Parenting Roundabout

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a resource that you can most likely find at your own library: Newspapers.com, a repository of archives from all over the U.S. and six other countries. Find your great-grandparents' wedding announcement or read up on crimes like the Panama Hat Heist of 1904.
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Terri's random recommendation this week is not one, but three books: Two she's recently finished, and one she's just starting. She finished (and loved) A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and enjoyed Jim O'Heir's memoir about Parks & Rec, Welcome to Pawnee--but suggests skipping the audiobook on this one. And as a dutiful English major, she's now reading Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Hemingway's Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises by Lesley M. M. Blume. Mentioned: The TV adaption of A Gentleman in Moscow, which we watched and enjoyed last summer.
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In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on parenting best-sellers on Amazon. Guess what? Things haven't changed much in five years!

Next week's lineup: 

• Lost S2 E4, "Everybody Hates Hugo," on Tuesday, January 14
• Shrinking S2 E11, "The Drugs Don't Work," on Wednesday, January 15
• Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 16

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. On this episode, a parent tried and ultimately failed to make a child's birthday special, and a child tried to set boundaries with a parent--which also didn't go very well. But at least Liz is back to her snarky self.
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Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 11, "The Drugs Don't Work.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this episode, we met a few of the threatening Others that Jin warned us about at the end of the previous episode, re-met a survivor seen previously in flashback, and heard yet again that Locke wasn't always the tough guy he is now. Mentioned: Game show challenges for parents and Mouse Rat's song "The Pit" from Parks & Rec.
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Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 4, "Everybody Hates Hugo." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 10.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. There were a lot of parenting and family breakthroughs in this episode, along with a little more comic relief than we got last time (thanks, Sean). 
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Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 10, "Changing Patterns.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) And we'll be changing back to our usual pattern of Shrinking on Wednesdays and the weekly roundup on Thursdays.

While we’re celebrating New Year’s with our families, we bring you this relic of podcasts past: A speed round devoted to our resolutions for the coming year. That year was 2020, but … yeah, we’re still rolling them over. And since this is a replay, you'll hear from our old pal Nicole Eredics. We miss you, Nicole!

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Along with Michael flashbacks and the aftermath of Walt's kidnapping and the raft explosion, this episode revisited the in-the-hatch events of the prior one. So we got some time and pacing weirdness to go along with all the other island weirdness.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 3, "Orientation." Tomorrow, we'll replay a New Year's chat from our archives, and then we'll be back with a new episode on Thursday (Shrinking, S2 E9).

On Wednesdays (usually), we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking, a happy fun sitcom that does its best to make us cry every week. This was an extra-sad one, with many characters facing the consequences of their actions (Liz, Derek, Louis, Jimmy) and their mortality (Paul). Like we said, fun and happy! Mentioned: Shrinking playlists on Apple Music (season 1 and season 2).
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Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 9, "Full Grown Dude Face.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) Look for that on Thursday, January 2, as we continue our shuffled holiday schedule for another week.

While we’re celebrating Christmas with our families, we bring you this relic of Christmas past: One of the only original podcast episodes we put out on Christmas day, back in 2019. As you’ll see, we don’t take vacations from complaining.

We'll be back tomorrow with our discussion of Shrinking, season 2, episode 8, "Last Drink."

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this season 2 kickoff, we meet a new character, get yet another Jack flashback, and watch both Locke and Kate take a dive down into the hatch. Mentioned: Our discussion of a Good Place scene that called back to the opening of this Lost episode.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 2, "Adrift." Tomorrow, a special Christmas relic, and then Shrinking, season 2, episode 8 on Thursday.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a board book that's ostensibly for babies... about electrical engineering. Better yet, it has a Christmas theme! (And it's part of a whole series of science-themed board books). We'll stick with colors, shapes, and ABCs, thanks.
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Terri's random recommendation this week is a lighter topic than electrical engineering: Funny videos on Instagram. Check out Farbsy for goofy takes on workplace emails, customer support for pets, and more.
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In the archives, we checked out an episode from 2019 on the good news/bad news of being needed as a parent. Mentioned: Googling Is for Old People. That's a Problem for Google, at the Wall Street Journal; the penny problem on The West Wing and at the New York Times. 

Next week's lineup: 

• Lost S2 E1, "Man of Science, Man of Faith," on Tuesday, December 24
• Shrinking S2 E8, "Last Drink," on Wednesday, December 25
• Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.