MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I probably could have posted this on the 25th, but I'm a creature of habit and Sundays are episode release days. This is just a quick episode to say Merry Christmas to our listeners. I didn't edit it, so if it's rough, that's why. We hope everyone has been enjoying time with their loved ones and you're all staying safe and healthy. Have a holly jolly one!

Guess what, guess what?! Elvina is back...yay! Today we talk about our gift giving routines. What we buy for the kids, how we give to friends, and even our charitable giving. Neither of us buy (haha...buy) into the concept of the "must have toy" and we try to keep things from getting out of hand. I'll tell you right now, Santa does not get credit for the good or expensive stuff! What does your gift giving look like? Do you enjoy coming up with the perfect gift? Or do you prefer to grab a gift card and call it a day? Our mom this week is GINNIE GRAINGER from the 80s Christmas classic, One Magic Christmas. Write in with your favourite Christmas memories...past or present...or any parenting story you want to share to @[email protected]. Don't forget you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram! Enjoy :-).

Hey Mom Voice fans! Since we're in the final week of me down a co-host, and I didn't plan out an episode or have a guest host, I decided to give you a taste of my other podcast...It Happened to a Friend of a Friend. I think I've mentioned it before. We talk all things creepy, weird, and true crime. On our most recent episode we discuss where our Christmas traditions possibly originated from, eggnog fun facts, and the tragic case of Laci Peterson. The subject matter may not be for everyone, Laci Peterson is a sad story, but there is some good stuff. Give it a whirl, and if you like what you hear, check out our other episodes! You can email either podcast at [email protected] or [email protected]. Tell us your parenting stories or send in your creepy tales!

If it weren't the month of all that is holly jolly, I probably would have taken a break while Elvina is away....but we all know I can't. Besides it's the kick off to our second year of CHRISTMAS ELEGANZA EXTRAVAGANZA! The episode is a little on the short side, but I have a very special guest....my youngest offspring, NIK. I figured who better than an 8 year old to talk Christmas (Lukkas didn't want to join, he's too cool for podcasts I guess). Our mom was picked by Nikolaas, with absolutely zero help. Shout out to AUNT MAY from Spiderman! We hope you enjoy the start of merry month! Find us on the socials and don't forget you can write to us at [email protected]. Send us your parenting stories and Christmas traditions. Do you have an elf? Are you sick of it? Do you wish you never started it? We might even read your letters on the pod. Enjoy :-).

Every once in awhile we take off our mom hats and discuss something that has nothing to do with parenting...or at least we purposely don't make it about parenting. This is just such an episode. Although our shopping experience started out different, we seem to have a similar love of it now. We like buying clothes, can spend hours scouring the racks for the perfect buys, and occasionally sneak bags into the house and shove them into closets. Yup, we're talking shopping today! Retail therapy is cheaper than real therapy...but there's probably a reason we shop and maybe we should actually go to therapy, that's another episode though. Our mom this week is JENNY MACARTHUR from the the show The League! Find us on the socials and write in with your parenting stories, [email protected] (maybe we'll read some)! Enjoy :-).

Do you keep violent video games out of the house? Is swearing a mother forking no-no? Are some shows off limits to the littles in your house? Some of us censor what our kids are exposed to a lot more than others. I probably shouldn't listen to my true crime podcasts in the car when my kids are riding with me...but I do. What were you forbidden to listen to/watch/or maybe read as a kid? Do you think we censor too much of our child's lives? Today we discuss all these things and more. Our mom of the week is OLIVIA BENSON from SVU! Find us on the socials and don't forget you can write in with your parenting story at [email protected]. Enjoy!

Going through those awkward pre-teen and teenage years is rough! As parents we have to remember it's not easy and to have patience as our kids navigate these crazy years. It's not just the bodily changes, it's the figuring out who they are and where they belong. What are some changes you've noticed in your own pre-teens? What are some awkward stages you went through during these times? Today we go off on a few tangents, but we try to talk our way through the upcoming...and current...puberty stages of our kids. Our mom this week is the sassy HARRIET WINSLOW of Family Matters. Find us on the socials and write in with your parenting success and hiccups at [email protected]. Enjoy! :-)

Sure, we're moms, we love our kids, but does mean we should be considered the primary caregiver? What makes a parent worthy of the title? Why, even in today's modern society, are dads often not seen as the primary caregiver of their children? Back in the day when the mom stayed home and dad went to work, sure, it made sense that she would take on that role. However, in 2021, I think there are so many different family situations where that just isn't the case. Our mom shout out this week goes to HELEN MORGENDORFFER from the amazing 90s cartoon, Daria. Don't forget to follow us on the socials and send in your parenting stories and thoughts to [email protected]. Enjoy!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! It's day of all things spooky, but we're still just talking parenting...maybe for some that's spooky. Books are great resources for a lot of things and can be great ways to get information, but sometimes you have to live the experience to really know what's happening. Pregnancy is one of those times. You can read all the books you want, but until you're smack in the middle of morning sickness, cravings, and trying to figure out a birth plan, you never really know what it'll be like. There are also many things the books just don't tell us. Like how little sleep you'll get because you just can't get comfortable, how your boobs are going to get super hard when you stop/don't/or haven't breastfed in awhile. How you have to be adaptable when the baby comes because your birth plan (if you have one) may not be doable. Today we share some things we had to learn without a book. Did you read the pregnancy books? What are some things that you were unprepared for? Our mom this week is CHRIS MACNEIL from the Exorcist. We hope you enjoy! Find us on the social and email us your parenting stories at [email protected]

Please and thank you, excuse me, sorry, all words that are important for kids to know and use everyday. However, I also understand that sometimes the word 'sorry' can get over used and lose all meaning...at least in my house that's the case. Nik stuffs his sorries in a sack. What manners are important to teach our kids? Was politeness important in your house growing up, and have you carried that to your own parenting expectations? At the risk of sounding old, do you think kids today use manners as much as previous generations? For our thoughts on these questions and more, listen to the episode! Please and thank you :-). Our mom this week is, well, more of a dad, it's AKELA THE WOLF from The Jungle Book. We hope you enjoy! Find us on the socials and email us your parenting shenanigans at [email protected].