Looking back at old photos is a quick way to feel a ALL the feels: everything from "I can't believe they were ever that little" to "What was I thinking with that haircut?" to "Oh riiiiiiiight, that was one exhausting season of life." Looking back is also a great reminder of the value in documenting everyday life - whether we share it publicly or keep it tucked away for our future selves. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah take a stroll down motherhood memory lane as we look back at one day (May 24) in our motherhood lives over several years. Spoiler Alert—our kids are cute, we’ve had many life changes over the past ten years and Meagan will forever be paranoid about applying sunscreen (sorry Owen!). Enjoy!
The post On This Day In (Our Motherhood) History: Episode 366 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

On This Day In (Our Motherhood) History: Episode 366

Products. Just because. Yay! Meagan and Sarah pop into your Sunday feed with a light and fluffy chat about the products we are loving lately. From linen pants to fizzy beverage makers, pens for lefties and Very Many Opinions About Mugs, we cover our latest can’t-live-without products in this fun More Than Mom episode.
The post More Than Mom: Products We’re Loving Lately appeared first on The Mom Hour.

More Than Mom: Products We’re Loving Lately

Between the raging hormones, sleep deprivation, and overstimulation that occurs on the daily, it's no wonder most moms feel a little "off" for a few weeks after delivery. But how do we know when the baby blues develop into something more? In this episode, Sarah chats with contributors Emily Roark and Kia Hammond, who share their personal postpartum mental health journeys, including how they recognized signs of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, when and how they got help, and which coping strategies worked best. We also get into preparing for mental health support during subsequent pregnancies, how the COVID upended mitigation strategies for pandemic babies, and more. We hope you'll join us for this important conversation.
The post Real Stories About Postpartum Mental Health: Voices 74 With Emily Roark And Kia Hammond appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Real Stories About Postpartum Mental Health: Voices 74 With Emily Roark And Kia Hammond

Performances. Plays. Graduations. The lusty month of May is upon us as we ditch our well-oiled, calendar-planning systems and enter our end-of-school-year survival mode. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah share strategies for tackling the extra-ness of this season (like death by a thousand emails), setting intentions for the next few weeks and the many lessons May tries to teach us year after year (maybe someday we will learn?). Enjoy this May madness roundup as you dream of the peaceful, calm days of summer ahead (Ha, wouldn't that be great!).
The post Oh Hey, It’s May. (End of School Chaos, 2022 Edition): Episode 365 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Oh Hey, It’s May. (End of School Chaos, 2022 Edition): Episode 365

As moms, we are our kids' biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) - and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!).
The post Talking About Our Own Kids. Or Not: Episode 364 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Talking About Our Own Kids. Or Not: Episode 364

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode - airing on Mother's Day! - Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky ?) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms.
The post More Than Mom: Marketing To Moms (We Have Thoughts) appeared first on The Mom Hour.

More Than Mom: Marketing To Moms (We Have Thoughts)

Has your reading life come to a screeching halt due to the responsibilities of motherhood? In this month’s Voices interview, Meagan welcomes back blogger, podcaster, and book club leader Amy Clark, to discuss how a busy mom can take small steps to create a readerly life. We discuss all the hacks for finding the time to dive back in (think TikTok’s #sundayreset for inspiration!) and a neat tool for finding the perfect book to match your mood. Amy also shares how reading can help you "find your people" during your current season of life. This episode is for anyone looking to fit more reading into their lives (in little and big ways).
The post Cultivating A Reading Life: Voices 73 With Amy Clark appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Cultivating A Reading Life: Voices 73 With Amy Clark

Crouching. Bending. Stooping. The magical, ninja-like way you lay a baby down in the crib without waking her up; the feeling of wet, sloppy gums on your knuckles as he teethes. In Episode 363, Sarah and Meagan reflect on the muscle memories associated with the repetitive motions of early motherhood. Some bring back all the warm fuzzies and others make us shudder (looking at you, nipple-biting babes), but we promise, this episode will bring the memories flooding back.
The post The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363

Between our kids’ school schedules, extracurricular activities, and social plans, we spend a lot of time driving them around. And when they get older and start driving themselves, a whole new world of independence (and issues) presents itself. In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah talk about how we use car time to connect with our kids and how we handle some of the challenges that crop up over time, from crying babies and sibling squabbles to sensory overload and car sickness. Buckle up!
The post #VanLife (No, Not That Kind) appeared first on The Mom Hour.

#VanLife (No, Not That Kind)

Sports and extracurriculars are picking up this spring, and two different listeners have questions about what age to start kids in activities and how to budget for this part of family life. We take a question about “gentle parenting” that leads into an in-depth discussion about discipline philosophies and finding the approach that works for your family. Finally, a busy mom of three has the chance to get help from neighborhood “mother’s helpers” and wants our guidance on how to make the most of the extra sets of hands. Meagan and Sarah offer validation, support, and encouragement in another Listener Questions episode this week – join us!
The post Listener Questions (Vol. 39): Episode 362 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Listener Questions (Vol. 39): Episode 362

English cottages, sunny greenhouses, cozy cabins, and professors’ offices. What do these spaces have in common? They all evoke an essence we wish we could recreate in our own spaces. Join Meagan and Sarah as we reveal our twinkle-lit, midlife-lady dream spaces . . . even if we may never have them. We talk about our actual homes, too, and our romantic visions vs. reality. Plus we imagine nap rooms (yes, please) and opening The Mom Hour satellite offices in our favorite fantasy locales.
The post More Than Mom: Spaces That Inspire Us appeared first on The Mom Hour.

More Than Mom: Spaces That Inspire Us

A mom of big kids is going back to work full-time and wondering how to prepare her family. A toddler needs to brush his teeth and take vitamins, but hates it; should Mom force it? A lucky listener now has two pantries and is looking for tips on optimal organization for kitchen items and back stock storage. Finally, a teacher mom is stuck on how to balance school behavior and discipline at home. For today’s episode, we’re answering these questions from our community together in person (woohoo!).
The post Listener Questions (Vol. 38): Episode 361 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Listener Questions (Vol. 38): Episode 361

Settle in for a books chat! Sarah is joined by two guest co-hosts from our contributor team today: Joanna and Katherine. Both are former educators and avid readers, here with lots to say about books. We touch on our reading lives as moms, what we’re reading lately, and how and when we prefer to do our reading. Then we dive into book recommendations for kids – starting with babies and moving all the way up through teens. This episode is for anyone who loves to read or aspires to read more – grab a warm beverage and join us!
The post Books We’re Loving Lately: Voices 72 With Joanna Martin & Katherine DeVries appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Books We’re Loving Lately: Voices 72 With Joanna Martin & Katherine DeVries

When we imagine the "refrains of motherhood," poetic sweet-nothings of love and encouragement come to mind. In reality? The words that come out of moms' mouths on repeat are a little more... normal. And that's OK! We're here to normalize being normal. In Episode 360 Meagan and Sarah highlight the best of our communities oft-repeated phrases--everything from clever quips to 1,001 different ways to say "No". We love how universal mom-speak is in the end, and we're marveling over the clever ways moms find to talk to their families.
The post Broken Records (The Things Moms Say–And Repeat!–To Our Kids): Episode 360 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Broken Records (The Things Moms Say–And Repeat!–To Our Kids): Episode 360

Calling all experts . . . OR at least those who have been there, done that, and are willing to share their thoughts. In this week's More Than Mom episode, we're flipping the script and sharing our own challenges in the hopes that our smart, skilled, and seasoned listeners have the solutions we need. We're stuck when it comes to a variety of topics such as home organization, the care and keeping of living things, hair maintenance, and sibling bonding screen time. Can you help? Listen and let us know!
The post More Than Mom: Our Questions, YOUR Advice appeared first on The Mom Hour.

More Than Mom: Our Questions, YOUR Advice

Today we're looking back on past summers and remembering the choices we appreciate and the ones we regret. This is a fantastic episode to listen to if you're starting to plan your summer! We cover family traditions, camps, childcare, travel, and overall philosophies for fun (with boundaries). There's a fine line between unstructured leisure time and going off the rails, and hopefully our reflections will help you find the right balance for your family.
The post Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer Planning: Episode 359 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer Planning: Episode 359

We know what it's like to be a teen because we were all teenagers once, right? Well, not quite. In this month's Voices episode, Meagan is joined by her son, affectionately nicknamed "Good Ol' Reliable William" to discuss life as a teenager. As a 18-year-old wrapping up his senior year, Will walks us through the nuances of 9th-12th grade, shares some high school memories, and reveals what he's looking forward to. He also schools us all on what adults don't get about being a teen . . . and Meagan explains what balancing a checkbook is. Together, we bond over the universality of struggling to appreciate where you are in the moment. Listen 'til the end to hear Will's message for moms who are (and will be!) raising teenagers.
The post Real Talk About High School (With A Real Teen!):  Voices 71 With Meagan’s Son Will appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Real Talk About High School (With A Real Teen!):  Voices 71 With Meagan’s Son Will

Tweens, teens, (and the parents who love them!) go through a lot between the ages of 9 through 17. There's growing societal pressure, shifting friendships, mounting responsibility, and body changes. Fun, right?! In Episode 358, Meagan and Sarah pick up where we left off last week's conversation, but this time it's all about the older kids. While acknowledging every child is different and being sensitive to our kids' privacy, we remember the sweetness of kids just-on-the-cusp of growing up and tell stories about adolescent awkwardness and attitudes. It can be a bit of a rocky journey, but every teen eventually comes into their own. Whether you're in the thick of it with us or want a fun peek ahead, this episode is a great reminder that kids--and motherhood--are ever-evolving.   
The post Growing Kids, Year By Year (Ages 9-17): Episode 358 appeared first on The Mom Hour.

Growing Kids, Year By Year (Ages 9-17): Episode 358

Shutdowns, re-openings, surges, and guidelines . . . so much has changed since the COVID-19 Pandemic crashed into our lives two years ago. And it's bringing up all feelings. In this More Than Mom episode, Meagan and Sarah have a lighter (but still honest!) look back on things like our final outings, strongest pandemic memories, and shared experiences. What do we really remember, and are our recollections even accurate? We also share what we're eager to get back to and what will never be the same. We'll all be processing these squiggly feelings for a long time, and we think this reflection--on both the surreal and the sweet--is a good start.
The post More Than Mom: Reflections On A Two-Year Time Warp appeared first on The Mom Hour.

More Than Mom: Reflections On A Two-Year Time Warp

Language leaps, school milestones, growing bodies . . . a lot happens on the journey from toddler to big kid! Join Meagan and Sarah as we try to capture the true essence of ages two through eight. We'll talk through each year, sharing memories of our own kids and observations from all the little ones we've known. There are ages that feel like major transition points and many times where kids' skills don't quite match up with their wants. If you're parenting in the trenches, looking ahead at what's to come, OR looking back with us, we think you'll love this one.
The post Growing Kids, Year By Year (Ages 2-8): Episode 357 appeared first on The Mom Hour.