The Mom Hour

Meagan first shared that her marriage had ended last spring and we’ve heard from a lot of listeners that you guys would like an update on how things are going as she adjusts to life as a divorced mom. In Episode 150 Sarah checks in with Meagan on everything from how home life and work life have changed, to things like dating, friendships, parenting, health, and self-care–all of which have evolved over the last year and half.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Self-Care As Self-Preservation, Episode 104
• Meagan’s and Sarah’s Working-Mom Lives, Episode 140

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Setting up toddler playgroups, feeling overwhelmed by housework, and how to handle teachers who don’t see your kid the way you do. We got GREAT listener questions for this episode and do our best to answer this week! PLUS you’ll hear Meagan’s daughter Clara interviewed on Jonny & Meagan Mornings from 98.3 The Coast and it will just about make your week. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
• Fit 4 Mom (formerly Stroller Strides, stroller fitness for moms, and a great way to meet people)
• The Myth of the Mom Tribe, Episode 144
• 10 Habits of Happy Moms, Episodes 137 and 138
• Jonny and Meagan Mornings, 98.3 The Coast

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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• 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 the mere thought of a tri-fold science project display board makes you want to run for the hills, we’re right there with you. But we’ve also come to accept that as kids move into upper elementary, middle, and high school, school projects and increased homework demands are par for the course.

Join Meagan and Sarah for a frank discussion about how we find the balance between supporting the work that comes home from school without hovering or helicoptering. We share successes and failures from our own experience, plus offer ideas for navigating homework parenting without going crazy. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Homework: At What Cost? Episode 45, where we bemoaned homework in the younger elementary years
• My kid has a “project” due. What’s ok to help with, and what’s not? Love this post by KJ Dell’Antonia
• The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
• Did you like this episode? We have a roundup of all our school-related shows on this page.

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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.

Hobbies outside of everyday work, life, and parenting ebb and flow as your season of life changes, but it’s fun to think about what creative pursuits you’ll add back in as time opens up. In today’s More Than Mom episode Meagan and Sarah speak from the perspective of moms whose kids are getting older, and who are pursuing hobbies in our own (often very different) ways. We talk about what hobbies we’re enjoying now, which ones we could imagine trying, in theory, without needing a total life overhaul, and then some “maybe someday” hobbies we can see ourselves enjoying much later on. It’s a fun one – enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Love hobby talk? Here are some older episodes from our archives you might enjoy.

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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.

Whether you’re expecting a new baby or love showering friends with thoughtful baby gifts, this episode is for you. Meagan and Sarah enlist the help of some savvy new moms to get the latest product must-haves, plus rely on our own experience and the benefit of hindsight to dissect what’s really essential, what you can probably pass on, and which gifts go the distance. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

All the product links are in their own lists below. Special thanks to our own Katie Addiss and the awesome focus group of new moms from Denver and Minneapolis for their contributions and ideas!

• Struggles, Successes & Discoveries (Episode 133 that contains the lengthy discussion about cleaning humidifiers)
• Gift Ideas For Babies, Toddlers & Little Kids (one of our holiday gift guide episodes that contains more great gift ideas for new babies, including some of our favorite books and toys for baby’s first year)

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Amazon links are affiliates. That means if you click through and make a purchase you’ll be helping support The Mom Hour at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping us continue to produce the podcast!

Go-to gifts from moms who know what’s up:

• All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon – Sarah’s new favorite book to give as a new baby gift
• Zutano Cozie Fleece Baby Booties With Grippers
• Soft moccasins for pre-walkers, like any made by Robeez or these from Minnetonka
• We both love Tea Collection for their soft cotton play clothes and jammies
• Boppy Newborn Lounger
• Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Seat Lounger
• Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner
• Magnificent Baby Unisex Newborn Footie
• A pretty Chewbeads Necklace for mom
• Fisher-Price Deluxe Rock ‘n Play Sleeper
• Skip Hop 3-Stage Activity Center
• Little Giraffe Luxe Blanket
• Fisher-Price Bath Tub
• WubbaNub Infant Pacifier

Gifts and gadgets we scoffed at until we realized they really ARE that great:

• Fridababy NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator (aka “the snotsucker”)
• Windi the Gaspasser by Fridababy
• Burp cloths shaped to stay on your shoulder, like these
• Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs and much, much more! (recommended for moms who want to sort through what’s worth the extra money and what you can go cheaper on)
• Working moms in our focus group recommend registering for a LOT of pumping storage bags because you’ll go through them faster than you think!
• Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling N Seat Tub (because bathing baby in a sink is harder than you think!)
• Keekaroo Peanut Changer (so you never have to wash changing pad covers again)
• Katie’s new favorite humidifier is this one: Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Supposed “essentials” that some of us found over-rated (and others did not!)

• Teeny tiny newborn-sized dresses for baby girls
• Impractical shoes for babies who can’t walk
• Expensive sound machines (that’s what electric fans are for!)
• Co-sleeper bassinets, or any pricey one-purpose place for baby to sleep
• Super adorable but not-super-necessary diaper stackers, like this one
• Dockatot

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.