Mom Jeans and Minivans

Life goes by so quickly, especially life with kids! Morgen and Trisha discuss some daily parenting reminders they try to be mindful of as they navigate toddlerhood. Charlie and Remi can seem wise beyond their three years, and Morgen and Trisha can forget how young they are. They try to remain open and understand how Charlie and Remi feel and aid the girls in expressing their emotions. Staying calm...

Covid strikes Morgen & Trisha’s households! What an unpredictable virus Covid is. It doesn’t matter how calloused your nose is from the excessive mask-wearing or the shriveled-up skin from the constant hand washing. It still can get you. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to who and when people get it. Morgen had colds that hit her harder than Covid, while Trisha couldn’t get out of bed...

1st birthdays are always a big deal for parents, and just recently, we celebrated Auggie’s! Side note, wasn’t he just born? How is he one already? What does going all-out for your child’s 1st birthday mean to you? Morgen shares what her all-out rock concert-themed party was like. Don’t forget your backstage access pass when you walk in—just saying.  Morgen and Trisha also discuss the differences b...

It's time to send your baby off to school, pre-school. But what school is right for you? The task is nearly as daunting as buying the right house. Trisha is frustrated with Remi's current school from the lack of communication, days off from Covid, and the sweet treats handed out at the door. Trisha is now on the hunt and struggles to find a school that checks all the boxes. Is that even possible?...

Morgen and Trisha didn't think twice about treating Charlie and Remi's hair the same way as their own. Until recently, they have been using similar products and brushes/combs on the girls for three years. Charlie and Remi's hair had grown longer and had become harder to manage. Morgen and Trisha decided it was time to switch things up. Morgen realized she wasn't getting Charlie's knots when her si...

In this week’s episode, Morgen & Trisha talk not only about teenagers but also navigating this already tricky stage while also being a step-parent. Jack is a month away from being 18, and soon, he’ll be an adult going off to college 10 hours away from home. Being a child of divorce means his time is split evenly between both households, so all parties already feel like time with him is limited. No...

This episode focuses on our newest addition to Mom Jeans and Minivans, Auggie! Well, he’s not that new, he’s 10 months old already… where does the time go?!  Where Auggie used to be called “Mr. Chill”, he’s becoming a little too intense to maintain that name. He is strong.. and persistent. Couple those things together and Mr. Chill isn’t chillin’ too much anymore. He’s scaling furniture, climbing...

Noooo! Charlie and Remi are transitioning out of their naps! It took Trisha and Jacen about 2-3 weeks to figure out a new schedule for Remi that had her napping later in the day and for shorter lengths. It has been key to a balanced day and night sleep, resulting in a happier toddler. Morgen’s struggle is when she misses the sleep window. Any parent who misses the precious window, whether food or...

Do any other parents out there struggle to balance parenting, childcare, occupations, and just life in general?!? Two hands are raised over here! This episode focuses on the childcare aspect of parenting and life. Both Morgen and Phil work, add Covid to the mix, and finding childcare for Auggie has posed a real challenge. Morgen speaks about the four different providers she’s had to use in just th...

The holidays are here! Happy holidays to our MJAMV tribe!  Are you ready? I mean, who's ever really prepared, lol.  Morgen and Trisha discuss what the holidays mean to them and their plans for the season. Creating and maintaining traditions is something essential to them both. After their tree cutting, Ms. Claus will leave Charlie and August pajamas, while the reindeer may accidentally leave a bel...

Relationships and marriages are hard, add kids to the mix, and the real work begins. Children have a way of zapping us parents of all our energy. Many times once we've taken care of them and all our responsibilities, we've got none left for each other. Sex or sleep?! These mama's are taking the zzz's these days!  Trisha and Morgen discuss their marital struggles and how difficult it can be to carv...

Charlie & Remi are officially 3! Morgen & Trisha dish all about their special days and how their parties went. Trisha loved the intimate farm excursion and having immediate family over afterward for dinner and her redeeming 7” cake. Remi’s outfit was a total hit with the crown headband and sparkly rose gold ballet shoes. Morgen created a Fall Festival where the bounce house was a HUGE hit. She als...

  Morgen took her eyes off of Charlie for literally seconds to tend to Auggie’s pooey diaper, only to discover that Charlie was being returned by a father that saw her run off in those couple of seconds of wiping!  It made Morgen and Trisha realize that it’s never too soon to talk to the girls about stranger danger, but they’re three, so how do you go about making them aware without scaring them?...

Whether children are transitioning from home to school or changing classrooms within their school, changes can be stressful for kids. Morgen and Trisha both saw signs that Charlie and Remi were in a bit of distress with their school transitions, and they did their best to address it and try to help comfort them through it. One of the most prominent signs was crying at drop-off, accidents after the...

Oh my gosh, how are Charlie and Remi 3 already?!? Morgen & Trisha discuss what they have planned. While Trisha is going super low-key, Morgen is doing a big 3rd bday bash. The big question is what time do they start the festivities since the girls still nap midday (which, p.s. thank goodness for that, mama needs a break to get stuff done). Of course, having October babes means Fall-themed everythi...

Does anyone have a two-going 12-year-old toddler where the tantrums are almost laughable/infuriating at times? It's a roller coaster ride, to say the least?! Morgen and Trisha spill the beans on what Charlie's and Remi's tantrums are like. It's the whining that can drive Trisha's blood pressure sky high, especially in the car. The thorn in Morgen's side is when Charlie throws her things, especiall...

Morgen and Trisha touch on the societal stereotypes we feel our children are pushed into. When shopping, the girls' section is all pinks and purples with flowers, ballerinas, and what is deemed feminine. The boys' section is all blues and greens with trucks, Dinosaurs, and superheroes. The same goes for the toys the kids are given. Girls are expected to play with dolls and have tea parties while t...

Baby monitors, baby monitors, baby monitors! Morgen and Trisha recently upgraded their baby monitors, almost three years later, and both love their new ones compared to their previous ones. The image is better, and the camera rotation is better. They’re on a secure network; multiple cameras can be connected to the same baby monitor, and the connection and battery life are better. Bottom line, a ba...

The theme of this week's episode is 'do whatever you have to do to get by,' and it's referring to the crib-to-toddler bed transition. Morgen and Trisha talk about their totally different timelines, sacrifices made for more sleep, and how both Charlie and Remi respond differently to methods used to help them sleep and transition to their big girl beds. Trisha transitioned Remi early, around 16 mont...

Death is a part of life, and unfortunately, every person will be affected by it at some point in their life. When death strikes close to home, and there are children involved, helping them process it all can be a tricky road to navigate.  Remi just lost her uncle Johnny to a nine-year battle with brain cancer, and Trisha did a lot of research and got creative on ways to discuss it with Remi and he...

Morgen and Trisha are joined by new mom, Allison, as they delve into all things maternity leave. More importantly, the struggles of returning to work after maternity leave. Let’s say the week and especially the night before returning to work involved many mini breakdowns and tears. They discuss common misconceptions like people thinking maternity leave is like vacation when in reality, it is exhau...

Having an infant, no matter if it's your first or you've got multiples, is exhausting. Having infant tips, tricks, and hacks can make all the difference in keeping your sanity and getting through the day. Listen in as Morgen and Trisha dish about the things that made their lives easier, and let's be honest, every minute counts. Yes, all the contraptions that allow you to wear your baby are lifesav...

It’s summer 2021, the Covid vaccines have come out, and Morgen and Trisha discuss what that means for summer playdates.  Dealing with Covid for over a year has created a new norm of social distancing. There is some discomfort, fear, and anxieties around exposing our toddlers to more people and being maskless. Is it weird to ask people if they’ve been vaccinated? How are you going to approach summe...

It's dentist time!  Somehow the dentist visit seems to be the one appointment that parents procrastinate on. Add Covid into the mix, and that procrastination gets amplified. When do you bring your child to the dentist for the first time? When do you start brushing or start flossing? What toothpaste do you use, fluoride or no fluoride? These ladies had so many questions, more so Morgen, and Trisha...

In November, these mommas mentally prepared for their toddler's messiest and most adult-involved milestone yet, potty training. Both Morgen and Trisha planned on tackling potty training differently.  It's now four months later when pen to paper meets reality. In this episode, we update you on the reality of potty training, sharing what we ended up doing and how it REALLY is going, especially now t...