Parenting Roundabout

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. ​ In this episode, we complain about all those sports, activities, camps, and classes that we thought would be the answer to our prayers, but fell short (sometimes, way short). Who knew trying to help our kids find their passion and their tribe would be so hard?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's marveling at the power of her Corkcicle water bottle . Terri enjoyed the story, writing, and narration, all by Julia Whelan, of Thank You for Listening (Whelan also narrated another of our past Roundup items, Flying Solo by Linda Holmes). And Catherine recommends Marcel the Shell With Shoes On , a charming, bittersweet, family-friendly movie. ​ Thanks as...

When we heard about an upcoming mother-daughter book by Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, we obsessed about the books we could write, given that we all have mothers and daughters and writing experience (just no Academy Awards). Mentioned: Social Print Studio , Storyworth , S**t My Dad Says , The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters.

Catherine's son got his temporary driver's license almost three years late, and Terri's made his confirmation at age 30. So we complained about artificial timetables and the people who try to make us and our kids stick to them.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, "Signs" was the last episode of Ted Lasso for Shandy (we hope) and Zava (we wonder). We saw a lot of plot points coming, but not Zava's retirement. Next: S3 E6, "Sunflowers." Then, we jumped right in to season 2 of Brothers and Sisters with "Home Front." It had a little bit of everything we expect from the Walkers: Public arguments, sharing TMI about on...

An article on baby first-aid kits got us talking about essentials for bigger kids: We've traded the nasal aspirator and the tiny medicine droppers for KT Tape and chewing gum (but two of us can't seem to keep un-expired over-the-counter meds in stock).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. ​ ​Inspired by the funny ladies of I Mom So Hard , we riff on the labels that should come with your firstborn.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. ​ On today's episode, we talk teensplaining: That lovely way that adolescents have of knowing everything and not being the least bit shy about sharing that knowledge, especially with their ignorant parents. From laundry to driving to law enforcement, our (completel...

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine updates her recommendation for Hugimals weighted stuffed animals . Nicole's rocking some comfy Rockport dress shoes , and Terri's ears are full of Catholic podcasts: Catholic Latte , Restore the Glory , and Beyond the Beacon . ​ Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A question about how our first kids are different from their younger siblings got us obsessing about personality, birth order, nature vs. nurture, and what our kids' relationships are with each other now vs. when they were younger. They definitely agree on one thing: Their mothers can be so annoying.

Prompted by a Huffington Post query , we complain about how and why it's so hard to let others help us, when we are perfectly willing to extend a hand to neighbors and friends in need. What's your position on asking for and granting favors?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Ted Lasso's team may have had a "big week," but the episode was fairly small and restrained. We'd like our jokes back, please! Next: Season 3, episode 5, "Signs." On Brothers and Sisters, of course nothing is ever small or restrained, and that includes Senator McCallister's relatives, which show up to his engagement party and proceed to out-Walker the W...

A few weeks ago, Nicole told a sad tale of being disappeared from Facebook against her will due to a hack. But thanks to a commenter on one of our podcast Facebook posts, she found a group of fellow #LilyCollinsHack victims , and eventually was able to get her account restored. We're so glad to have her back!

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. It's hard being a parent-group newbie, and it's hard being a veteran. Let's just skip the whole thing.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. ​ We obsess about all those little details of social interactions that we feel unsure about (which means we are also worried about what we have, and haven't, taught our kids about manners and etiquette).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's found another way to listen to podcasts, including ours: PlayPodcast.net . Nicole's watching HBO's The Last of Us , and Catherine found a tasty blood orange cake mix at Trader Joe's . Also mentioned, though not by name: Catherine's most recent book club book, Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy. ​ Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music...

As mentioned yesterday, Terri's son had a milestone birthday, which means Terri's now obsessing about whether she's actually the parent of "young" adults any longer.

It's offspring birthday season for both Terri and Catherine, with milestones all around: 18! 21! 30! Terri's wondering what, exactly, a parent's birthday-party obligations are when kids cruise past the ball-pit and cupcakes stage.

Now that Shrinking has left us (for now), we pivot to a show with some similar DNA: Ted Lasso , returning for season 3. We're happy to see these old pals again--although we're glad we don't have to work at Keeley's company. Next: Season 3, episode 4, "Big Week." It was a big week on Brothers and Sisters , and a very sad one, as the family faced the premature birth of Julia and Tommy's twins. Oh, a...

With Nicole's daughter about to graduate from university and weighing her options, we talked about our own first steps into the work world. Mentioned: the Columbia Publishing Course (formerly the Radcliffe Publishing Course).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. ​ While we're pretty live-and-let-live when it comes to teens and screens, we do acknowledge that there are times when they should maybe put them down. But if they're not on their phones, what else are they gonna do?

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. Another parent's college admission post (in July!!) sent Catherine into a shame spiral. That prompted us to complain about not just mom bragging, but our irrational response to it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's discovered Monopoly Deal , a card game she says is a big improvement on the Monopoly board game. Terri's Country Music Minute returns with Walker Hayes' two-song set, " Being a Dad and Missing Mine ." And Catherine's got another daily word game to recommend: Anigrams . ​ Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every...

On today's episode, we're obsessing about those times (and tasks) that make us feel we're succeeding at our mom jobs. These can be rare, so we have to recognize them when they happen.

A survey that accused parents--especially Gen-X ones, like Nicole and Catherine--of oversharing about their kids on social media got us complaining. Not about oversharing, but about how parents just can't win. Mentioned: Some of the moms we follow on Instagram, like Gabrielle Blair , Witney Carson , and Lindsay Arnold .