Seems like once a month or so, our Facebook feeds fill up with links to an article on Why Parenting Is in Crisis and Parents Today Are the Worst. Are they really the worst? Or just parenting in a time when there are more parenting experts trying to produce more content than ever? We talked about the ways different parenting styles, life experiences, and types of kids make it hard both to parent and to judge parenting; how there's still no judging like in-person judging to make you feel awful; the likelihood that the audience for heck-in-a-handbasket articles is parents who want to feel superior to bad parents rather than the bad parents themselves; and the way that Pinterest is in fact the most judgey feel-bad-about-yourself spot on the Internet. 

Then we looked at a place where parents are, perhaps, not judged harshly enough: online support groups, with their dedication to being a safe place where anyone can say anything, and their protected environment for saying things that maybe should not be said. As we discussed our personal experiences, it appeared that in-person support groups were less likely to go bad, maybe because you have to actually put on clothes and face people to participate in them. Amanda and Terri attested to the way that online groups can turn into minefields the longer you participate and the more you care about expressing your opinion.

Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week. Catherine pointed folks toward two articles on sports parents: "9 Signs of a Sports Mom (or Dad)" and "Are You a Crazy Sports Parent?" (no judging, you understand); Amanda mentioned an article she wrote for Understood.org on using praise to build your child's self-esteem; Nicole invited listeners to a webinar she hosted; and Terri offered help in deciding if your support group is toxic.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episode and Kristin Eredics for our happy in-and-out music.

This week on Parenting Roundabout, we talked about our New Year's Resolutions -- and whether resolutions are a good way to get yourself going toward a goal or just to make yourself feel like a failure right from the start of the year. Then we looked at some highlights of 2014, including birthday and school milestones for our kids, trips and injuries, and catching a pop-culture wave. For more on New Year's resolutions, follow these links:

New Year's Resolutions for Family Fitness and Health,

Little Goals Can Be Better Than Big New Year’s Resolutions,

Realistic Resolutions,

Mini-Resolutions for Every Day,

Use New Year's Resolutions to Motivate Your Child, and

Make a New Year's Resolution ... for Someone Else.

For other stories mentioned, read about gluten-free Girl Scout cookies on the Mashable blog, follow Terri's dog on Twitter, and meet Catherine's black dogs on Instagram.

This podcast also marks our last recording on BlogTalk Radio, and the first with Nicole Eredics, who joins our new weekly team along with Terri Mauro, Catherine Holecko, and Amanda Morin. We'll be coming at you every week with parenting chatter from our new home at Libsyn. You can look forward to two topics a week, a little longer conversation, timelier topics, more fun and reflection and less advice-giving (though we'll still link to our articles on the topics if advice is what you're looking for), and visits from our other About.com podcasters.

Please note that if you've been an iTunes subscriber to the podcast (thanks!), you'll have to resubscribe now that we've moved. We promise to make it worth your inconvenience with a podcast you can look forward to every week.

Happy 2015!

Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the Parenting RoundAbout podcast. As we did on our very first episode, we’ll look at the holiday craziness again and give some advice for coming out the other side at least a little bit jolly. Join About.com experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), and Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com) for this annual holiday get-together, and find links to the stories discussed on our Facebook page.

Every family is weird in its own way. What makes your clan quirky? Join About.com Parenting Experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Kathy Ceceri (homeschooling.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we talk about family traditions, personality similarities, and when that oddness needs to be looked at. Find links to the stories discussed on our Facebook page.

Parents, stop acting like children with life-threatening food allergies are just making it up to inconvenience you. It’s not that hard to accommodate kids, and why wouldn’t you? Join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Katherine Lee (childparenting.about.com), and Jill Castle (foodallergies.about.com) as we look at the ongoing struggles in getting people to take serious food allergies seriously.

With Thanksgiving about a week away, join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (Famiy Fitness), Susan Adcox (grandparents.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we talk about what we’re feeling thankful for this year, and suggest some ways to bring thankfulness into your family life. Visit the podcast recap on our Facebook page for links to the stories discussed and your chance to share what you're thankful for.

So, are we still at war? Join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Katherine Lewis (workingmoms.about.com), and Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com) as we check in on the status and truthfulness of this alleged family feud and discuss ways to find some peace. Visit the podcast recap on our Facebook page for links to the stories discussed and your chance to chime in.

Is Zero Tolerance an appropriate policy for schools to follow, or just a way for grown-ups in charge to get out of having to make tough decisions and take responsibility for them? Join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we look at the pros and cons of black-and-white thinking. Find out more about this topic and the articles mentioned on the podcast on our Facebook page.

You know you’re supposed to check if the house your child is playing at has a gun in it, or the carpool your child is riding in has a texting or drinking driver, or the sleepover your child is going to has responsible adult supervision. But it’s so very awkward to ask. Join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Susan Adcox (grandparents.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we give some advice for how to do this vetting of other parents, and how to gracefully receive those questions yourself. Find links to stories we mentioned in the podcast, and tell us how you handle your vetting, on our Facebook page.

It’s the time of year again for overpriced costumes, overdoses of sugar, worries about allergens at classroom parties, and other scary Halloween tricks. Join About.com Parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we discuss the highs and lows of the holiday and give some tips on focusing on the fun. Find more Halloween fun, and share your own Halloween strategies, on our Facebook page.