The Mom Hour

Welcome to a two-part episode all about kids’ birthdays! From simple family traditions to parties and classroom celebrations, we’ve got you covered. In Episode 68 we focus on your own kids, and how to make their birthdays special without making yourself crazy. Next week we’ll turn our attention to other people’s kids’ – getting invited to school friends’ parties, shopping for gifts, etc.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah’s mini muffin/cupcake tin is like this one
• Stream the Jonny & Meagan Mornings radio show from 6:00-9:00am Eastern Monday through Friday
• Submit a question to Ask Meagan (not necessary to be a SW Michigan local)
• An oldie (2010!) but goodie on The Happiest Home from Meagan: The Good-Enough Birthday
• From our friend Sarah at Bluegrass Redhead: Why I Throw My Kids Over-the-top Birthday Parties

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

Mornings can be a challenge for busy families, and now that school is back in session we thought we’d take a deep dive into those tricky hours between dawn and drop-off. Join Meagan and Sarah for practical tips and “we’ve all been there” confessions on everything from wake-up times to breakfast routines and lunch-packing to getting out the door on time.

We are also so thankful to have the input of Kelsey, Elizabeth, and Angie, three full-time outside-the-home working moms you might remember from an episode earlier this summer. They sent in their best working mom tips for making mornings easier and we share them throughout the show.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Kelsey’s podcast, The Girl Next Door
• Elizabeth’s blog, Teaching Sam & Scout
• Inside the lives of 3 working moms (the interview show featuring Kelsey, Elizabeth and Angie)
• Routines for a happy mom life (a show we did last year that pairs nicely with this one)
• Kelsey’s freezer breakfast burritos
• Bryan’s smoothies usually include: frozen berries, assorted fresh fruits, banana, oats, spinach or kale, and almond milk
• How I Use Music To Get Us To School On Time (Heather of Rookie Moms, which inspired Sarah’s system)
• SONOS Play:1 (starter speaker set from the system Sarah’s family uses)
• IKEA PUGG Wall Clock (in Sarah’s kitchen)

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.

In this month’s bonus interview Meagan chats with financial writer and mom Kimberly Palmer, whose new book Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family speaks to the challenges facing many parents today.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family (Kimberly Palmer)
• Kimberly-Palmer.com
• PalmersPlanners, Kimberly’s Etsy shop featuring printable financial planners and worksheets for moms

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.

If you’re a longtime listener, you know that Meagan and Sarah like to occasionally set aside issues of parenting and family life and talk about all the other things making them happy: books, movies, podcasts, style, food, and creative pursuits. In this week’s show we kick off a new semi-regular series where we do just that. We’re calling it The More-Than-Mom Hour!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
• The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
• Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
• The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey
• The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups by Erika Christakis
• Dopamine by BØRNS (the band Meagan went to see)
• Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• NPR Politics Podcast
• The Girl Next Door Podcast
• #AmWriting with Jess & KJ
• Magic Lessons podcast and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Target shorts! We’re pretty sure we both have these (left, below), and Sarah has some similar to these(right, below). Meagan was excited about the 4″ length options this season too.
• Fabletics tops and Victoria’s Secret lace bralets, similar to those pictured below

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.

It’s time for another episode where Meagan and Sarah take on questions from YOU, our listeners! Big thanks to Becky, Claire and Amanda for allowing us to talk through some really common issues for parents.

First we hear from Becky, whose son is going through a tough phase of fears and anxieties that are dominating the household mood and her energy. Then we tackle Claire’s sticky situation involving wild kids, a restaurant, and a big family reunion. Finally, we help new mom Amanda think through her decision to co-sleep.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Listen to Becky’s question about kids and anxiety at 01:15
• The Opposite of Worry: The Playful Parenting Approach to Childhood Anxieties and Fears by Lawrence J. Cohen
• Listen to Claire’s question about how to handle wild kids that aren’t hers at a family reunion at 16:25
• Listen to Amanda’s question about co-sleeping at 25:20
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
• by Elizabeth Pantley
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Child’s Sleep by Elizabeth Pantley

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.