What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face...

When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.

We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.

In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.

If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.

We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.

We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.

If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!  

whatfreshhellpodcast.com

Parenting
Comedy
Kids & Family
226
HOLIDAY BEST OF: It's the Most Everything Time ...
According to a recent study, 41% of men strongly agreed that they can relax during the holidays. Only 27% of women felt the same. It’s the most everything time of the year, and we’re doing– and feeling– all the things.
41 min
227
Fresh Take: "The Girl Next Door Podcast" on Set...
What does it look like to successfully set and maintain boundaries, whether it's with our toddler or our in-laws? Erica Ladd and Kelsey Wharton, co-hosts of the The Girl Next Door Podcast, are the queens of boundary-setting.
37 min
228
Does Having Kids Ruin Your Marriage Forever?
Are our relationships with our partners ruined after kids enter the picture? Partnerships change when our kids are born, but those changes aren't forever, and fixing it doesn't have to begin and end with "date night."
42 min
229
HOLIDAY BEST OF: The Holiday Creep
Why does it seem like the holiday season starts earlier and earlier every year? And how do we navigate the many obligations and traditions thereof without crying into our creamed white onions?
38 min
230
Fresh Take: Nicole Walters on "Nothing Is Missing"
When we're struggling, we tend to focus on what we lack rather than our considerable strengths. Nicole Walters, author of the memoir NOTHING IS MISSING, invites us to view ourselves with a sense of abundance.
28 min
231
DEEP DIVE: Highly Sensitive (and Under-Sensitiv...
When we first hear about highly sensitive kids– or sensory seekers– it can provide a profound connecting of dots for things that might have baffled us in the past, and a path to effectively address the otherwise confusing behaviors that might ensue.
47 min
232
Things That Should Be Fun... But Aren't
Nerf guns. Beach vacations. Corn mazes. Parades. What do these things have in common? They really should be fun—but aren't.
37 min
233
Ask Margaret: How to Foster Relationships with ...
How can we encourage our kids to connect with their grandparents in meaningful ways, and how much control over that relationship do we really have?
8 min
234
Fresh Take: Mother Gopi Gita on Leadership Pare...
How can good leadership and good parenting intersect? Mother Gopi Gita, author of the new book LEADERSHIP PARENTING, explains how the spiritual traditions of India informed her leadership parenting model.
27 min
235
DEEP DIVE: When the World Moves Too Fast for Ou...
Are our kids growing up more slowly than we did? Is that necessarily a bad thing? Can we encourage our late bloomers to pick up the pace?
37 min
236
Growth Mindset: What Is It? Does It Matter?
What exactly is growth mindset—and is it the crucial ingredient to our kids' future success that we've been told it is? We discuss the latest research about growth mindset and why it matters.
38 min
237
Ask Amy: When Did 5th Grade Get So Rough?
How can kids in fifth grade be expected to navigate the changes in their bodies, their friendships, and their emotions all at the same time? Fifth grade can be rough. Here's how parents can help.
5 min
238
Fresh Take: Dr. Robyn Silverman on How to Talk ...
Research suggests that kids really do want to talk about difficult subjects with their parents. So where do we start? Dr. Robyn Silverman, author of the bestselling book How to Talk to Kids About Anything, has ideas.
30 min
239
DEEP DIVE: When Your Kid Doesn't Fit the Mold
Kids who don't fit the mold can have it hard. So can their parents. While they’re lying down on second base instead of paying attention, we’re up at night worrying about the year 2035. The good news: the world is wider than it used to be.
43 min
240
When Kids Fight You on Everything
All kids are defiant sometimes. Some kids are defiant all of the time—or at least it can feel that way. When kids push back constantly, it gets overwhelming. What are the best ways of understanding and responding to kids who argue about everything?
39 min
241
Ask Margaret: Is There a Nice Way to Say "I'm A...
A listener who is all touched out at the end of the day is worried she is hurting her husband's feelings by rejecting his attempts to snuggle.
7 min
242
Fresh Take: Dr. Tracy Dalgleish on Making Relat...
Miscommunication is one of the most common issues that sends partners into couples therapy. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, relationship expert and author of I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS, offers concrete solutions.
30 min
243
DEEP DIVE: Meeting Our Kids Where They Are
Sometimes our kids are a little behind on meeting their milestones. Sometimes they’ll never reach those milestones at all. How do we let go of “should be”? How do we meet our kids where they are, while still holding expectations that help them grow?
48 min
244
Wait, Didn't Everyone's Family Do This?
From odd birthday traditions to showtunes in 8-part harmony, each family has their own quirks! We asked our listeners about the things they used to think everyone else's family did too.
42 min
245
Ask Amy: Coping with Having a Sick Child
How do we accept a life-changing diagnosis for our child? And how do we manage the fear, grief, and anxiety that accompany it? Here's how to take life-changing news one step at a time.
6 min
246
Fresh Take: Alyssa Blask Campbell on Raising Em...
How do we raise our kids to be emotionally intelligent, especially when many of us weren’t raised that way? Alyssa Blask Campbell, author of the new book TINY HUMANS, BIG EMOTIONS, offers a framework for helping kids build these skills long-term.
32 min
247
Is There Just Too Much Information?
A recent study found many parents report consulting the internet for parenting advice every single day. But how much information is too much? And is it the same for everyone?
31 min
248
Ask Margaret: My Spouse and I Disagree About Be...
How do we get our children to bed at a reasonable hour, especially when our parenting partners have different ideas? Here's how to get on the same page.
6 min
249
Fresh Take: Vanessa Kroll Bennett and Dr. Cara ...
These days puberty starts sooner and lasts longer. That requires not one "The Talk," but a hundred small conversations. Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, co-authors of THIS IS SO AWKWARD, offer tips for getting started.
37 min
250
We're Still Cringing
What cringey moment do you lie awake at night thinking about, 5, 10, or 20 years later? That's what we asked our listeners, and let's just say we're embarrassed FOR them.
40 min