It feels good to complain once in a while – especially during the holidays. Today Meagan and Sarah laugh our way through a “vent sesh,” sharing mostly inconsequential gripes about what’s bugging us this year. While we often appreciate a positive reframe, we also know the cathartic power of airing a petty vent (or six). Plus, we share what’s new this holiday season for each of us. Join us!

Helpful Links:Here’s a post on Meagan’s instagram more about holiday decorating in her new home.If you are struggling to find a decent store-bought pumpkin pie like Sarah is this season, check out Meagan’s pie-from-scratch Substack article.Email Sarah if you have advice for managing mice habitants in your holiday stuff!Episodes you may enjoy from the archives:Honoring Cultural & Faith Traditions At The Holidays: Voices 82Home For The Holidays With Little Kids & Big Kids: Episode 341A Charcuterie Of Holiday EmotionsWe both welcome your petty holiday gripes at any time. Promise we will read them!


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Inconsequential Holiday Gripes: Episode 442

Co-hosts Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers have eight kids between them, little to grown. Weekly conversations offer practical tips and real-life encouragement for moms who want to enjoy motherhood more, and cut back on comparison, worry, and stress. We’re not experts, we’re moms who’ve been there. We’re not perfect, we’re real. Welcome to The Mom Hour. 


Kids & Family

Sleeping with a watch on, tubing mascara and face razors make the list in this grab bag of new things we are trying lately. Some of them we love, some of them we really want to like but just don't, and others we need your feedback! Join us for an fun, honest chat about the some new things we're trying lately.




HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes from the archives on products we love:What We’re Wearing Lately: Episode 450More Than Mom: Empties! (Products We Love So Much We Want More…)More Than Mom: Products We’re Loving LatelyHome & Life Products We’re Loving: Episode 246Cleaning Products We Can’t Live Without: Episode 346Sarah's Products:Costco Sports BraCeraVe Daily Moisturizing LotionAutoSleep AppDuolingo AppThrive Cosmetics Tubing Mascara is making a mess of Sarah's bathroom; any suggestions?Painless Learning PlacematsMeagan's Products:Wool X LeggingsElf PrimerFlamingo Face RazorsCubii Under The Desk Elliptical Aveda Shampoo and ConditionerSun Touchable White GlowGlossier Lip ColorsHappy Feet Socks Listeners! Anyone have an Oura Ring? Email us your thoughts!OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter


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New Products & Honest Opinions: Episode 463

Joy wonders how parenting changes as kids hit new milestones. As Emily’s youngest approaches kindergarten, she wants to find purpose beyond motherhood. Chelsea struggles in a new remote work position and questions whether she made the right career move. And Dana asks when and how to start conversations with her kids about the expectations she has for them after high school. This week we’re back with MORE listener questions – enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:Listener Question episodes from the archives.Emily and Chelsea mentioned working motherhood and purpose in their listener questions. Click here to find more episodes and blog posts on working motherhood.If you’re looking for more content about parenting teens, check out the playlist 18 podcast episodes from our archives.Meagan and Sarah mention the various jobs they’ve held in Living A Writerly Life: Episode 454OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Preparing Kids (And Ourselves!) For Summer Independence [Classic Replay]

Rebekah struggles with a culture of “husband bashing” and negativity in her local mom circles. Ainsley wonders how she and her husband will handle being outnumbered once their third child arrives. Candice wants to feel seen in all she does for her family – prompting Meagan and Sarah to explore different kinds of invisible labor and unpack the work we sometimes assign ourselves. And Amanda asks us to give an update on our current food values. In Episode 461, Meagan and Sarah take these questions from our community and offer tips and validation. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:Listener Question episodes from the archivesDo you relate to Rebekah’s mom friend question? Here’s more on friendships in motherhood from the archives: Friendships in Motherhood, Part One (Redefining “Ride Or Die”): Episode 307 and Friendships In Motherhood, Part Two (Deepening & Widening Your Circle): Episode 308.Episodes from the archives on Mental Load and Invisible LaborEmotional Labor, Burnout & Completing The Stress Cycle: Episode 285Letting Go of Perfect-Holiday-Mom Pressure (For Real This Time): Episode 290Episodes from the archives on FoodFamily Food Values & What’s Working For Us: Episode 244 and Defining Your Family’s Food Values: Episode 113 references Meagan and Sarah’s food values from the pastOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listener Questions & Our Advice: Episode 461

Baseball, Scouts, soccer, basketball….you name it, our kids are doing it! In this episode, Catie and Katie are back to discuss all the stuff, processes, and mindsets that help get our families through a busy season. Join us for some of our favorite products, meal strategies, plus where and how we delegate responsibilities out to family members. Plus, it’ll be summer before we know it, and have some thoughts on how to tackle that, too. Enjoy!

Meagan and Sarah are off for the first two weeks of April. Enjoy the Katie+Catie takeover, and we’ll be back soon!

HELPFUL LINKS:Follow Katie Gouldner and Catie Parrish on Instagram.Katie mentioned the BONUS: Navigating Youth Sports episode with contributors Jayme and Jennifer.Katie loves her lululemon clippable card pouch she can easily throw into whatever bag is needed for extracurriculars and attaches it to a bracelet to wear around her wrist.Catie uses these post-it dry erase whiteboard stickers.Our favorite water bottles include Yeti, Owala, and Gatorade water bottles for sports.Katie keeps her Vera Bradley Large Tote in the trunk to throw all the stuff in when going to sporting events.Catie and Katie both utilize Bentgo boxes and Easy Lunchboxes for dinners-on-the-go.


OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inconsequential Holiday Gripes: Episode 442

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