The Mom Hour

What does “stranger danger” really mean (and is that the best way to phrase it for our kids)? In Episode 13, Meagan and Sarah talk about giving our kids tools and information to make them safer and more capable as their independence increases. Episode 13 is the second installment in our two-part series on free-range parenting – if you haven’t listened to Episode 12 yet, yo...

We want our kids to grow up independent, resourceful, and confident. We also care about their safety. So where's the balance between letting them go and protecting them? And what happens when our 'risk-tolerance' is out of synch with the neighborhood norms? Meagan and Sarah discuss all this and more in Episode 12. This is part one in a two-part series on free-range parenting - be sure to check bac...

What happens when your kids are all in school, or the overwhelmingly in-your-face years of early motherhood are behind you? Have you thought about what kind of creative hobbies you’ll return to, what your career will look like, or what that available time will mean for your “non-mom self”? In Episode 11 Meagan shares her perspective as a mom on the other side of the trenches (while Sarah...

Confession: We don’t LOVE playing make-believe with our kids. Or pushing them on the swings. Or reading Dr. Seuss. But guess what? We’re kind of OK with that. In Episode 10, Meagan and Sarah confess the things they sort of hate doing with their kids – and also share some of the things they love doing. Turns out, we don’t have to  love  it all – because there’s plenty to enjoy about spend...

We aren’t sure we’re saying the right things here. But after the events in Charleston earlier this month, we’re sure about one thing: silence isn’t an option. In Episode 9, Meagan and Sarah discuss race and racism, talking with kids about differences, and some of the reasons that, according to research, white parents avoid talking Continue the conversation: Instagram  |  Private Facebook...

Camping with kids. You're either doing it already...  or you're not . And if you're not, is it because it seems intimidating? And a little, um, complicated? If so, let this be the summer you give it a try! As part of our campaign with Kimberly-Clark (more on that, below), we're talking all about getting kids out into nature this summer - including camping! Meagan's an expert and Sarah's a new...

When listener Jacquie emailed us this question, we knew right away we wanted to answer it on the show: I am contemplating having one more baby. [Having three kids] is pretty unusual in my area/social circles so I don’t have a lot of people to ask. What surprised you about having a third baby? Episode 7 is all about being "done" (or not) having babies.  How did we know we were done?...

Why does it feel like summer actually creates MORE work for busy moms? When kids are home from school, the snack-requests never end and laundry multiplies overnight. Episode 6 is all about "summer short-cuts" - little ways Meagan and Sarah cheat their way to an easier summer. LINKS MENTIONED: Zoku Mini Pop Molds reCAP Mason Jar lids MORE HELPFUL LINKS: Visit our website Check out deals from our pa...

Should kids really write thank-you notes for every gift? What are the non-negotiable table manners in Meagan's and Sarah's houses? How do we teach everyday manners and common courtesy to kids who are still learning to sit still and use a fork? We discuss these questions and more in Episode 5! Join us for a fun discussion about teaching manners - and, as usual, you can expect us to get RE...

It’s warm out! But we have so much to DO… How can busy families balance the end-of-school madness with the desire to sit on the front porch and enjoy the sunshine? In Episode 4, Meagan and Sarah discuss simple ways to celebrate the season and do a little venting about the end-of-year parenting slump. LINKS MENTIONED: Worst End of School Year Mom Ever  (Jen Hatmaker) Parents At The Beginn...

How much of the media you consume makes you feel energized and inspired? How much feeds your inner critic and makes you look up from the computer guiltily, wondering how much “real life” you’ve missed? In this episode Meagan and Sarah talk about ways to break the cycle of too much Facebook (or whatever your online rabbit hole of choice might be) and back away from the laptop or smartphone when med...

How do you model responsible behavior in front of your kids? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how adult drinking works in our families, and expand on the alcohol discussion to other ways we act as a role model for our kids and teens (spoiler alert: no one's perfect). HELPFUL LINKS: Visit our website Check out deals from our partners Follow us on Instagram Join our private listener group o...

What do you do when you have an epic meltdown in front of your kids? Hosts Sarah Powers and Meagan Francis share their most embarrassing and over-the-top mom meltdowns, plus tips for pulling yourself together when you're about to fall apart. LINKS MENTIONED: Sarah's kids' newest obsession: Brains On! science podcast Meagan's recent personality test discovery: Enneagram This post from The Happiest...