In the special segment "Throwback," Shanna turns back time to recount the story of the first time she gave birth and all the ways it turned out to be different from how she'd expected it to be. Also, Laura talks about introducing her 6-year-old to stop-motion animation, and Shanna reports on her last-minute scramble to plan an elaborate birthday party for her almost 9-year-old. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Planning an escape room birthday party for your kid

-Teaching your kids stop-motion animation

-Shanna's unplanned C-section birth story

-When your birth doesn't go as planned

-Moms supporting victims of the Los Angeles fires

-Setting boundaries for your kids' extracurricular activities

-Joining a book club

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanna and Laura introduce the brand-new special segment "Would You Rather: Parenting Edition," in which they present hilarious sets of hypothetical situations from their own lives and listeners' lives and then discuss which choices they would rather make. Also, Laura reports on her family's stay in Long Beach when they evacuated Los Angeles due to the wildfires, and Shanna discusses her efforts to maintain stability for her kids during the wildfire week. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Evacuating for the Los Angeles wildfires

-Parenting during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

-Difficult choices you have to make as a parent

-The hilarious and questionable things you do as a mom

-Dig It play space in Torrance

-Pour painting class at kids' art studio

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Internet Insanity," Laura and Shanna share the wild and wacky parenting-related content they've found online recently, including "Someone's Mom Said No," a hilarious meme that captures the reality of shopping with kids, as well as "Willy's Chocolate Experience," a fantastical children's event gone terribly wrong. Also, Shanna talks about her kids visiting her at work for the first time, and Laura reports on spending her son's 6th birthday in snowy Colorado. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Having your kids visit you in the office

-Traveling to Colorado with your family

-Laura's son's 6th birthday

-When your kid experiences snow for the first time

-Someone's Mom Said no meme

-Willy's Chocolate Experience debacle

-Fun board game for the family

-Fun museum for the family

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment, "They Said What?!" Shanna and Laura discuss the funny, outrageous or offensive things people have said to them recently about parenting, including stories about negligent neighbors and movie-theater mishaps. Also, Laura reports on her 5-year-old's surprising new outdoor interest, and Shanna discusses a last-minute pivot she and her husband had to make on Christmas Eve. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Christmas with young kids

-Doing yard work with young kids

-Big-muscle activity for kids

-Kids and trampolines

-Should I give big gifts from Santa or from parents

-Falling asleep during movies as a mom

-Rude neighbors

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment “Mom Confessions,” Laura and Shanna share their recent embarrassing or hilarious parenting experiences, diving into the topics of desperate decisions and rough realizations. Also, Shanna reports on a surprising new development in her family's life, and Laura talks about how the roughhousing between her sons has intensified. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Different ways of moving on from grief

-Family pets

-Roughhousing between siblings

-Mom confessions

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Loose Ends," Laura and Shanna circle back on topics they've talked about in previous episodes, including updates about inane injuries, toy tantrums, 5-year-olds' friendships, and one of BFP's colossal cliffhangers to date. Also, Laura reports on her 3-year-old's "why phase," which is more like a "who, what, when, where, why phase," and Shanna checks in on her dog, Sasha, and discusses the challenge of handling conflicting emotions when you are a parent. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Handling your child's "why phase" or "question phase"

-Helping your child deal with the loss of a family pet

-Compartmentalizing emotions when you are a mom

-Tip for helping plantar fasciitis

-Kindergartener friendships

-Setting boundaries with your kids

-Water slide injuries and other weird injuries when you are a parent

-Should I buy that big-ticket outdoor toy for my kids?

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura and Shanna come to you in real time to check in during the wildfires in Los Angeles. They provide updates about how they are doing during their city's crisis and have an insightful conversation with Gia Gambaro Blount, a local child development expert and parenting coach. about parenting during and after emergencies. Gia is a highly-regarded parenting expert in one of the areas that are being hit hardest by the devastation - Pasadena and Altadena - and she provides wisdom that not only comes from her years of expertise in child development but also as a parent who lives in the area and is personally affected by it as well.

Important Links:

-Our list of resources for victims of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

-Our list of how to help and donate to support victims of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

-Gia Gambaro Blount's Instagram - Follow Gia to get daily advice and wisdom about parenting through crisis (and more)

-Gia Gambaro Blount's Website

-Big Fat Positive's Facebook Community Group - A supportive community that has shown compassion for and interest in helping parents and families in need at this time (plus ongoing conversations and support about parenting in general

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

-How the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires are affecting parents

-How to parent your child during a crisis

-Advice from a local parenting expert who is actively helping parents and families navigate this crisis

-How to handle emergencies when you're a parent

-How to talk to your child about catastrophic events

-How to help your child process trauma after the emergency is over

-How to help victims of the Los Angeles fires

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Visit our website.

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanna reports on the shocking event that complicated her daughter's sixth birthday party, and Laura talks about getting a mammogram while breastfeeding. Also, in the special segment "Why Is My Kid Crying," Laura and Shanna thoughtfully dissect the seemingly mundane situations that have caused their little ones to melt down recently, including big feelings at Whole Foods, the frozen yogurt shop and more. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Throwing a birthday party for your 6 year old

-Handling your pet's medical issues

-Getting a mammogram while breastfeeding

-When your kids have big feelings

-Understanding why your kids are crying about seemingly insignificant things

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 is coming to an end, and In the special segment "Year in Review," Laura and Shanna reflect on their last 12 months of parenting. As they look back on 2024, they share their biggest joys, challenges, realizations and more. Also, Laura reports on her 5-year-old's new interest in helping out in the kitchen, and Shanna talks about the challenges of planning for her kids' three-week winter break. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 5.5 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Thanksgiving with kids

-Kids helping in the kitchen

-Picky/selective eating in kids

-Planning for your kids' winter break

-When your partner helps lighten your mental load

-Signing kids up for winter break day camp

-2024 year in review

-End-of-year self-reflection questions for parents

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanna and Laura share last-minute gift ideas and holiday tips in the special segment "What the Hack?!," including tricks for hanging ornaments, managing holiday-morning chaos and more! Also, Shanna checks in on her mission to remove 1,000 pounds of sand from her backyard, and Laura talks about an artistic activity that has deeply engaged her 5-year-old. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 5.5 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-How to get rid of a sandbox

-My kid keeps drawing violent images

-Tips and tricks for managing the holidays with kids

-Last-minute holiday gift ideas

This episode's full show notes can be found here.

Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast

Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

Visit our website!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices