First-time kindergarten moms Jennifer and Jayme pop in today to reflect on all things kindergarten. Being in the homestretch of the school year, we share some of the things that surprised us about our kids’ first year of elementary school. We also offer reassurance and advice for those heading into their kindergarten journey. Spoiler: the kids won’t be the only ones who learn and grow. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Get to know Jayme Sherrod and follow her on Instagram
• Get to know Jennifer Carol and follow her on Instagram
• Kindergarten Parent Primer: Podcast Episodes & Blog Posts from the archives

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For Sarah this spring, it's the end of an era: elementary school parenting. The youngest of our combined eight kids is wrapping up fifth grade, so today Meagan asks Sarah to reflect back on the (long!) season of parenting in the grade school years. Our conversation is filled with reflections, emotions, gentle regrets, and laughs. Plus, a good-old-fashioned round of Would You Rather: Elementary School Mom Edition. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes From The Archives That Pair Well With This One:
• Pomp, Circumstance, And Motherhood: Episode 419
• School Decisions Feel Like a LOT (Here’s What To Keep In Mind): Episode 298
• School Volunteering That Fits Your Personality: Episode 245
• Tips For Starting (Elementary & Middle) School: Episode 221
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Back To School: Episode 377

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Prom dates and driver’s licenses, football games and parties: did we get our ideas about teenagers and high school from the movies? Well, largely, yes, we did. (Our own experiences and memories, too, of course!) Today Meagan and Sarah – now parents to many teens between us – unpack stereotypical teen milestones and share whether they’ve matched up to our preconceptions – or not. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Playlist: 18 Podcast Episodes For Parents Of Teenagers
• Parent of Adults is a newsletter by our friend Asha Dornfest about life after kids grow up.
• Real Talk About High School (With A Real Teen!): Voices 71 With Meagan’s Son Will is a fun episode from the archives featuring the perspective of a teen.
• Meagan’s substack post Parenting Teens Always Feels A Hot Stove is a great companion to this episode.
• Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s an episodes from the archives in case you need it this year: Why Mother’s Day Is Hard (And How To Make It What You Want This Year): Episode 311

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• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With A.I., social media, and virtual reality top of mind for many parents, we’re flipping the script today and looking at all that the physical, tangible, and tactile world have to offer our families. Acknowledging that it’s not a zero-sum proposition (we’re pro-technology in lots of ways!), Meagan and Sarah share specific ways in which we keep real, embodied, sensory experiences part of our own lives, and how we incorporate them into our family cultures. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Meagan mentioned a book about movement Grow Wild, by Katy Bowman
• Sarah shared her European Travels with her family in Parenting Lessons From Travel Abroad: Episode 448

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
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Joy wonders how parenting changes as kids hit new milestones. As Emily’s youngest approaches kindergarten, she wants to find purpose beyond motherhood. Chelsea struggles in a new remote work position and questions whether she made the right career move. And Dana asks when and how to start conversations with her kids about the expectations she has for them after high school. This week we’re back with MORE listener questions – enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Listener Question episodes from the archives.
• Emily and Chelsea mentioned working motherhood and purpose in their listener questions. Click here to find more episodes and blog posts on working motherhood.
• If you’re looking for more content about parenting teens, check out the playlist 18 podcast episodes from our archives.
• Meagan and Sarah mention the various jobs they’ve held in Living A Writerly Life: Episode 454

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Summer lets kids expand their experiences, gain new skills, and experience independence – but those opportunities can be scary, too! In this classic replay from 2022, Meagan and Sarah share stories about the times our kids seemed vulnerable when faced with more independence, how those nerves showed up in our children (and ourselves!), how we handled our nervous energy, and planned for major milestones with kids who were nervous to spread their wings. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• This playlist has over 30 episodes of The Mom Hour about planning for summer
• Sarah has found the books The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey and How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims very motivating to encourage kids to get outside their comfort zones.
• Sarah heard Martha Beck talking about brain science on Glennon Doyle’s podcast We Can Do Hard Things
• Read our Contributor Joanne’s blog post, “This Is Too Hard!”: How I’m Showing My Kids The Importance Of Doing Hard Things

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rebekah struggles with a culture of “husband bashing” and negativity in her local mom circles. Ainsley wonders how she and her husband will handle being outnumbered once their third child arrives. Candice wants to feel seen in all she does for her family – prompting Meagan and Sarah to explore different kinds of invisible labor and unpack the work we sometimes assign ourselves. And Amanda asks us to give an update on our current food values. In Episode 461, Meagan and Sarah take these questions from our community and offer tips and validation. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Listener Question episodes from the archives
• Do you relate to Rebekah’s mom friend question? Here’s more on friendships in motherhood from the archives: Friendships in Motherhood, Part One (Redefining “Ride Or Die”): Episode 307 and Friendships In Motherhood, Part Two (Deepening & Widening Your Circle): Episode 308.
• Episodes from the archives on Mental Load and Invisible Labor
• Emotional Labor, Burnout & Completing The Stress Cycle: Episode 285
• Letting Go of Perfect-Holiday-Mom Pressure (For Real This Time): Episode 290
• Episodes from the archives on Food
• Family Food Values & What’s Working For Us: Episode 244 and Defining Your Family’s Food Values: Episode 113 references Meagan and Sarah’s food values from the past

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.