A For Effort

They are so cute, they bring us so much joy. There is nothing quite like that feeling when you look at a child and think "wow, I made you..." Then they ask you for $100 bucks and you're reminded that it's because of them you can't have fancy things. YET! This episode we dissect all the things that kids require that cost money. How much are we really spending? Is it really necessary? Answers to tho...

There is no good time for a child to get sick. It's always a good time for a dad to get sick. And the world just ends when a mom gets sick. But despite all your prayers and Vitamin C, it still happens. So then what?? You just buck up and deal with it. This episode is all the stories of when parents did just that.  Show Notes: Introduction: Sick season is upon us, and we're here to discuss the melo...

It's Halloween, yet again, and it only seems right to dissect this holiday from a parent's stand point. When should you start the night? When do you end it? Do you really have to sort through all their candy? Do you even have to dress up? We don't know, all we do know is it's not safe to eat Hershey's anymore... :/

Thank heaven for Megan and her always pleasant and kind commentary on life in general. She is the jelly to Amanda’s sticky, sticky feelings when it comes to baby names. It’s not that hard, people, just pick something tried and true. But apparently it’s not that easy and Megan is here to support your choice of naming your kid Averly Aftonly. 

If you have more than zero kids, you have most certainly been told this by some stranger at some point. The jury is out on whether or not this is their way of connecting or being condescending, but we asked the question to the listeners and this is what they came back with. So you be the judge. But also, take it from us, NEVER say this to a parent. You'll thank us later.

Well the listeners have spoken yet again and this time we're talking TALENTS. What is your kid good at? What are they impressively bad at? If you don't hear something in this episode that you can relate to, then your kids really are a cut above the rest and you're too good for us! You're gonna need some REAL parenting experts.... which we are not.

Magistrate Mom's are back in the house! And this time we're judging all the 90's toys the listeners mentioned. From Stretch Armstrong to the Bop-it, we know you've heard of these things and we're dying to know if you owned them and want them to be resurrected! We didn't even mention the Skydancers or the Viewmaster, but fear not, those are on our radar! 

Hobby (n) : an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure . We actually had to look it up to make sure we knew what it was. Does it feel like having a hobby was something of the past? Absolutely. But are we pro-hobby-ists..... ABSOLUTELY. It only took us 10 years, but we are finally finding activities that can be done regularly in our "leisure time for pleasure...." (insert eyebrow...

Have any travel on the calendar for the next few months? You know us, we’re trying to set you up for success. So when going through security at the airport, leave the geodes at home, empty all your pockets of all their treasures and be aware that your PB M&M’s might raise some eyebrows…

Today we're talking about the age old topic, the thing we're always complaining about, the thing that no one has, but we all want more of..... TIME!!!!!! Where is it going and how do we get more of it?? Well, my friend, we your (un)certified mentors will coach you on how to become time affluent and be okay with it. If you don't even know what "time affluence" is, you better just listen because we...

We're back and much to Amanda's dismay, Megan is giving summer the ultimate farewell party but talking about all the things that give people the "summer sweats." You know what we're talking about. When it's so small, but makes you so sweaty. The constant mess. All the snacks. The constant supply of wet towels. JUST SIMPLY THE HEAT. All of it. We heard your submissions and we responded. Au revoir,...

Handle, prepare, take on... whatever word you choose to use when talking about summer, we're here to talk you through it! In our last episode before summer break (be back September 1st, y'all!), we're talking about how our listeners and us as hosts plan to take on summer! There's mentions of pools, books, and potential camps. (yes, we're sending our kids to etiquette camp!!) So we're going to leav...

This is the final episode of our 4 part series on parenting through the seasons! And we end with the most fun season of all: the teenagers!!! After talking to our friends Whitney and Kristen, who are raising teenagers at this moment and are master experts, Megan and Amanda are both very excited for this season. From skiing to concerts, they leave us (and hopefully you) feeling encouraged that even...

Today we're talking to two moms who are in the throes of the kid and tween years! And we're talking everything from this season’s new-found independence, to new hobbies as a family, to how to help these kids know who they are. It's a conversation that covers a lot of ground, but hopefully it will leave you feeling encouraged about having kids and tweens yourself!

This week we're talking about all the things that keep you up at night. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn't, but regardless, we see you, dear listener. That fear of whales is LEGIT. Those things are vicious. 

We both agree that threatening to runaway as a child is like a right of passage. We all did it, and if you didn't... well then you had a very charmed life, my friend. But if you actually went through with it and "ran away," then you need to write the next Boxcar Children series, cause that takes GUTS!! Unless it was just to your backyard corner... then better luck next time. Jk. Jk. Jk. No one run...

In this episode, we had the privilege of talking to three moms who all are parenting multiples! Chelsey in Arizona is raising 2 boys, but welcomed twin girls 10 months ago. As the newest of the bunch, she shares with us how she figuring out the nuances of twins with her other 2 boys at home. Next up we interviewed Jani, also in Arizona, who has twin boys! Born on Christmas Eve and with a crazy fir...

This episode is brought to you by the stars. No, not Joe Jonas or TSwift. We’re talking about you, Sagittarius and Pisces and Virgo. How much does astrology impact our parenting? Does our zodiac sign determine our parenting decisions? Science says the answer is no, but then why are our signs so freakishly accurate?! Listen in to see if we can identify listeners’ astrological signs based on their e...

This episode idea cam to us from a listener who is feeling a little nostalgic for the simple things of their childhood! Think prank calls, blockbuster, butterfly clips... this episode is full of all the things that will have you saying "oh yeah, those were the good old times."

*OUTTAKES AND LAUGHING FITS AT THE VERY END OF THIS EPISODE*  This is the first in a 4 part series that will be released each month about the unique seasons of parenting. This week we're talking babies and toddlers. We interview 4 parents, Chris (dad in Kansas), Caitlin (Mom in Ohio), Clark (dad in Arizona) and Kat (mom in Utah), about the highs and lows of this season they are all in. What's uniq...

As parents, we sometimes find ourselves in situations that leave us thinking "dang, I wish I did this!!!" Well today we pulled out the gavel and we did our best to prepare you for those moments on the playground that catch you off guard, but are important to be prepared for. Do you intervene when a child is stuck in the slide and the parent isn't paying attention? Yes. Are you allowed to call a ki...

Is it just us? Or is it really hard to commit to making plans when you have all the kids in all the activities?? And then do you want to spend the money? Money to make memories...? Okay when you put it that way!! This week we are leaving winter behind and entering the land of baby birds and baby flowers. As we breathe in the fresh air of spring and embrace all it has in store for us, we talk about...

This week we interview Megan's running coach: Heather Jenson. She is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to anything athletic and that's why we keep her around! She is a fantastic motivator, friend and coach. As someone who is familiar with lots of different types of physical activity, she gives us (and hopefully our listeners) some great advice on how to find longevity in what we do. You ca...

Does your Elf on the Shelf have a wife, a kid, two pets and an elaborate pranking schedule? Do you make matching Turkey Trot shirts for the family? Does the first Day of School Fairy bringing new books, backpacks, lunchboxes and positive affirmations? Or does simply reading those phrases cause you to break out in hives? Whether you love to go all out, or keep it very reigned in, this episode has a...

In this episode, we do something we don't usually do. We rant, we vent, and we air all the annoying things we discovered this year. And by this year, we mean, yes in the last 2 months. January and February are hard!!!! And it seems only fair that we send them out the door with a good old fashioned, best friend (that means you, listener) vent sesh. It felt good. It felt right. So you can plan on a...