instantly transport us back.

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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