The Mom Hour

Nine years on the mic together and almost thirteen collaborating in some capacity: today we’re reflecting and celebrating! Whether you’re a longtime listener who feels like a friend (we see you!) or a newer community member still learning which one of us is blonde (it’s Meagan), this episode will bring fresh stories and familiar reminders of who we are and why we’re here. We hope you’ll join us!

HELPFUL LINKS

• Episodes from the archives that pair well with this one:
• How We’re The Same (And Also Different)
• Meagan & Sarah Interview Each Other
• What We’ve Learned From Each Other
• Traveling As Business Besties
• Our Childhood Crushes
• Ask Us Anything!
• Sarah mentioned this episode: Talking About Our Own Kids. Or Not: Episode 364
• The Behind The Scenes of the Podcast Episodes:
• Business Behind-The-Scenes & State Of The Podcast Chat: Episode 396
• More Than Mom: Behind The Scenes Of Our Partnership
• More Than Mom: Making The Podcast (Then vs. Now)
• More Than Mom: Behind The Scenes & Business Updates
• Behind The Scenes (How We Make The Podcast): Episode 91

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.

We’re revisiting a classic from the archives today: a ridiculous game of Would You Rather…? Meagan and Sarah recorded this one in person together on a hot summer day back in 2018 (almost six years ago!), and in it we challenge each other to pick between wildly impossible scenarios. Which one of us would rather deal with an insane diaper blowout while in public and which would rather have an end-of-the-world public tantrum? You’ll have to listen to find out!

HELPFUL LINKS

• A follow-up episode where we played even more Would You Rather…
• Meagan references acting in a local theater. Here’s more episodes from the archives on hobbies!

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.

Whether it’s a sick day, a snow day, or something else entirely, being stuck at home with kids is a natural opportunity to bend or flex your house rules to keep the kids entertained (and retain your sanity). In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah share our community’s genius ideas for getting through long days spent at home. Join us for smart hacks for sick kids (and moms!), easy activities that help full long hours, and ways to make being stuck inside a little less awful. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Our Mother’s Gratitude Journal is out! (affiliate link)
• Meagan and Sarah mentioned longtime show sponsor Kiwi Crate as a great option for packaged crafts and experiments for various ages. Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line with code THEMOMHOUR.
• These ideas came from our Facebook Community – answer the membership questions and request to join for more practical tips for making stuck-at-home days with kids less stressful and more fun!
• Episodes from the archives that pair nicely with this one:
• House Rules For Sibling Harmony: Episode 314
• OMG We’re Sick AGAIN?!: Episode 389
• Uggghhh…Sick Days: Episode 75
• Stuck At Home? Us Too. Here Are Some Ideas: Episode 252
• Check out the blog post, 8 Activities To Make Spring Break At Home With Little Kids Bearable (And Fun!)

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.

Today we’re sharing an episode of another podcast we think you might love: Pop Culture Moms.

Hosts Andie and Sabrina are toddler moms and best friends of 20 years. In this new podcast they’re taking their obsession with TV and movies to the next level by talking to celebrities, writers and fellow “scholars” of pop culture about what they can learn from the fictional moms they love most. In the excerpt you’ll hear today, former MTV News correspondent SuChin Pak talks about reparenting ourselves when we become parents.

Listen to Pop Culture Moms here!

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

Is it time to break up with Instagram? Or just hit pause on the relationship? Today Meagan and Sarah dive in to some of the reasons behind our personal absences from the social platform lately. Without judgment about anybody else’s online behavior, we reflect on what’s working and not working about our own. We own up to some icky-feeling habits, share observations about what it takes to change said habits, and how we envision our futures on the platform. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• We started to explore this topic recently in Episode 444: Do Today’s New Moms Have It Easier? Or Harder?
• Episodes from the archives related to this topic:
• #Influenced: Episode 436
• More Than Mom: #Influenced
• More Than Mom: Social Media
• Your Media Diet: Is It Healthy? Episode 03
• Meagan’s family bookstore (Paper Mill Books in Manistique, MI) can be found on Instagram @papermillbooks

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.

Parents of teens, listen up! (And parents of littles, join us for a preview!) Helping your teen figure out what’s next after graduation – and how to cover the cost – is a delicate dance. Today Meagan shares her current struggles navigating the parenting waters of college-bound teens; she reflects on how her fourth kid’s journey looks a bit different than that of his older brothers, what role she plays in the process, and ways it has challenged her as a mom – all while Sarah takes notes for herself! Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS

• Sarah referenced this PBS NewsHour article explaining this year’s FAFSA issues
• Episodes from the archives on College:
• College Plans & Family Culture (Hopes, Dreams, Memories & More): Episode 376
• BONUS: Re-Learning How To Learn (And Teach!) At The College Level
• BONUS: Not Aunt Becky!? The College Scam & Parenting Culture
• Sarah mentioned Dr. Lisa Damour providing great advice for parenting teenagers. Here’s an episode from the archives you may enjoy: Bonus: Dr. Lisa Damour On Supporting Teens Through Big Emotions

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.

Join Meagan and Sarah for a peek behind the scenes of our writerly lives and an update on what we’re working on lately. We share how we got started (including our tips for others wanting to explore writing), how our writing has looked quite different over the years (including where and how we write) and what we’re currently working on. We also bring listeners up to speed on an exciting new collaboration that we’ve only hinted at in the past… Tune in to find out more!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Preorder our guided journal! The Mother’s Gratitude Journal: An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys and Milestone Moments
• Sarah mentioned the episode More Than Mom: Romanticizing The Hard Stuff
• More Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative Practice is an episode from the archives that pairs nicely with this one.
• Read Meagan’s writing on Substack
• Blog Posts Related To Writing:
• How I Started Writing
• How To Start A Freelance Career Without Spending Money
• Listen to The Tea’s Made podcast episode featuring Sarah discussing Our Cozy & Creative Spaces

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.

New recipes can shake up cooking routines, but there’s something to be said for the tried-and-true meals, too. Today Meagan and Sarah share the family dinners that always make it into our current cooking rotations. They’re the meals we know how to shop for, prepare, and that the kids are comfortable eating as is (or know how to put their own twist on it). We also touch on “always in rotation” dinners from bygone eras, and what new recipes we’re hoping to try this year. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• We both have this rice cooker
• Meagan’s Pulled Pork, 5 Ways blog post
• Sarah’s family loves this Trader Joe’s Microwavable Spanish Rice
• Meagan mentioned her word of the year is “Beans” which is explained in this Substack post
• Meagan has her own personal take on this Moo Shu Pork Bowl recipe from Hello Fresh
• Episodes From The Archives On Feeding A Family:
• A Week Of Real-Life Dinners: Episode 336
• A Week of Real-Life Dinners: (Vol. 4) Episode 305
• A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 3): Episode 254
• A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 2): Episode 196
• A Week of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 1): Episode 72

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.

Whether you have puppy fever or are overwhelmed by the idea of getting a dog, this episode will meet you where you are. Join regular contributors Joanna and Joanne as they check in about recent adventures adding furry family members to their homes. They offer advice for things to consider before getting a dog, chat about how a dog can impact your lifestyle, your budget, and your mental load, and offer tips for introducing a dog to a new baby and getting kids involved in pet care. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Follow Joanna Martin on Instagram
• Follow Joanne Ruelos Diaz on Instagram
• Joanna trained her new dog at The Dog Wizard
• Here is a helpful article, Should I Get A Dog from the American Kennel Club
• Joanne’s custom dog bookmark from Etsy
• Joanne rescued her dog from Heavenly Angel’s Animal Rescue
• Joanna received this custom, search-and-find your dog book
• Joanna mentioned this rescue organization in Dallas, Texas
• Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:
• More Than Mom: Pets!
• All About Family Pets: Episode 71
• Pandemic Puppies, Foster Kittens & A Small Animal Pet Debate: Episode 286
• Lessons In Motherhood From Chickens & Kittens: Episode 379

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.

The kids are sick. Your spouse is traveling. The laundry is piling up. Motherhood can be A LOT, even in the best of times, but when normalcy is thrown off, the stakes get even higher. Today Meagan and Sarah share our best tips for surviving the day – and getting the bare minimum done – when it all just feels like too much. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Sarah referenced this classic replay: How Do I Make Time For It All?
• Sarah uses Todoist to manage not just her work, but her chores and daily checklists.
• Episodes that pair nicely with this one:
• When Will This Get Easier?: Episode 435
• On “Taking A Break” As A Mom (And Human!): Episode 423
• Emotional Labor, Burnout & Completing The Stress Cycle: Episode 285

MORE 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.