Care and Feeding | Amazon (DNU)

This week on Care & Feeding , Elizabeth and Lucy respond to a listener wondering how to help their child—and themselves—prepare for the leap to middle school. The hosts share practical tips and emotional insights on everything from shifting friendships to growing independence, academic pressure, and those moments when your once-chatty kid starts speaking in shrugs. They unpack how to build tru...

On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp, Zak Rosen, and Lucy Lopez dive into a letter from a parent who’s stuck in the food fight crossfire between their college-aged child—who has both celiac and ARFID—and a preschooler who’s suddenly mimicking the restrictive eating. Is this a passing phase? A red flag? Or just one of those strange sibling mirrors? The hosts unpack family dynamics, poop accidents, an...

On this episode: Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Lucy Lopez dive into a letter from a parent with three kids spanning college to preschool — and two of them are acting like they run the nursery. What do you do when your teens become self-appointed disciplinarians for your four-year-old? And how do you re-establish the line between “big sibling” and “co-parent” without sparking a family feud? Aft...

On this episode: Slate’s own Aymann Ismail is with us to talk about his new book, Becoming Baba – which is out TOMORROW!  We’ll talk about the book. But first, Aymann, Jamilah, Zak and Elizabeth take a question from a listener who’s hoping to reclaim the time that she feels like she lost during the newborn phase. And on Slate Plus: Elizabeth has a dilemma, and Aymann sticks around to help. If you’...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah talk about summer boredom. We get questions about this every year — so we’re coming in early this year with some ideas for how to handle that classic, but dreaded, complaint… that no, really, there’s nothing to do.  And after that, of course, we’re sharing a round of triumphs and fails.  Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to...

On this episode: Zak, Lucy and Elizabeth chat about screentime. We’ve got two great questions that are variations on the theme: are podcasts screentime? And you missing out on something if your little ones don’t get to watch a certain children’s YouTuber? We’ll discuss. After that, we’re circling up for a round of triumphs and fails, because why not? And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Play...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah help a listener who’s just lost her job due to DOGE cuts – and now, she’s trying to figure out how to explain what’s happening to her elementary schooler. And, they’re getting ready to move back to the States after working and living overseas. There’s a lot to unpack, and we’ll do what we can to help.  And after that, of course, we’re sharing a round of...

On this episode: Zak, Lucy and Elizabeth chat about sibling spats. Our question is from the mom of three tween girls who are jealous of each other — so we’ll talk about dealing with unfairness, and keeping the peace. We’ll also check in and share what’s on our minds this week. And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, we’re talking about our parenting “shoulds.” If you’re not part of...

First, an announcement: we’re excited to show you our new best-of playlist. Let us know if we’ve done an expert interview that you think is missing from the list. In this episode from 2020, where Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Rebecca Lavoie were joined by Trina Greene Brown, the founder of Parenting for Liberation, to answer questions about race and police violence.  We’ve also unlocked the Slate Plus b...

On this episode: Elizabeth and Lucy sit down with Meagan Francis – she’s a parenting writer and the author of the new book, The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read . It’s all about embracing the teen years and your impending empty nest.  And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, Zak and Jamilah join Elizabeth to talk about what they hope an empty nest looks like.  If you’re not part...

On this episode: Zak and Elizabeth introduce a series-within-a-series called Care and Feeding 101 — where we’re walking you through all things baby, with the help of some truly amazing experts. Think of it like the baby book that we know you don’t have time to read.  In Volume One: Zak meets some seasoned sex and relationship coaches who just had a baby. And Elizabeth invites Dr. Sheilagh Maguines...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy chat with Diana Lind , an urban policy expert and writer, about her thoughts on parent-friendly cities. We’ll talk about ways that cities do – and could – make housing, third places, transportation, and more work better for more families. And if you stick around for the Slate Plus Playground, Diana hangs out for a conversation about why kid activities have...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy talk about executive functioning. Listeners reliably chime in when Elizabeth and Lucy talk about their planners, their calendars, and their methods of staying sane… so today, we’re diving into the ways we keep track of everything. Most of the time. After that, of course, we’ll circle up for a round of triumphs and fails. Join us on Facebook and email us at...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah help a listener who just got told that her toddler is overweight. Now, she’s wishing the pediatrician hadn’t said anything — and she’s also feeling like she failed as a parent. So, we’re here to explain how she didn’t fail… and talk about what healthy bodies can look like. And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and on Slate Plus, we muse on w...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah are talking about a tricky dynamic between a stepson and his step-grandparents. Our listener doesn’t differentiate between her stepson and her bio kids in her home — but when her parents interact with the kids, it’s a different story. So, our listener is wondering what’s normal… and how to patch up this issue with her husband, who’s upset by it. After th...

At least 10 percent of parents in the U.S. are disabled, but Andrea can’t seem to find parenting advice on disability and accessibility. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Jessica Slice , author of the new book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World , to help Andrea reimagine parenthood.  If you liked this episode check out: How To Date With a Disabilit...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy are talking about twins! Our listener just found out that the one baby she was expecting is, in fact, two babies… and she’s freaking out a little. And we did too, because none of us have twins — but when we tell you the Care and Feeding community came in clutch? We mean it.  After that, of course, we’ll circle up for a round of triumphs and fails. Join us o...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah are talking about being the place to be. This member of the Slate Parenting Facebook Group takes pride in being the place where their tween and teen girls hang out with their friends… but being the “cool parent” does come with some serious responsibility, and that’s what our writer is worried about. And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah are sharing some of YOUR latest responses to what we’ve been doing here. You all have amazing advice and expertise – a lot more than we do, sometimes – so we’re excited to share what’s been on your minds.  For our listener who wanted more on coaching and older kids: check out both our interviews with Olympian Abby Wambach ( 2020 and 2024 ) and our interv...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy talk about clothes. This listener’s six-and-a-half-year-old is super particular about what he wants to wear… and it’s making school mornings really hard. We’ll talk about how to accommodate the pickiness while also not derailing the start of your day. And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and on Slate Plus, we’re talking about teen joy. If you’...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy help a listener decide whether she’s done having kids. No pressure, right?  But seriously: this listener has three little boys and is weighing the possibility of a fourth kid. There’s more love for her and her husband to give… but they’re also feeling burnt out. So how do you decide what to do?     After that, of course, we’ll circle up for a round of trium...

On this episode: Zak, Jamilah and producer Maura talk about how to navigate friendships with people who have more, or fewer, kids than you do. A member of the Slate Parenting Facebook group is wondering how it’s on her and her husband to plan everything… even though they have three kids, and a lot of their friends don’t have any. And then, we’ll circle up for a round of recommendations… and on Sla...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah answer a question about how to throw a birthday party for older kids. This member of the Slate Parenting Facebook community knows how to throw a good party for little kids… but teens are a whole different thing. So, we’ll offer up some suggestions for how to celebrate a quiet, nerdy 15-year-old.  And after that, we’ll talk about some other frequently-ask...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy take a question about how to handle birthday money. This parent’s son wants to buy some stuff in a video game, and while it feels like a waste… it IS also his money. So we’ll talk about whether this parent really needs to intervene.  And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and on Slate Plus, we’ll vent about the end-of-the-school-year frenzy. If...

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy answer a letter about parenting a kid through a toxic relationship… and more specifically, a girlfriend’s toxic mom. Our letter-writer is trying to balance respecting her son’s first serious relationship with wanting to protect him from some really nasty behavior. And after that, of course, we’ll circle up for a round of triumphs and fails. Join us on Faceb...