The Mom Hour

Come run errands with Meagan and Sarah! Errands are an essential part of mom-life–but the running of them looks very different depending on where you live and your season of life. Today we chat about our preferences and personality quirks when it comes to errands, which ones we like and which ones we avoid, and how we make running around town more enjoyable. Join us as we romanticize (mostly) and vent (a little) about errands!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah mentioned the episode Mom Than Mom: Romanticizing The Hard Stuff.
• Meagan would love to hear if someone listening owns an Ace Hardware Store!
• Sarah mentioned a shout out our recent episode, Field Trips, Little To Teen: Episode 416.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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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.

Being a mom in 2023 means having a device connecting you to the world, wherever you go. It isn’t all bad or all good – but it does impact our parenting lives at every turn. Join Kia and Jayme, moms of kids ages toddler to teen, as they chat about the good, the bad, and the ugly of being constantly connected – plus offer some tech-positive suggestions for managing smartphone use when things start to feel out of balance. Enjoy!

The Mom Hour Voices is a special series on The Mom Hour, showcasing diverse voices from across the motherhood community. Click here to browse all past Voices episodes, which include conversations with and between members of our contributor team, plus expert interviews and conversations with moms from our community. Meagan and Sarah will be back on Tuesday!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Get to know Kia Hammond
• Get to know Jayme Sherrod 
• Interested in putting your screens down more? Read this article for tips!
• Episodes from the archives featuring Jayme or Kia
• Getting Outdoors With Kids: Voices 75 With Jayme Sherrod & Jennifer Carroll
• OMG We’re Sick AGAIN?!: Episode 389
• What’s New In Baby Gear & Baby Shower Registries: Voices 77 with Kia Hammond and Katherine DeVries
• Real Stories About Postpartum Mental Health: Voices 74 With Emily Roark And Kia Hammond
• Preparing Kids (Of All Ages) For A New Baby: Voices 67 With Kia Hammond
• Teen Parents, Parenting Teens (Young Motherhood, Raising Teen Girls & More!): Episode 414

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.

Processionals, promotions, caps, gowns, and more! Today Meagan and Sarah dig into graduations of all kinds from our perspective as moms in the audience experiencing all the feels. We have some strong opinions about how promotion ceremonies can be incorporated thoughtfully (or not) into kids’ younger years, and very different experiences when it comes to high school graduations. Find out what brings tears to our eyes almost instantly, what makes us roll our eyes, and how our own kids are “leveling up” as this school year comes to a close. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• We learned a few things about “Pomp and Circumstance” from this 2003 piece by Miles Hoffman on NPR’s Morning Edition
• What is typical in your area for graduation parties v. announcements? Email us!
• We’re bringing back The Mom Hour Voices this Friday, featuring two of our contributors. Don’t miss it!
• Please take our survey. Thanks!

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.

“Done having babies” and “Sad about the end of the little years” are two completely different mom-emotions, as Meagan and Sarah get into today, with the help of a thoughtful listener question. We look at how it’s possible to be at peace with your family size and still experience grief at the identity shift that happens as your last babe gets big (and your bigs get huge). We reflect on what pangs us most about small kids growing bigger, how to accept the unfamiliar role of being (slightly) less needed, and what it means to embrace the season you find yourself in – whatever it is. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Relevant Episodes From The Archives:
• Are You “Done” Having Babies?: Episode 07
• Should I Get Pregnant Again? Episode 187
• What’s One More? The Practical Realities of 3+ Kid Families: Episode 230
• Growing Families, Grown Kids, And The “Someday Family Dinner Table”: Episode 372
• The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363
• MORE Listener Question Episodes
• In case you missed it–Meagan’s Getting Married!

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.

A parent of three is exhausted by dinnertime sillies and wants help steering conversation at the family table. A stay-at-home mom asks what to do when her child says, “don’t tell dad I got in trouble at school!”. And a parent of a tween who wants acrylic nails asks a bigger question about letting kids alter their appearance in general. Meagan and Sarah tackle tricky parenting challenges with our best attempts at nuance, compassion, and humor in today’s episode. Join us!

LINKS WE MENTIONED:

• Listener Question Episodes From The Archives
• Pretty please take our listener survey!

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.

Happy Mother’s Day! Meagan thought it would be fun to surprise Sarah with an episode full of lightning-round-style “this or that” questions and “would you rather” head-scratchers. Join us for lots of laughs, silly questions and tons of fun! If you’ve been listening for a while you know that we’re chronically lightning-round-challenged. Find out if we answer all the questions before the buzzer goes off!

Links Mentioned:

• Our list of This or That and Would You Rathers
• Pretty please take our survey! We almost have 1,000 responses and REALLY hoping for 1,500!
• Mother’s Day Episodes From The Archives:
• Why Mother’s Day Is Hard (And How To Make It What You Want This Year): Episode 311
• In Your Own Words (Our Mother’s Day Challenge Special): Episode 101
• More Than Mom: Marketing To Moms (We Have Thoughts)

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.

Meagan spent a soggy day helping eighth grade science students release salmon into a creek, and it inspired this conversation all about kids and field trips. From tiny toddlers at the fire station to teens on a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., time outside the classroom requires a ton of flexibility from everyone; we're here to discuss the both/and nature of field trips bringing added hassle AND growth opportunities. We also hear from two teachers and a special needs parent about their thoughts on field trips and swap stories about California vs. Michigan excursions for school-aged kids. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Our thoughts on field trips from the archives:
• School Volunteering That Fits Your Personality: Episode 245
• How To Be The Parent That Teachers (And Schools) Love: Episode 174
• Debunking The Myth Of The “Good School Mom”: Episode 21
• New On The Blog! Exploring Nature Through Books: 7 Beautiful Nonfiction Nature Book Series For Kids
• Learn more about Mom Hour Contributor Ashley Schafluetzel
• Take Our 2023 Listener Survey!

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.

SURPRISE! Popping in with a bonus episode we recorded together in real life (and, in the same bed!) on a recent trip to Dallas. Get a feel for what Meagan and Sarah are like on the road together, how we feel about various airport-adjacent accommodations in the DFW area, and what we watched on TV that made us both so happy. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Here’s more on the Carol Burnett 90th Birthday Special!
• We weren’t kidding about the employee name tags at The Westin Hotel.
• While we had a great experience on this trip, we shared a really bad hospitality experience in More Than Mom: Hospitality & Customer Service.
• If you enjoyed this episode, check out a few other BONUS episodes from the archives:
• BONUS: Re-Learning How To Learn (And Teach!) At The College Level
• BONUS: Not Aunt Becky!? The College Scam & Parenting Culture
• BONUS: The Story Behind The “Surfboard Kid” Viral Photo…
• BONUS: A Conversation About Pregnancy Loss With Leeann Dearing
• BONUS: Teachers Respond To May Madness

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.

From surfing lessons and sunset cruises, to training dolphins and learning about space…Meagan and her two teens, Clara and Owen, packed in so many unforgettable experiences during their Spring Break trip to Florida! In this episode Meagan shares more about her travels with teens to the Space Coast of Florida and St. Augustine/Florida’s Historic Coast, thanks to our sponsor VISIT FLORIDA. And while the activities may look a little bit different with teens vs. big kids and toddlers, find out why Meagan’s best tips and take-aways for traveling with teens aren’t actually that different from when they were toddlers. Enjoy!

About Our Sponsor

Thank you to VISIT FLORIDA for sponsoring this episode and making Meagan’s and Catie’s trips possible.

Choosing where to go on a family vacation is easier than you think. Florida is filled with experiences you and your family will never forget. From 825 miles of beaches and 700 freshwater springs to over 1,300 trails with breathing room to run and play, there are so many reasons a Florida vacation is just, the best.

Start planning YOUR best-ever vacation at VISIT FLORIDA today!

Links We Mentioned (Or Should Have) In This Episode:

• Meagan and her kids enjoyed a nice stay at The Holiday Inn in Titusville, and visited the Cocoa Beach area to enjoy a kayak tour at sunset.
• They visited the Kennedy Space Center and had a waterfront dinner at Shiloh’s restaurant.
• Meagan and her family loved their stay (especially the hot tub!) at The Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine/Vilano Beach.
• The Castillo de San Marcos is a must-visit, along with the Fountain of Youth Park.
• In St. Augustine, enjoy a trolley ride on Old Town Trolley Tours and be sure to stop into the Lightner Museum
• Meehan’s Irish Pub and Seafood House, Aunt Kate’s, and Salt Life Food Shack are three great family-friendly restaurant options in and around St. Augustine.
• Enjoy the St. Augustine skyline and dolphin sightings on a sunset cruise with Florida Water Tours.
• Clara and Owen enjoyed surf lessons from Pit Surf Shop on St. Augustine Beach. Then it was off to Marineland for a Dolphin Encounter experience!
• If you have any alligator lovers in your life don’t miss St. Augustine Alligator Farm & Zoological Park.
• Looking for more travel tips? In last week’s episode, Catie Parrish shared details about her family of five’s vacation to Florida with ideas for traveling with younger kids.

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.

With warming weather, meals, snacks and cravings shift too. Today Meagan and Sarah unpack what it means to us to feed ourselves well as moms, from taking time to assemble a sandwich to paying attention to the way food makes us feel – both physically and emotionally. We share some of our personal favorite feel-good foods, and also acknowledge the often inherent conflict in feeding ourselves well AND keeping our families fed. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Target links are affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

• Take our listener survey!
• Meagan’s special oatmeal recipe
• Sarah loves Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
• Sarah’s family doesn’t love sourdough but DOES love Trader Joe’s Stone Hearth Baked French Loaf for crispy toast
• We both like Dave Killer’s Bread
• Sarah likes the Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger patties from Trader Joe’s
• Sarah hydrates with Nuun tablets in her water and likes a Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter flavored Perfect Bar for a snack
• We both love this Sparkel carbonator and this Rice Cooker
• Meagan's Mother of Reinvention podcast is back for a new season!
• We love Didn’t I Just Feed You for thoughtful, nuanced conversations about both feeding yourself as a mom AND feeding a family. Check out these episodes to start:
• The Lasting Allure of Our favorite Nostalgic Snacks (Just for fun, we’re tasting testing some of our favorite childhood snacks including Wendy’s Frosty, Devil Dogs and Cosmic Brownies. Do these beloved nostalgic treats taste as good as we remember? Listen now to find out!)
• Empties (In which we share the new pantry products we’ve purchased and completely used up.)
• Why Are We All Obsessed with Protein (This macronutrient seems to be the obsession of wellness gurus, food media, and your two favorite podcast hosts. Ha! In this exclusive episode we’re talking about why we are currently obsessed with protein and how we’re getting more of it.)
• If you enjoyed this episode, check out a few from the archives:
• Snacks Or Ingredients? What’s Inside Our Pantries: Episode 403
• What’s In Our Fridge & Freezer Right Now: Episode 381
• Cooking Inspiration: Where We Get Our Best Ideas (And How To Re-Inspire Your Menus!)
• Envisioning Your Week Of Ideal Meals: Episode 331

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.