Parenting Roundabout

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . The previous episode, "The Constant," is a hard act to follow, and this one isn't really up to the job. It's best to look at it as an info dump to get us an inch or two closer to what we need to know. Sorry, Juliet, we know it's hard to be an Other! Mentioned: The  Hoberman Sphere  (the toy Terri likened to the...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a pair of children's books for insect-lovers:  Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs  and  Bugs   by master balloon artist Masayoshi Matsumoto (who you can also check out  on Instagram ).  ​ Terri's random recommendation  is the  flavored coffee sampler from Grounds & Hounds . If you hate f...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  The Lowdown . Per usual, Lee gets himself beaten up and captured by some bad guys, but this time, he charms them with his storytelling skills. Mentioned:  Duster , another show where a precocious daughter tags along on dangerous missions. Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 4, "Short...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . We've actually discussed this well-known and beloved episode before, in 2017, when  Terri challenged Catherine to watch it . She liked it then and now, because you can appreciate the romance (and the need for a constant) even without having seen all that comes before. ​ Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season...

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2015. Enjoy! Was your Thanksgiving happy? Did you eat a lot of traditional family foods? Did many of them involve cream-of-mushroom soup, marshmallows, or Jello? To start off this week's group chat, we run through the many possibilities for turkey-day cuisine and draw the line at...

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2017. Enjoy! ​ Cyber Monday Shopping: Will we be proactive about replacing things that are about to break or just keep clinging to them because we fear change? Make It a Habit: We have a checkered history when it comes to habit-forming. Does it count if we're good at creating the...

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 25, 2016. Enjoy! On this week's group chat, we talk about special-occasion pressure, discuss the start of the holiday shopping season on our Friday speed round, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, take a quiz about table manners, and do some shameless self-promoti...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a series of picture books by Helen Lester starring the disheveled but lovable  Tacky the Penguin . Plus, a middle-grade read called  The Curse of the Werepenguin  by Allan Woodrow. ​ Terri's random recommendation  has come, once again, from the Facebook Reels algorithm. It's the  That Was Us podcast , a...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  The Lowdown . The show has great casting and writing, even if the plot is a bit hard to follow (that's why Lee needs a big ol' murder board to keep track of it all). Mentioned: Scott Shepherd  as menacing, fleece vest-wearing Allen Murphy. Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 3, "Dinos...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . This episode was a great big fakeout leading to the reveal of another member of the Oceanic Six. Also, Ben's facial trauma makeup artist is back, and Ben still knows how to get Locke's goat. Mentioned: " You gotta see the baby!" on  Seinfeld . ​ Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 5, "The Consta...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is  Seriously Good Chili Cookbook: 177 of the Best Recipes in the World , which prompted a look at other  celebrities who've published cookbooks  (and a shout-out to their savvy publicists and unsung ghostwriters). Mentioned:  Kevin spills the chili on  The Office  and the  2010 Primetime Emmys opening num...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and as of this week, that's  The Lowdown . It stars Ethan Hawke as the kind of person whose mouth (and pen; he's a journalist of sorts) often gets him punched in the face. He does have a smart and savvy daughter who, so far, doesn't want to injure him. Mentioned:  Duster ,  Perry Mason , Alan Sepinwall's  review of this epis...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . This mostly flash-forward episode identified another one of the Oceanic Six and showed us yet another way that Ben has found to torture the castaways. On the island: Love triangle! Sneaky deal-making! A secret room full of passports and cash! ​ Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 4, "Eggtown." T...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a pair of twisty, plot-filled novels. She recommends them both:  A Very Inconvenient Scandal  by Jacquelyn Mitchard and  All the Other Mothers Hate Me  by Sarah Harman. ​ Terri's random recommendation  is another book: A memoir by TV and film producer Ed Zwick called  Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: M...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Only Murders in the Building . This was the season finale, so per usual, the murders were solved, and another body was discovered. While the show has drifted from its original focus, it's still an enjoyable watch, as long as you don't care about logic or a plot that hangs together. Next Wednesday, we'l...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we get four new characters (there have been some deaths; it was time to restock), along with flashbacks for all of them. Plus, the brief and somewhat triumphant return of Vincent the dog. ​ Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 3, "The Economist." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is an important addition in the field of Teaching Children Through Scatological Humor: It's the third  Butt or Face  book,  Butt or Face 3: Super Gross Butts . ​ Terri's random recommendation is on vacation this week as Catherine reports on her recent trip to Venice, Italy! Bonus content:  You can hear our...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Only Murders in the Building . Since we missed discussing the show last week, we doubled up this time and covered E8, "Cuckoo Chicks," and E9, "LESTR." These featured some fun scenes, but we're still scratching our heads over the mystery itself. Best to just enjoy the actors and let the plot wash over...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we're flashing forward with Hurley, whose post-island life seems pretty similar to his pre-island life, in several meaningful ways. Meanwhile, on the island, the castaways are splitting into factions, making for some interesting combinations. Mentioned:  Lance Reddick  as newly introduced baddi...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is what her library calls "Boomerang Books." These are titles that aren't cataloged and can't be checked out. You can just borrow them for as long as you need them, then bring them back for the next person to enjoy. Mentioned:  Beach Read  by Emily Henry,  Little Free Libraries . ​ Terri's random recommend...

Usually on Wednesdays, we discuss a newer entertainment property. But since yesterday's  Lost  episode was tantalizingly close to the end of season 3, we decided to bump  Only Murders in the Building and devote today's chat to the two-hour season 3 finale, "Through the Looking Glass." People die, people almost die, people seem to be dead but aren't really dead. People seem to be in the past when t...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we actually get a series of pretty happy flashbacks to the "greatest hits" of Charlie's life. Of course, this is because he's resigned himself to his fate, which is to die to save Claire, Aaron, and the rest of his friends. Plus: Complicated plans are put in place for the big season finale. ​ T...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a fun, funny, and punny spooky season pick:  Stompie the Zombie  by Margery Cuyler, with adorable illustrations by Binny Talib. ​ Terri's random recommendation  is a little album you may have heard about called  The Life of a Showgirl . Once you realize it's all about snappy, poppy, danceable tunes, you...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Only Murders in the Building . While we have mostly lost patience with the mystery here, there are still some entertaining moments, such as a payoff for Oliver's years of name-dropping. Mentioned: Actors  Dylan Baker  and  Becky Ann Baker  and the movie  Trading Places . Next Wednesday, we'll discuss L...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we get our first look at Ben's backstory. Would you be surprised to learn that he, too, had a Bad Dad? Mentioned: Actors  Carrie Preston  (as Ben's mom, Emily; she's Michael Emerson's wife in real life) and  John Gries  as that bad dad. ​ Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 21,...