Is your fridge neat and tidy inside with organized compartments, or is it more like a game of Tetris? Taking a peek into someone’s fridge can tell a lot about the season of life they’re in, and in today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are opening ours for you! We cover the things we love and hate about the fridge models themselves, the items inside that make us cringe, what see in the fridge that makes us feel proud, and much more! Plus, Meagan looks for advice about how to better utilize her garage fridge, Sarah shares a meal prep fail, and we play a fun game of “in the fridge or on the counter” for food staples in our homes. Enjoy! 

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah mentioned a similar episode, More Than Mom: What’s In Our Purses
• Sarah is loving Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee Bags
• Sarah’s longtime go-to banana bread recipe that led to the prep-ahead fail
• Here’s an easy recipe for pickled red onions (store and use on salads, tacos, and more!)
• Repurposing these Costco Olive Jars are a food storage staple in Sarah’s kitchen.
• Our contributors will be taking over our Instagram stories this week to share what’s in their fridge. Check it out!

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• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
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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.

Fall is just around the corner and while some of us look to classic markers like crisp air, sweatshirts and chili, others – especially those in warm-weather climates – have to work a bit harder to make a mindful shift into a new season. In today’s Voices episode (and in a fun hot seat role-reversal!) our contributor Katherine DeVries interviews Meagan about seasonally-led parenting and homemaking. Meagan and Katherine share seasonal activities we enjoy with our kids (and some we avoid), tips for bringing seasonality into home decor (without breaking the budget), ways to change up your cooking routine depending on the time of year (we’re looking at you, farmer’s markets), and ideas for getting through long stretches of dreary weather. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Meet Katherine DeVries, one of our contributors, featured in this episode and follow her on instagram @thepaperdart.
• If you haven’t seen it, here’s the infamous photo (and backstory) of Meagan carrying her son Issac “The surfboard kid” on her hip in 2003.
• Looking for other fall-themed content?
• What’s For Breakfast This Fall: Episode 326
• 7 Ways We’re Saving Money This Fall: Episode 277
• Getting It “Right” For The Right-Now, blog by Meagan 
• Cozy Audiobooks For Fall

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• 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.

Empty your lunch box! Wash your hands! No screens before homework! What non-negotiable rule do you enforce when the kids walk through the door after school gets out? In our latest “House Rules” episode, Meagan and Sarah tackle the time between when school-age kids get home and the onset of dinner and bedtime. We asked our community for rules, systems or routines that make the after-school time just a bit easier (having a rule can be pure magic because it takes the pressure off of mom!), as well as what small rituals help with reconnecting and decompressing after school. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• You can find all the House Rules For After School on this Facebook post or this Instagram post.
• Sarah mentioned learning the “two truths and a lie” tactic for asking kids about their school day from somewhere last year, and we dug up the source!

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
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• 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.

While we WILL be talking all about motherhood today, we WON’T be talking about mothering any humans. In this one-of-a-kind episode, Meagan and Sarah talk motherhood through the lens of caring for chickens and kittens! If you’ve been following us on instagram, you know we’ve been busy welcoming 23 chickens (Meagan) and two newborn kittens plus their lactating mama (Sarah) into our lives. We share how similar (and different) animal babies and mamas are compared to our own families (and how we just can’t help but assume human thoughts are happening in these creatures’ minds). Join us to find out why Meagan compares her roosters to bad 80’s sitcom dads and why Sarah gets reprimanded by mama cat! Enjoy! 

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Here’s the article Meagan referenced about chickens and their behavior
• Pic of Sarah’s mama cat watching her kittens explore
• Don’t forget to send us your House Rules For After School! The best places to add your comments are this Facebook post or this Instagram post (no need to comment on both) – that way we’ll be sure to see them before we record!

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.

Got any empties? You know the ones–those products that you use down to the VERY last drop. In this super fun More than Mom, Meagan and Sarah share products that we simply can’t stop adding to our cart because they’re just THAT good. We cover all of our go-to skin care and makeup products, our can’t-live-without clothing essentials, candle obsessions and much more! Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah mentioned watching @jamiebgolden’s Empties stories on Instagram
• Sarah’s List of Empties
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Body Gel Cream with Hyaluronic Acid (affiliate link)
• DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
• DRMTLGY Retinol Complex 0.5%
• L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Concealer (affiliate link)
• Gemmist Hair Products
• Shampoo 6
• Conditioner 13
• Sheer Styler
• Harper Wilde bras – we discussed the Base, the Bliss, and the Bliss Triangle
• The Gemini Boutique in Chicago where Sarah re-bought her favorite necklace, the Anna Necklace
• Nuun Hydration Tablets in Citrus Fruit flavor (affiliate link)
• Lulu Lemon Align Cropped Jogger 
• Shop Lulu Lemon Like New (gently used gear for resale)
• Meagan’s List of Empties
• Burts Bees Lip Balm (affiliate link)
• OSEA Face Products (You can use code Meagan at checkout for 10% off):
• Advanced Protection Cream
• Hyaluronic Sea Serum
• Atmosphere Protection Cream
• Native Lilac and White Tea Natural Deodorant (affiliate link)
• Sun Bum Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
• Grove Co. Orange Rosemary Dish Soap (affiliate link)
• Flying Bird Botanicals Tea
• TJ Maxx Candles
• Vuori Joggers

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.

You’re invited to our accidentally-annual-grab-bag chat! In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah have a good-old fashioned girl chat to catch up on all the things. We share our late summer moods (one of us is very ready for school to begin; one of us likes August to linger), our planned social media breaks (we’ll be back in September, promise!), trips we’ve taken this summer, creatures living on our properties (cute kittens and chickens) and more. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• 2021’s Late Summer Grab Bag Chat Episode 
• Need a few kitten videos in your life? Sarah’s got you covered with her foster kittens! Eeek, does it get any cuter than this?
• Take a glimpse into Meagan’s beautiful vacay in the Upper Peninsula!
• Sarah mentioned the Self-Improvement & Self-Acceptance In Motherhood: Episode 373 from earlier this summer being one of her all-time favorites!
• We love to hear from you! Send us an email or chat with us in our Facebook Group!
• If you’re still getting to know us, you might like other “grab bag” style episodes like these:
• Behind The Scenes & End Of Summer Catch-Up: Episode 276
• Grab Bag Catch-Up & Reading While Traveling: Episode 236
• More Than Mom: Late Summer Check-In & Procrastination
• Late-Summer Check-In & Managing Seasonal Transitions: Episode 168

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.

The back to school season brings that sense of routine that some of us crave–but it can also bring on a whole lot of anxiety (getting the right supplies, attending all the events, filling out paperwork…the list goes on!). In this Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done episode, Meagan and Sarah reflect on all the things we’re glad we did to ease the transition into this season and also some things we could have done differently (or that we plan to try this year!). We share what to do with all those school supplies from one year to the next (Meagan is genius, really!), our approach for communicating with teachers, our thoughts on homework, how we plan to hold onto summer JUST a little bit longer this year, and more. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Have a child entering kindergarten? Check out our Kinder Parent Primer filled with past episodes and blog posts all about kindergarten.
• Like this episode format? We’ve done episodes like this for Summer Planning and Tech & Devices.
• See a whole season at a glance with The Essential Calendar. You can save 10% with code THEMOMHOUR. (When you do, we’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
• Check out some of our contributor’s blog posts from 2021 about Back to School:
• 10 Things I’m Looking Forward To Doing The Day My Kids Go Back To School
• Three Places To Declutter Before Back-To-School
• Preparing Your Preschooler For Big Kid School Experiences

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.

When to get kids their first cell phone brings up all kinds of questions: How do you know when your child is ready? How to talk to kids about safety? How to help kids develop a healthy relationship with their phone? Social Media? Phone etiquette? (The list goes on!) In today’s episode, Sarah welcomes back her friend Dr. Catherine Pearlman to talk about kids and technology–specifically the learning that happens when kids start to navigate their own personal devices, like phones.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman is a social worker who has been helping kids and families navigate all kinds of challenges for the past 25 years. She recently published First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety & Etiquette, written for kids 8-14. Today Catherine helps us navigate the new and murky waters of personal devices for our kids and answers some of your burning questions about first phones. Plus, stick around for a short conversation Sarah had with her own 9- and 12 year-olds about what THEY think about this topic!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• You can order a copy of Catherine’s book First Phone: A Child’s Guide To Digital Responsibility, Safety & Etiquette (This is an affiliate link.)
• Catherine first appeared on The Mom Hour in Voices 16
• Catherine’s website and coaching practice is The Family Coach
• You can find Catherine @TheFamilyCoach on Twitter, @TheFamilyCoach on Facebook, and on instagram at both @catherinepearlman and @thefamilycoachsays
• Catherine’s book Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction (This is an affiliate link.)
• Catherine was kind enough to provide us with her sample phone contract from her book (Thanks, Catherine!)

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.

College decision-making is influenced by so many things–parents, peers, teachers, family members, your larger community and more. And as with everything else: all families approach this differently! While some bleed their alma mater colors, others don’t see college as the only option for helping launch kids after graduation. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah have an open-ended conversation about the role college played in our own stories, our family-of-origin culture, and the narrative we’re shaping for our kids now. We also give you a peek into our educational paths, how we made those decisions and how our eight kids perceive the idea of college today. This is a topic close to home for Meagan as she prepares to send Will off in the next few weeks to start his own journey. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Are you actively in the college preparation stage and have tips to share with us or our community? If so, we’d love to hear from you. 
• Come back Friday for a Voices episode all about kids getting their first phone with our friend Catherine Pearlman.

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.

What are Meagan and Sarah’s best tips for getting kids started with their first phone? And with a new school year right around the corner, a mom asks how to prepare her child for the first day of kindergarten and looks for some fun traditions to help celebrate back to school. The “bigger kids, bigger problems” stage arrives early for one listener’s family, and she looks for strategies for maintaining her mental health and other relationships while they navigate tough times. Lastly, a mom of bickering siblings sets us up for a lively discussion about whether it’s mom’s job to prevent kids developing a complex or identity stemming from their birth order and sibling roles. In addition to our own thoughts, we tap the wisdom of our contributors as we tackle your listener questions in Episode 375. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah will be interviewing Meagan about midlife and reinvention this week on Meagan’s podcast Mother of Reinvention. Check it out as soon as it drops on July 28!
• Our Listener Sheri uses a GABB phone for her 11-year-old’s first go at a cell phone 
• In our Glad I Did/Wish I’d Done Tech & Devices Episode, Sarah highlighted some life skills and communication skills her children learned by having their first cell phone. 
• Check back next week for more on the first phone topic, when Sarah will be joined by Catherine Pearlman, author of First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette
• For those interested in our past discussions about choosing a school for your kids, check out:
• School Decisions Feel Like a LOT (Here’s What To Keep In Mind)
• What Teachers & Educators Wish Parents Knew About Making School Decisions
• Choosing The Right School (Not As Scary As It Seems)
• For those who want more about sending your kid to Kindergarten, check out:
• What To Expect When Your Child Starts Kindergarten
• Kindergarten Readiness & Parent-Teacher Relationships
• Freaking Out Less About Kindergarten, COVID Learning Loss & Elementary School Academics
• Tips For Starting (Elementary & Middle) School
• House Rules for Sibling Harmony and House Rules For Travel & Vacation include tips and tricks for supporting and fostering healthy sibling relationships.

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.