Living near other families with kids is a blessing and, occasionally, a challenge. In today’s episode of House Rules, Meagan and Sarah share tips from The Mom Hour community—consider this your go-to guide for making those impromptu playdates a little smoother! From setting boundaries, providing snacks, staying safe, and keeping the peace, we've got you covered. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• House Rules For Neighbor Play ideas from our Facebook Community.
• Did you enjoy this House Rules episode? Here are a few more from the archives:
• House Rules For Messy Fun: Episode 468
• House Rules For Easier Bedtimes: Episode 443
• House Rules For Tidying Up: Episode 413
• House Rules For Gifting & Giving: Episode 393
• House Rules For After School: Episode 380
• House Rules for Playdates: Episode 340

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

Today we celebrate a decade of The Mom Hour! We asked listeners to tell us the phrases we say all the time – MomHour-isms, if you will – and wow, did you deliver. We own up to our quirks and vocal tics, give backstory to oft-repeated phrases we utter, and share behind-the-scenes details about making and editing the podcast. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Did you miss our news about the future of The Mom Hour? Listen to How Do You Know What’s Next?: Episode 503
• Episodes from the archives mentioned in this episode:
• Mom Milestones (By Popular Request!): Episode 257
• We Hate Fun: Episode 109
• We Hate Fun! (Okay, Not ALL Fun): Episode 10
• The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

Let’s talk travel habits! How do you settle into a rental property? Do you unpack in a hotel room? Are you a fan of rental cars, or do you rely on ride-sharing apps? These are just a few of the things Meagan and Sarah discuss in today’s episode on traveling without kids and the unique habits that come with it. Join us as we share our personal quirks (and strong feelings) on things like rental cars, tech use while on vacation, our use (or non-use) of navigation apps, and how we make accommodations feel more like home. Enjoy!

This is Part 3 of a three-part travel series running this winter! You can listen to Part 1 here, and listen to Part 2 here.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Check out our Family Travel Hub for episodes and blog posts to help with all your traveling-with-kids needs!
• Traveling As Business Besties (Meagan & Sarah From Dallas Together!)
• We mentioned this episode, where we deep-dive on our airport personalities: Getting There Is Half The Fun (Especially When You’re Flying Solo)

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

Mornings set the tone for the day, so how are we spending ours lately? Today we define – and debate! – a “successful” start to the day, and dig into some of the mythology surrounding morning routines. From quiet time to busy school morning routines, we’ll share how different environments shape our mornings and talk about the little habits that help us feel grounded and ready to take on the day. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Last week’s episode Evening Routines Lately: Episode 507 and Morning Routines & Morning Makeovers: Episode 222 pair nicely with this one.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

Does a peaceful evening beget a better morning? Let's find out. Today Meagan and Sarah talk about our evening routines lately, and next week we'll do the same with mornings. Now that our kids are older, we try to make time for the little things that make winding down feel calm and intentional. Plus, we share how we shut down our homes and families for the night, and how our loved ones—both human and animal—fit into the mix. Nighty-night!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes from the archives on routines:
• Morning Routines & Morning Makeovers: Episode 222
• Routines, Rituals, and Traditions (Part 2): Episode 129
• Routines, Rituals, and Traditions (Part 1): Episode 128
• Bedtime Routines at Every Stage: Episode 80
• Realistic Hair & Skincare Routines: Episode 48
• Routines For A Happy Mom-Life: Episode 20
• Interested in gua sha (which Meagan talked about having an at-home routine similar to)? We learned a lot from this Good Housekeeping article
• Sarah uses DRMTLGY retinol and neck cream
• Sarah keeps this cuter version of your grandma's pill box on her bedside table (h/t Erica Ladd for that rec!)
• Clevr blend sleeptime latte is Sarah's drink of choice in the evening
• We both use weighted blankets in a twin size, like this one
• Meagan uses her Hatch Clock (affiliate link) to dim the lights before bed, helping to cue her to get sleepy

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

“I wish I’d yelled less,” “I should’ve tidied up more”—sound familiar? We’re pretty hard on ourselves as moms, especially when we’re deep in the thick of parenting. With a little distance it’s a bit easier to recognize how much we’ve actually done for our families. Today Meagan and Sarah reflect on our early parenting years and give credit where credit is due and offer compassion to our younger selves. Turns out, we were doing the best we could with what we had – just like you!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• We mentioned an episode looking back on regrets: Regrets, We’ve Had A Few: Episode 440
• Episodes from the archives you may enjoy:
• Nurturing Grandparent-Grandkid Relationships: Episode 390
• Kinkeeping: Episode 488
• Motherly Love In Theory & Practice: Episode 451
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Back To School: Episode 377
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Tech And Devices: Episode 368
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer Planning: Episode 359

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

From crafting the perfect window display to chatting with customers and hand-picking the best products, Meagan shares the fun (and not-so-glamorous) side of running a business. Whether it’s her specialty tea shop or her family’s bookstore, Meagan has plenty of insights on what it takes to bring a dream to life. Sarah is here to ask all the questions, so tune in for an inspiring and candid conversation about entrepreneurship, retail, and everything in between!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Meagan’s a partner of a public market, The Mill Manistique
• Meagan opened a tea shop!
• Follow @papermillbooks or @themillmanistique or @bevytea on instagram
• Episodes from the archives you may enjoy:
• How Do You Know What’s Next?: Episode 503
• More Than Mom: Dream Businesses
• Having Kids Young & Building A Creative Business With Camp Climb Founder Emma Hicks: Voices 37

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

From tracking flight prices to snagging a hotel deal, packing your bags to prepping the home front, there’s a ton to talk about when it comes to travel planning. Join Meagan and Sarah as we discuss what works for us, how we feel about reviews on vacation rental sites, and where are strengths and weaknesses lie when it comes to packing a suitcase and preparing to leave home. Let’s get ready to travel!

This is Part 2 of a three-part travel series running this winter! You can listen to Part 1 here, and check back in March for Part 3.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Check out our Family Travel Hub for episodes and blog posts to help with all your traveling-with-kids needs!
• Sarah’s packing cubes are similar to these, from show sponsor Quince (visit quince.com/themomhour for free shipping at 365-day returns)
• Sarah loves her Luka Duffel from Calpak Travel
• Sarah uses Google Flights for tracking flight prices

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

Perfectly crisped bacon with zero grease splatter, an onion diced evenly and confidently, and a sparkling clean kitchen sink. These are just a few of the kitchen confidence-boosters Meagan and Sarah have worked on over the years. Today’s episode is all about the skills we’ve developed – and even mastered – that help us enjoy home cooking more. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:
• Reclaiming Our Kitchens: Episode 490
• Sipping, Steeping, Hydrating & Celebrating: Let’s Talk About Beverages!: Episode 467
• Kitchen Gadgets & Gear, Part 2: Episode 432
• Kitchen Gadgets & Gear, Part 1: Episode 431
• MORE about Loving Beans from Meagan
• Meagan shares more about Making Sourdough in this substack article

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.

From big career pivots to giant life decisions, how do we know when it’s time to take a leap? How much dreaming and scheming comes before the moment of action? And how do you know what’s on the other side of a bend in the road? (Spoiler: you don’t.) Meagan and Sarah share a podcast-related update and explore these questions together. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Sarah recommends this episode of The Culture Study Podcast: Is The Golden Age Of Podcasts Over? and these episodes of 10 Things To Tell You: 10 Things All Podcast Fans Should Know and If I Were Starting A Podcast Today…
• Episodes From The Archives:
• BONUS: What’s Ahead This Summer (Personally And On The Podcast)
• Meet Meagan & Sarah: Episode 458
• Business Behind-The-Scenes & State Of The Podcast Chat: Episode 396
• Email us

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join 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.