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in Episodes on October 17, 2017 by The Mom Hour

Headlines, Heartache, and Helping: Episode 124



It’s been a rough few weeks and we want to talk about it. Join Meagan and Sarah for an honest discussion about how we manage our media intake when the headlines are heartbreaking, how to identify the feelings that come up when we’re triggered in some way by the news, and how to help when we feel totally helpless.

This episode was inspired in part by fellow podcasters Asha and Christine of the Edit Your Life show, Kristen and Liz of Spawned, and Sarah and Kristen of Selfie, all of whom have tackled tough subjects related to the news in recent episodes.

LINKS MENTIONED:

  • Edit Your Life Show Ep97: Moving Forward Under Stress
  • Spawned Ep89: Harvey Weinstein and Sexual Harassment
  • Selfie Ep03: Self-Care in the Face of Tragedy
  • Karen Walrond of the Make Light podcast, who continues to bring light and even humor to the very personal issue of her family’s Harvey loss (here’s her Harvey story on the podcast)
  • Other episodes of The Mom Hour on related topics:
  • Your Media Diet: Is it Healthy? (Episode 03)
  • Talking To Kids About Tragic Events (Sarah’s interview with Dr. Jennifer Freed)
  • Motherhood, Politics & Nuance (Sarah’s interview with Sarah Stewart Holland)
  • Self Care as Self Preservation (Episode 104)
  • Radical Self Care & Cultivating Creativity (Sarah’s interview with Doña Bumgarner)
  • Sarah mentioned the always-helpful “ways to help” posts from Cool Mom Picks, like this one about Puerto Rico relief efforts
  • NPR’s Up First podcast

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

  • Visit our website
  • Check out deals from our partners
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: hard stuff

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« Listener Questions (Vol.10): Episode 123
Holiday Prep (Now!) For An Easier December: Episode 125 »

Comments

  1. Kim says

    October 19, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    I found myself constantly upset by the news I would read online every morning, afternoon and night. After listening to this episode I decided to take a break. I haven’t looked at a news story in 24hrs and it’s kind of liberating. I also have way more free time. I’m going to try to just listen to my weekly NPR polictical podcast and stop worrying about the almost hourly news cycle.

    Reply
  2. Sarah Powers says

    October 19, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    Kim, thank you so much for leaving this comment! It is liberating, and we’re so thankful you’re listening and making your way through together with us.

    Reply

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Meagan is married! (And has been for a week!) If y Meagan is married! (And has been for a week!) If you haven’t been following along over on her personal Insta (@meaganfrancis), these may be the first photos you’ve seen. Aren’t they just incredible?

I (Sarah) wasn’t there in person, but you’d better believe I made a Google doc about how to assemble a DIY bridal bouquet from Trader Joe’s, because that’s what friends are for. And you’d also better believe I beamed into my phone as the pictures started to come in - first some iPhone selfies, and later these gorgeous professional shots. I cannot wait to celebrate these two in person in the fall when they gather for a bigger party. 

Will you join me in showering Meagan with oohs, ahhs, love, and well-wishes as she returns from her honeymoon this week? Leave a comment and be sure to mention where you live - let’s love-bomb the happy couple from all over the WORLD!

And if you’d like to listen to me - and some other friends of the bride - offer marriage reflections and advice to Meagan and Eric, check out the May 25 episode of the Mother of Reinvention podcast. I had some CHOICE WORDS for Eric (😛).

Photographer: @brandi.lynns.photo
Dress: @davidsbridal
Shoes: @vionicshoes
Flowers: @traderjoes
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Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! It's time for our monthly roundup of sponsors and affiliate partners, where we thank the brands who help support our show and remind YOU of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight. We also collect ALL our active promo codes on our Deals & Offers page on our website. Just tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out!

Thank you for checking out our partners and using our links + codes!

Shoutout to our new & featured partners:
🎙️ @amazonmusic (listen to all your favorite podcasts!)
🎧 @pinnaaudio (50% off safe podcasts, stories, and music for kids!) 
👗 @stitchfix ($20 off your first purchase of styles you'll love!)
🤖 @kiwico_inc (50% your first month + free shipping!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @hellofresh (50% off America's #1 meal kit!)
⭐ @rakuten (save $ when you shop!)
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐ @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
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⭐ @ritual (10% off your 1st 3 mo.!)
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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Meagan is married! (And has been for a week!) If y Meagan is married! (And has been for a week!) If you haven’t been following along over on her personal Insta (@meaganfrancis), these may be the first photos you’ve seen. Aren’t they just incredible?

I (Sarah) wasn’t there in person, but you’d better believe I made a Google doc about how to assemble a DIY bridal bouquet from Trader Joe’s, because that’s what friends are for. And you’d also better believe I beamed into my phone as the pictures started to come in - first some iPhone selfies, and later these gorgeous professional shots. I cannot wait to celebrate these two in person in the fall when they gather for a bigger party. 

Will you join me in showering Meagan with oohs, ahhs, love, and well-wishes as she returns from her honeymoon this week? Leave a comment and be sure to mention where you live - let’s love-bomb the happy couple from all over the WORLD!

And if you’d like to listen to me - and some other friends of the bride - offer marriage reflections and advice to Meagan and Eric, check out the May 25 episode of the Mother of Reinvention podcast. I had some CHOICE WORDS for Eric (😛).

Photographer: @brandi.lynns.photo
Dress: @davidsbridal
Shoes: @vionicshoes
Flowers: @traderjoes
New episode! Being a mom in 2023 means having a d New episode!

Being a mom in 2023 means having a device connecting you to the world, wherever you go. It isn't all bad or all good - but it does impact our parenting lives at every turn. Join  @kiamhammond and @jaymesherrod moms of kids ages toddler to teen, as they chat about the good, the bad, and the ugly of being constantly connected - plus offer some tech-positive suggestions for managing smartphone use when things start to feel out of 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! Processionals, promotions, caps, gow New episode!

Processionals, promotions, caps, gowns, and more! Today Meagan and Sarah dig into graduations of all kinds from our perspective as moms in the audience experiencing all the feels. We have some strong opinions about how promotion ceremonies can be incorporated thoughtfully (or not) into kids' younger years, and very different experiences when it comes to high school graduations. Find out what brings tears to our eyes almost instantly, what makes us roll our eyes, and how our own kids are "leveling up" as this school year comes to a close.

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 kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! It's time for our monthly roundup of sponsors and affiliate partners, where we thank the brands who help support our show and remind YOU of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight. We also collect ALL our active promo codes on our Deals & Offers page on our website. Just tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out!

Thank you for checking out our partners and using our links + codes!

Shoutout to our new & featured partners:
🎙️ @amazonmusic (listen to all your favorite podcasts!)
🎧 @pinnaaudio (50% off safe podcasts, stories, and music for kids!) 
👗 @stitchfix ($20 off your first purchase of styles you'll love!)
🤖 @kiwico_inc (50% your first month + free shipping!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @hellofresh (50% off America's #1 meal kit!)
⭐ @rakuten (save $ when you shop!)
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐ @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on comfy shoes!)
⭐ @ritual (10% off your 1st 3 mo.!)
This week's episode has elicited more comments and This week's episode has elicited more comments and emails than we've gotten in a LONG TIME. We're so glad the topic touched a nerve and appreciate every one of the notes we've received.

Speaking of "doneness" and all the feels about moving out of the baby-having years, this result from our listener survey surprised us. 72% of listeners who responded to the question about plans to grow their families said they are totally done. This is a big jump from previous surveys where we asked the same question (in 2021 59% said they were done; in 2019 47%).

If you haven't taken our survey yet, please do! Click this image at the link in our bio, or type themomhour.com/survey into any browser. Thanks, friends!
Did you know we have travel guides on our website Did you know we have travel guides on our website for NINE different U.S. cities (and counting!)? Our contributors hail from all over the country and know the best playgrounds, coffee shops, and family-friendly activities to make your summer travels more joyful and less stressful.

Our Chicagoland guide comes from @thepaperdart, who lives in SoCal now but hails from the Windy City originally. She has a guide FULL of mom-tested ideas for bringing kids to Chicago and surrounding areas. Click this image at the link in our bio to read Katherine's post, and get all the guides at themomhour.com/travel!

#chicagowithkids #travelwithkids #summer2023 #summertravel #windycitykids #windycitymoms #chicagolandwithkids #chicagomoms #chicago
New episode, based on this letter we received from New episode, based on this letter we received from listener Sarah (swipe to read). We're guessing more than a few of you can relate...

"Done having babies" and "Sad about the end of the little years" are two completely different mom-emotions, as Meagan and Sarah get into today, with the help of a thoughtful listener question. We look at how it's possible to be at peace with your family size and still experience grief at the identity shift that happens as your last babe gets big (and your bigs get huge). We reflect on what pangs us most about small kids growing bigger, how to accept the unfamiliar role of being (slightly) less needed, and what it means to embrace the season you find yourself in - whatever it is.

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
Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place wh Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place where you can enjoy the season’s fun and relaxation year-round.  #ad

Escape your busy routine and spread out along 825 miles of beaches, 700 freshwater springs and over 1300 trails with breathing room to run and play. Discover new experiences in the most comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone, only on a family vacation in Florida. (It’s just the best.)

Start planning your Florida vacation and learn more about all the places to go by clicking on this image at the link in our bio. 🏝️ And thanks for supporting the brands that support our show! @visitflorida #VisitFlorida #LoveFL
New episode! A parent of three is exhausted by di New episode!

A parent of three is exhausted by dinnertime sillies and wants help steering conversation at the family table. A stay-at-home mom asks what to do when her child says, "don't tell dad I got in trouble at school!". And a parent of a tween who wants acrylic nails asks a bigger question about letting kids alter their appearance in general. Meagan and Sarah tackle tricky parenting challenges with our best attempts at nuance, compassion, and humor in today's episode.

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
Looking to enrich your home library with nature-in Looking to enrich your home library with nature-inspired children's books? Sandy Hsu (@hopefulsmiles) has a roundup on the blog this week with beautiful book series that bring science and nature to life with compelling visuals. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

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