How do you find an authentic mom group that lets you be yourself, especially when you're the only mother of color there? Helena Andrews-Dyer discusses learnings from mothers with different lived experiences with Molly and Blaire. Helena Andrews-Dyer is an award-winning culture reporter for The Washington Post, covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art in the nation’s capital. Her third book, “The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class and Race From Moms Not Like Me,” was published by Crown in August 2022.  Helena, Blaire, and Molly discuss: The "second knowing" that mothers of color have When motherhood is not a universal experience How to make mom friendships that are authentic When your mom friends are willing to sit in discomfort with their own biases, and when you feel you can be around them without stepping on eggshells or withholding parts of yourself, those are the mom friendships that are healthy and beneficial to maintain long-term. Here's where you can find Helena: www.helenaandrews.com @helena_andrews on IG and Twitter Buy Helena's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593240311 Listen to the What Fresh Hell interview with Helena Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we make time for our partners when all of our time is taken up with work and kids? We asked our listeners for date night ideas ranging from fancy to simple - and how to work those special times into your regular schedule. Molly and Blaire discuss: How to schedule and stick with regular date nights Why regular dates are beneficial for you, your partner, and your kids Cheddar Bay biscuits The secret to date night is it doesn't have to be fancy - it can be anything from a walk around the block to a night out on the town hopping from restaurant to restaurant - or you can stay home and roast up a nice moose - whatever you prefer. Links! Kristi Pahr for Parents Magazine: "Most Parents Haven't Been on a Romantic Date in More Than 3 Years" Anisa Arsenault for The Bump: "Date Night: How Many Parents Are Actually Taking One?" Train of Thought game Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we tell what our babies need from the sound of their cries? Here's how to play detective when your baby is upset - and how to try and problem-solve when it seems like nothing is working. Molly and Blaire discuss: The different sounds babies make when they are hungry, tired/uncomfortable, bored, or sick Crying spells Jetsons thermometers Sometimes your baby is hungry, sometimes they have a hair wrapped around their toe, and sometimes they just need a good cry - so do adults! But just because it's normal for babies to cry for no reason doesn't make it any easier for us to hear it. Sometimes all we can do is take a deep breath, maybe a bath, and remind ourselves that no baby ever hurt themselves from crying too much. Links! Catherine Donaldson-Evans for What to Expect: "What Do Your Baby's Cries Mean?" Stephanie Grassullo for The Bump: "Most Parents Feel Like Failures During Baby’s First Year, Survey Reveals" Our episode with sleep expert Becca Campbell Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we instill a love of reading in our kids from a young age? Author and educator Maya Smart shares simple strategies for developing language skills in young kids. Maya Payne Smart is a parent educator, literacy advocate, and the author of Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six. Her website, MayaSmart.com, publishes new book lists, literacy activities, and other free family resources weekly to help parents play their dual roles as first teachers and educational advocates. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in social studies with honors from Harvard University. She serves as affiliated faculty in Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at Marquette University. Blaire, Molly, and Maya discuss: How to build your child's language skills from a very early age The role of technology in kids' reading journeys How to personalize your child's reading experience A light touch of language development every day - mentioning how a certain letter sounds or looks on the page, for example - is a great way to foster your child's reading skills, rather than spending hours drilling phonics flashcards one rainy weekend. Just keep engaging with them in a consistent way - that's a great start! Here's where you can find Maya: @mayasmarty on IG @MayaSmart on Twitter www.mayasmart.com Buy Maya's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593332177 Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This just in: violence in play is normal behavior. But today parents tend to take it more seriously. Here's why it's natural for kids to incorporate play-fighting with guns and swords into their games– and when to let it go versus intervene. If something doesn't sit right with you, it's good to check in with kids about it later – but remember that kids use play as a way of processing the world. Links!  Virginia Sole-Smith for Parents Magazine: "Should Parents Be Concerned About Violent Play?" Dan Shapiro for CHADD: "Children and Violent Behavior: Where it Comes From and What to Do" Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon, Ph.D. & Michael Thompson, Ph.D. Under Deadman's Skin: Discovering the Meaning of Children's Violent Play by Jane Katch Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling exhausted from keeping up with all of your responsibilities as a mother, partner, and professional? You may be experiencing mom burnout. Here's how to spot the signs and take baby steps towards climbing back out of the emotional, physical, and mental pit we sometimes find ourselves in. Blaire and Molly discuss: The differences between depression and burnout The right way to make garlic bread Key symptoms of burnout The resources available to moms in this situation vary greatly, but if you can, asking for help - from your partner, your boss, your friends, your relatives - is a great place to start. Burnout happens to so many moms and is nothing to be ashamed of, so give yourself a break, first and foremost. Links! Donna Freydkin for Today: "Stop the yelling: How to know if you have mommy burnout, and what to do about it" UCI Health blog: "Coping with mommy burnout" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's easy to blame and shame ourselves when we make parenting mistakes, no matter how big or how small, especially as moms. Here's how to break the blame/shame/guilt cycle for yourself and how to model self-forgiveness for your kids. Molly and Blaire discuss: Santa's naughty kid hotline How to sincerely apologize What our childhood patterns around mistake-making can teach us How you treat yourself after your own mistakes becomes how your kid treats himself when he makes mistakes. And showing honesty and compassion to yourself in front of your kid when you make a mistake can actually build a stronger bond with your child. Links! (they all come in threes today!) Kate Kripke for Postpartum Women's Center of Boulder: "3 Steps That Turn Your Mistakes in Motherhood into Wins" Lisa Appelo for iMom: "3 Steps When You Make Mom Mistakes" Brandi Michel for MomLifeHappyLife blog: "3 Things To Do Immediately After a Making a Major Mommy Mistake!" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wish someone would give you a pat on the back for keeping track of all the water bottles or knowing which dishes are dishwasher-safe? Grace Farris, author of "Mom Milestones," is here to give us moms the credit we deserve for the little things that no one else notices. Grace Farris is a mom, doctor, and illustrator. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, BuzzFeed, and Cup of Jo. The New York Times' Wirecutter called her book Mom Milestones “an affirming read for new moms in particular, a literary road map of the very-hard-but-very-good path that lies ahead.” Grace, Molly, and Blaire discuss: Why times of change are great for creativity Reasonable dessert policies How to be less lonely as new moms Here's where you can find Grace: Buy Grace's book Mom Milestones: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781523511471 @coupdegracefarris on Instagram @gracefarris on Twitter  farrisgrace.com Buy Grace's mom calendar! cupofjo.com Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you look in your bank account and wonder where all your money has gone? We asked our listeners for the small ways they save and and budget every month to make money less of a mystery. Molly and Blaire discuss: Blaire's amazing Poshmark selling skills Why it's important to pay yourself first Sinking funds Investing a little bit of time in some of these solutions reaps big rewards budget-wise, so seriously, start eensy teensy tiny. Look in your fridge to see what you need to use up before going to the store. Join Facebook Marketplace or your local "Buy Nothing" group. Budgeting is a muscle that you have to exercise consistently in order to get good at it, so give yourself some grace! Here are all the resources we mentioned in the episode! Here's the original thread in the What Fresh Hell Facebook group Flipp Fetch Rewards Receipt Hog ibotta YNAB (You need a budget) Mint eMeals FB Marketplace or your local "buy nothing" groups Mercari Poshmark Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we creating unrealistic expectations when we praise our kid just for waking up in the morning? Turns out there is too much of a good thing, but we can also reframe how, when, and why we praise our kids. Molly and Blaire discuss: Praising process over achievements The three s's of praise Praise inflation Kids can sense when praise isn't genuine. Instead of congratulating them on their every action and creating an unrealistic standard for praise in the future, focus on encouragement without value judgement or "I" statements. Links! Paul L. Underwood for The New York Times: "Are You Overpraising Your Child?" Ashley Cullins for Big Life Journal: "The Ultimate Guide to Praising Your Kids" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharing is caring, right? We were all raised to believe that sharing is an important part of polite social interactions. But as adults, we would be taken aback if abruptly asked to share something we were using, like our phone. So why do we insist that our kids share toys with complete strangers at a moment's notice? Here's when– and why– it's ok NOT to share. Molly and Blaire discuss: The difference between making kids share and encouraging them to share What forced sharing teaches kids What to say to turn-giving kids and to waiting kids when encouraging sharing Role-playing with your child to practice polite yet assertive behavior is a great way to start the conversation about when and why it's appropriate to share. Links! Positive Parenting Solutions: "It's OK Not to Share" Heather Shumaker's book It’s OK NOT to share…and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids Positive Parenting Solutions: "Why a Feelings Wheel Supports Your Positive Parenting Journey" Little Timer app Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we get our kids away from screens without breaking the bank or planning elaborate outings? Erica Domesek's new book "P.S. - We Made This!" has plenty of ideas for kids' crafts that require zero shopping, zero traveling, and zero (okay, minimal) stress. Erica Domesek is a social media maven, and an extremely cool + crafty parent! She is the founder of the innovative DIY lifestyle brand P.S.–I Made This, which launched in 2009. She has been a distinguished expert in the areas of design and style as well as a leader in brand marketing for 15 years. PS.–We Made This: Super Fun Crafts that Grow Smarter and Healthier Kids follows in the footsteps of her first two books, offering similarly creative and colorful at-home projects– but now invites the whole family to join in the fun!  Molly, Blaire, and Erica discuss: Being artistic vs. being crafty How to use what you have around the house for crafts rather than buying materials Here's where you can find Erica: https://psimadethis.com/about @psimadethis @abramsbooks Buy Erica's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781419756108 Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we look back on 2022, it's easy to focus on the things we didn't do or should have done. But today Molly and Blaire give themselves permission - and you too, dear listeners - to revel in all you and your kids have accomplished this year. Molly and Blaire discuss: Why teachers are so amazing What is 8 + 8 How to give ourselves credit rather than focus on the negative It's so rewarding to see others recognize in your kids what you have worked so hard to instill in them. But it takes a long time before you see the resulting blooms of the seeds you've planted in your littles. Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does it seem like all of your arguments with your kids end in tears and slamming doors rather than solutions? We can't rid our lives of disagreements and conflicts with our little ones, but we can "fight" constructively, aka, with the gloves on.  Blaire and Molly discuss: Blaire's cap on gentle parenting Methods for helping your child describe their problems Problem-solving baseball Waiting until everyone's big feelings have subsided a little is key to making progress in conflict resolution. Then it's time to give your child the tools to describe their feelings, as they likely have very little practice doing so thus far. Links! Juliann Garey for Child Mind Institute: "Teaching Kids How to Deal With Conflict" Katie Hurley for PBS Kids for Parents: "5 Strategies to Help Kids Resolve Conflict" Child Mind Institute: "Complete Guide to Managing Behavior Problems" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kids today only spend half as much time playing outside as we did. It can be a hassle to get them bundled up and to the playground on a drizzly spring afternoon – or to clean half the floors in your house after a trip to your own snowy backyard. But there are many skills that kids gain both from self-directed and “purposeful play,” and experts say that's particularly true when that play happens outdoors. Our guest Meghan Fitzgerald is the co-founder of Tinkergarten, which offers purposeful play opportunities for children and families that gets them away from screens and outdoors together in nature. Meghan tells us her favorite get-them-outside activities - and why even the coldest or rainiest days offer rewards that really are worth bundling everyone up.  Links!  Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan for The New York Times: "Yes, Your Kids Can Play Outside All Winter" Helen Russell for Grazia: "He can’t read yet, but he can build a campfire: welcome to Viking parenting" Claire McCarthy, MD, for Harvard Health Blog: "6 reasons children need to play outside" And our episode Danger Babies Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to have "happy motherhood?" And is it even a realistic goal to have, given the ups and downs of being a parent? We asked our listeners about their tips to help new parents have a "happier" first year. Molly and Blaire discuss: The perils of Mom Instagram Ways to make extra room for joy in your early motherhood How to sit in discomfort Managing your expectations was a key theme in the answers we got - so many moms want everything to be perfect, so they are inevitably disappointed when they don't get their twins out the door in matching outfits every single morning! But guess what? No one is perfect, even though it may seem every other mom on Earth has it more together than you. Join our Facebook group for more advice, laughs, and support: www.facebook.com/groups/whatfreshhellcast Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your child consistently wake you up in the middle of the night because they're deathly afraid of the dark or the monsters under the bed? You may think that chasing "the monster" away or just leaving the lights on are the right course of action, but it's actually more complicated than that. Molly and Blaire discuss: Why so many people (adults and kids!) are scared of the dark The true secret to banishing your child's fears Why horror movies are actually soothing (for some of us) The most important thing you can do is validate your child's fear without shaming or judging them. Explain that you have your own fears, and start an open conversation about the root causes of their fears in order to address them. Links! Daryl Austin for USA Today: "More Americans than ever are afraid of the dark, experts say. Here's why." Nama Winston for ABC Everyday: "I've made my child afraid of the dark. How do I fix it?" Parenting.com: "Ask Dr. Sears: Mashing Monster Fears" "Bedtime Stories - Superheroes!" podcast Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your child learning values or lessons at school that are not in line with your own? Do they discipline in a way that you don't agree with? It's not unusual for teachers and parents to butt heads over a child's learning. Here's how to address the problem without coming in too hot. Blaire and Molly discuss: The importance of finding (and staying) calm before starting a discussion How to find common ground with your child's teacher Constructive methods for finding a solution together Coming in with facts, not feelings, is key. When our kids are involved, it's easy to get emotional and heavily invested in a situation. But it's important to remember that both you and your child's teacher want what's best for your kid. Links! Sherri Gordon for Verywell Family: "What to Do If You Disagree With Your Child's Teacher" Lisa Van Gemert: "6 Steps to Take When School Isn’t Meeting the Needs of Your Child" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we do when our kid lies to our face? At a certain age, kids start discovering that they can just, well, not tell the truth about things. This can range from innocent fibs to whopping lies of grandiose proportions. Though this be mini madness, there is mini method in it. Molly and Blaire discuss: The various reasons kids lie How to gently approach your kid about their lies When it may be time to seek professional help for your kid Doing "truth checks" with your kid is a great way to encourage them to be honest with you without making them feel as if they've been caught with their hand in the proverbial (or literal) cookie jar. Links! Beth Arky for Child Mind Institute: "Why Kids Lie and What Parents Can Do About It" Connie Chang for The Washington Post: "All kids lie: How to handle it, and when you should worry" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we form a strong bond with our kids when we're struggling with our own issues, when we've just been through a worldwide pandemic, when we used to have that bond but have lost it somewhere along the way? It's not easy, but there are some tried-and-true methods *ahem, therapy* for forming or reforming a close bond with your child. Molly and Blaire discuss: Things that can get in the way of the parent-child bond Small yet meaningful ways to communicate to your child that you love them What asking for help may look like for different people Resist the urge to blame yourself if you feel your bond is suffering or has deteriorated. There are many factors that contribute to the problem that are outside your control. Links! Ella Glover for Metro UK: "Asking For A Friend: Why can’t I bond with my child?" PsychCentral: "Tips to Heal After Growing Up with a Dismissive Mother" PsychCentral: "4 Habits that Disconnect You from Your Kids" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: DockAtot is the premium lifestyle brand made for the modern parent, with elegant cushions, swaddlers, and more. Get 15% off at dockatot.com with the code LAUGHING. Honeylove shapewear is the secret sauce you need for your everyday wardrobe. Get 20% off at honeylove.com with the code LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/LAUGHING30 by Dec. 31st to get 30% off your first order. Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices